Taming Kiera (Therian Agents Book 3) (6 page)

Jacob sat down at the head of the long rectangular table and raked his gaze over the other men in attendance. Turner lounged in his chair scowling at a document in his hand. Chase paced the small room, arms crossed. The other agents glanced nervously at each other, unwilling to make eye contact with him.

“Would someone tell me what’s going on,” Jacob growled. Irritation flooded through him.

“Hunter Sinclair is back,” Turner said, slapping the file he held on the table.

“I know.”

Chase stopped pacing and narrowed his eyes. “You know?”

“Jenna came to see me just before I came here.”

“Did he contact her?” Chase placed his palms on the table and leaned forward.

“Not yet.”

“He will.” Chase stood and resumed pacing. “When he does–”

“I’ll deal with him,” Jacob said, scratching his jaw. The man had been their friend, and a vital part of the agency. Rogue or not, Jacob would give him the benefit of the doubt. “If Hunter is working with the wolves, he has his reasons.”

“You don’t know that. How many years has it been? Five, six? People change.” Chase crossed his arms and shook his head. “If he’s working with them, then that means he’s after Kiera. What’s stopping him from using Jenna to get to her?”

He hadn’t thought of that possibility. Hunter would never harm Jenna, not intentionally, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t use as her as leverage.

“Fuck.” Jacob’s throat constricted and uneasiness washed over him. He pushed his chair back and stood, a primal growl resonating in his throat.

The other agents, who had remained silent during the exchange, began to mumble amongst themselves.

He was losing it, and his men knew it.

“Where are you going?” Chase’s harsh voice followed him out the door.

In the hall, Jacob dialed his home. When no one answered, he tried Jenna’s cell. Again, no answer.

“Bloody fucking hell.” He slammed his fist into the wall making a dent in the drywall.

Chase caught up with him as the elevator door opened.  “What’s going on?”

“I left Kiera with Jenna.” He stepped into the elevator.

Chase followed, but remained silent.

“Just say it.”

“What?” Chase cocked an eyebrow.

“Whatever the fuck you’re thinking.”

Chase shook his head and exhaled. “Is Kiera your mate?”

Jacob winced. Whatever he’d expected Chase to say, that wasn’t it.

The elevator doors opened and Chase continued to follow him through the parking garage.

“I take it that’s a yes.”

Jacob grunted, got into the SUV, and bit off a curse when Chase joined him.

“Here.” He handed Chase his phone. “Try the house again.”

Chase dialed, then shook his head. “No answer.”

“Damn it.” Jacob slammed his palm against the steering wheel, then peeled out of the parking garage. In his gut, he knew something was wrong.

Kiera wanted to go back to the agency. But there was no way in hell he was letting anyone else protect her. She was his responsibility.

She was his, alone.

“Yes,” Jacob said reluctantly.

“What?” Chase glanced over at him.

Jacob breathed out heavily, and said the three words he never thought he’d say.

“She’s my mate.”

Through the solarium windows, lightning flared across the night sky, followed by a deep crack of thunder. Kiera sat in the large wicker chair with a quilt draped across her shoulders and watched the patterns of raindrops as they slid down the glass.

Her lion stirred restlessly. She knew she’d made the right decision to go back to the agency, but it didn’t mean she had to like it. She sagged into the chair, her shoulders slumped in defeat, as she blinked back tears
. Dammit.
Stupid emotions. And stupid animal hormones for making her desire a man who clearly wasn’t available, or interested.

“Want some company?” Jenna stood in the doorway, holding two mugs.

Kiera shrugged and looked back out the window.

“I thought you might like some tea.” Jenna crossed the room and offered her one of the cups.

“Thank you,” Kiera grumbled, taking it.

“Quite the storm.” Jenna sat down in the chair opposite her. She sighed when Kiera didn’t respond. “So you like my brother?”

Kiera blinked at her. It took her a moment to realize she meant Jacob.

“You’re his sister?”

“One of them.” Jenna’s lips quirked up in a sympathetic smile.

“I thought…” Kiera closed her eyes, her cheeks burning. “I thought you were his girlfriend.”

