"Are you ready?"

He grabbed her hand, his eyes so intense that she had to force herself not to pull away. "I think so."

Why did that phrase sound so ominous? Not wanting to ruin their date with a fight, she put it behind her and smiled. "Where are we going?"

They rode to town in Jackson's black diesel. The loud rumble of the engine suggested some kind of programmer had been added for extra power. The inside was pristine, the seats a supple gray leather. The care he took of his truck surprised her, and she suspected he would treat his woman the same way.

She watched Jackson maneuver through traffic, sitting so close, yet the distance between them was greater than ever. The vents circulated his fresh cut grass scent, one that had haunted her through the long nights. She never expected to be granted a second chance, and she wasn't going to squander it. "Do you travel a lot with your job?"

Jackson glanced at her briefly, the first look he sent her since entering the vehicle twenty minutes ago. They were almost to town.

"Depends on the job."

When he said nothing more, she turned to stare at him. Annoyance at his behavior began to dig its way under her skin. "Either you can't tell me anything because of your pack rules, or you're being an ass. If you don't want this date, turn around."

The truck didn't slow down. If anything, it sped up as if he thought she'd jump out of the vehicle.

"He can't talk about some of it." Aaron popped his head between the seats, his eyes urging her to be patient.

"Then tell me, what does an enforcer do? London does my security, but I let him handle all of that."

When Jackson remained mute, Aaron rolled his eyes and nudged him.

"I solve any issues that prevent the pack from running smoothly."

Now that her animals were securely locked away, her power gradually increased with her irritation. "The purpose of the date is to get to know each other. I asked a question. Did you want to ask me anything?"

There was a slight hesitation, like he didn't want to inquire but needed to know. "Why did you come back for me?"

Raven's brows furrowed. "That's what you want to ask?" She heaved a sigh. "You're pack. My pack. Why wouldn't I come?"

His hands clenched on the steering wheel. He turned and stared at her so long, the truck veered into the other lane. Horns blared. He jerked the wheel, easily keeping the vehicle under control. He didn't look at her again, but there was a cocky curl to his lips that had been missing since he'd come home.

That's when she knew they'd be all right. In under five minutes, they hit the edge of the city.

They pulled up to a deli just as a parking spot opened. "I'll be right back."

Jackson jumped out of the truck and disappeared inside the small building. The mid-morning was surprisingly busy, people swarming the shops along both sides of the streets. Five minutes passed when he emerged with a basket in his hand.

"Shit." Aaron hopped out of the vehicle without warning.

"Wait." Raven tore her gaze from drooling over Jackson's muscular form, cursing herself for being so easily distracted, and threw opened her door. She scanned the crowd, trying to locate what'd set Aaron off.

The sidewalks were crowded. People pressed in on all sides, their stink nearly stifling with the lack of breeze. Jackson must have sensed her unease. He hurried forward, placing her in between himself and Aaron. With his large body, people automatically veered around him.

Then Raven recognized the woman who'd exited the store three doors down.

"Shit." She unconsciously echoed Aaron's earlier sentiment.

"Hello, Son." Vivian smiled sweetly, mockery coating her greeting as she strode up to them. "I was worried that she was keeping you prisoner. I almost sent some men to make sure you were being treated all right."

The area around them immediately cleared of humans, only a few normals brave enough, or maybe stupid enough, lingered to snap pictures in hopes of capturing an altercation in all its digital glory.

The tension in the air was palpable. Though Vivian's words were a veiled insult, Raven curled her hands into fists to stop herself from reaching for the strands of energy that begged to be used. She wanted to avoid an incident if possible. Aaron had more than enough experience to handle his mother.

Jackson appeared torn, uncertain who he should protect. If he thought she was in danger, he would risk everything to protect her.

Vivian was no fool. She wouldn't go for the direct approach, much less openly attack in public.

"Not to worry, Mother. I couldn't be safer if I was in the bosom of my loving family." The boy she'd recognize had vanished, in his place stood a young man on the cusp of becoming a very powerful alpha in his own right. One that should make any mother proud, if she were anyone other than Vivian.

While they traded barbs, Raven tracked the movement of the three wolves spread out behind Vivian, watching for any signs of aggression. Jackson wouldn't be able to go up against his own pack without consequences. She and Aaron had to keep him out of the fight if things went south.

"I expect you are taking good care of my son. If anything happens to him, I will hold you personally responsible."

Raven nearly snorted at Vivian's machinations. "No worries. The only way anyone would be able to touch him is over my dead body."

Vivian's smile hardened. "Then we are in agreement."

Without a goodbye, she strode past, walking between Raven and Jackson as if to divide them. The stench of sex wafted off the woman, strong enough to crawl down her throat and choke her. Her goons followed, though they stepped more carefully. None of the three gave any indication that they knew Jackson or Aaron. Raven would venture a guess that they were Vivian's personal guards. She had a feeling that they'd find out soon enough.

The meeting was timed almost perfectly. Too perfectly. They were watching the house. She expected that, it's what she would've done, but why the staged meeting?

"She was testing our defenses." Jackson guided her toward the truck with a hand on her back. He went into protective mode, stuffing her and the basket into the truck. He was so distracted that when he reached over and buckled her seatbelt, the back of his arm brushed her breast. He went rigid, realizing what he'd done.

She grabbed his wrist before he could retreat. When he turned his head to her in question, their faces halted inches apart. "There are three of them and three of us. If it comes down to a fight, I would put money on us."

"She thinks she can take you." Jackson grinned, both of them knowing what would happen if they were challenged in a fair fight.

Raven matched his smile. "Won't she be surprised."

He slammed the door to the truck and circled around. Aaron slipped into the back, and she glanced at him for an explanation. "He's different."

"He had nothing to lose before."

