The Wolf's Surrender

“It’s a lot better than some soulless city,” Jenner shot back. “And if you weren’t being so busy trying to plan your getaway, you’d think about the fact that all the men who saved you last night were out running, as wolves, just for the fun of it. There’s room for that here, for what we need and what you’re going to need—whether or not you like it.”

His voice had risen without him meaning for it to in his defense of his home, his way of life. Jenner realized it too late, catching the flash of Mia’s eyes just before she stood up, shoved in her stool with an angry little kick, and stood glaring at him with her hands settled on her hips.

“Maybe I like my soulless city,” she snapped. “And if you weren’t so busy being defensive about your little wolf commune out here, you might remember the fact that I have gone from being relatively normal to being a paranormal creature with a psycho after her in the space of one night. You’ve just told me I have to plug into this pack deal, however that’s done, or go nuts. That I’m going to suddenly have an overwhelming desire to move away from my life and relocate here. I am, and this is an understatement, I promise, a little overwhelmed.”

She turned away, started to go. “Forget it. I’ll talk to Bane, but then I’m out of here. I’ll figure this out on my own.”

Jenner stood, sensing the fear beneath her burst of anger, regretting having caused it. Regretting whatever had put that desolation in her voice, like she was used to handling everything alone. He told himself he felt the way he did because he had the good of the pack in mind.

It was easier than admitting the truth, and he was just fine with that.

“Mia,” he said, though his voice came out more growly than soothing.

“Don’t,” she said, stiffening. But she stopped.

“Just hang on. Don’t go off like that,” Jenner said. He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t let her just storm off in her current state. Not only was it a miserable start, but he didn’t want her hurt. And he didn’t want to be the one who had hurt her. There’d been enough of that for Mia last night, whatever she was or wasn’t hiding about herself. It was probably none of his business.

Even if that strange prickle at the back of his neck insisted that it was.

Mia turned to look back at him. When she spoke, he could hear the quaver in her voice, could see the sheen of moisture in her eyes. That was all it took to make him feel like a big, blundering ass. Things were finally beginning to hit home, he could see. He was immediately caught between guilt and a sudden, desperate urge to flee.

“Don’t tell me how great this all is, Jenner,” she said. “I’ll…I’ll come to terms with things in my own way, but try to remember I’m not getting a choice here. Story of my life.” Then, to his horror, she burst into tears.

He watched helplessly as glistening droplets began to roll down Mia’s cheeks from beneath her glasses. She pressed her hands to her face and tried, very unsuccessfully, to choke back a sob.

“Oh, damn it,” she said, looking just as horrified as he felt. “I was fine. I wasn’t going to do this. I don’t do this!”

“Um,” Jenner said, at a complete loss. Women didn’t cry in front of him. And to his knowledge, he didn’t make women cry. Probably because he tried to be around them as little as possible.

Mia waved her hand at him. “Crap. Ignore me. No, you can’t ignore me, I guess. I’ll just…I’m sorry, I guess you’ll have to excuse me…”

She started to turn away again, and what Jenner did then shocked him likely even more than it shocked Mia. Before he could think, he’d closed the distance between them in two long steps.

“Hey,” he said softly, seeing her shoulders begin to shake. “Hey, don’t do that.”

Then his arms were reaching out, wrapping around her small form and pulling her against him. By the time he might have stopped himself, he would have looked like a complete fool…all he could feel was Mia’s pain. His senses were full of it, of the scent of her tears, the sight of her reddened cheeks, the sound of each shuddering breath. And some instinct Jenner had never even known he had was set off almost instantly, demanding that he stroke and soothe. His first coherent thought was that despite their size difference, Mia fit perfectly in his arms. His second was that she was going to push him away, outraged at his presumption.

But Mia only stiffened for a moment. Jenner drew in his breath and held it as she went rigid, feeling without any good reason that her reaction was very important. Then, slowly, Mia relaxed into him, almost melting into him as she resumed crying quietly, with the occasional hitching breath.

Jenner stood in his kitchen, holding Mia in his arms while she wept, and wondered what the hell he was doing.

“Sorry,” Mia said against the new wet patch on his chest. She sounded mortified. “I’m sorry. I’m just…this is all…”

“No,” he replied, surprised at how calm his voice sounded when holding Mia was setting off chain reactions in his nerve endings that were rapidly going to start causing some problems. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s a lot to take in, especially when you weren’t looking for it. It’s why we take ferals so seriously. Fortunately, we don’t see them that often out here.”

Mia gave a watery hiccup. “Why did one have to find me?”

It was a good question. One that he’d have to look into, he knew. But Mia’s voice was muffled, her body warm and inviting in his arms, and Jenner found himself swamped by a wave of protectiveness. She pulled back, just a little, and looked up at him with a sort of raw earnestness that he found completely disarming. He knew she was going to say something. But all he could see was her big, innocent eyes, glittering in her lovely, angular face, and the soft, plump invitation of her lips as they parted to speak.

Jenner couldn’t help himself.

Before Mia could speak a word, Jenner leaned down and claimed her mouth in a long, slow kiss. There was an initial shock as their lips met, and Jenner felt dizzy, as though he’d unwittingly tapped into an electric current. He heard Mia’s sharp intake of breath, knew she’d felt it, too. But she didn’t pull away, either. And as his lips lingered on hers, shock quickly became a simmering heat that began to pulse in time with his heart. Jenner nuzzled her mouth, brushing his lips against hers, testing, tasting.

He didn’t expect it when Mia simply melted into him, her mouth softening, opening beneath his as she gave in to whatever this strange pull was that existed between them. She sighed, a soft, simple exhalation. But Jenner felt the submission that had produced it, and that single sigh rocketed through his bloodstream like a rare and potent drug.

Jenner growled low in his throat as he pulled Mia closer against him, tasting her more thoroughly as his tongue swept inside her mouth. God, she was sweet…so sweet. He deepened the kiss, and Mia arched into him with a sound that was almost a purr. Her fingers laced behind his neck, and he grew rougher, more demanding as the beast within recognized she was more than willing. One hand slid up into the dark silk of her hair, while the other skimmed down the length of her, exploring curves that felt even better than they looked.

Mia’s body fit perfectly against his, better still when he cupped her backside and pulled her hard against him, letting her feel just how badly he wanted her. His blood surged in his veins, and he thought he heard the faintest fragment of some wild and sweet melody before he crushed his mouth against hers again. Jenner groaned when Mia responded in kind, shocked at how quickly he’d gone from interest to raw need. He wanted to take her clothes off with his teeth. He wanted to bend her over the counter and—

Recognizing that he was about to snap his tether despite the sexual haze, Jenner managed to tear his mouth away from Mia’s and disentangle himself in a matter of seconds. It was all he had, Jenner knew, before he did something they would both regret. His hands shook as he stumbled backward, a rare misstep for him in more ways than one.