Claimed by Honor (Bestian Creek Pack Book 1) Read online

  “Because I was there first.” Honor growled and snapped his head in Derek’s direction.

  “No one’s been first for a while, Honor, sorry to break it to you both.” Honor growled but a smile pulled his lips.

  “Doesn’t bother me. Does it bother you that she’s a used napkin?”

  “Hey!” she sneered. “That wasn’t nice.”

  “I’m a used napkin, too. It’s okay.”

  “See?” Derek shook his head. “I would never say that about a woman. You’re disgusting.”

  Anna kinda liked Honor’s dirty mind and his dirty mouth, but she needed to diffuse the situation before this became an all-out brawl, over her of all things. A used napkin, nonetheless. “It’s okay, Derek. He was just teasing me after I slipped on some words.” She looked Honor in the eyes and gave a teasing smile. “He wasn’t going to take me right here in front of everyone.”

  “I do like you, Anna.” Derek stood straighter. Looking her in the eyes with a calm look. “And I would never harm you, unlike that maniac. He has a death wish.” A huffed laugh came from behind her. “Laugh all you want, but I know you Honor Dath.”

  Honor was there in no time, squaring up to Derek like the equally large man wasn’t a threat at all. “And I know you Derek Tate. So back. The fuck. Off.” Both men threw back their heads and she could see their teeth elongating.

  “Both of you need to shut this down, now.” Fire shoved himself between Honor and Derek, holding a sleeping Ember in his arms. “This little girl right here and all the other children here are more important than the dick war you two have going on right now.” Fire’s voice got deeper, inhuman. “I’ve watched you two bastards fight our whole lives, but this is not the place to finally have it out. So, both you back the fuck off.” Fire looked both of them directly in the eyes and slowly walked away toward the front doors in an attempt to keep his cool and not get involved any further.

  Where the hell are those SUV’s? She could use an escape car right about now. She couldn’t understand why the hell these two would fight over her, a stranger. She also couldn’t understand why the SUV’s were taking so long and why she couldn’t get out of this place. At just that moment, Barrett came back in through the glass double door.

  “They’re here! Let’s go!” He began to wave his hand in the air. “Males with children fill the first three and hold on tight. It’s going to be rough and you have precious cargo.” Anna watched Fire start out the door holding his sleeping Ember. She’d been restless her entire life and was finally able to be calm and safe—with her father. Their bond would grow to great heights and she wished she would be around to see it. But she knew she didn’t belong in whatever secret world she was about to be a part of. She would have to go home soon. She looked at Honor as he helped get the kids in the vehicles and out of this hell hole. She needed to be alone for a moment.

  Fire and Ember were safe in the SUV and Honor made certain they got off the compound safely. The crowd was gathered around a few more vehicles that were filling up to take them all home. He tried to find Anna’s face in the crowd, but she wasn’t there. He started to panic, hoping she didn’t get in a vehicle with other males, or forced into a vehicle. He scoured the front gravel loading area, frantically searching. He saw Derek sitting on the stairs of the main entrance and he gave Honor a knowing grin. “Where is she?”

  “She’s inside.” He answered calmly.

  “So, is that what you’re doing out here on the steps? Being the gatekeeper?” Honor had said his peace earlier and didn’t have time for a brawl right here on the front step of Advanced Genetics.

  Derek stood from his stoop and slowly walked toward Honor. “I was ensuring she wasn’t left alone. But you aren’t worth my time and besides, I know you wouldn’t hurt her, our animals are the same you know.”

  “We are nothing alike, Derek.”

  He seemed to ignore Honor’s dismissal. “Anna’s inside. She’s crying, but I don’t know why. She wanted to be left alone.” Derek walked past Honor and toward the waiting vehicles. He ran up the steps and pulled the door open in a fury.

  “Anna? What happened? Are you hurt?” he pulled her arms up, checked both sides of her head and down to her legs and feet. No visible marks or smell of blood. “You’re not hurt, are you?”

  “No,” she whimpered

  “Then why are you crying?” He grasped her wrists to pull them away from her face and tilted her chin up to look him in the eyes. “Tell me.”

