Designated Alpha Page 4

  Jace slid the bottle of beer across the counter at her. She picked it up and sauntered back over to the high-top.

  “Here you go,” she said cheerfully, while handing over the bottle.

  “Thank you.” Their fingers brushed, and Piper felt the jolt.

  Gasping, she jumped back crying out. No! No this could not be happening. Not after all this time. She was safe here. Jace had promised that no one would get to her.

  The beer knocked over and spilled onto the table. Bobby Gibson jumped to his feet. “I’m sorry. I…didn’t…”

  “Piper.” Jace’s arms came around her, pulling her back into his body.

  “No,” she said, before a whimper escaped.

  “What the hell is going on?” Jace demanded.

  “I thought…” Bobby said in a harsh whisper. “I only wanted to talk to her.”

  If Jace hadn’t been holding onto her tightly, she would have been out of the bar before anyone could catch her.

  “I’ll go,” Bobby said quickly before he turned to leave.

  “Hey there!” Mitch caught Bobby’s arm. “Slow down, buddy. We’ll not hurt you.”

  Bobby looked horrified at being stopped by Mitch.

  “Let’s go to the office,” Jace said.

  Mitch nodded and propelled Bobby forward.

  Piper couldn’t move her feet. She clung to Jace, needing his solid, strong presence.

  “What is it? What is going on?”

  Piper couldn’t control the shakes that took over her body.

  “Oh, baby.” He gathered her closer and half pulled, half carried her away from the scene she was making in the middle of the bar.

  Embarrassment would hit her later. Right then all she wanted was for Jace to continue to hold her.

  “Brittany, I need you to watch the front,” Jace ordered the waitress.

  “You got it, boss.”

  Piper couldn’t even look at Brittany.

  Why was this happening now? Just when she’d thought that they would be able to figure everything out. She’d trusted Mitch with her secret and all of a sudden this had happened!

  Jace led her through the short hall to stop in front of his closed office door. “Tell me,” Jace encouraged cupping her face. “What is it?”

  Piper peered up at Jace. “He’s like me,” she managed.

  Chapter Four

  Jace would do anything in his power to protect Piper. He knew it wasn’t actually possible to guard her from every bad experience in the world but damn it, he wanted to.

  She was still trembling when he led her into his office. Mitch glanced up at him with a worried look on his face. The kid was sitting on the couch with his face buried in his hands. He cringed when Jace and Piper entered.

  Encouraging Piper to the desk chair, Jace watched the young man carefully. He too was shaking and although Jace was unhappy about the result the stranger’s visit was having on Piper, he found himself more than curious about this stranger.

  “What’s your name?” Jace asked after Piper was seated behind him. There was no way this guy would be able to hurt Piper before Jace got to him.

  Mitch was also standing, legs braced apart with his arms crossed over his chest, next to the kid.

  “Bobby Gibson. Look I’m sorry. They told me where to come and I thought… I’ll leave, I promise! Just please don’t hurt me.”

  “We’re not going to hurt you. Who told you to come here?”

  “I met a couple about a month ago. I knew they were like me but when I approached them, the guy attacked. After I managed to get free, they told me to leave town.”

  Jace glanced back at Piper. She nodded. They both knew that she’d had a very similar interaction a few years before. The same couple that Jace had tried to contact.

  “I tried to ask questions but they wouldn’t even listen. Then the woman told me if I really wanted someone to talk to, there was this guy in California that kept calling them. They gave me your name, Jace, and that led me here.”

  Jace scratched his chin. If everything Bobby was telling them was true, this kid needed their help. And maybe they’d be able to learn more too. “Why did you come here?”

  Bobby’s dark brown gaze bore into his. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

  Behind him Piper made a sound. He whirled around and saw tears pooling in her eyes that had not yet fallen. She felt for the young man. That much was obvious. Hopefully she would be okay with helping the kid because Jace couldn’t just let him walk out on his own.

  He made eye contact with Mitch and inclined his head toward Bobby so that he would continue to watch him before sinking to his knees in front of Piper.

