On Saturday night, Ben didn't expect to be so nervous. Thinking about it, though, it made sense.
In all the time he'd been a member of the Columbia Basin Pack, he'd never shown interest in another woman except to say something cutting or unsettling. Now, he was about to bring his very human, brand-new girlfriend to the pack Christmas party.
He'd gone completely off his rocker.
When Judith answered the door, his breath caught in his throat and his nerves took a back seat. She wore a calf-length pale green dress with sparkles on the bodice and off the shoulder sleeves. The skirt poofed out like she wore crinoline underneath. The soft scent of musky perfume, just enough for his nose, mingled with the scent of her.
Mine.
"On second thought," he said thickly, "why don't we stay in?"
"Oh, no. I went on an emergency shopping trip for this, remember? I was damn lucky to find a dress. We're going to the party, Ben Shaw." She turned her back on him as she closed and locked the door.
Ben traced the line of her spine with his fingertip. She shivered. Grinning at him impishly, she backed away and slipped her gold shawl over her shoulders.
"We can be a few minutes late," Ben said, putting a little sex into his voice.
Judith narrowed her eyes. "No."
"I'll remember this later."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "Good."
#
Cars crowded the front of the house, spilling out onto the shoulders of the road. Green garlands tied with red bows and laced with fairy lights decorated the house's exterior. A large wreath hung on the front door. It looked like Martha Stewart threw up. As he held the truck door open for Judith, he could hear Christmas music playing inside.
Ben kept the bond closed, so as to not let his feelings or thoughts spill onto her. He wasn't sure how the bond would work between them and he didn't want to find out until she knew they were mated. However, as nervous as he was about Judith officially meeting the pack, he gave into temptation and gingerly touched their bond, taking care not to disturb it too much and draw attention. Judith felt nervous but also happy. He could take nervous and happy.
"What a beautiful home," she said.
"It gets destroyed periodically. Well, at least part of it."
"Why?" She slid her arm into his, as if she'd done it a thousand times. His wolf was pleased.
"Bad people doing bad things," he explained. "Adam's contractors love him. They send him a bottle of good bourbon every year."
She hesitated at the top of the steps.
"What's wrong?" Ben asked.
"What if they don't like me?" she asked.
"They will love you. Besides, I didn't think you would care what others thought?"
Judith frowned. "What makes you think I don't care what others think?"
Ben shrugged, feeling like there was a part of this conversation he was missing. "You just never seemed to care. Judy, come on. They know we're out here."
She sighed and took his hand. "Judy?"
"Do you like it? I'm taking it for a test drive."
"You can call me that only if you can be my little puppy again."
"Like hell."
She laughed. Ben opened the door, letting music, warmth, and the chatter of a house full of werewolves wash over them. Judith flashed him another smile and crossed the threshold. He was closing the door behind them when Mercy walked out of the large living room.
"Ben," she said, "I was starting to think you weren't going to show."
"I had to pick up someone," he explained. "Mercy, you remember Judith."
Mercy stuck her hand out. "I'm so glad you were able to make it."
Judith, appearing shy for the first time since he met her, looked down as she shook Mercy's hand. "Same here, Mrs. Hauptman."
"You can call me Mercy. Is your car still making that weird noise?"
She raised her eyes. "Sorry?"
"Stefan said you thought your car was making a weird noise? That was why you brought it in?"
"Oh. Yeah. It stopped."
"I don't know why you didn't say anything."
She shrugged. "I figured it just needed a tune-up. I didn't even know you and Stefan were friends until after I took my Jetta to you. Small world, eh? Where can I put my shawl? I don't want it to get dirty."
"Oh, I can take that," Mercy offered.
"You don't have to."
"It's fine."
Judith relinquished the garment. Ben claimed her arm and steered her toward the living room. Adam had about fifty people in the pack and it felt like most of them, with their loved ones, came. He heard people in just about every room on that level and downstairs.