“I figured.” Jenna chuckled. She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So what’s going on between you two?”

“Nothing.” She took a small sip of tea.

“Didn’t seem like nothing earlier. I can tell he has feelings for you, and you obviously feel something for him.”

Kiera snorted. “Trust me, Jacob’s made it perfectly clear that nothing can or will happen between us. He likes to remind me that I’m his
responsibility
. Nothing more.”

Jenna frowned. “He’s always taken care of everyone. It’s his way. Who he is.”

“I’m not looking for someone to take care of me.”

“What are you looking for?”

“I don’t know.” Kiera shook her head. “Sometimes I wish I could close my eyes and everything would return to the way it was. I didn’t ask for any of this.”

“I learned a long time ago that you can’t erase the past.” Jenna smiled sadly and looked out the window. “No matter how hard you wish to change it.”

There was a sorrow in the woman’s voice that made Kiera’s heart clench.

Jenna glanced back at her, eyes once again light. “I hope my brother smartens up. He could use a little fire in his life.”

“I wouldn’t put money on it,” Kiera said dryly.

Jenna smiled and shook her head. “We’ll see.”

Another sliver of lightning lit up the sky and cast shadows across the backyard. Something in the yard caught her eye. The shadow moved and a soft light flickered.

“Did you see that?” Kiera asked, sitting straighter. The skin prickled at the back of her neck.

“What?”

Kiera glanced back at Jenna. A small, red circle dotted her forehead.

“Get down,” Kiera screamed, dropping her cup and lunging for her.

They hit the ground hard as glass shattered around them, and rain poured violently into the room.

An alarm screeched above them and a series of howls sounded from the darkness.

“Wolves,” Jenna hissed.

“What do we do?” Kiera’s throat had gone dry, and her limbs felt heavy, useless.

Jenna’s dark eyes grew hard, focused. “Can you shift?”

Kiera shook her head as panic itched its way up her chest.

Glass crunched underneath heavy footsteps. Whoever had taken the shot was in the room. Through the slits in the overturned wicker chair, she could see the man. Two large, dark gray wolves flanked him on either side.

“When I attack, get out of here.”

“No.” Kiera reached for her, but Jenna moved too quickly.

Jenna lunged at the man, shifting midair. For a moment, Kiera forgot her fear and watched in awe at the ease and fluidity of the transformation.

The man was taken off guard, and Jenna’s lioness sunk its teeth deep in his jugular. The two wolves didn’t hesitate to attack.

Jenna’s command to run echoed in her brain, but she couldn’t move. Even if she couldn’t shift, she had to do something. She looked desperately around the room for a weapon. The man’s gun was still clutched in his lifeless hand. If she could get to it, she could help Jenna.

An anguished sound wrenched from the lioness’ throat as one of the wolves bit into her hind leg.

Fear pulsed through Kiera’s veins. She crawled across the room. Her hand was inches from the gun when a roar vibrated through the air. She grabbed the gun and spun around, aiming it at the massive male lion that bounded through the broken window.

It made quick progress with the remaining wolves.

Kiera scrambled towards Jenna, who had shifted back to human form and lay unconscious and bleeding on the floor.

With the wolves dead, the lion stalked towards them. She didn’t know how, but she knew this wasn’t Jacob.

“Stay back.” Kiera pointed the gun. Her breath trembled as she tried to draw air into her lungs.

The lion crouched low, then slowly retracted back, shifting in the form of a man. Even compared to Jacob, the man was enormous. Long, dark blond hair hung past his shoulders, and his intense hazel eyes glowed like copper in the dim light.

He grabbed the quilt from the chair and wrapped it around his waist before kneeling beside Jenna and running a hand over the fresh wounds on her body. His hand stilled when it reached the crisscross of old scars on her abdomen.

He exhaled slowly. 

“Who are you?” Kiera whispered, lowering the gun.

“Hunter Sinclair,” Jacob’s voice roared from the doorway, a weapon trained on the man. His eyes blazed with fury. “Step away from my sister.”

Chase moved in behind Jacob, his expression just as lethal. “I knew I smelled a rat. I knew you went bad, but I never thought you’d go this far.”

