Quinn's Quest

Chapter Seven

Hours later, Quinn’s body was still vibrating with pleasure. He could still taste Bethany’s skin, salty and hot. Her arousal filled his nostrils, spicy and sweet. Hell, he was still sporting a semi-erection just thinking about her.

He’d been totally discouraged when they hadn’t found Chris in any of the abandoned buildings they’d searched. Sick at heart, it was all too easy to imagine his sister at the mercy of her captors. The frustration of being so close to Chris only to have her slip through his fingers made him want to beat his fists through a wall and howl his fury to the world. He’d almost found her. After all these long months, he’d missed her by a matter of hours. It was enough to drive a man mad.

But Bethany had opened her arms to him and offered him respite from his never-ending torment. He felt guilty as hell, like he was taking advantage of her when she was entering into heat. He didn’t deserve to find such exquisite release from the anguish eating at his soul. But he wasn’t stupid enough to walk away and let one of the other males offer to ease her body.

Bethany was his.

His wolf growled in agreement. Since Bethany had arrived he’d been having a much harder time keeping his wolf in check. The beast was always right there at the tip of his consciousness, wanting to escape and run free. That was only natural from all that he’d heard, considering Bethany was almost in full-blown heat.

He glanced across the floor of the bar from his seat in a dark corner. The object of his desire was wearing a pair of jeans, a long-sleeved V-neck shirt with the Haven logo printed on it and a pair of sneakers. Not overly provocative clothing. Yet Quinn wanted to throw a blanket over her and drag her out of the bar and up to his room. He didn’t want any other males looking at Bethany, seeing her soft smile, listening to her warm laughter.

He was seriously fucked up. He wanted Bethany with a fire that burned to the depths of his soul. But he didn’t feel worthy. His sister had depended on him to keep her safe and look what had happened to her. He felt guilty enough simply sleeping with Bethany while Chris was missing. It seemed wrong for him to find any kind of happiness when he knew his sister was a prisoner of some mad scientist and his werewolf flunky.

It was stupid to think that way. Intellectually, he knew that. One thing didn’t have anything to do with the other. Just because he acted on his attraction to Bethany didn’t mean he’d stop looking for Chris. Ever.

A car backfired outside on the street and Quinn flinched, his hand automatically reaching for a weapon that wasn’t there. He hadn’t worn a gun tucked in the back of his belt since he’d left the bounty hunters.

For a brief moment, his mind slipped back in time. Gunfire erupted around him. Men yelled. Werewolves howled. So much blood spilled. So much death and destruction. And he’d had a hand in much of it.

Quinn shook away the flashback and sought Bethany, needing to simply look at her to calm his ragged soul. He found her easily, hustling around the club serving drinks and food to the customers. She smiled and laughed easily. He was amazed at how quickly she’d been able to put the kidnapping behind her.

A little voice in the back of his head told him she hadn’t dealt with it at all. She simply had too much to handle with her werewolf heritage and going into heat. The kidnapping would have to wait. But eventually she would have to come to terms with it.

His own experiences had taught him you couldn’t outrun your past forever. Eventually it caught up to you, giving you nightmares and memories you could only pray would fade over time.

He watched Bethany hurry to the bar, empty tray in hand. The slightly worn fabric of her jeans cupped her heart-shaped ass to perfection. He licked his lips as hunger roared through him like a tsunami. He wanted to take her like that. He wanted her naked, ass in the air as he drove into her from behind, claiming her as mate in the way of their people. He might be half human, but the werewolf side of his nature ruled supreme.

What he was thinking was crazy. Impossible. He wanted Bethany, but he couldn’t offer her anything permanent. Not until he found Chris. Maybe not even then. He couldn’t simply erase his past and all the things he’d done. Bethany deserved better. He knew he should just walk away from her and allow the other males to court her. That was the right thing to do.

Damned if he was going to. It might be wrong but he didn’t care. He wanted Bethany too much to walk away.