Naturally, the other wolves became intensely interested in Judith. Ben must have introduced her a dozen times. With each introduction, a headache built up behind his left eye. He wasn't used to so much attention from his mates and he liked it even less toward Judith. Soon, five feet of empty air separated them from the rest of the party.
She laid a hand on his arm. In a low tone, she whispered, "Why don't you get us something to drink?"
He glanced around the room. Several of the men snuck glances at Judith. Eyeing her dress. Admiring the curve of her calves. He really didn't want to leave her alone. He knew it was because of the unsettled nature of the bond. Knowing that didn't help matters. In some ways, it made it fucking worse.
"We can go together," he said, cupping her elbow with his hand.
"I'd like to have an actual conversation with someone," she replied. "It's kind of hard with you hovering."
"Hovering?"
"Yes. Whenever you introduce me, and if it's a man, you glare until he walks away."
"I'm not—"
"Ben. Please?" She lowered her voice. "You know I'm nervous and hovering isn't helping."
Growling with frustration, he walked off, heading to the kitchen where the refreshments were. Warren stood by the punch bowl, chatting with his lawyer boyfriend, Kyle.
"Hey, Ben." The former cowboy grinned. He wore a bright green cowboy style shirt with a bolo tie, black jeans, and boots with red and green stitching. His boyfriend wore a red shirt and the gaudiest cowboy boots known to man. There were sequins. "I heard you brought your Italian lady."
"Yep." Ben poured out two cups of punch.
"I didn't ask before. Where'd you meet?"
"Work."
"She a computer guru like you?"
"Nope. Secretary."
Warren eyed him. "You don't need to be defensive, Ben. I was just askin' a few questions. Kyle and I'd like to meet her. A woman who breaks through your shell must be a hell of a catch."
Ben relaxed a little. Out of all the males in the pack, Warren was the least threatening. It probably had to do with him being gay. "I'll introduce you." They started down the hall. "Hey, have you seen Adam?"
"He's around. I think he's with Jesse playing pool in the rec room."
"Have you seen her hair?"
"She's the embodiment of the holiday spirit."
"Where'd you learn a word like embodiment?"
They reentered the parlor. Ben halted. Three of his fellow male pack mates surrounded Judith. She stood with her back towards the wall and held the men in her line of sight. Smart girl.
One of the men made a stupid joke about computer geeks taking all the beautiful women and Judith laughed. Jealousy, pure and unadulterated, spiked through Ben. He bulled his way forward, forcing the other men to step back. He narrowed his eyes at the man who made the joke.
"Ben," Judith said, prying a cup of punch from his hand. "I was just talking to your friends. They were saying—"
"We should go." Grabbing her hand, he pulled her out of the room, pass a shocked Kyle and an amused Warren. There were too many people in the hall. He proceeded to drag her upstairs.
"Ben, stop," Judith said. She put her heels down, giving him more resistance that he would have expected out of a human woman.
He glared at her and she stopped pulling against him. Ben continued. As they reached the landing, he looked back and saw Adam standing at the bottom, watching them. Warren was talking very lowly in his ear, telling him about Ben being "overprotective". Ben snorted and opened the first door he came to, which happened to be a walk-in linen closet.
Pushing her inside, he closed the door, leaving them in darkness. He fumbled until he found the light switch.
"Benjamin Shaw," Judith spat, "what the hell is wrong with you?"
"What were you doing down there?"
"Making conversation."
He set his cup of punch on a shelf and spread his hands. They were trembling. It's just the bond, man. Get a hold of yourself.
She set her own drink aside and took his hands in hers. "It was only conversation. Nothing was going to happen. I wouldn't do that to you."
Ben knew that. He knew that. But he didn't trust anyone else to know that. He needed her. Right then and there. He needed to make sure everyone knew that she was his and not up for claim. She already carried his scent, which should have been enough, but the rational part of his brain was quickly taking a backseat.
He lifted and pressed her against the shelves, kissing along her neck.
"Ben," she whispered. "Stop. They'll know."