“I’m not your enemy.” Hunter put his hands up in surrender. “I’m not working with them. I followed Jenna here. I didn’t intend to make contact.” He swallowed hard. “You know I’d never hurt her.”

Jacob glanced at the bodies on the floor, then turned his cold gaze on Hunter. His finger twitched over the trigger.

Darkness slashed at his features and there was murder in his eyes.

“He’s telling the truth,” Kiera said, dropping the gun on the floor and placing herself in the line of fire.

“Get out of the way, Kiera,” Jacob said through clenched teeth. A soft rumbling rattled from his chest. When she didn’t move, he gripped her arm and forced her behind him.

“We don’t have time to argue.” Hunter picked Jenna up, cradling her against his chest, his expression tight with grief. “Her wounds are deep and she needs an antiserum. I’m taking her with me.” He held Jacob’s unwavering gaze, and something unseen passed between them. “Let me fix this.”

A long tension-filled moment passed before Jacob lowered his gun. “If you hurt her again…”

“I know.” Hunter glanced down at the woman in his arms and his expression softened.

Whatever had happened between the two of them in the past had scarred him deeply.

“Tell me what you know about the wolves. Who are they working for and what do they want with Kiera?”

“You already know who they’re working for.”

“Circe.” A muscle under Jacob’s eye twitched.

Hunter gave a brisk nod, then turned his gaze on Chase. “She has a daughter. The girl’s been sick since she was a kid. Circe kept her alive by transfusing her with metamorph blood, but there are rumors that she won’t survive much longer.”

“Lies.” Chase’s lips pulled up in a snarl, revealing sharp canines. “I don’t have a sister.”

“Half-sister,” Hunter corrected. “Her father was human, and so is the girl. Circe funded Boyd’s research in hopes that one day her daughter could be turned. Kiera’s the first of Boyd’s victims to survive and resume human form. You can imagine why Circe wants her. She won’t stop until she gets what she wants.”

Kiera swallowed past the knot in her throat. She glanced at Jacob. His face had gone pale, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze.

Jenna stirred in Hunter’s arms, and a soft moan escaped her lips. He took a step towards the shattered window, his intent clear.

“We can’t let you walk out of here,” Chase growled.

Hunter smirked, then gave a quick nod at Jacob before disappearing into the night.

Chase cursed and started after him.

“Let him go,” Jacob commanded.

“Have you completely lost your mind?” Chase swung around. “He has Jenna.”

“He won’t hurt her.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.” A pained expression crossed Jacob’s features.

The corners of Chase’s eyes twitched and his mouth drew into a thin line. “How?”

“Because, she’s his mate.” Jacob swallowed hard, straightened and turned his amber gaze to Kiera. “And now I need to get mine as far away from here as possible.”

The car turned down a dirt road and the moon disappeared behind the heavy foliage above them.

Kiera glanced at Jacob, opened her mouth to speak, but shut it, shaking her head instead. They’d been driving for over three hours in silence, and the tension had become almost tangible.

Slumping in her seat, she rubbed her temples. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“I think I would’ve been safer with the wolves,” she muttered.

“Don’t push me, Kiera.” His gaze shot to her, and his knuckles went white on the steering wheel.

“Or what?” She glared at him, daring him to react. “What will you do?” She laughed harshly. “You don’t have balls to do what–”

Jacob slammed the breaks, causing her to jolt forward. Her hands flew to the dashboard to brace herself.

He put the car in park, then turned quickly, leaning towards her. He was so close, she could see the moonlight reflected in his eyes, taste the minty scent of his breath on her lips. 

His hand brushed against hers, then down the side of her leg. It was a small touch, but it hit her like an electric shock.

A click sounded, and she realized he’d unbuckled her seatbelt. 

The corner of his mouth twitched. “We’re here.”

He pulled back abruptly and got out of the car, leaving her breathless and uncertain.

Kiera sighed deeply and opened the door, allowing the fresh, cool air to fill her lungs. Moonlight beamed through the tree branches, illuminating a small, wooden cabin.

“You’re kidding, right?” Kiera asked, eyes wide.

