Force of Temptation (The Mercury Pack 2)

Standing beside the bed, Harley paused her bow midstroke as her cell began to chime. Placing the bow and violin on the bed, she grabbed the phone from the beside cabinet, swiped her thumb over the screen, and said sweetly, “Sherwood Forest, this is Maid Marian.”

“You need to come to the main lodge.”

Harley frowned at the urgency in Shaya’s voice. Her cat sat up, instantly alert. “Why?” she asked, dashing downstairs and making a beeline for the front door.

“Jesse’s parents are here. He was already wound up about his mother whining that he’d claimed you against her approval, so when she abruptly and insensitively dropped the news that Mia’s memorial stone was desecrated by Torrie’s brother, Jesse just snapped. He wants to beat the living shit out of him. You need to calm him down.”

“On my way.” With her cat going crazy, Harley sprinted to the lodge and barged inside. Her pack mates turned to her, all looking helpless, as they listened to Jesse raging. Harley ignored Fern’s hostile stare. The bitch wasn’t important. Her cat sneered at her, though.

Following Jesse’s scent, Harley found him in the kitchen. Zander and Bracken were blocking his route to the door, trying to talk him down. “Jesse?” she said. He froze, stopping midrant, but he didn’t respond. Casually, she said, “Sorry to interrupt; I was just wondering who I need to kill.”

That had him slowly turning to face her, blinking in surprise. “What?” The word was guttural.

“Someone’s obviously aimed to piss you off, and it has clearly worked like a charm. Who was it and where do I find them?” Yes, she was pointing out that he was giving the asshole what they wanted by reacting this way. She moved toward him, but he raised a hand to ward her off. Her cat snarled, not wanting distance between them.

“I need you to stay back,” he clipped. “I’m not in control.”

“You wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Don’t,” he bit out, but she slowly walked to him.

“You’re hurting. Don’t expect me to ignore that. I can’t. I won’t.” She gently pushed aside the hand warding her off, but she didn’t invade his personal space. That would just make him and his wolf feel crowded and trapped. She needed him to calm down enough to come to her. “Shaya told me what happened. I’m sorry.”

“I can’t let the fucker get away with this.”

“He won’t,” she promised him.

“He did it to get at me.”

“He did it because he has no respect for the dead and he’s as cold as fucking ice,” she corrected. “Come here.”

Fists clenched, Jesse growled. “I have to see what he did.”

“Why, Jesse, why put yourself through that, huh? He wants that. He wants to hurt you. Don’t give him what he wants.”

“Harley . . .”

“I know. I do. Michael’s headstone has been ruined by graffiti more times than I can count. I know it’s painful that the one place they have left to rest is disrespected that way, but I will not allow you to show that bastard your pain.” She softened her voice as she added, “Come here.”

And then he was holding her, his face buried in her neck, and squeezing her so tight it hurt. She didn’t struggle. She held on to him and let him take what comfort he needed. Everyone melted away, leaving them alone. Sifting her fingers through his hair, she whispered soothing words in his ear. Her cat pushed up against Harley’s skin, offering him the same comfort.

Finally, the tremors stopped and his grip began to loosen. But he still didn’t release her. “We should probably take this to another room,” said Harley, “because I think Kathy wants to make lunch for the pack now.”

“In a minute,” he said against her neck.

Harley heard footsteps, but she didn’t turn. She didn’t need to. She recognized the scents of the two people approaching. For fuck’s sake.

“You all right, son?” Julian asked, cautious.

Jesse lifted his head. “Fine.”

Julian nodded at Harley. “Thank you for helping him,” he said sincerely and with a little warmth. The civility was an olive branch, and it pissed off Fern.

“Helping?” repeated Fern. “She talked of killing Spencer. How was that supposed to calm him?”

Harley had intended to take Jesse off guard and snap him out of his enraged zone. It had worked. Of course, he probably wouldn’t have been in any such zone if it weren’t for Fern, who was now glaring at her; trying to pressure her into lowering her gaze. Harley didn’t. She released Jesse and turned to fully face the witch. Fern just kept on glaring. “Are we done trying to outstare each other, because I’m getting bored.”

“I want to speak to my son in private.”

“Tough. Shit. You didn’t come here in peace and break the news to him gently. You used it to hurt him, didn’t you?” Her eyelids flickered. “You don’t approve of his choice of mate so you punished him for acting without your approval.”

Fern’s jaw tightened. “I’d never hurt my son.”

“You just did.” Whipping her tail, her cat hissed. She wanted out. Wanted to avenge her mate.

Fern’s lips pulled back, baring her teeth. “You don’t deserve him.”

Possibly not, but that wasn’t the issue here. “You don’t have to like me. In fact, you probably wouldn’t, even if it wasn’t for Mia. I’m not a likeable person. I’m rude. Stubborn. Sarcastic. Snarky. I only have respect for the people who’ve earned it—you haven’t. My cat, who has no patience for anyone other than Jesse and would protect him against even his own pack mates, would sure like to claw open your gut and watch you bleed. It’s actually hard to hold her back. And, to be honest, I don’t particularly want to.”