Michael leaned closer to Bethany as she placed her order for more drinks. Quinn’s eyes narrowed. There could be trouble there if he wasn’t careful. Michael was a pureblooded werewolf with a good job and a future to offer Bethany. There was no doubting the fact he found her attractive. Who wouldn’t? Bethany was an incredibly sexy and intelligent woman.

He sauntered over to the bar just in time to hear Michael’s latest comment.

“You’re a natural, Bethany.” Michael smiled at her as he added several bottles of imported beer to her tray. “The customers really like you.”

A reddish tinge highlighted her cheekbones. “Thanks. I’ve been a waitress for years.”

Quinn hadn’t known that. He was suddenly filled with the overwhelming urge to learn everything about her. Michael was right. Bethany was a natural. She was friendly and efficient, completely at ease with the customers.

Michael glanced at him but turned his attention back to Bethany. “That’s the rest of your order. One bloody Mary, three draft beers and a screwdriver.” He placed the last of the drinks on her tray.

“Thanks.” Bethany kept her head down, not looking at him as she tried to move past.

Quinn didn’t like the way she wouldn’t meet his gaze. He stopped her by simply stepping into her path. With all the tables surrounding them she had to stop. He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger and raised it. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” This close to her he could smell her sweet, seductive scent. His testicles tightened and his dick jerked. He licked his lips again, barely refraining from throwing Bethany over his shoulder and dragging her upstairs to his bed.

He felt eyes on him and raised his head to glare at Michael. The other male was watching them intently. Or, more specifically, he was watching Bethany. If he could smell her then so could Michael.

A wave of protective possessiveness rose inside him. Before he realized what he was doing, Quinn leaned down and kissed Bethany, laying claim to her in public. Michael might be a purebred werewolf, but Quinn would fight him for Bethany if it came down to it. Which was crazy. He needed the pack’s help to find his sister. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself, especially not with Bethany’s lips moving beneath his.

“What was that for?” she asked, her voice breathy and tinged with arousal. The tray of drinks jiggled as her hands trembled. He placed his hand on the tray to steady it.

With his free hand, he stroked the line of her jaw. “Because I wanted to.”

As if suddenly remembering where she was, Bethany straightened and glared at him. “Well, don’t do it again. Not here.” She glanced nervously over her shoulder before hurrying off with her drink order.

She might not think anyone had noticed their quick kiss, but she’d be wrong. Sure the bar was dimly lit, a three-piece jazz band played on the small stage in the corner and patrons chatted and laughed with one another, but every single werewolf male here, pureblood or half-breed, was watching Bethany.

It was getting harder not to. Her scent, whenever she passed by, was an aphrodisiac. He was semi-erect whenever he was around her and knew the other single males had to be reacting to her in much the same manner. It made him want to hit something. He shot Michael a quick glare. Or maybe hit someone.

“How are you holding up?” Meredith placed her hand on Quinn’s arm and turned him toward the bar. It was only then he realized he was still watching Bethany, unable to tear his eyes away from her slim form.

“I’m okay.” That was his standard answer. The only one he could give.

“No, you’re not.” She nodded toward Michael. “None of you are.”

Quinn jerked his head around and noted the other male’s eyes were burning with lust. A low growl broke from Quinn’s chest. An answering one came from Michael.

“Stop it. Both of you.” The command in Meredith’s voice was compelling, reminding both of them in a very visceral way that she was female alpha of this pack. Hank materialized by her side, ready to step in if needed.

Quinn lowered his head, ashamed of his actions. He needed to keep his head on straight, not challenge the female alpha or threaten her son, a man he actually respected when he wasn’t looking at Bethany. He had to remember he wasn’t a part of this pack and he could easily be shown the door and asked to leave. He was jeopardizing his sister’s safety with his obsession with Bethany.

“Sorry about that.” His control was strained to the max. That wasn’t acceptable. He needed to get a grip on the wayward emotions making him act so crazy. The last thing he wanted to do was draw human attention to himself or to any of the others in the pack.

Meredith gave him an understanding smile as she pushed her long braid over her shoulder. “It’s not a problem unless you lose control.” She glanced toward Bethany and sighed. “This will probably be her last night of work for a while.” She nodded her thanks to Hank and he ambled back to his position by the front door of the club.

