Reluctantly Lycan (Dakota Wolves Book 1)(4)

"That is disgusting, and you're insane. I can't believe this. Should I  call someone to take you away in a straightjacket?" Jak's anger returned  and he stood up, knocking his chair back. "Forget I asked. I wish he  had never returned. I wish he was dead."

~*~

Kaden raced out of the city. His form had bulked up and he barely fit in  the Jeep now. He was midway through a shift and there was no stopping  it. As soon as trees came into view, he veered off the road and parked  his vehicle. Thankfully, the run down part of the city Marala had lived  in was near the outskirts.

His spine cracked and his mouth arched open as he fell to all fours and  ran as fast as he could into the woods. Foreign scents assaulted his  senses and disoriented him in the strange forest, but he didn't stop.  Thick, black fur hid him against the dark backdrop of the night. Even  his pitch eyes aided with stealth. He could easily rip out the throat of  anything that crossed his path, but stealth made it easier.

Cool water chilled his large paws when he bolted through a creek. It  helped a little, better than a cold shower. He burst into a clearing,  stopped, and shook his entire body to shed the excess water. Then he  lifted his head and howled over and over again.

Several hours later, he awoke face down on the damp ground. He'd fallen  asleep with his muzzle resting on his paws, but at some point had  shifted back into human form. Mud covered his body along with the  occasional leaf stuck to him. He was buck naked in the middle of  nowhere, in a place he didn't live.

"What did she do to me?" He groaned, rising to his feet. The walk back  would be a long one and he didn't think another shift so soon was a good  idea. Besides, it would give him time to think.                       
       
           



       

For a long time, he'd been furious with her. Marala had left for no  reason that he could discern and without telling him she was pregnant.  As much as he had denied it, the girl had broken his heart. The pain and  anger had kept him from tracking her down. He couldn't bear the insult  of begging.

He sighed. Seeing her stirred something old and primitive. All these  years and she was as beautiful with her wild mane of hair as she always  had been. Her scent though, now that had become more intense. If the  boy, his son, hadn't walked in, Kaden would have taken Marala on the  ugly linoleum floor whether she gave consent or not. And it scared him.

The kid looked like him. He couldn't deny it. Would probably never be an  alpha, though. But whose fault was that? Kaden had let Jak be raised by  a woman. Not even an alpha female anymore. Marala's decisions had left  her a plain old bitch.

An urge to shift made his spine tingle, but this time he kept his  emotions in check. Brooding, he trudged through the unfamiliar forest  until he reached the edge where he'd stashed his car. He glanced around  before grabbing a gym bag out of the back of the Jeep and dressing in  his spare clothing and shoes. It was a wolf necessity. Clothing often  went missing or was destroyed during the change.

I made the effort. If they don't want my help, then so be it. He began  the long drive back home to Tennessee where everything smelled like it  was supposed to and there wasn't a woman making him lose his mind.





4


"What flowers are good for a first date?" Taylor asked the florist. He'd  stopped by after closing up his photography studio for the day. "Wait,  give me one of those." He pointed at a single yellow rose. "It'll go  great with her eyes."

"That's sweet. Are you nervous?" the woman asked as she picked out the best flower for Taylor.

He smirked as he swiped his credit card. "Do I look like the type of man who gets nervous?"

The florist, in her fifties at least, blushed. "I suppose not. Good luck."

"Thanks, but I won't need it." He gave her a wink before slipping on his  sunglasses and heading outside. Confidently, he walked to the small  market down the street and purchased the items needed for the dinner he  would be preparing. Marala may have been reluctant to accept the date,  but he had no doubts when it came to his charm.

~*~

During the day at both her jobs, Marala only went through the motions.  Her mind was elsewhere. As if the night hadn't been stressful enough  with Kaden's surprise visit and Jak calling her a liar, she now had to  deal with dinner with Taylor.

As soon as she arrived home, she would call and cancel the date. The  last thing she wanted to do was plaster on a smile for the rest of the  evening. What she needed was a bubble bath and time alone to read her  library book before it was overdue.

She climbed the stairs slowly, forcing one tired foot in front of the  other until she reached her floor. The elevator had been broken for  months. When she reached the top, a splash of yellow caught her  attention. Forgetting her exhaustion, she picked up her pace until she  was in front of the door to her apartment. After a glance around, she  bent down and picked up the single yellow rose leaning against the door.  Her eyes closed and she inhaled a deep breath. Not once in her life had  she been bought a flower. Of course, she would have to date something  other than a Silver Bullet to get gifts.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed her key into the knob, only to find the  door already unlocked. She twisted it and stepped inside to be greeted  with a godly blend of spices and Taylor standing at her oven wearing an  apron over his silky blue button up and slacks. Coming home to a  handsome man and prepared dinner nearly sent Marala keeling over. She  loved it.

"Hi, Mara. Dinner is almost ready," he said.

"Where's Jak?" she asked immediately.

"In his room. Not very sociable, is he? At least he let me in."

Marala headed down the hallway. Music came from the room, but she opened  the door and checked to make sure her son was fine anyway. She returned  to the kitchen. "You're early."

"Actually, you're late. Rough day?"

"Uh, kinda." No one ever asked her that except Jak.

Taylor flashed a tiny, crooked smile. "Go ahead and clean up or whatever you do when you get home from work."

Dumbfounded, she walked toward her bedroom without saying another word.  No wonder Jak wasn't sociable. Her skills were terrible, too. She  rummaged through her closet with a frown. Mostly jeans and t-shirts,  dark colors. Nothing screamed date clothing. Although, she was the one  who said it wasn't a date in the first place. Everyday clothing would  have to do.                       
       
           



       

She left her room and slipped into the bathroom. After tugging out the  hair tie, a quick ruffle of her long locks had them falling softly over  her shoulders. Her head ached a little from where she'd worn the  ponytail so severe and tight. Mara washed her face and applied a little  make-up. It was hard to remember when the last time she'd used it had  been. Deciding her appearance was presentable, she returned to the  kitchen.

Taylor stared at her. "I've never seen you with your hair down."

"It's more comfortable, but I wear it up so it's out of the way at  work." She didn't want him to think she'd done it just for him. "The  food smells great."

"It's a chicken with secret spices." He lowered his voice. "Red pepper and garlic."

"I don't think those are secret," she whispered back, smiling a little.

"Do not insult the chef, Miss," he joked and then gave her the same wink  he had the florist. It was his kill shot. Right to the heart.

Even Marala, in all her anxiety and seriousness, wasn't completely  immune to it. That was the thing about guys with natural charisma like  Taylor. No one was safe.

"Let me help with something," she said.

"No." He placed some tossed salad in three bowls. Then prepared the  plates with their chicken and veges. "Why don't you take this one to  Jak? He would probably be more comfortable in his room."

"You wouldn't find that rude?"

"He's a teenager. They don't want to eat with their mom's date." His  grin told her he'd let the word date slip on purpose. "I mean friend."

She wanted to smile again, but instead took the food and headed for  Jak's room. This time, she knocked. He glared at her when he opened it.  "Taylor made dinner. I know you're hungry."

Jak looked defiant, but the lure of the meal won in the end and he took  the items. "Tell him thank you." He then shut the door in her face.

Her feelings must have been worn on her sleeve because Taylor's  perpetual flirtatious smirk faded. "Whatever happened, he'll get over  it. Kids get mad at their parents sometimes." He placed her plate on the  table and pulled out her chair. "I can't believe you're old enough to  be his mom, though. When you said you had a son, I pictured a five year  old."