Hidden Destiny (Redwood Pack) Read online

  Before she could blink, she was flat on the bed, and he was over her, still pumping into her, still hard because he was a wolf and could last longer than a human. He cupped her face, and she slid her hands down his back, bringing him closer.

  This time when they came, it was together, beautiful yet bittersweet.

  Yes, she had her North, and he had his Lexi, but they weren’t mates.

  Not fully.

  He kissed her hard and then softened it. She melted against him, needing him closer than she’d ever thought possible.

  It didn’t matter, she told herself. It didn’t matter there was no bond. As long as she had North, she could make it.

  She had to.

  Chapter Six

  North was pretty sure the best way to wake up was wrapped around a woman, and that woman being Lexi just made it all that much better. The warm body currently snuggled into him made his wolf howl, and the man wanted to beg to bury himself even deeper.

  “She’s ours. No matter the cost. She’s ours.”

  North silently agreed with his wolf, even though the dull ache of not completing the bond stayed with him. He had a feeling that ache would always stay with him.

  At least until he killed Corbin.

  His hand fisted in the sheet, and a soft growl escaped him. No, he shouldn’t be thinking about that. Not now. Not when the woman he wanted to be with—the woman he was with—was so close, so his.

  Her light lashes lay against her pale skin, beautiful, restful. Her blonde hair looked mussed—something he knew he was responsible for and liked. He brushed a strand away, careful not to move too fast and wake her up.

  He liked her here, sleeping in his arms as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Oh, he knew the overwhelming issues of their war and Pack would come soon, but right now, in this bed, all he wanted to do was pull her close, taste her skin, and then sink his already hard cock into her heat.

  His dick twitched at the thought, and a small laugh escaped the woman in his arms.

  “You’re faking it,” North whispered then nuzzled her neck, biting down slightly. Again, he ignored the pain that it wasn’t a mate mark, that there might not be a chance for a mate mark ever. He had to take the happiness as it came and ignore the ache for now. “You’ve been awake, haven’t you?”

  Lexi turned in his arms and smiled. “I couldn’t help it. You’re so warm, and I love the way your hands move over me.”

  He grinned then captured her lips. “They could have roamed over you even more if you hadn’t been feigning sleep, baby.”

  His hand brushed over the curve of her belly, stopping over her mound. She arched into him, and he smiled.

  “I’m going to like waking up with you in my arms. I might just have to wake you up in the future by filling you up and rocking you awake.”

  Her brows rose, and she smiled. “That’d be one hell of a way to wake up, but I’m a light sleeper. Being a mom sort of took care of that for me.”

  North froze, a thought slamming into him that should have come to him before.

  Wolves could only have children with their mates.

  Shit.

  If he didn’t kill Corbin—and he would, damn it—he’d never watch Lexi grow round with his child. He’d never hold their baby in his arms and watch it grow up. He’d already missed Parker’s first words, first steps, first change…first everything.

  Jesus.

  Corbin had taken everything.

  Lexi cupped his cheek, and he nuzzled into the touch. “Don’t look so lost, North.” Her words were hoarse, the pain woven so deep he could feel it as his own.

  “I love you being in my bed, baby.” His wolf nudged along his skin, wanting to be closer.

  Lexi swallowed hard, the line of her throat slender. “I swear I could almost feel your wolf dance along my skin.”

  He frowned, and his wolf howled. “I told you he was close to the surface. I can control him, Lex. He would never hurt you.”

  She punched his arm. “Hey, did I say that? Did I say I was afraid of him? No. I was only sad that my wolf can’t come out to play with him. He’s got to be in pain. I know the two of you are more entwined than most, and I like it. It almost makes up for the fact that I can’t hear mine.”

  “Fate’s tricky like that.”

  “Yes, and she’s a bitch too.” North joined in her laughter and kissed her throat. “I have an idea, Lex.”

  “Does it involve you sliding between my legs and saying good morning?”

