Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(68)

“I’m not alone.” She spoke the words aloud more for her benefit than Keegan’s. She’d lost her birth family, but how many had Keegan lost over the centuries? His parents when he was only twenty, forcing him to take over as Alpha, then his first mate and child. Sure his daughter, Ana, hadn’t died and had eventually returned to the Pack, but at what cost? Father and daughter didn’t know each other.

Meeting his stare, she offered a weak smile and raised her chin. “Show me how to find my inner peace.”

“That is something you have to learn on your own. I do have a job for you, though.” Without another word, he opened the door they stopped in front of, and she froze.

The one person who unnerved her, ignited a fiery desire inside her, and scared the hell out of her wolf stood hunched over the shoulder of Alec—Keegan’s youngest son—as the two of them stared into five large computer screens.

Torin Fisher.

Pure sex cast into the body of a sensual, yet deadly male with broad shoulders stretching his black T-shirt tight across his torso. She scanned his figure and drank in how his black jeans hugged his ass and thick thighs. The black on black was his choice of uniform. She seldom saw him in anything else.

Torin was a senior enforcer and Hayden’s—the wolf Marshal, leader of the wolf enforcers—right hand and best friend. He had grown up with Hayden and his family. Cora didn’t know much more of his childhood or anything else about the male.

When he turned to face her, her legs threatened to give out from under her. His silver gaze connected with hers, in a stare so intense and raw with power she couldn’t hold his stare for more than a few moments. Her body heated, and her heart rate increased a fraction. The woman in Cora wasn’t the only one affected by his presences. Her wolf perked up her ears and watched the male, waiting. Torin was one of the few to get a response from her wolf. Keegan and Luna were the only others since she lost her family. Any other time she curled up silent and sad.

She glanced away, not wanting Torin to see the mixture of grief and desire in her eyes. No, her mate could never know her terrible weakness.





Chapter Two


The familiar scent of spring lilies invaded Torin’s senses, enticing and alluring. His wolf began to pace and whimper when the man made no move toward the door their female stood behind. Why would she seek him out here of all places?

The door to the new temporary computer central opened, and the scent intensified. Turning toward the entrance, he met the stare of his mate and instantly grew hard. Whether Cora knew she belonged to him or not, he remained uncertain. He’d known since she’d come of age at eighteen. Though he had every intension of claiming her, he and his wolf had to wait until she came out of her grieving period over the loss of her family.

He ground his molars together and inhaled deeply through his nose. Felix and his band of f*cked up minions were going to pay. Someday, somehow. Torin was going to be there to witness the fall.

Straightening fully, he studied her. Strawberry blonde curls fell in unruly waves around her shoulders as if she rolled out of bed. Maybe she had. He roamed his gaze over the rest of her. She wore a faded pair of gray sweatpants and a pink tee with a coffee stain above the hem. His cock hardened even more, pressing painfully into the zipper of his jeans.

She held onto their eye contact for only a brief moment, but long enough for him to see the distress and sadness she fought to hide from the world.

He stalked toward her, and, when he got within a foot from her, she retreated a step. Then Keegan flattened a hand on his chest. Torin glanced down at the leopard’s hand, then met his stare. “What’s up?”

Keegan chose to answer him telepathically—a skill the former Alpha shared with all the enforcers and sentries. I know she’s your mate, but she needs time.

I’ll give it to her, but she needs….

She needs to heal and become independent. If you push her, she’ll run.

Torin let out a low growl, then focused on Cora. She watched them as if expecting an attack. Sighing, he dropped his shoulders and held out his hand. “Good morning. What has you so upset?”

“Just a dream. What are you doing?” She indicated Alec and the five-screen computer system.

After a quick glance over his shoulder, he studied her closer. Her attention focused on Alec and the monitors. “He’s trying to figure out the new security layout, but he’s not having much luck.”

“Fuck you, Tor. If it was easy, they wouldn’t need me and Dane to work on it,” Alec growled.

Torin laughed. “He’s having so much fun. You should stay and join us.”

“I think I will.” Cora pushed past him to stand next to Alec at the computer.

Torin stared, shocked her sudden change in mood and interest in what Alec was doing. A low growl rumbled from his chest. He meant it as a joke, not expecting her to give her attention to another male. His wolf paced and snarled, demanding Torin grab her and leave the building.

Keegan clasped him on the shoulder and whispered, “She has a degree in project management and software development. It’s something she loves.”

Clarity slammed into him. Keegan had brought her here to give her something to do. “A job?”

“Yep, it’ll give her the confidence she needs to heal.” Keegan turned toward the door. “I have to get back to my mate.”