The Heir (18 page)

"Surprise!" Christian shouted with a smile
the size of the Grand Canyon on his face.

"Are those the latest z1000's standing in
front of me?" She asked in disbelief.

Axel nodded, "yes they are," He agreed, his
hands tucked in his front pockets and also smiling at her.

"Catch me I think I'm going to faint!" She
told them, fanning herself and going limp. Axel caught her and she
looked up at him, "How? When? What?" She asked faintly.

“It is a gift from your mate." He answered
her, the smile still in place.

"But-"

"Jessica what’s going on?" Her mom asked from
behind them.

She stood up and turned to face her mom- and
her brother, and her sister, and her dad. They were all standing
there with looks of apprehension on their faces.

"Nothing bad,” she assured them, “sorry about
that. I was just surprised, that's all."

"Surprised by what?"

Jessica moved aside and with sweep of her
hand indicated the three brand new bikes standing behind her. "I
was surprised by that!" She exclaimed, still in shock.

"Nice!" Riley shouted excitedly and high
fived Christian.

"Wow" Danielle murmured.

Her parents weren’t as celebratory.

"Where did they come from?"

"Who do they belong to?" They asked.

Still dazed, Jessica could only manage a
shrug and a shake of her head.

"It is a gift from her mate." Axel explained
proudly once again.

"But why three?" Jessica asked him,
bewilderment clear in her tone of voice.

"Two of those are ours." Christian pointed
out happily. "Well, if you accept us as your bodyguards of
course."

Jessica nudged him with her shoulder. "You
know I do." She told him with a smile. How could she say no, when
his eyes begged her to say yes.

It wasn't as big a hardship on her as she
made it seem either. She could see that, for however long this
lasted, they would get along well. She believed that Christians
playful -borderline obnoxious- antics and Axels quiet -borderline
reserved- personality blended well with her assertive and demanding
self.

Also, unlike her previous bodyguards, she
knew that in a fight they could actually protect her; they'd proven
that yesterday against Shane and they wouldn’t go crazy for her
like Shane either. For the first time in months she didn't have to
worry about someone else safety or her own as much because she had
them.

It also didn't hurt her decision that they
were a couple of hunks sure to draw envious attention from other
girls around town. She smiled wickedly imagining stuck up girls
rushing into a second hand store just to meet those two.

"It's an extravagant gift," her mom said,
killing her imaginary joy, "you can't accept it."

"Yes, I can!" She argued then thought about
it and snapped around to look at Axel. "Unless, it's some kind of
trick. If I accept, am I accepting more than the bike?"

Axel shook his head. "The bike is yours with
no strings attached. Nick saw you in the SUV yesterday and figured
it was probably because of the bodyguard. He remembered you on your
old bike, and figured this was a better gift than a pair of diamond
earrings."

Jessica looked down at herself and smiled
wryly. She was in a comfortable old pair of jeans, wearing her
equally old black pair of sneakers and a faded black shirt. "He was
right." She agreed and chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully, "so he
bought me a bike just because?"

"Because you are his mate," He clarified,
"but yes, just because; it's not a trick."

After a couple of second of thinking,
Christian grabbed her elbow and pulled her away from her
family.

"He worked really hard to get you something
he hoped you’d like. He'd be very insulted -and hurt- if you
declined his gift."

"He honestly only had your pleasure in mind,"
Axel, standing behind her, added quietly.

Jessica turned to look at the bikes; all
three were the same, Black, Z1000 Ninjas. She bit her index finger
as she walked around them to take a closer look and recited in awe
all the key features that she'd memorized from the website.

Jessica groaned and tried to wrap her arms
around the bike. "I've always wanted one of these." She confided to
no one in particular before she looked at her mom and pleaded,
"Please don't make me give it back!"

"Why didn't you tell us you wanted one?"
Lauren asked her. "We could have bought it for you."

Jessica shook her head. "I know you hate me
riding and I didn't want to ask, but it's here now and I don’t
think I can let it go."

