ClaimMe (6 page)

“He has a wife. I’d told him earlier that I wanted to run
Body Scenes while he travels with Shana, but he’ll understand my change of
heart. And he’ll either stay here or close the club. It’s only open once a
month anyway. He’ll manage.”

“Will it be difficult for you to be separated from him?”
Jude asked.

She gave this the consideration it was due. Having been
Drake’s assistant and occasional lover for nearly five decades had naturally
resulted in a certain attachment between them, yes. But…

“I’ve kind of gotten used to him being gone lately.
Besides,” she said as she lifted her head and gazed at Jude, “it would be
infinitely more difficult to be separated from the two of you.” Which begged a
critical question. “Where will we go? Niagara Falls?”

Jude’s muscles instantly bunched and tension filled the
room. She glanced over her shoulder at Cray and found his causal disposition
had turned strained.

“What is it?” she asked, an uneasy feeling swirling low in
her belly.

“We’ll take you to Montana,” Jude said in his alpha voice.
“I have a place in Helena, but we’ll move you into Cray’s ranch house in the
country. The pack has homes close by. It’ll be safe there.”

Working her way out of his embrace, she sat up, though she
was still in Jude’s lap. “
Safe
?” she asked. “From who?”

Jude winced. “It’s not so much a ‘who’ anymore, but a what.
Rogue wolf. He rarely takes human form these days.”

“And
who
is he?” she demanded, a chilling sensation
pushing out some of the heat her imprinters brought to her. “Why would I be in
danger from—
oh
.”

She felt that jagged-edge pain of Jude’s again. Not to the
extent she previously had, because she’d helped to alleviate some of it. But it
still existed.

“Celine.”

That one word she whispered amped up the tension
significantly.

“His name is Vincent,” Cray told her. “He was one of our
pack members, until he broke the rules and killed another wolf. One from an
allied pack that is part of Jude’s family. He was disavowed, per our laws.
Unfortunately, he retaliated by mauling Celine within an inch of her human life
and leaving her in the woods, unable to shift or self-heal.”

Something dark and ominous slithered down Jane’s spine. She
stood, albeit on shaky legs. She reached for her dress and slipped it on. Cray
joined her and zipped it for her.

As her gaze wandered about the room for her panties—ah,
there they were, peeking out from under one of the sofas—Cray continued, his
tone lightening. “Don’t be scared. He wouldn’t dare set a paw on the ranch.”

“Somehow, that’s not as comforting as you might think,” she
said in a dour tone as she finished dressing.

Jude got to his feet and quickly dressed as well. Then he
said, “We tracked him to Niagara. He won’t get far from us. Cray and I can
handle him ourselves and the pack will stay with you at the ranch.”

Aside from the fear of a vampire slayer getting wind of her
existence and tracking her, she hadn’t given much thought to her immortal
demise in decades. Slayers were so rare these days and she was so reclusive,
she doubted she’d ever been on anyone’s radar screen. But that just might have
changed…

“You think Vincent might continue his revenge on you when he
finds out about me?” she asked Jude.

He nodded. “But it won’t happen. And, granted, we shouldn’t
have come here without taking care of the problem first. I’m sorry, Jane. But
when the imprinting nature calls…it’s impossible not to answer.”

“I don’t regret what happened between us or blame you for
acting first,” she told him. “I’m not afraid. I can handle myself. What
concerns me is that the two of you are considering hunting him alone. Why not
leave me here with Drake and take your pack with you to find Vincent?”

This pricked alpha
and
imprinter nerves. Jude said,
“That’s not possible.”

She laughed, despite the intensity of the moment. “You saw
how protective Drake is of me. Do you really think he’d let a rogue wolf you’re
hunting get within fifty feet of me?”

Jude turned away. He rubbed the back of his neck and she
felt the angst ripple through him.

To Cray, she said, “Celine didn’t see the attack coming, did
she?” Jane suspected she hadn’t been prepared for the onslaught or she would
have had more of a fighting chance. Jude wouldn’t have been so deeply in love
with someone who couldn’t take care of herself. Jane was certain of it. He had too
much strength and power himself to not require that in a mate.

