Hunter (Fairy Tale Bad Boys #1) (3 page)

Jason

Pounding on his door was the first thing he heard when he woke up the next morning. The second thing he heard was the jackhammer going wild in his head. What did he do last night?

Jason cracked his eyes open and searched around him. Thankfully, he was in his apartment and had apparently passed out on the couch. The last thing he remembered was stumbling home from the bar, trying to get Diana, the feistier of the sisters, to accept that he wouldn’t be going home with her that night.

The banging on the door continued, and Jason dragged himself up from the couch, his phone dropping from his lap and to the floor. The screen came on, showing his text messages and one name at the top glared out at him, making him groan. He did not drunk text Isabel, did he?

Picking up his phone, he popped open the conversation which showed he had not only drunk texted her, but he had made a fool of himself flaunting his hard on. Shoving the phone in his pocket, he wondered if there was a hole big enough to swallow him that was if the incessant knocking on his door didn’t kill him first.

“Jason, get your lazy ass up. I want to go hunting before I keel over,” his dad’s voice called out from the other side of the door.

“That’s not likely to happen in the next five years let alone the next five seconds.” Jason opened the door with a weak smile. “Hi, dad.”

“Finally.” His dad pushed passed him without waiting for an invitation. “Where’s the coffee?”

Jason stepped back, shutting the door behind him. While ex-military himself he was built the same as Jason, but in the last years, his father had somehow shortened, putting him almost half a foot shorter than his son. At almost sixty, the black hair that used to match Jason’s was now more gray than black, giving it a peppered look.

“I don’t have any made yet.” Jason headed for the kitchen, knowing his dad would give him an earful either way.

“Not made yet! It’s already six o’clock.” He gestured at the clock on the wall. “How are you going to go hunting without a good cup of Joe?”

Rubbing a hand over his face, he remembered it was Sunday.  He and his dad had a long standing tradition ever since he got back from overseas to go out in the woods whether rain or snow, duck or deer season. Sometimes they came back empty handed, sometimes they didn’t. The point of it was to get out of work life and spend quality bonding time. Today, though, Jason could use a bit more bonding time with his pillow.

“I had a long night.” He handed his dad a cup of coffee, and then leaned against the kitchen counter. “Do you think you could amuse yourself long enough for me to take a quick shower?”

“Shower?” His dad took a sip of his mug, taking a moment to appreciate the taste. “Why would you need to do that? You are just going to get dirty again.”

Jason shrugged, not really wanting to get into it.

The older man leaned in and took a whiff of Jason. “Woo wee. You smell about a hundred proof. You shoot a gun smelling like that and you are likely to blow us all up. You get yourself in the shower, and I’ll tend to your coffeemaker. We’ll leave when you are done.”

“Thanks, dad.” Jason patted him on the shoulder on his way out of the kitchen and headed to the bathroom. If there was one thing he knew would distract his father it was a good cup of coffee and lucky for Jason, he knew how to brew one mean cup of Joe.

* * *

Forty-five minutes later, Jason and his father were deep in the woods that surrounded their little town of Rollings. So far they hadn’t been able to catch a glimpse of any quarry, which was just fine with Jason since he really wasn’t in the mood for a hunt. His mind was still on the text messages he sent Isabel the night before.

“What’s got into you, son?” His dad nudged him with his elbow.

“What do you mean?”

“First, you get pass out drunk, stinking to high heavens, and now you are too distracted to notice when a good doe has just crossed our path. Sounds a bit off to me.” His dad shouldered his rifle, stopping their trek through the woods.

“I’m just tired is all.”

His dad hummed not quite believing him, and then after a moment said, “You know, I heard a rumor around town.”

“A rumor?” Jason’s brow rose. “Since when do you care about rumors?”

“When they have to do with my son’s future happiness of course!” He swung his rifle around in the air.

“All right, all right.” He held his hand up to calm him down, before he shot them both. “What’s this rumor you heard?”

Brushing a hand under his nose, his father shifted from foot to foot in a bit of a nervous gesture. “How much do you know about werewolves?”