Lauren wrapped her hands around herself, she
couldn't deny it, and she did hate her riding that thing. But she'd
never felt like she had the kind of right to tell her what she was
allowed to do. "It was gifted to you." She told her daughter
surprised that she wasn't choking on the words. "And you are a
couple of weeks from eighteen, it's your choice whether you keep it
or not."

"Thank you, Thank you!" Jessica ran to her
mom and gave her an exuberant hug and kiss on the cheek, "Thank
you!"

Lauren laughed and patted her back, "Now that
I think about it, I wish I'd come up with the idea of such a gift
myself."

Jessica blushed, feeling like a mercenary, "I
don't need any gifts." She told her. "That's why I never
asked."

Jessica changed her mind and thought that it
was better to return the bike. She didn't want Nick or anyone else
to think that they could buy her affection.

Christian understood her hesitation and
groaned. "If you don't take it, then we will have to give ours back
too. If not for yourself then do it for me." He looked accusingly
at her. "It took me weeks to learn how to ride and just because I
heal fast doesn't mean I hurt less."

"Why would you have to return yours, I'll
just use my own." She pointed at her ten year old bike. She loved
that bike but compared to the z1000, she shook her head morosely;
all the chips and dents were glaringly obvious.

"Nick's girl riding that piece of-"

"Hey!"

"-while her bodyguards are riding in style."
Christian scoffed, "Might as well go get the car, Axel. And call
Nick and tell him she said no. All that pain for nothing." He
muttered and went to run a hand over his intended bike and shook
his head, sadly. "It was nice knowing you."

Jessica raised an eyebrow and crossed her
arms over her chest. "Laying it on a little thick aren't you?"

He smiled wickedly. "Is it working?"

She rolled her eyes. "Maybe."

"Say yes."

"Yes."

"She said yes!" He pumped his fist in the
air. "Everybody conga!" He grabbed Jessica by the waist and started
to do just that.

Jessica laughed and swatted at his hands.
"Stop it!"

"I'm going to my room; staring at a wall is
more entertaining than watching someone act like an idiot."
Danielle snapped.

Christian's hands tightened on Jessica's
waist as everyone turned to watch Danielle walk away.

"Someone really has to figure out what's her
problem, but not I because I have to go to work." Axel handed her
the keys to her new bike and she kissed her parents goodbye before
hopping on. "Do you think we could go see Nick? I'd like to thank
him personally for this."

Axel shook his head. "Not a good idea, why
don’t you just give him a call?"

"Fine, I'll do that at work, let’s go!”

The garage doors opened and they were off,
Jessica's thoughts were centered on Nick, wondering where he was
and what he was doing. She wanted to see him-just to thank him for
the bike, she told herself hastily. But she knew it was more than
that.

Chapter 12

He was home; Nick rolled down the window,
took a deep breath and with it the scent of his land. He'd been
gone for only a couple of months but it felt like an eternity.
There were new shifters here that he had yet to meet. Before he'd
gotten the faithful call from Axel, yesterday, Matt had been busy
briefing him on all the wolves that had come, trickling in, during
his absence. The majority of them had been in hiding for almost
nine-teen years.

He could sense their nervousness in the air
and as he drew closer to his home, the scent of ammonia bombarded
his nostrils. They were wary of him and he could understand why,
they didn't know him, all they knew was that he was his father’s
son. It was up to him to prove that he was nothing like him.

Nick banged his head on the back rest and
wondered, "Will it always be like this? Will always have to prove
myself?"

"It won’t take them long to shed the fear,"
His bodyguard tried to assure him, "As soon as they spend time with
you they will see that you are nothing like him."

“Am I that transparent?”

"You are to those who know you, and we've all
been busy praising your good character. Five minutes around you and
they will see that we were right...either that or run back into
hiding?" He added jokingly.

Nick chuckled and shook his head, "Thanks,
and I hope you didn't embellish my good virtues too much."

