Wilde About Her (Wilde Pack Series)(30)

"Don't kill her!" Denim screamed.

With a loud snarl, Jax turned his head and glared his golden eyes at her.

She could have killed you!

"I don't care! Please, Jax," Denim begged. Troy's eyes were closed and one of her hind legs was bloodied. "Baby, please."

He hesitated and then slowly removed his paw. The red wolf continued to  just lay there panting heavily. She wasn't moving, but at least she was  alive.         

     



 

Outside, there was loud shouting and the door was practically knocked  off the hinges as Jax's brothers, along with his father and another  older gentleman, came rushing into the house.

"Jax, no!" Jackson Wilde shouted as his brothers raced over.

"She's okay!" Denim said, while waving both hands. The last thing she needed was a full-fledged attack.

"Troy. Enough!" There was a lethal warning in the man's voice.

Denim looked over again at the man with the striking red hair and knew  he had to be Troy's father. He stormed over and stared sternly down at  the large she-wolf, although the muscle ticking at his jaw gave away how  difficult it was for him to see his daughter that way, rejected and  defeated, lying on the floor.

Jax padded softly over, rubbing his nose against Denim's neck. She  stroked his thick fur while they all watched Troy crawl into the other  room where she shifted back into a human female. Denim grabbed the quilt  off the couch, then rushed into the dining room and draped it over her  body.

"Thanks," Troy whispered, clutching it close and the look in her sad  green eyes said she was being sincere. "I'll never forget you saved my  life."

At a loss for words, Denim simply nodded. Troy then went to retrieve her  clothes and Denim returned to Jax and waited with the others while she  got dressed.

"I'm sorry for all of this," her father said, then he and Mr. Wilde shook hands.

He nodded. "So am I. However, I'm glad we could come to an agreement."

Troy appeared and they watched as Mr. Chadwick draped an arm around Troy and escorted her out to an awaiting limousine.

"It's over son," Mr. Wilde explained. "Chadwick and I have worked out a new agreement."

"And what's that?" Aidan asked.

His father's eyes shifted downward, uncomfortably as he replied, "I have arranged for your sister to marry one of his sons."

Chayton swung around with a questioning glance. "Does Cheyenne know anything about this?"

Their father's face said it all. "No, but I'll tell her this evening."

Aidan looked at him as if wondering whether or not he was kidding before barking, "Father … No!"

While his brothers questioned their father about his decision, Jax moved  to the pantry and came striding out a few minutes later fully dressed,  heaving with frustration. "Father, how could you do that to Cheyenne?"

"What else was I supposed to do? We promised an alliance between the two  packs and I intend to honor that promise. The last thing I need is for  us to make them our enemies!" His chest rose and fell rapidly as he  spoke, then he paused and released a long breath. "She'll have five  brothers to choose from. I'm sure Cheyenne can fall in love with one of  them."

Jax shook his head, grimly.

"Or she might want a human like junior here," Aidan joked which caused his older brother to pop him over the head.

Denim stood back, suddenly feeling like she'd been put on the spot. "It's my fault all of this has happened."

"Babe, it's not your fault at all. If it's anyone's fault it's mine for  falling in love with you." Jax took her hand and dragged her close.  Denim melted against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was  safe. In one piece, and she was thankful.

"And I love you," she whispered. Jax cupped her face with his large hands and crushed his lips to hers.

Denim heard gagging and drew back slightly. Aidan had his finger stuck  down his throat, while Chayton looked displeased. She dared to look over  at his father, who, surprisingly had been watching and a warm smile  turned his lips upwards.

"I once told my sons we can't control who we fall in love with, but when it happens you'll know."

Jax grinned. "Yes, sir. You were so right."

Denim patched up Jax's wounds the best that she could, then The Wilde  clan stayed long enough to help her put the house back together.  Luckily, the old wooden furniture was steady enough that nothing was  broken. The bullet holes were another story all together, but she was  almost certain Pappy might not even notice. After his family left, she  and Jax went out onto the porch and took a seat in each of the rocking  chairs.