“It’s that bad?” Quinn knew the basics of what happened to a female werewolf when she went into heat, but not specifics.

Meredith rubbed her hands over her arms. “Worse.” She glanced at Michael and then back at him. “She’ll be in a bad way.”

“What can I do for her?” Quinn didn’t like the idea of anything hurting Bethany. His eyes sought her and his soul seemed to sigh in relief when he caught sight of her working her way around the room. God, she was beautiful.

“Quinn.” Meredith waited until she had his full attention again.

She raised her eyebrow at him, reminding him of his question. He felt his cheeks flush like he was some damn teenager lusting after his first girl. Sex was obviously an option. “Besides that?”

She shrugged. “That’s pretty much all that will ease her. The only other option is to leave her alone and let her ride it out. We’ll have to ban all unmated males from the third floor until she’s through this phase. And even then it will be hard on all of you.”

The thought of leaving Bethany alone, writhing naked on a bed with sexual arousal thrumming through her until it was painful was more than he could stand.

“I don’t think I can do that.”

Meredith patted his arm. “I didn’t think that you could.”

It occurred to him suddenly just how much of a mother figure Meredith had become to him. Not that she looked like anyone’s mother. She looked young and gorgeous and sophisticated. Tonight, as usual, she was wearing a knee-length sparkly dress with a slit up the side.

No, she definitely didn’t look like his mother.

She could have easily tried to dissuade him from being with Bethany, could have pushed one of her own sons toward the unmated female. After all, female werewolves were scarce. There were four unattached males besides him here. And they were all pack. He was just an interloper.

He shifted uncomfortably. A part of him wanted to run from Meredith’s kindness and understanding. Another part of him wished he felt at ease enough to put his arms around her, hug her and thank her for everything she’d done for him and his family. But he didn’t belong here at Haven with all of them. He’d been alone most of his life, but he’d always had Chris and Craig until eighteen months ago. Those long months completely alone had taught him what true loneliness was. He never wanted to go back to those dark days but they’d shaped him, changed him irreparably.

“You’ll figure it out.” Meredith brushed a lock of hair away from his face and he got a lump in his throat. He missed his own mother with a fierce ache that made his heart hurt. She hadn’t been the best judge of character when it came to men, but none of her children had ever doubted how much she’d loved them. It had never mattered to her that he and Chris were different, and she’d done everything in her power to gather as much information as she could to help them. At times like this, he missed her so damn much.

“Thanks,” he replied, his voice husky with barely suppressed emotion. He lowered his head and stared at the floor as he composed himself. He didn’t know what the hell he was going to do about Bethany. He’d think of something. He always did.

“Any news?” Michael moved down beside them and placed a glass of sparkling water in front of his mother and a beer in front of Quinn. He’d probably heard their entire conversation. Werewolf hearing was exceptional and he’d only been standing a few feet away.

Meredith took a sip of her water. “Damek called and said he’d be over after closing.”

Quinn jerked upright, hope burning in his gut. “Does he know anything?”

“He wouldn’t say. He wants to meet in person.”

Quinn swore. Michael chuckled. “Damek works in his own time and in his own way.”

Quinn wanted to strike out at Michael for his flippant comment even though he knew the other man didn’t mean it in that way. He was simply commenting on the way the vampire operated. But it still burned in Quinn’s gut. This was his sister they were talking about. His fingers tightened around the beer bottle in his hand. He didn’t even remember picking it up.

A slow, burning rage began to pump through his veins until it threatened to devour him. Through the red tinge of his gaze he saw Bethany hurrying toward him, concern on her face.

“What’s wrong?” She touched him and that easily bled some of the fury away, leaving him with a manageable anger.

“Damek is coming later tonight,” Meredith answered.

“That’s good. Right? He could have news.”

“Maybe.” Quinn wasn’t about to get his hopes up again only to have them dashed.

Bethany placed her hand on his arm and squeezed. “Everything will be okay.” He knew she couldn’t promise that any more than he could. Still, it helped soothe the fires of guilt and fury that threatened to consume him.