Jacob gathered their bags from the trunk, and shone a flashlight towards the cabin.

The front door squeaked on its hinges when Jacob opened it, and Kiera swore she saw something skitter across the floor.

Jacob placed their bags on the floor, handed her the flashlight, and disappeared in the shadows.

Kiera felt the wall for a light switch and flicked it on and off. Nothing. She groaned. “Please tell me there’s electricity.”

A few seconds later, the hum of a generator sounded and the lights turned on.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

The cabin was small, but it appeared to be clean, the furniture old, but still in good condition.

Jacob returned with a folded sheet set and quilt, and placed them on the sofa.

“It’s late. You can have the back bedroom. I’ll finish unpacking the supplies.”

He started past her towards the door, but she stepped in front of him.

“Why did you bring me here if you’re going to keep ignoring me? Why not take me back to the agency? I’d be just as safe there.”

“You think I can’t protect you?”

Was he serious?
The flash of indignation that crossed his expression told her he was.

“Of course I do.” She exhaled a frustrated breath. “But I want to know
why
you want to.”

“It’s my job.”

“Bullshit.” She placed her palms on his chest.

He stilled under her touch and sucked in a ragged breath.

His scent gave off a mixture of signals. She wasn’t sure if he was angry, terrified or aroused. His heart hammered under her palm. He didn’t move, but she could see in his eyes he wanted to run.

She wouldn’t let him. Not this time.

“I’m
not
your responsibility.” She licked her lips and ran her hands down his chest.

“
Yes
, you are.” His nostrils flared, his breathing irregular.

“What are you afraid of? Just admit. You like me. You could have taken me back to the agency, but you didn’t. I heard what you said to Chase, that I’m your mate. I don’t have a freaking clue what that means, but whatever it is, I think it scares the shit out of you. That’s why you keep your distance, why you refuse to–”

Without warning, his lips crashed down on hers. Her mouth parted for him, and his tongue sank into her mouth. He slid one hand around her waist, the other tangled in her hair. Hunger filled her, rose inside of her, filling her, flooding her entire body with intense desire.

She lost her breath at the silent demand of his tongue.

The heat of his body burned through her clothes. She grasped at his shirt, pulling the hem from his pants. The ache between her thighs pulsed with the need for his touch. She was desperate for him.

Pinpricks of sensations lashed across her flesh. Too many nights had passed fantasizing about the feel of his flesh against hers, his cock sinking deep and hard between her thighs.

She barely restrained a cry when his fingers brushed over her sensitive nipples. She arched against him, needing more.  

“Is this what you want?” There was no mistaking the heat in his low voice.

“Yes,” she whimpered against his mouth.

“Do you have any idea what you’re unleashing?” He lowered his head and raked his teeth across her neck. A harsh, tortured groan tore from his lips.

“It’s just sex,” she said breathlessly.

“No.” He pulled back, panting, his eyes dark. “It can never be just sex between us. My lion has claimed you. Do you know what that means?”

She shook her head.

“I have no control around you.”

“You have too much control.” A frustrated whimper welled in her throat.

He laughed, low and deep. The sound vibrated off her skin, making her shiver with longing.

“If only you knew what you do to me.”

“Show me.”

“If we continue, I can’t promise I won’t mark you.” He ran his thumb along her neck and ran his tongue over his teeth.

“You mean bite me?” Uneasiness crept along the back of her neck.

“It would bind you to me, physically, mentally, emotionally. You would be mine in every sense of the word, and I would be yours.”

Kiera shivered.

“Are you willing to give me everything, every part of yourself? If we do this, there’s no going back.”

She blinked up at him. Not even the most earth shattering orgasm was worth that sacrifice.

The lion within roared in acceptance, but the woman bristled at the thought. She wouldn’t be put on a leash–by
anyone
.

He smiled sadly. “I didn’t think so.”

“Can’t we just have sex without the biting part?”

He chuckled and pulled her against his chest, kissing the top of her head. When he released her, she saw a new resignation in his eyes. “Marked or not, I’ll protect you with my last breath.”

She watched him walk out the door, into the darkness.

It wasn’t his protection she wanted, but for now it was all she’d willingly take.