"Do you really think it's over?" Denim asked as she rocked back and forth.

Jax nodded, reached over and grabbed her hand. "Troy won't cross her  father, not after what happened today." He sure sounded confident. If  that was the case then why did something in his eyes tell her Jax wasn't  telling her everything?

She swallowed a big gulp of air. I sure hope not. "And what about Diesel?"         

     



 

He sighed and for the first time Jax looked uncomfortable. "That problem has just begun."

"What?" she gasped.

Jax squeezed her close. "He's going to be a problem. Diesel knows your  secret and after I embarrassed him in front of the pack, he's going to  want revenge." He quickly told her about Diesel waiting for him in the  forest with a crew ready to ambush him. "He's going to wait until things  die down, but then he's going to come after us."

"I'm afraid."

"I'm going to keep you safe. Always." He studied her.

She dragged in a long shaky breath. "Maybe if your sister marries one of  his brothers he'll leave us alone. Do you think your sister will  agree?"

Jax hesitated and this time didn't sound quite as sure of himself. "I think Cheyenne will do whatever to make Father proud."

"Even a marriage as a business arrangement? You didn't." She shook her  head. It was hard to believe people still did that in this country.

"I think she'll do what she has to do. The good thing is Cheyenne has several alpha males to choose from."

"Are they as handsome as you?" she said, trying hard to get past everything that was happening.

"Of course not," Jax replied and tried to keep a straight face that sent  Denim into a fit of laughter. Next thing she knew neither of them were  laughing, instead they were staring at each other.

"Babe, don't worry." Denim barely had the breath to respond. "I will  kill Diesel before I let him get next to you. When I told you Weres are  overprotective and possessive and don't like anyone else touching their  mates, I meant that." Jax dragged her out of the chair and over onto his  lap. "You're in my soul. It may seem like only a few weeks for you, but  for me it has been years. I've loved you a long time and didn't even  know it."

His words caused her heart to do a heavy thump. She stared at his  bruised face with tears in her eyes and smoothed his hair back from his  face. "I love you too."

Jax groaned slightly, then gave her a long, sensuous kiss. She was  breathless by the time they finally came up for air. Denim rested her  head upon his good shoulder, snuggling close to him.

"What's next for us?" he said, then drew back and stared intensely into her eyes. "I'm not letting you go."

"I'm not going far," Denim said and smiled.

He drew a breath and sounded gentle. Tender almost. "Babe, you  understand now that you know the truth I can't let you out of my sight,  at least not until the entire pack knows they can trust you."

She drew a sigh. She had a feeling that once everything had been  resolved between the two packs, Jax would continue to stay close to her.

"Is that the only reason why you want me around?"

"Absolutely not. I love being with you. The pack is my life, but so are you. If I have to choose between the two … "

She brought a hand up and lovingly caressed his stubble cheek as a smile  stretched her lips. "I would never make you choose. Pappy's ready to  retire. I think it's time I run the diner."

"Are you serious?"

Denim nodded. "I want to be wherever you are."

"And I you, babe." Jax leaned forward, inhaled, and lightly bit at the  side of her neck, reminding her she belonged to him. His open mouth  moved against Denim's throat, then to her cheek, leaving a heated trail  as he whispered, "I'll go back with you, meet your parents and help you  pack. We can make this work." She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe  and her heart raced wildly. "I know we can," he panted into her mouth.

"Yes," Denim breathed. Yes we can.

With that, he wrapped his arms around her and slanted his lips over hers  for another deep, intoxicating kiss, sealing their future.

Her eyes fluttered opened and when she drew back she spotted a car moving up the long drive.

"Who is that?"

Denim waited until the black Buick LeSabre had come to a complete stop  and two people climbed out before she replied, "That's my mother …  and  Asher."