Jason smirked. “What does anybody know about sups in general? They aren’t exactly forthcoming with their secrets.” His dad watched him waiting for a real answer. “Oh, all right. Werewolves are like most shifters, they can shift from human to animal on a whim, even without a full moon. Though, I’ve heard they are pricklier around the full moon and less in control of their beast—”

“Right,” his dad remarked. “And there is one thing that shifters all have in common, and that is they are pack driven. They are all about tradition and the good of the pack.”

“So?” Jason shrugged. “What of it?”

“There has been talk around that our local werewolf hasn’t just been visiting his folks up north but securing his legacy and place in the pack.” His dad’s eyes locked on to him, trying to tell him something he just wasn’t getting.

“You’re going to have to spell it out for me, dad. I’m not sure where you are going with this.” Jason shifted his rifle from one arm to the other, the thought of the hunt completely gone from his mind.

“Son, come on now. I thought you were smarter than that. How do animals secure their place in society?” He urged him to come to the conclusion as him.

Jason’s face scrunched up in thought. What was his dad getting at? The only sure way to hold one's pack was through brute force or an heir. Just then a light flickered on in his head.

“You think he’s trying to produce an heir? With Isabel?” Disbelief coated his words, the very thought of it so absurd and maddening he couldn’t think straight. Isabel pregnant? He knew Izzy well enough to know he’d never get her back if she was having another man’s baby. She was too loyal to leave Vincent without just cause.

“Well, if it is not our Isabel then he’s certainly working on it with someone else. But you can’t tell me that all this time they’ve lived together that this wasn’t a possibility?” His dad sighed, “Look, son, either she’s already pregnant or is well on her way. Either way, you need to decide if you want to be involved with that kind of drama. Is she worth it?”

It was no question for Jason. Isabel was worth the heartache, drama, and more. He’d proven that by not letting up the last nine months. But if she was pregnant, did he want to ruin any chances for her future happiness by trying to drive a wedge between her and the wolf?

He wished he had an answer.

Isabel

With Vincent being unwilling to confide in her, Isabel did the only thing she could do. Call on her sisters for help.

“It’s been a while, Isabel.” Belinda, the middle sister, watched her with curious eyes as if trying to pick apart a puzzle. While Isabel might be good with numbers, Belinda was good at solving people. It was one skill Isabel needed right then.

“Lately, you only call us when you want something.” Her oldest sister, Lisa, took a sip from her cup of coffee, her blue eyes locking onto Isabel. She had always been the most stoic of the three sisters. Mature beyond her years but more blunt than Isabel was comfortable with.

“I know. I meant to drop by sooner, but things have gotten busy up at the house.” Isabel fidgeted with her own cup, her eyes now on the table.

Both of her sisters lived in Saint Paul, only Isabel had moved out to Rollings with her dad a few years ago. Even only thirty minutes away, none of them could ever agree on a place to meet, so whenever they did visit, they always went to May’s Diner. Kind of a dump but they had the best apple pie. The greatest part was there was a booth in the back that was secluded enough to have a private conversation without the busybodies ease dropping.  This was one of those times she didn’t want to be overheard.

“Well, it’s understandable. I can imagine Vincent keeps you very busy.” Belinda remarked, a small smile on her lips.

“Not busy in the way you think.” Everyone assumed her and Vincent were going at it like bunnies. If they were Isabel wouldn’t be here now.

“Oh really? That’s hard to believe.” Lisa pursed her lips. “If I had that kind of man around me twenty-four seven I’d never leave the bedroom.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Isabel let her eyes trail out the window, not sure how to ask her question.

“Go on then. We don’t have all day. Michael is at daycare, and you know how much I hate letting those idiots watch him.” Lisa rolled her eyes. “They spend more time with their eyes on their cell phones than on the children.”

“I told you to just call Jaime if you weren’t comfortable sending my nephew there. She would have been perfectly happy to watch him.” Belinda nodded her head at Lisa.