  He licked along her neck and gently bit down. She shuddered, yielding. “That’s the next idea.” He pulled away so he could see her eyes. “I was actually thinking about your wolf.”

  Lexi frowned. “What about her?”

  He ran a hand through her hair, trying to soothe. “I want to see if there’s something I can do.”

  “North, I’m latent. There’s nothing you can do.”

  “No, there’s nothing that’s been done. That’s different. I’ve never heard of an adult latent wolf, Lexi. Not more than a whisper here or there. I’m a doctor.”

  “And you need to fix things,” she finished for him, her tone dead.

  He kissed her hard. “No. You aren’t broken.”

  “I’m the definition of a broken wolf, North.”

  “Shut it. Don’t put yourself down that way. I’m a doctor, meaning if I see someone in pain, I want to help. Okay? Let’s see if there’s anything to be done. If there isn’t, then we’ll continue on as we have.”

  “I don’t even know if I can mark you as my mate if we get to that point.”

  That now-familiar pain arched over him, but he pushed it away. “We’ll deal with that then.”

  She took a deep breath, her breasts pushing against his chest. “For you, I will.”

  He nuzzled her. “Thank you, my Lexi.”

  “You don’t think we’re moving too fast then?”

  North held back a snort. “Hell, I waited on the sidelines for months while we tiptoed around each other. I’m not waiting anymore. If I had my way, you’d be in my bed in my house every night and we’d move Parker in the guest room and make it his own.”

  Her eyes filled with laughter, pushing away the sadness, at least for now. “That would be moving really fast. We haven’t even told Parker about us.”

  “I think he has an idea, Lex.” The kid was old for his years and extremely observant.

  “Having an idea and having you in his life in a new way are two completely different things. We’re going to have to be careful around him.”

  “I would never hurt that boy. I want him to be part of my family just as much as I want you to be part of it. It was never a question for me about whether I’d want to help you raise him. Not that I have any idea what I’m doing in that situation. You and Logan seem to be doing a great job on that front, but I want to help. I want to be there.”

  Tears filled her eyes, and she reached up to kiss him. He lowered his head and met her halfway. She melted against him, and his wolf howled.

  “You’re a good man, North Jamenson.”

  He moved so he was hovering over her, his cock right at her entrance. “I’m your man, Lexi Anderson.” He couldn’t wait until she was Lexi Jamenson, but that would be moving a little too fast.

  The door opened behind them, and North froze.

  “Mom—oh.”

  North closed his eyes as Parker mumbled something about breakfast while Lexi shook beneath him.

  Jesus. He was officially going to scar the kid, and the woman beneath him was probably quaking in fear. He looked down at her, only to find her laughing.

  North moved so he was by her side, pulling the sheet up over both of them. It had already been around his waist, so technically Parker hadn’t seen anything.

  But still.

  “Parker,” Lexi said in her best mom-voice. “What did we talk about concerning knocking, honey?”

  The kid looked down at his bare feet and shuffled. “That I need to knock so
I give you some privacy since living with me and Uncle Logan takes away all your privacy on most days.”

  Despite the awkward situation, North bit his lip to hold back his laughter. Jesus, the kid was a hoot.

  “If you can recite my whole speech back to me, Park, why are you in here without knocking?”

  “I forgot?” Parker still hadn’t faced them. Good, since North and Lexi were still naked in bed together.

  Hell, this was fucking awkward.

  “Go on out and pour yourself some cereal, Park. I’ll be up in a minute. Okay?”

  “Okay. Morning, North.” The kid ran out, closing the door behind him, and North blinked.

  “Well, shit,” he mumbled.

  “So much for being careful around him,” Lexi whispered as she slid out of bed, taking the sheet with her.

  North reached for his jeans and slid them on. “Have we scarred him for life? I mean, I know sex is a natural thing, but I don’t think the best way to introduce me to him as someone more than just a friend is to find me between your legs in bed.”