  “You okay?”

  Nodding, she gripped his hands. “I believe him,” she whispered.

  “Me too. But we still have to be careful.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze before standing back up.

  “Please relax.” Jace smiled at the younger guy. “My name is Jace, and this is my friend Mitch. Behind me is Piper.”

  “I know. I’ve…uh, been watching you.”

  Narrowing his eyes, Jace remembered where he’d seen Bobby before. “My morning run.”

  Bobby flushed. “Yeah, I wasn’t entirely sure why that couple would send me to you when they obviously wanted nothing to do with me. I just wanted to check you out before I approached.”

  “You’ve never come inside the bar before.”

  “No, I’ve just been watching.” Bobby glanced in Mitch’s direction before dropping his gaze back down. “I don’t know why I came in tonight. I just wanted to talk to her.”

  Her meaning Piper. If Bobby had been watching them at both the house and bar then he had to know they were together. Somehow, though, Jace didn’t believe that Bobby was interested in Piper sexually. It might just be his gut but Bobby’s pull toward Piper had to do with them both being werewolves.

  “Why did you want to talk to me?”

  Piper’s soft question surprised Jace. She didn’t move from her half hidden place behind him but that seemed okay with Bobby, since he relaxed a little into the back of the couch.

  “You seemed so happy. Like I said, I’ve been watching you and I just wanted to know how you deal with it. Does it get any better? This thing that we can turn into?”

  Before Piper could answer, Jace interrupted, “How did you know she was the one that could shift?”

  Licking his bottom lip, Bobby looked up at Jace. “I saw her.”

  That wasn’t good. How long exactly had Bobby been watching them?

  “It was only once. This afternoon. And it was so amazing to see her shift and then the two of you just sitting with her. When I got here I wasn’t sure… That couple almost hurt me and I didn’t want to go through that again. But today, seeing you three, it was truly wonderful. I just had to try.”

  The pure longing in Bobby’s voice tugged at Jace’s heartstrings. “How long have you been able to transform?” Jace asked him.

  Bobby stiffened and paled.

  “Hey.” Mitch walked over to the couch. “Just stay calm. We’re not going to turn on you. Why don’t I grab us some coffee?”

  “That’s a good idea,” Jace agreed. They needed to have Bobby comfortable around them. Trust would hopefully come in time, so the best they could hope for was keeping Bobby from leaving.

  While Mitch left the room, Jace turned to make sure Piper was handling everything okay. He shouldn’t have worried. Even if she’d had a moment of panic, Piper was strong and brave. Color returned to her face and she was just as beautiful as ever.

  She smiled at him, letting him know she was doing all right.

  “Here we go,” Mitch announced as he returned with a carafe of coffee and four mugs. He also had small containers of sugar and cream. “Marcus was already ahead of our thinking and had this all ready for us.”

  Piper stood and pushed the chair across from Bobby. Mitch passed out mugs and poured coffee. Piper sat back down while Jace sat on the arm on her sea
t. Bobby stiffened when Mitch joined him on the couch but since Mitch remained close to his own side, Bobby seemed to relax a little.

  “Can you tell us how you became…this way?” Piper asked gently.

  Nodding, Bobby peered at her. “I’ll try.” His hand was shaking when he set his cup down.

  “Take your time,” Jace encouraged. “I know it’s not easy. You don’t know us, but if you have been observing us then hopefully you know we’re good people.”

  “Yes, I think so,” Bobby consented. “That’s why I came in here. And I didn’t want to disturb you at your house. I tried to talk to you this morning but I lost my nerve.”

  Poor kid. So alone and wounded. He reminded Jace of Piper when they’d first met.

  “Just tell us what you’re comfortable sharing.” Jace hoped his calm tome would settle Bobby.

  Bobby took a deep breath before blowing it out slowly. “My family is from Tucson. When I got accepted into the University of Arizona, I was so happy to get to remain close to them. Plus the university has an awesome life science program. I just got my bachelor degree and was accepted into a program to go for my master’s. My parents were so proud they arranged for the three of us to come to California.”