  “It’s been a rough day, Honor. I was supposed to be on vacation, be one with nature and all that shit. I was kidnapped for fuck’s sake!” She screamed out her frustration. He knew that, why was he screwing this up. This must be extremely hard on her. Her old life was over, she knew their secret and she would never forget that. She knew there were things that went bump in the night. He doubted she would ever feel safe back home. He could keep her safe though. “And despite the fact that I had a shitty twenty-four hours, I met people I truly connected with, went through life altering experiences with, but I know I don’t belong here with you.” He was shocked. She wanted to leave him. They barely knew each other but for some reason he needed to keep her close to him, all day every day. “You have a life. I have a life and a job in Texas, maybe. That’s really far away.” She let out a deep sigh and tried to control her breathing again.

  “You want to leave me?” He didn’t care how desperate he sounded. He wanted everything he felt to be out there in the open. He wouldn’t play games with her. Growing up, Fire had been the man whore and always had some sort of woman all over him. Honor on the other hand never put effort in the women in town. He knew everyone and couldn’t bring himself to get involved with anyone he didn’t want to spend a considerable amount of his life with. That may have left him inexperienced, but it also made this thing he had with Anna more real than anything he had ever felt.

  “You have a life, Honor. Probably a girlfriend or wife somewhere. A family and a job. I’m just some stranger that walked into the wrong forest at the wrong time and was in a cell you happened to be thrown into, on a day you decided to make a jail break. I don’t belong in this world. Where everyone thinks I’m a prostitute and sell my babies for science. I see it on everyone’s face!”

  “None of that is true, Anna. And in time everyone will see who you truly are.” He gave her a reassuring smile and held her against his chest. He began to rumble again, she did that to him. Her hand came up and she rested her palm between his pecs and melted into him. “Do you feel better?”

  “How did you do that?” She questioned.

  “Stick around and I will show you all my secrets.” He said it jokingly, but Honor knew he really meant it. He wanted her to stay, to be his. His dick twitched in the low hanging gray sweatpants he still wore, there was no way in hell those were going to conceal anything. Honor tried to hide his boner with his hands because if Derek saw it, he would assume he’d gone against the Challenge codes and he would be forced to give up Anna completely.

  Honor saw more SUV’s pull up through the glass wall of the lobby. “Come on. Let’s get the hell out of this place and we can talk about this somewhere more private.” Honor, held the door open, walked Anna down the steps and he picked an SUV. He helped her into the back and shut the door, then hefted himself into the front passenger seat. Derek and Nick hopped in as well and Honor let out a growl.

  Derek growled back. “I want her safe as much as you do, Honor. I will keep watch of her.”

  He looked at Anna, who was squashed between the two giant males in the back seat. The driver made his way through the gate and sped down the gravel road. “Stop!” Honor roared out and the driver slammed on the breaks. The sound of clenched wheels on gravel filled the cab. “Nick get your ass in the front seat.”

  “Ooookay,” Nick dragged out. “Not gonna argue with you, brother.” Honor was a few years older than Nick, but he’d always been a part of his group of friends. Nick peeled himself out of the tiny back seat le
gs first and let Honor have his seat. “It’s all yours.” Honor climbed into the tight space less gracefully than he wanted. After a few moments fighting to get in and get comfortable the driver resumed his route. The silence was unbearable, but it was better than listening to Derek try and woo Anna. While he sat with his hands tied in the front seat.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “I hope that girl makes it okay. The unconscious one.” Anna had suddenly remembered that poor woman, lifeless in Fire’s arms and shuttered.

  “She went in the first SUV and they are taking her to the hospital. She’s going to be okay, we have great doctors there.” Honor put his hand on her knee to comfort her. Derek let out a warning.

  “Chill dude, it’s just her knee.” Honor teased him now.

  “I don’t care if it’s her fucking pinky toe, don’t touch her.” Derek’s voice came out deep and inhuman.

  Anna interrupted. “So, you guys are fighting over me, right? Like, just to be clear, all this back and forth is because of this hot mess sitting right here?” She gestured to her whole body.

  “Hot? Yes.” Honor joked.