He cringed, "Actually, you volunteer at the
soup kitchen on Wednesdays, read to the kids at the library on
Thursdays, Friday nights you volunteer as the designated driver at
some of the local bars, coach kids sports on Saturdays, go to
church on Sunday and Monday you spend it at the hospital."

Nick's eyes grew wide and smiled, "you forgot
Tuesday."

"Oh no, that’s your resting day.” He was
informed, tongue in cheek. "But you can't sit still so you usually
bake cookies to take to the soup kitchen the next day."

"Have I killed anyone with those cookies
yet?"

"Of course you haven't!" His bodyguard took
his eyes off the road for a second to glance at him. "You don't
watch Martha Stewart for nothing."

Nick threw his head back and laughed. "You
are right. They will be running for the hills! Thanks" He added
soberly. "I needed that."

"Glad I could help."

They reached his house and as soon as the car
was parked Nick opened the door and jumped out. He looked around,
wondering where everyone was and went to the front door. As soon as
he opened it, a horrible scent bombarded his senses.

He followed the smell into his living room
and froze in the doorway.

"Surprise!"

"Welcome home!"

"What the hell are you doing here?" He asked
them in a deadly low voice.

“We heard you were coming home," Kate
explained as she walked towards him. "And we thought it would be a
great surprise to come visit you."

As she reached him, she raised her hands for
a hug and he took a quick step back to avoid her. The thought of
her touching him had vile rising up his throat. Kate lowered her
hands slowly and pouted but he ignored her, sidestepping her to
look at his sister.

Nick smiled at her, opened his arms and Sarah
rushed into his embrace. He held her tight and she murmured into
his chest. “I missed you big bro."

He gave her one last tight squeeze before
pulling back and placing his hands on her shoulder to look at her.
"Missed you too Sarah but how many times have I told you not to
wear that crap around me?"

"Sorry Nicky, that's me." Kate admitted and
sidled up to him, "I know you hate it but I wanted to look my best
for you."

She wrapped her arms around one of his and he
had to bite back a snarl. The strong scent of her perfume, mixed
with the smell of her disgusting make up and her desire for him
were making him dizzy. He'd always been repulsed by her, but never
like this, before he couldn't stand her touch now he flat out hated
it. He had to fist his hands -and remind himself that she was a
female- to keep himself from flinging her away and through a
wall.

"Where's Matt." He asked his sister and did
his hardest to ignore the leech on his arm.

Sarah shrugged and tried to act like Matt's
name alone didn't disturb her but he wasn't fooled. For ages he'd
known that his best friend and sister had a thing for each
other.

“He's out back I think." She answered him
indifferently, cutting into his thoughts, and turned around to look
out the window before he could ask her anything else.

Nick got the hint and eyed her back
contemplative. Sarah and Matt had tried like hell to hide whatever
was between them and it had worked on almost everyone but him. He
knew them too well; they'd gotten along well until around the time
she turned eight-teen.

Unfortunately things seemed to have turned
sour after her last visit. She’d even stopped coming for months and
when she did come visit again, she wasn’t the same.

"Sarah, do me a favor and go get Matt. We
have a lot of things to talk about today."

Sarah knew a dismissal when she heard one.
She walked out mutely, praying for the strength to keep herself
from flying into Matt's arms. One day, she told herself, one day
the danger will be gone and I will be able to shout it to the world
that we are mates.

Nick watched the doorway until he heard his
back door open and close.

"Great idea, now we can be alone." Kate
purred. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she took a deep breath to
breathe in his scent and froze. "What is that smell?" She asked
with disdain and dropped her hands to her hips.

As soon as her hands were off him, Nick
wasted no time in stepping away from her. "What are you talking
about?" He asked blandly. "What smell?" Nick lifted his arm to
smell his arm pit. "I don’t think I smell that bad; do I?"

Kate glared at him. "Don’t be smart." She
snapped. "Why do you smell like cheap girl perfume?"

"It's not cheap." He corrected, taking
exception to the word and her haughty tone of voice. "Cheap is the
crap you are wearing, and it's not perfume." He clarified. "It’s
just the smell of the detergent she uses on her sheets."