"So how do I get my Jackson back?" Maintaining her distance wasn't cutting it anymore. It was too late to prevent either of them from getting hurt.

Jackson scowled when he entered the vehicle. "Why don't you try asking me?"

He pulled away from the curb with a chirp of tires.

"Maybe I would if you would stop dodging my questions."

"I'm trying to do my job." He weaved through traffic, stomping on the accelerator.

"Does that entitle you to being such an ass?" Getting more than a little pissed, Raven felt the bite of power build under her skin. She welcomed the distraction, surprised at how much she'd missed the burn of it.

"Give me your gloves."

The abrupt change in subject threw her. Suspicions wormed their way into her mind, and her immediate response was to deny him. "Why?"

He only held out his hand. Deciding to trust him, she slowly worked the leather off her fingers. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Chapter Twenty.

The park Jackson picked was off the beaten path. The term park being used loosely. Trees crowded the small grove. The grass was overgrown, the undergrowth and deadfall slowing their progress.

"Where are we going?"

Jackson merely nudged her along. "It's only a little further."

Grumbling under her breath, she pushed forward, ducking away from a swarm of bugs that torpedoed pass her.

She heard water first, unaware of any streams in this area. Following the sound, she veered away. Trees thinned. The rough terrain smoothed out. She came to a stop atop a small bluff that overlooked their own personal lagoon.

The small pool rested less than ten feet below them. The water kissed the grass, the surface absolutely calm. The trees kept their distance, giving her a good fifteen feet on either side to keep watch for trouble.

Everything was a green so bright that her eyes hurt. The wind blew the smell of cut grass to her that reminded her of Jackson. Pleasure warmed her face, and she turned to ask how he'd found this place.

Her voice dried up to see Jackson charge toward her.

Raven tensed as she scanned the surroundings, frustration bubbling up in her chest when she wasn't able to detect the danger.

Then Jackson was there.

He bent like a football player and hit her low. Her legs cleared the ground and then they were flying through the air.

She caught sight of Aaron's laughing face seconds before she hit the water. Raven came up sputtering, her hair coming down around her face as she treaded water. "You bastard. What was that for?"

Jackson dove under the surface, his body cutting through the water with ease. The shadow of him circled below her like a predator closing in for the kill. A hand brushed her hip, another trailed up her spine. She narrowed her eyes, then pried off her shoes and tossed them to shore. She whirled to keep him in view, half expecting him to surface.

Instead, there was a tug on her ankles, and she found herself submerged. She spotted Jackson a few feet away, grinning ear from ear. The smoothness of his movements drew her attention to his body, the flex of all that muscle tempting her to linger and just watch him move.

Thankfully, he couldn't access those damned senses of his underwater and use her attraction against her.

She launched herself forward, but by the time she closed the distance, the spot he'd occupied was empty. The thrill of the chase tempted her to forget about her troubles and just enjoy. A hand brushed her ass, and she twisted. But instead of moving, Jackson wrapped his arms around her.

They slowly sank to the bottom of the pool, a hazy light drifting down to them. Her hair floated around them like a cloud, and he carefully brushed the strands away from her face, his fingers lingering on her skin.

Raven grabbed his wrist, and his gaze shot to hers. She smiled then shoved up off the bottom. Jackson was so startled, she slipped through his hold and broke the surface.

He quickly followed. When he reached for her, she allowed the current to drag her away. Laugher bubbled up in her chest at his befuddled expression. Then he grinned and dove after her.

After another twenty minutes of playing and ducking his pursuit, Raven finally surrendered. She crawled to the shore and fell on her back, panting for air. Eyes closed, she basked in the bright rays of the sun on her skin.

When a shadow passed over her, she shivered and cracked open an eye. Jackson. The sight of his wet clothes plastered to his body sucked all thought from her head. The man had been built to bedevil women. He grinned and shook himself like his wolf counterpart, sending a shower of cool droplets raining down on her.

Raven squealed then took her cue from him and knocked his feet out from under him. He landed with a heavy oomph. Before she could scramble out of the way, he rolled, taking her with him until she lay partially under his large form.

He picked up a strand of her hair, flipping the silver tips through his fingers, studying the ragged edges. "I'm not the only one who's changed."

"Changed?" The enjoyment of the afternoon faded, cold seeping into her gut. Yes, she was changing. Old fears and doubts rose again like they'd never left, and the fragile shell she built around her cracked.

"You're becoming an alpha."

"Yes." There was no denying it. She had no choice if she wanted to survive. Though uncomfortable under his scrutiny, she refused to run away from the truth anymore.

"You're good, but you're not strong or fast enough yet. You're adapting to your animals amazingly fast, but the conclave is in two days."

He fell silent, words locked behind his lips.

She cupped his face. "Tell me."

"I won't lose you again. I can't."

"So you brought me here to..."

"Aaron is holding back your animals. Even now, I can feel your power building, reaching for me."

Raven let her hand fall away from him. "You planned this whole thing."

"Yes."

Well, at least he didn't lie to her, but how could she be mad that he would throw away their one chance at a date to protect her. "Where do we go from here?"

He rose, and she shivered without his warmth. He offered her his hand. Raven hesitated then set her fingers in his palm.

He yanked.

Raven flew into the water with a splash. Her head went under the water, and she came up sputtering. "What the hell?"

"I've been reading up on electricity. I suspect you can handle a lot more than you believe if you just trust yourself."

He was so confident that she didn't know how to answer him. "I burned out that night Taggert and I were being hunted. With the moon call following so quickly, I haven't had the chance to test anything."

"But you can now. You have to use everything you possess to survive and thrive in the pack. You can't hesitate. You must learn to master the two sides of yourself."

"You don't know what you're asking." Raven waded toward the shore, fine sand shifting beneath her feet.

Jackson waved her back. "Don't make me throw you back in."