  “Y’all have got to be kidding me right now. What if I don’t want either of you? What if I wanted, I don’t know, Nick? Then what?”

  “Hell yeah!” Nick shouted from the front. And Honor shoved it forward and Nick nearly slammed his face into the dash but caught himself just in time. They both laughed stupidly. This was actually concerning her, and Anna didn’t like it at all. Derek was fun and happy, but ever since he and Honor got into it in the lobby something had been off.

  “Or even this guy?” She gestured toward the driver, leaning forward a little bit and clearing her throat before she whispered. “What is your name exactly?”

  “Bounty, ma’am. I’m a Demi. I’m, uh, sixteen ma’am.” The poor boy looked horrified.

  “Oh, well, that’s disgusting and now I feel gross.” All these damn shifters looked alike and they all looked like grown ass men, even the teenagers. She wanted to die inside. “And please never call me ma’am again, Anna is fine.”

  “Yes ma’am, I mean Anna.” The boy sounded nervous. She guessed being in a vehicle with three fully grown males that seemed pissed at each other, wouldn’t stop arguing and throwing out growls at one another, wasn’t his safe space.

  “Focus on the road kid, you’re doing great.” Derek said with a straight and emotionless tone. “We’ll be home in a few minutes.”

  Nick was giving Bounty directions home. “I just can’t understand what you two are thinking?” She started up again. “This isn’t some battle for my love and attention. I barely know either of you.” She knew that was true, but it didn’t stop her from remembering how she and Honor slept last night.

  “Wrong. This is a battle for your love.” Derek growled out

  “That may be true,” Honor spoke and looked down at her, “but don’t lie and say your heart hasn’t chosen.”

  How did he know that? Both men were new to her. The most beautiful men she had ever seen, but her heart had spoken, Honor was it. She felt like she would follow him to the ends of the earth, and she had only known him less than twenty-four hours. “That’s not fair, Honor.” She looked up at Derek and she put her hand on his face and cupped it. “I’m sorry.”

  She closed her eyes and put her forehead on his shoulder as if she could think hard enough and pull the sting away and the hurt from his eyes. He put his own hand on top of hers and pulled it down slowly, placing it on her own lap. He drew away then and gripped the grab handle on the roof with white knuckles. He looked out the window the rest of the drive. Her heart sank.

  She pulled her thoughts away from the emotional turmoil going on as the adrenaline wore off, the events from yesterday played in her mind and she tried to change the subject and possibly change the mood in the vehicle. “Where are we?”

  “Almost home.” Nick jumped out.

  “Oh, thank you, Jesus.” Anna felt relieved she wouldn’t have to be stuck in this hell of a cramped space for much longer. She kept thinking about Derek’s hurt, the kidnapping and all the shit that had gone on the last day, the sobs started up again and she started to sweat. Her chest began to tighten.

  “I think you’re coming down off your high, sweetness.” The pet name calmed her down a bit and made her heart jump. “Just let it ride out. You’re okay. I’ve got you now.” Honor lifted her up onto his lap and held her close to his chest, it began to rumble, her tears eased away, her saddest gone. “We’re almost there and you can rest safely.”

  Derek didn’t make one sound in protest. He just sat there and kept his focus out the window.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Anna was asleep in his arms when they pulled into town. Bounty had dropped Derek off at home first. He got out and slammed the door without a word. “Go down this way.” Nick pointed to the gravel road coming up on the right. “Mailbox says 427.” Bounty followed the directions and they pulled up to Nick’s driveway in minutes. “Don’t cause too much trouble, bro. I already know where this shit is headed, and it ain’t pretty.” Nick shook Bounty’s hand, got out of the SUV, and quietly shut the door so he wouldn’t wake up Anna.

  “My house is just up the street about half a mile on the right. H. Dath is on the side.”

  “You got it.” Bounty was determined to make a good impression with Honor, and he knew it.

  “Where are you staying tonight, kid?” Honor didn’t realize until now that the Demis wouldn’t have a home, and no one knew their lineage yet. Until then, the four older Demis would have to bunk it for the time being.

  “Well, I was just going to sleep in here. Won’t bother me any. It’s better than being in a four-man bunk in one tiny room.” The young male shrugged.