  Lexi pulled a shirt over her head, the rest of her already dressed. “There’s nothing we can do about it now. One thing being a mom has taught me is to roll with the punches. Honestly, North, Parker is a wolf. He scented you here when he walked through the door this morning and probably heard us mumbling.” She blushed, and North walked around the bed to take her in his arms.

  “Hey, we’ll deal with this together, right?”

  Lexi nodded, her head on his chest. “He was just testing the boundaries, something he’ll have to do differently next time, or I won’t be so calm. He’s a little boy, but he’s also old enough to know better. You’re also the first man I’ve had in my bed since he’s been born so…”

  North growled softly. “I’m the last man who will be in your bed as well.” He kissed her hard then moved back. “I’m going to give you some time with him this morning, and then we can eat together tonight. I want to be part of both of your lives. Logan can come too if he wants.”

  Lexi raised a brow. “Logan does what he wants to do, so we’ll see. I’d love to have dinner with you and Parker tonight. He’s hanging out with Cailin and Noah today by the way.”

  “Noah? Why is Cailin hanging with him?” His baby sister better stay away from all men. Even Logan.

  Lexi snorted. “Your sister is a grown woman, and I don’t think she and Noah are sleeping together. At least not anymore.” She whispered that last part but from the slam of a cabinet in the kitchen, Logan had heard. “Crap.”

  “Cailin will be staying pure until she’s a hundred. I’ll have to watch this Noah.” Once he got his brothers on the job, this Noah wouldn’t be a problem. Who was this punk kid to think he could touch or even think about touching his little sister?

  “Oh, honey, you’re so cute to think that your sister, who is in her twenties by the way, is still all sweet and innocent. I won’t burst your bubble though. As for why she’s taking Parker today, well, she asked. Logan and I have to go to your mother’s to work on something with Mel. I’m not sure what, but when the Alpha and Heir’s mates tell us to jump, we jump.”

  His thoughts still on the fact he would have to kill this Noah for putting his hands on North’s innocent baby sister, he almost missed the last part of Lexi’s statement.

  “You don’t have to jump, Lex.”

  She raised a brow. “Uh, yeah, I do. They’re the dominants in this game. They know this. I know this. It’s okay, North. They never ask us to do things we don’t want to do, but they wanted us over to help them with something, so we’re doing it. Even if it wasn’t an exact order, we’re still going to do it. We owe them.”

  He slid his hand through her hair, pulling slightly so she was forced to meet his gaze. She let out a little gasp, and he held back a smile at that beyond-sexy sound. “You owe them nothing, but do what you’d like, Lex. I know you feel like you owe them, so do what you must. As for Cailin, I’m going to have to watch her. I don’t want any wolves messing with my baby sister.”

  Lexi rolled her eyes. “She’s watching my son today because she wants to get to know him. In this weird way, she might be his aunt.”

  He warmed. “Because you’re mine.”

  She smiled. “I meant because of her and my brother, but yes, because I’m yours.” She swallowed hard. “At least as much of me as I’m able to give.”

  He kissed her hard. “I’ll take it all and give you more.”

  Her smile went wobbly, and then she shook her head quickly as if to clear it. “Go play doctor, North, and leave your sister alone. I will see you for dinner. Okay? I’m going to talk to Parker before he goes with Cailin and Noah first though. I want to make sure he’s good to go for the day and talk about what happened this morning.”

  “And make sure he’s not scarred for life? Because walking in on me about to fill you is an image no kid should see.”

  Lexi raised a brow. “We were covered, so he didn’t actually see anything. And, yes, I will talk to him and see what he’s thinking.” She reached around and smacked his ass. “Now go.”

  He took her lips again then left the house. He could hear Logan and Parker in the kitchen talking but didn’t stop to say goodbye. No, he wasn’t sneaking out of the house—as wolves, the other two could hear him—but he had a feeling everyone needed a moment to breathe.

  He and Lexi had taken a huge step the night before, and it would take time for everyone to get used to it. One thing North would not be doing though would be to move back and let others rule his life. He was going to take all he could and find a way to make their non-mating mating work.