"That's the point," he muttered. "Need you." He tugged one-handed on his belt.
"But—"
He scraped his teeth across her shoulder. That was all the encouragement she needed.
#
Ben was torn between sheepishness and pride when he escorted Judith back downstairs. Adam still waited for them on the ground floor. He gave Ben a knowing look. Judith blushed. It was the first time Ben had seen her do that.
"You must be Judith," Adam said.
"That's me." She extended a hand.
He gave it the briefest of shakes. "You two enjoy the party. Ben? Behave. No one is after your girl." Adam walked away.
Judith giggled. It was nervous, satisfied, and delighted all at once. "I'm hungry," she said. "Show me to the food, cave man."
"Cave man?"
"Staking your claim on me like that? Definite cave man behavior."
"It's not my fault you're so damn sexy."
"It's not my fault you don't trust me." She raised her brows at him.
Ben wrapped an arm around her waist. "I trust you. The wolf…makes thinking a little hard sometimes."
"I know. But do you promise to try?"
He kissed the top of her head. "Sure."
#
Ben hadn't been jealous like this at the office party. I supposed being around werewolves made a difference. Daniel had felt the need to imprint his claim on me when we were around other wolves, especially strange ones, but he restrained it to gestures or touches.
At the time, I thought it something unique to a mated pair. I didn't feel a bond with Ben, though sometimes there was an odd tingle. An odd tingle that might have had more to do with my own magic, my own hunger for Ben. Perhaps all wolves were jealous of their lovers.
I knew it was important to Ben that I have a good time. But being among so many werewolves intimidated me. I acted shy and submissive, as if I could scoot under the radar. I did make a mental note to ask Ben if Mercy was something special. She smelled like a canine but I couldn't place what.
There also lurked, on the edge of the party, a quiet boy who smelled of fae. I avoided him. I didn't have much experience with the fae. I wasn't going to start now. The fae complicated things and my life was tangled enough as it was.
The house slowly emptied as the evening passed. Eventually, I found myself on the couch, leaning into Ben's side, listening with rapt attention to the Alpha's daughter as she told me about Mercy going up against a volcano god in her garage.
"I think we still have the video somewhere," Jesse said.
"I'd love to see that." I looked across the room, where Mercy was slow dancing with Adam. Whatever the hell she was, I didn't want to piss her off.
Ben rubbed my arm. "Are you ready to go?"
"Sure."
We went to say our goodnights to the Hauptmans. Adam held out a business card with a phone number.
"Ben tells me you've been with a werewolf before," he said, "but in case you have any questions or concerns, you can call me."
Daniel's Alpha, Timothy, hadn't been nearly so accommodating. Though, he knew what I was, so perhaps that was the reason. The only time he spoke kindly to me was when any uppity vampires needed killing.
"Thank you," I replied, "but Ben already gave me your number. It's programmed into my phone."
His brows rose in surprise. "That's good to hear."
"It was great seeing you again," Mercy said. "Unless you have other plans, you're welcome to come for Christmas dinner."
"I'll think about it," I responded, though it made me a little sick to my stomach. "Buon Natale."
Once inside the car, I settled into the seat with a happy sigh. The night went better than I expected. It was a good thing I had fed. I settled against the door. After a mile or two, I lapsed into a slight doze.
"Not as terrible as you thought?" Ben asked, bringing me to wakefulness.
"I don't know. There was this really jealous guy who shagged me in a linen closet."
"Oh, yeah?"
"It wasn't even very good."
"Hey!"
I was still laughing when it happened.
A car coming toward us swerved. Perhaps he hit a patch of ice. Perhaps he thought he saw something that needed avoiding and lost control. Perhaps he was just too drunk. Whatever the reason, it was too close for Ben to react in time. Despite that, it felt as if we had all the time in the world to get out of the way.
It was a truck, bigger than Ben's, and it slammed into us head-on. Glass and crunching, squealing metal filled my world. Agony sliced through me, from the legs up and the head down. Ben screamed my name. Then, darkness.