  “Turn here.” Honor said, trying to ignore the young man’s words. The car turned into his driveway and they began the winding way up the hill, large pines thick on either side. He chose this spot for a reason. There was a stream half a mile down the hill behind the house, and his animal loved being here. It was his home too. The house came into view and the large, log cabin sat on the tallest point on his land. His lights were on. “Looks like my mother has paid me a visit. Just what I need right now.” Honor scrubbed his head with his knuckles and the young man put the car in park in front of his house. “Bounty, grab your shit and come inside. You can sleep in the guest room upstairs.”

  “I don’t have any shit, sir. All I have is what I’ve got on my back.” Honor looked down at Anna, she didn’t have anything either and he decided to get her stuff from her camp and bring it to the house, so she would at least have the belongings she came here with.

  “Well, then turn her off and come inside.” Honor nodded his head to the house.

  “Wow, thank you! I’ll repay you I promise!” Bounty flipped the truck off and ran around the SUV to meet Honor on his way to the porch stairs.

  “Oh, I’ve got something in mind.” He laughed silently, but Bounty looked completely lost.

  Honor quietly discussed the plan and they walked up the front pavers. He gently laid Anna down on the nice cushioned porch furniture his mother made him buy when the house was complete. This was going to be so worth it. Bounty knew the plan, it was a good one, and he went through the door first. Honor saw his mom sitting on his couch reading a novel, obviously a nervous wreck waiting on him to get home safely. He understood. Last time he got caught was an accident and he was gone for three weeks. He didn’t like doing this to her, but this time was necessary, she knew that.

  “Grandma?” Bounty quietly questioned. And Honor tried to stifle his nearly uncontrollable laughter.

  “Excuse me?” She looked up from her book to look at him. Her eyes widened as she took in his sandy brown hair, day old stubble, tall muscular frame. “Oh my God, are you shitting me right now, Honor? I swear to God I’ll kick your ass if you tell me this is my grandson!”

  “Whoa! Mom, he’s handsome right? Spitting image?” He couldn’t stifle his laug
hter anymore and his gasping laugh made him weak at the knees. Bounty couldn’t handle it either. They both had a fit right there in front of his raging mother.

  “That is not funny!” She stood up and slapped them both across the back of their heads. “Boy, get your ass up those stairs before I whoop it!” She pointed to the stairs. “Now.”

  “Yes ma’am! Sorry ma’am, this was his idea.” He nodded his head toward Honor and gave him another quick spurt of laughter as Honor’s mom raised her arm again and it landed straight on his ass. He was gone in a flash.

  “You next? Or are you going to tell me how it went instead?” She came to him with her arms open and wrapped them around his neck. “You scared me today.”

  “I’m fine, and the mission went as planned.” He gestured for her to sit on the couch. She sat and he went back outside to gather up Anna’s still sleeping body and carried her inside.

  “Who is she?” His mother stood swiftly and went to move the hair from her face. “She’s a pretty one, but she doesn’t smell like you. Why is she here if you do not fear she is pregnant with your young?”

  “She is not a surrogate. She happened to be in a really bad place at a really bad time. She needed me and it turns out I need her. Might have a fight with the Tate family later, but I’ll deal with that.”

  “The Tate’s? Why?” His mother sat back down on the couch. “Honor, you know our families have been friends for decades. Silvia and I are like sisters.” She let out an exasperated breath, she did that a lot dealing with his shit his whole life. “You two have always been in competition with each other. What’s the problem now?”

  “Hold on.” Honor walked down the short hallway off his living room and into his guest room. He placed Anna there on the bed and tucked her under the covers. “Shit.” He remembered how hungry she was. She hadn’t eaten in at least a day. He hurried to the kitchen and grabbed a granola bar, some chips, and a bottle of water, instantly bringing it back to her room and set it next to her bed on the side table. He turned on the lamp so she wouldn’t wake in a dark room and headed back to the living room. Then, plopped down on the reclining chair adjacent to the couch where his mother waited. He leaned back in it and pulled his large hands over his face and scrubbed his itchy, three-day old facial hair.