“I’ll give Hank a rest on the door.” Hank was the club bouncer. Quinn didn’t mind taking over for him. He wouldn’t mind a fight right about now.

Meredith stopped him, shaking her head. “Not a good idea in the mood you’re in. Why don’t you check in with your brother to see if he’s made any more progress with his computer searches. Or, if you really want to keep busy, you could help Teague in the kitchen. Wash dishes or something.”

Meredith obviously sensed his volatility. Smart lady. He nodded. Bethany shot him another worried gaze before grabbing her tray and hurrying off again.

They were all on edge. Tense. Between the ever-present threat of bounty hunters, the search for Chris and Bethany going into heat, this place was a powder keg waiting to blow.

Knowing he wasn’t doing anyone any good here, Quinn took himself off to Meredith’s office where Craig was currently set up. He’d shoved a table against one wall and set up all his own equipment there. He had a desktop computer as well as a laptop. Both were state of the art and he’d modified them himself so they would perform even better. Craig was a bloody genius when it came to the things. He’d written many of his own programs, which he’d used to help infiltrate the paranormal bounty hunters when Quinn was undercover in their group.

“How’s it going?”

Craig held up one hand and kept typing with the other. He hunched over the keyboard, working furiously for a few more minutes. He hit one final key and sat back, rubbing his neck.

His younger brother looked tired. There was stubble on his jaw and dark circles under his eyes. “I’ve got several searches going at once. I’m using Dr. Morton’s name, family names and variations of them to search for property. I’m also running a search in the bounty hunters databases on any information about a werewolf named Brian. It’s a long shot but it’s something.

“You’re working too hard.” Quinn grabbed the other desk chair and dragged it over by his brother.

“Yeah, well, I’ve got nothing better to do.”

“I’m sorry, man.” Quinn felt like he’d let his family down. Craig should be in school somewhere learning how to hone his computer skills. He should be drinking with his buddies on the weekend and worrying about girls, not lost in the world of werewolves, kidnappers and vampires.

Then there was Chris. He missed her so damn much. She was the one he’d always talked to, the only one who’d ever understood what he was going through.

He missed her laugh. He remembered her trying out a new recipe one night for dinner. He couldn’t even remember what it was she was trying to cook. All he knew was it had gone horribly wrong. Some kind of mix-up in spices and cooking time. It was damn awful but Chris hadn’t gotten upset. She’d laughed and laughed until she’d cried, pointing at his face and the expression on it until she’d had both him and Craig in stitches too. They’d finally ordered a pizza. The memory brought a ghost of a smile to his face.

Craig swiveled around in his chair and Quinn’s memory slid away. His brother scowled at him, annoyance evident in every line of his body. “It’s not your fault. None of us expected anything like this to happen. We all took precautions, but sometimes shit happens.”

That said it all, didn’t it? Shit happened.

Craig sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s been hard on all of us.” Guilt pierced Quinn. It was quickly followed by shame. He wasn’t the only one dealing with Chrissten’s kidnapping. Craig was too. And while he’d been able to go out and search for her, Craig had been left to deal with things alone. His younger brother had barely been legal when Quinn had been forced to leave him on his own while he searched for their sister.

Quinn reached out and clapped his brother on the shoulder. “I wish none of this had happened.”

“Me too.” Craig took off his glasses and used the tail of his T-shirt to polish them. “Well, not all of it. Only Chrissten’s kidnapping. I kinda like the fact you found your father and met more people like you.”

Like him. It was a reminder that Craig was human. If genetics held true then his brother would die hundreds of years before him. His guts knotted. He hated the thought of losing him.

As for his birth father, well that was another problem he’d deal with some day. He’d met Donovan Brody, spent some time with him. But he felt no real connection to the male. They looked eerily alike except for their hair color, but other than that they were strangers.

His father had tried. He’d give him that. But Quinn wasn’t interested in pursuing a relationship with him, not until he’d found Chris. Maybe when his family was reunited, Quinn might feel more like going down that road.