  As Bobby spoke, Jace could pick up the affection he had for his parents.

  “We had just hit the state line when my dad pulled into an old rest stop. My mom had needed to use the bathroom and we all wanted to stretch out legs.” Bobby’s voice dropped. “The place was deserted but clean.”

  A bad feeling settled in Jace’s stomach. Piper gripped his hand.

  “My dad walked my mom over to the women’s restroom and I went off in the other direction. I don’t really know how far I walked. I was just sort of zoned out after the long drive. Then I heard them start screaming.”

  Bobby shuddered, and Mitch moved closer patting his shoulder. “Take a deep breath,” Mitch told Bobby. “That’s right, good, just like that.”

  While Bobby breathed in and out, Jace glanced at Piper. Her gaze was on the kid and sympathy swam in her eyes. Jace was pretty sure they all knew what had happened to Bobby’s parents—and to him.

  “I’m okay,” Bobby said shakily. “I started to run back toward my mom and dad. When I reached the walkway, I couldn’t hear my mother anymore but my dad was yelling for me to run. I couldn’t though. I had to see.”

  He gulped. “Blood was everywhere and there were two…monsters standing over my parents. My dad wasn’t making a sound anymore. His throat was ripped open.”

  “Oh, honey,” Piper said softly.

  Tears had filled Bobby’s eyes and a few drops fell. “I turned but before I could even take a step one of those things was on me. I just remember the pain. Great pain as it tore at my back. I must have blacked out. When I woke again, I was in the back of my parents’ SUV and there were two strangers with me. One drove while the other kept watching me.”

  Wiping his eyes, Bobby shook his head. “I didn’t understand what was happening. At first I thought maybe they found me and were going to take me to the hospital.”

  “How long did they have you?” Piper asked.

  “I think a week. I was pretty out of it but I know I was with my parents on the fifth and when I finally got away, it was the twelfth.”

  “They made you drink their blood?” Piper guessed.

  “Yeah, I couldn’t fight them off. After the first couple of times I started to feel different. The first time I…I…changed, it hurt so bad I thought I was going to die.”

  Jace had heard the same words from Piper. He clenched his free hand. God, why did these two have to suffer? “How’d you get away?”

  Bobby laughed harshly. “They left the motel door unlocked. I guess they thought I was so out of it, or maybe they didn’t think I could run. But they left late one night. They had been talking about going to a bar and I pretended to be asleep. After they left, I waited ten minutes. It was the hardest thing I had to do. Lay there and wonder if they would come back right away. When I thought they had left for sure, I pulled myself off the bed and just ran.”

  “You’re lucky to be alive,” Mitch told him.

  “Am I, though? After what I turn into?” Bobby asked.

  “You are,” Piper assured. “You’re a survivor and now you’re not alone anymore.”

  “You won’t…run me out of town too?”

  “No,” Jace told Bobby sincerely. “At least for now, I think there is safety in numbers.”

  Bobby eyes were huge as his gaze met Jace’s. “Thank you.”

  * * * *

  Piper felt wiped out from everything that had transpired over the night. Jace unlocked the front door, and she slipped inside their home. Mitch was behind them as the three of them returned home.

  She was glad that Marcus and Brittany had agreed to lock up, since she just wasn’t certain she would be able to remain standing much longer. After listening to Bobby’s story, she couldn’t get the picture of Bobby’s traumatic experience from her mind. The attack and horror that had happened to the young man was even worse than hers. She’d always had to take a little responsibility for what had happened to her. She’d taken Joe home. Her first one-night stand and she had paid dearly.

  Bobby had just been an innocent kid heading for a vacation with his family. He’d lost so much that night, more than anyone could truly understand. To see his family slaughtered then turn into the same thing that had murdered them would have been unthinkable.

  Yet Bobby still appeared to be a sweet, innocent kid, scared and unsure about the world he’d been thrown into.