  However the hell that could work.

  “Looks like you’ve found your mate,” Patrick said as North made his way toward his house.

  North stopped and looked around, confused as to why Patrick was around the Jamenson area, considering his place was on the other side of the den.

  “What are you doing here?” He didn’t like the fact that Patrick seemed to be everywhere recently, and he sure as fuck wasn’t happy that the wolf knew where he’d been the night before.

  It wasn’t as if North was ashamed of being with Lexi, far from it, but some things were meant to be private. Sleeping with one’s mate for the first time was right at the top of that list.

  “Out for a jog with Jeffery,” Patrick raised his chin at the other wolf as he came out of the trees.

  North frowned between the two men. They both wore running clothes and seemed to be doing what Patrick had said, but it still didn’t sit right with him.

  “Is there something you need?” North asked.

  “Just wanted to say congratulations.” Patrick frowned at North’s shoulder, and North glared. “I don’t see a mark though. Taking it slow?”

  “Mating is a private thing, Patrick. Keep your thoughts to yourself. If we’re done here, I need to head home to shower.”

  Patrick just smiled. “Sure thing, Jamenson. Have a good day.” He and Jeffery loped away, leaving North with an uneasy feeling washing over him.

  Something was going on with that wolf, but North didn’t know what—at least not yet.

  Annoyed at this thought, he slammed into his house then cursed. Maddox and Jasper sat on his couch, their brows raised.

  “What the hell are you two doing here? Does this look like a community center? No. This is my home. The clinic is attached to the side, but that doesn’t mean you can just walk in whenever you please.”

  He left them before they could answer and stripped off his clothes. He jumped in the shower, anger at Corbin, whatever the fuck Patrick was up to, and frustration radiating off him.

  He had too much going on in his mind to think straight. Patrick was acting odd, Corbin was being way too fucking quiet, and fate had kicked him in the balls. He and his wolf wanted to act, to fight, but other than running headfirst into a situation they didn’t understand and getting themselves killed, North wasn’t sure what to do.

  He c
leaned himself off quickly then turned off the water. He pulled back the curtain, only to curse again.

  Maddox stood with a towel in his hand and a frown on his face. A face that, but for the scar marring it—thanks to an up-close-and-personal attack from Corbin himself—looked exactly like North’s.

  “You done being an asshole and throwing your temper tantrum?”

  North grabbed the towel and dried off. “Is there a reason you’re in my house?”

  Jasper, who stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest, and blinked. “Mom and Dad told the rest of us about Corbin. Kade had wanted to tie you down last night so you didn’t run off halfcocked and get yourself killed trying to protect Lexi.”

  “I’m not a fucking idiot.” He stormed past them. Sure, the thought had come to his mind, but he needed to make plans before he went after Corbin. He wouldn’t go without thinking it over first.

  Oh, he’d be going to Corbin personally, but not until he got the lay of the land.

  Not that his brothers needed to know that last part.

  “He never said you were,” Maddox said smoothly as North pulled on his clothes in jerky motions. “But that doesn’t mean the thought didn’t cross your mind.”

  “Of course it crossed my mind. That bastard fucking raped my mate, Maddox.” His voice broke on the end of the sentence, and he had to pause to collect himself.

  Maddox narrowed his eyes, his eyes glowing gold. “Yes, North, I happen to know exactly what you’re talking about. Keep it in check.”

  North closed his eyes, and bile filled his throat. Fuck, he hadn’t meant to sound so callous. Ellie had been kept prisoner by Corbin for most of her life and had been raped by the bastard’s friends. She was healing now, but he knew it would be a long path until the broken remains of her spirit were finally put back together again, even if they never healed fully.

  “I can’t feel her like I should, Mad. I can’t bond with her like I should. I don’t have the connection you have with Ellie, that Jasper has with Willow. I just have my wolf aching for his mate and a woman I can have beneath me, beside me, and with me, but no bond. That bastard wolf has taken everything from us, Mad. Everything.”