Cray shook his head. “We expected Vincent to account for his
actions and then move on. Instead, he stalked Celine, caught her alone and
unawares and showed no mercy.”

A dark chill slithered down Jane’s spine. “Poor thing.”
Gripping Jude’s forearm, she said, “If, indeed, he knows anything about me,
he’d be taking quite a risk coming after me. He’d pick up Drake’s scent as
well. Would he even want to tangle with two vampires at this point?”

“There’s no telling what he’s willing to do now,” Jude told
her. “We lost his scent up north, right around the time we picked up yours. For
all we know, he’s gone to Nova Scotia to avoid us.”

That put her more at ease. “You’re hunting him and he knows
it. Not the other way around.”

“I couldn’t let the slight go, Jane.”

“Of course not. I…” She shook her head. She hadn’t let the
one against Sean go either. Though killing a slayer—killing anything or
anyone—had not sat well with her. She hadn’t attacked the slayer as a vampire
might, per se. She hadn’t bitten him and drained him dry. Rather, she’d used
the same tactic he’d employed to murder Sean. She’d staked him and burned him.

Jude and Cray both seemed to pick up on her sudden
consternation. Cray asked, “Did you avenge your lover’s death?”

She nodded before turning away, her stomach coiling tight.
“How could I not?”

“Then you understand what we must do,” Jude said in a quiet
voice that still managed to convey his authority. “And you know we will do
anything in our power to keep you out of harm’s way while we do it.”

“I don’t doubt that,” she said as she turned back to the two
men. “What I’m saying is…” Her hands shook and she wrung them absently. “I
can’t just be left to wonder whether you’re okay. Montana’s so far away. I’d
rather be with you, but if that’s not possible, at least let me stay close by.
Here in Manhattan.”

She would have insisted on this—absolutely putting her foot
down—but she’d already learned Jude’s will was stronger than hers. She had to
appeal to him in a different manner. To give him the respect he was due as the
alpha, while trying to reason with his rational side.

Cray let out a low growl as he shoved a hand through his
messy hair. “She has a point, Jude. We’d be distracted ourselves if she were
that far away from us.”

“Then what do you suggest?” Jude demanded as his gaze locked
with Cray’s. His frustration was as palpable as his concern for her safety.

“If you don’t trust Drake to protect her, then we have to
take her with us.”

“On a hunt?” Jude asked between clenched teeth.

“It’s not like I’d slow you down.” Jane’s soft voice filled
the room and both pairs of mesmerizing eyes snapped to her. She didn’t back
down. “I can run just as fast as you, I assure you. I can go months without
sleeping and I can hunt in rural areas when I need to feed. The two of you
would be much saner knowing you were protecting me and I would be able to
breathe easier too, knowing you’re close by.”

“And what happens when Vincent catches your scent and
decides to prey on you to continue his revenge or to devastate both of us?”
This question came from Jude, who simply would not yield.

She lifted her chin a notch and squared her shoulders. “I’m
smart and I have good instincts. I killed a slayer, for Christ’s sake. Test me
if you must, but have
some
faith in me.”

Her plea—and the fact that he’d unintentionally insulted
her—seemed to drive some of the tension from him. He reached for one of her
hands and pulled her to him.

Staring down at her, he said in a gentler tone, “I’m not
questioning your ability to protect yourself or to help us, Jane. I simply
can’t experience again what I went through with Celine. Particularly when it
comes to you.”

“I understand that,” she said, letting go of some of her own
frustration. “It’s the same for me when it comes to you and Cray. It was
horrific losing Sean and we weren’t bound together the way the three of us are.
But I don’t think there’s any other choice than to take me with you.”

“She’s right.” Cray didn’t even hesitate or vacillate further
over the course of action they needed to take. “You won’t be able to focus on
what needs to be done if she’s not with us. Neither will I. You’re already
tormented by knowing that to avenge Celine’s death, and your cousin’s, you have
to destroy Vincent. If Jane’s not with us, your emotions will be doubly taxed.”

Jane hated the pressure they put on Jude. She could feel how
heavily this decision weighed on his soul.

She said, “I won’t do anything to intentionally put myself
in jeopardy. I’ll do whatever you ask of me. Just…take me with you.”