He knew Chrissten would want to meet Donovan Brody. She’d talked a lot about finding their father while they were growing up. It was him who’d always held back, arguing the man had left their mother, that he didn’t care if he met him or not. The old debate seemed silly now. He wished Chris were here to argue with him.

“How’s Bethany doing?” Craig’s question brought him back to the here and now.

“Good. Why?”

Craig shrugged, but there was no mistaking his discomfort. He picked up an open bottle of Coke and took a swallow. His foot tapped a quick rhythm on the floor. Behind him machinery hummed. “This has to be hard for her, you know. The kidnapping. Finding out what she is and what’s happening to her.”

“Yeah.” Now that was an understatement.

“I like her,” Craig blurted out. “And I think you do too.”

Quinn leaned forward, braced his elbows on his knees and placed his face in his hands. He took a deep, calming breath before raising his head again. He’d missed this. Having contact with his brother, simply being able to sit across from one another and talk. His time with the bounty hunters had robbed him of so much.

“Well,” Craig continued. “I think you should go for it. With Bethany, I mean.”

It occurred to him that his brother was matchmaking. He grinned in spite of himself. “You think?”

Craig nodded emphatically. “Absolutely. Female werewolves are rare and she seems to like you. And I know you like her.” He glanced fleetingly at the front of Quinn’s jeans, but long enough to make his point. It was hard to miss the bulge in the front of his jeans. Just talking about Bethany got him hot.

“It’s not fair to her,” he reminded Craig. Bethany was vulnerable now. To mate with her would tie them together for the rest of their lives. The thought was appealing to him on a primitive level, but it also scared the crap out of him. He’d never even thought about mating with a female. Not until he’d met Bethany.

“Maybe. But what are you going to do if one of the other guys offers to help her with her problem?” Only Craig would refer to a female going into heat as a problem.

A low growl broke from Quinn and Craig nodded. “Exactly. You can’t stand the thought of any guy touching her, let alone mating with her.”

“It’s her choice,” Quinn reminded him.

“Then let her make it.” Such a simple statement, but a minefield of trouble. His younger brother was a man now, and quite an astute one.

The computer made a noise and Craig wheeled back around and started typing.

Quinn stood and watched his brother work for a few more minutes. “Let me know if you find anything or if you need anything.” He left his brother to his work and headed toward the kitchen. On his way, he took a quick peek into the bar. His gaze landed on Bethany and everything inside him settled.

He watched her move, graceful even with a heavily loaded tray. Her hair was pulled away from her face, emphasizing her hazel eyes and her full lips. He ached to hold her.

Quinn abruptly turned away and stalked toward the kitchen. He needed to come up with a plan and he needed to do it quick. Time was running out. For all of them.

Bethany plunked down on a stool at the bar and sighed. Her shoulders ached and her feet hurt, but it felt good to be working again, earning her keep. “Busy night.”

Michael finished wiping a glass with his clean white towel and placed it on the shelf. “Regular night,” he corrected. He grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, opened it and placed it in front of her. Bethany grabbed it eagerly, smiling her thanks at him. Michael nodded and continued working.

Benjamin was clearing the other end of the bar. The last of the regular employees had just left and only the pack remained. Not that she considered herself part of the pack. She, Quinn and his brother were obviously outsiders, but everyone made them feel welcome and that helped a lot.

Meredith slid onto the stool beside her. “How are you enjoying working at Haven?”

“It’s great,” she answered honestly. “I enjoy the atmosphere. You get a good group of people coming here.” It was a cross-section of tourists and neighborhood folks, along with some people who’d heard about the club and had come from other parts of the city to hear the music and check out the ambiance. The patrons were a friendly bunch and the large males working here kept things from getting out of control.

“You’ve got a fulltime job here if you want it.” Meredith’s generosity stunned her. And the other woman wasn’t done yet. “I know it’s crowded in the apartments, but there are a few rentals on the street if you decide down the road you’re staying and want your own space. You’re welcome to live here as long as you like.”