“Like that would happen,” Isabel’s oldest sister growled.

Belinda’s girlfriend, Jaime, was an artist and made her own hours. While convenient, Lisa didn’t think an artist was any more responsible than those at the daycare. Lisa’s idea of a good parent was a nanny cam and locks on anything and everything that could be put in her two-year-old's mouth.

“Anyways,” Lisa turned the conversation back to Isabel. “What did you want to talk to us about?”

Isabel sighed, might as well get it over with. “Vincent and I haven’t slept together yet.”

There was a stunned silence all around their table, the sound of the diner in the background the only noise that reminded her that she had not gone deaf.

“Come again?” Belinda inquired, tilting her ear toward her as if she had heard her wrong.

“You heard me.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sunk a little deeper into the booth.

Her sisters exchanged a glance, doing that mental communication thing she had never been able to pick up before Lisa leaned forward, her voice low, “Why not? You’ve been together for months now. How in all that time have you not jumped his bones?”

Isabel threw her hands up. “It’s not from lack of trying. At first, I thought he was just trying to be a gentleman so I didn’t bring it up. But last night, I decided to make a move and just when things started to get hot and heavy all of a sudden he stopped.”

“Are you sure he’s not.” Belinda gave her a knowing look that Isabel knew all too well.

“No.” She shook her head. “He is not gay.”

“How do you know? Did he seem, you know, interested?” Belinda tried to keep the smile off her face as she popped her pointer finger up.

Blushing furiously, Isabel ducked her head down. “No. He seemed interested enough.”

Dropping her hand, her sister shrugged. “Well then, maybe he was tired or he wants to wait until marriage. Have you asked him?”

“Yes,” she cried out louder than she meant, attracting the eyes of the rest of the diner. Looking back at her sisters, she lowered her voice, “I mean yes, I asked him about it.”

“And?” Lisa prodded.

“He said it's pack business.”

Lisa leaned back her face twisted in confusion. “Pack business? What does your sex life have to do with pack business?”

“Hell if I know. He said something about securing his place in the pack and told me not to worry about it. When I tried to get him to tell me anymore he kept deflecting, treating me like a child who was in over her head.”

“Didn’t you have the same problem with Jason?” Belinda frowned.

Isabel glared at her sister. It was not like Jason at all. He wanted her barefoot and pregnant taking care of the children while he had a career. Vincent loved her for her independence. But it didn’t make a difference if he didn’t trust her. How could they be together if they couldn’t trust each other?

Lisa smacked Belinda on the arm. “Don’t compare him to that buffoon. That guy only knows how to do one thing and that’s stick his big foot in his big mouth.” She paused and then smirked. “Well, two things.”

Her sisters broke out into a fit of laughter. She would think she would have learned by now not to confide in her sisters when it came to her sex life. They were worse than a bunch of gossiping grannies when it should be a serious matter.

“It’s not funny.”

“Of course, it’s not, Isabel.” Belinda wiped a tear from her face. “But what do you want us to do? We can’t read Vincent’s mind. From what you’ve said and what I’ve seen of your man, he could very well be planning on marrying you or joining the circus.” Her lips quirked up at the last bit. “Let’s just hope he is planning the former and not the latter. If you want a straight answer you’ll just have to poke around on your own or put your big girl panties on and insist he tell you.”

Neither one of those options were appealing to her. She had hoped coming to them, they would have thought of something else that didn’t include a confrontation or her breaking what little trust Vincent had in her. His money he trusted her with, but apparently there wasn’t much else.

Standing from the table, Isabel turned toward the door. “Well, thanks for nothing. I’ll see you two later.”

“Oh come on, Isabel. Stay and chat with us.” Belinda held her hand out to her, trying to get her to sit back down.

“I really can’t.” She shook her head. “I have a lot of work I need to get done, and I suppose a decision to make.”

Her sisters gave her matching supportive grins and wished her luck, making her promise to let them know how it all turned out. She would have liked to know how it would turn out as well. That was until she walked out of the diner and right into the last man she wanted to see.