He nodded. “It’s right up there with imprinting on you. I
have no choice in the matter, do I?”

Though he was resigned to the inevitable, she could see it
still troubled him greatly. But she wouldn’t concede. She had to be with them.

“I’ll tell Drake while you get us a cab. I have a backpack
at home. I can be changed and packed in seconds.”

She rushed out of the room, telling the salon attendant—who
Drake had obviously instructed not to bother them—to lock the salon door and
not let anyone in. Drake would have to replace the sofa before he reopened that
room.

Quickly making her way upstairs, she shared with Drake
everything—well,
almost
everything—that had transpired downstairs with
Jude and Cray, including telling him about Celine and Vincent. When she got to
the part where they’d all agreed she’d go with her imprinters, Drake shot to
his feet and planted his hands on his desk, leaning forward and pinning her
with a hard and somewhat crazed look.

“Absolutely not, Jane!” he spat. “You can’t possibly
consider going on a hunt like that and putting yourself in danger.”

“We’re long past
considering
, Drake.” She fought to
keep the exasperation from her tone—all of her men seemed inclined to protect
her. Not a bad thing by any means, but somewhat inconvenient at the moment,
given the circumstances. Rushing on, she said, “It’s a done deal. I just feel
bad I’m leaving you in a bit of a lurch. I said I’d stay on at Body Scenes and
now I’m reneging.”

“Body Scenes is my responsibility, ultimately. Don’t worry
about the club. But, Jane,” his expression turned grave, “are you sure you know
what you’re doing? What you’re getting yourself into?”

She sighed. “I know I’ll go stark raving mad if I’m here and
they’re out there…somewhere…and I have no way to keep tabs on them.”

“I’m sure they have cell phones,” he said in a dry tone.

“They’ll be in wolf form, Drake. They’re hunting, for
Christ’s sake.”

He groaned. “You and two wolves out looking for a murderous
ex-pack member. Yes, that sits really well with me, Jane.”

“I know how you feel. I’m sorry. I hate that you’ll worry
about me. But
I’ll
have my cell. I promise to keep in touch. I also
swore to do exactly as the alpha tells me to do, so you know I’ll be safe.”

One of his dark brows lifted. “You
swore
to do
exactly as someone tells you to?
You
, Jane? Really?”

She laughed. “You’d be surprised the concessions I’m willing
to make for these two. I belong with them, Drake. But I will return. After all
of this is over, I’ll come back so I can see you and Shana. Following that, I
believe I’ll be moving to Montana.”

“Montana! Jane, what are you thinking?” His look turned
incredulous.

“Drake,” she said in a soft tone meant to pacify him.
Emotion welled within her as she implored, “You have a new wife. Let me have a
new
life
.”

He raked a hand through his dark hair as a puff of air
hissed through his lips. She adored him for caring so much about her, but her
mind was made up. And she knew it was the right decision.

“Fine,” he finally said, clearly seeing in her eyes this was
what she truly desired. “You know all I want is for you to be happy. If this is
what you want—”

“It is,” she assured him.

“Please call me,” he insisted. “Regularly. I don’t give a
damn whether your alpha gets annoyed. He’ll just have to deal with it.”

She smiled. “He’s learning how to share me.”

“I’m sure I don’t even want to know to what extent.”

“Good. I don’t have time to dish the details. Although…Salon
B does need a new sofa.”

He actually chuckled. “You just can’t do anything in a
normal way, can you, Jane?”

“Vampire, remember?” She was finally able to accept that
fate and was decidedly relieved to be immortal. It had a multitude of
advantages, after all.

She rounded the desk and gave Drake a quick kiss on the
cheek. Then she said, “I’ll be back soon.”

“You’d better be.”

Squeezing his hand, she told him, “You’ve been my dearest
friend for five decades. That’s another bond in my existence that can’t be
broken.”

Releasing him, she turned away and hurried back downstairs,
where Jude and Cray awaited her curbside, the back door of a taxi opened for
her.

She slid in between the two men and gave her address to the
driver. Elation and apprehension were two contradictory emotions that had no
business mingling together, but they did just that in Jane’s stomach. She was
thrilled to be with Jude and Cray. Deliriously happy to be tied to them in such
a significant and powerful way.