  She knew Jace hadn’t wanted Bobby to go back to his hotel room by himself but she wasn’t sure what else they could do. Would having Bobby close by bring out her animal side more? She hoped not, since she really wanted to help him. After Bobby had admitted to being drawn to her, Piper had to admit that there was something that pulled her right back to the kid. A wave of protectiveness that was so strong she’d even gotten a little angry that Jace had been pushing him on his story.

  It was so unlike her that she feared that it was a result of being so close to another shifter.

  “How about we sit in the hot tub?” Jace suggested, running his hand down her back.

  Soaking her body sounded like the best idea she’d heard in years. She nodded.

  “How about it, Mitch?” Jace asked his friend.

  “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go ahead and turn in. It’s been a long day and I have a feeling the next few are going to be just as exciting.”

  “Yeah, man. We understand,” Jace assured him.

  Piper was a little relieved that she would have time with just Jace. There was no doubt that the immediate future was going to be full of change, like Mitch had said. A little time in Jace’s arms would go a long way to calming her.

  “Why don’t you get the Jacuzzi ready and I’ll be right there after I lock up.”

  Offering Mitch a quiet goodnight before cutting through the kitchen and out onto the back deck, she blanked all the worries trying to surface.

  Steps silent in the late night, Piper strolled to the corner where the hot tub was located. Hitting the button to turn on the jets, she was already feeling the peace wash over her. She was just reaching to remove the thick heavy cover when she heard Jace join her on the deck.

  He wasn’t trying to quiet his steps, so she expected him as he drew closer.

  Stream rose as she revealed the bubbling water. She sighed, looking forward to relaxing back as his strong arms came around her. Turning in his embrace, she lifted her face for a kiss. His tongue lapped at her bottom lip so she opened and granted him access. When he ran his hands down her back to caress her ass, Piper moaned.

  “Let’s get these clothes off,” Jace said, tugging at her T-shirt.

  She started to pull the garment over her head before she realized what she was doing. “We can’t do this here,” she protested.

  Jace finished taking her shirt off. “Re
lax. Mitch already headed to the guest room. He promised not to come out until morning to give us time alone.”

  Since the Jacuzzi was situated in the corner with three walls blocking the view, she knew no one could see them from the yard, but what if Mitch wanted a bottle of water or something?

  “I see you need some convincing,” Jace told her.

  Piper smirked at him. She had no doubt that Jace could talk her into anything. But if she really opposed, he would understand. The question was, did she even want to resist him?

  “Remember last time we soaked together?” he asked, stepping closer.

  The weekend before, they’d cuddled together drinking wine. She’d ended up bent over the lip of the hot tub with Jace taking her from behind. Just remembering that had Piper’s heart speeding up.

  “Oh yeah, you’ve not forgotten.”

  She let him bring her against him, no longer even considering saying no. Jace undressed her slowly before nudging her to the water. “Climb in.”

  She walked up the three steps and climbed into the hot water. “Oh God,” she said with pleasure, sinking to her chin.

  Jace’s quiet laugh caught her attention. He’d removed his own clothes and was standing by the side. Already erect, Jace’s cock was hard and leaking pre-cum. Piper shifted enough to reach Jace and grasp him. He hummed as he moved his hips slightly and she pumped his cock.

  He was just so damn handsome. She didn’t know if she would ever really get used to someone like Jace wanting her. Moving to her knees, she bent over the side and lowered her mouth to lick at the tip of his cock, tasting the salty essence.

  “Suck me, baby,” he pleaded.

  She would, but he deserved just a little taste of his own medicine. Instead of taking him down her throat, she tongued against the veins under the tip.

  Jace buried his hands in her hair but didn’t force her to take more. He let her tease his shaft, making him even harder.

  Only when he started trembling did she finally engulf his cock. Jace’s groan was low and full of pleasure. Hollowing her cheeks, she sucked him deeply.

  “Just like that.” His voice had dropped and was laced with husky need.