“Thank you.” Taken aback by Meredith’s job offer, Bethany didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t ready to commit to anything, not yet. She had no idea what was going to happen between her and Quinn or how long it would take them to find Chrissten. There were so many variables to consider.

Her gaze automatically sought Quinn and she relaxed slightly when she found him stacking chairs at the far end of the bar. He’d disappeared for most of the night, but she knew he was in the kitchen helping Teague, having caught glimpses of him whenever she’d picked up a food order. She’d missed his steady presence.

He was watching her now, his expression intent. His stare made her cheeks heat and set a flock of butterflies lose in her stomach. She glanced away, unable to match his intent gaze for long. It was too much like the way he’d looked at her when they were in bed, and it made her skin and other interesting parts of her anatomy tingle.

Meredith patted her arm. “Take a few days and think about it. In the meantime, you can work day to day whenever you’re able. I had a lot of regulars comment on how good you were.”

Pleasure suffused Bethany. She’d been alone for so long it felt strange to be a part of this group of special people. And she’d just been offered a permanent spot. The pay was good and the tips were better. She could make a life for herself here if she wanted a fresh start.

She glanced at Michael and nibbled on her bottom lip. He could be a problem. She knew he was attracted to her. Benjamin was, too, but he wasn’t quite as obvious about it as his brother. She didn’t want to do anything that might lead either of them on. As much as she liked them, she wasn’t attracted to them, not in that way. Not the way she was drawn to Quinn.

“Thank you so much, Meredith. I’ll think about it.”

Benjamin sauntered down to join them. Bethany shook her head. All the males were incredibly good looking and virile. They’d attract any woman’s attention. Bethany didn’t think the high percentage of females visiting the bar was a coincidence. Plenty of male eye candy here.

Heat flooded through her, making her uncomfortable. Her panties were damp, her breasts ached and she wanted to rub herself against a hard, male body. And although the brothers were both prime specimens, she wanted only Quinn.

As if he felt her discomfort, Quinn came over to stand behind her. He rested his hands on her shoulders and she couldn’t resist rubbing the side of her cheek against his hand.

Isaiah came toward them, followed by the rest of the pack. “Damek should be here any minute.”

Just like that, all the butterflies in her stomach were back with a vengeance. She was about to meet a real-life vampire. It sounded impossible. Then again, a few weeks ago she would have laughed if someone had told her werewolves were real.

Her life had taken a strange turn and there was no going back to normal, whatever that was.

A flash of heat took her unaware. This one was strong, almost overpowering. She bit her lip to keep from moaning aloud.

Behind her, Quinn stiffened. Benjamin inhaled deeply and Michael let out a low growl. Even quiet Kevin shifted closer to her. Only the mated males, as well as Craig and, strangely enough, Hank, seemed unaffected.

Isaiah swore. “Let’s hope Damek gets here soon.”

Bethany wrapped her arms around her body while waves of desire swamped her. She didn’t know if she should leave. As much as she wanted to help Chrissten, Bethany knew she wasn’t helping anybody by distracting the single males.

She’d be glad when this biological phase had passed. That’s what she’d decided to call it. Saying she was in heat was simply too primal, too animalistic.

“You okay?” Quinn’s voice was barely a whisper in her ear. His hot breath caressed the sensitive nerve endings in her ear. Her body tingled. Her skin felt alive.

“Do you want to go upstairs and rest?”

Bethany turned her head to answer him, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was glaring at the other males who were watching her. She wanted to crawl under the floorboards and hide. This was so embarrassing. They all knew she was aroused. It might be a natural thing for their species, but it was embarrassing as hell. She’d been totally human only weeks ago. At least that’s what she’d thought. Just because she knew differently now didn’t make it any easier to deal with.

“I think I—” She was cut off as the door flew open. She knew it had been locked. She’d watched Hank turn the deadbolt.

A dark presence seemed to fill the room. Then a man stepped through the doorway. No, not a man. There was something about him that wasn’t quite human, a dark, almost sinister energy that seemed to sweep before him to announce his presence. This was the vampire. The mysterious Damek had arrived.