N. Walters - Finding Chrissten

Chrissten sighed and rubbed her face. “I’m sorry. But you have no idea what I’ve been though.”

“No, I don’t,” he replied softly. “Because you won’t tell me.”

Guilt threatened to crush her. She didn’t want to hurt her brother, but there were some things she simply couldn’t talk about. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat closed over. She shook her head instead.

He touched her face. “I know it’s hard.”

She nodded. “It is.” She cleared her throat and tried again. “Be happy for me. I thought my wolf might be lost from me forever.”

“I’m sorry for that.”

“Me too. But it wasn’t your fault.” She willed him to understand. “I had to see if I could reach her. And after that, I needed to see if I could truly accept others of my kind. So when Hank offered to show me his wolf I couldn’t resist.” There was so much more to it than that, but nothing her brother needed to know. What had happened between her and Hank was special and very personal.

“Chrissten.” The pity-laced compassion in his voice threatened to drive her to tears.

“No.” She waved off whatever it was he wanted to say. “I can’t talk about this right now. Not if I have to deal with Donovan Brody.”

“You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to.”

She recognized the signs and knew Quinn was digging his heels in. He could be very stubborn at times. “Yes, I do. I’m not stupid, Quinn. He’s a pureblooded werewolf, plus he’s a friend of Isaiah’s. We can’t insult him, and we may need him if it comes down to a fight.”

“I know.” She could tell he didn’t like that fact any more than she did. The Lawton clan was used to taking care of themselves. It wasn’t easy for any of them to depend on others, to trust them to be there when they were needed.

“I’ll get dressed and then we can go downstairs and meet with Donovan.”

“I’ll wait.” Quinn walked to the window and gazed out over the city.

Chrissten wanted to go to him and reassure him everything was going to be all right. But she couldn’t. She wasn’t sure she believed it herself. What she did know is that she’d protect both her brothers no matter what happened. No one was as important to her as her family.

Hank popped into her head and she hurried into the bathroom and closed the door. She set her bundle of clothing onto the vanity and stared at her reflection. She looked pale but determined. She peered deeply into her eyes and saw her wolf staring back at her.

“I can do this,” she whispered to her other half. “We can do this.” Because when it came down to it, she was both wolf and woman. Complete as one.

It didn’t take her long to dress in a pair of comfortable jeans and a sweater, and in less than ten minutes she and Quinn entered the bar below. There was a good crowd even though it was dinnertime. Her stomach growled at the reminder.

“You can get something from the kitchen as soon as we talk to Donovan.” She should have known Quinn would hear her stomach. She nodded as she studied the room. Hank was in his usual position at the door, the first line of defense, protecting all of them. Because he was more than a bouncer for the club, he was the guard at the gate, the sentinel, the warrior.

His gaze swiveled around to meet hers and Hank’s eyes warmed as they ran over her body. Her skin heated and the hunger in her belly began to turn to another kind. She pulled herself away from his magnetic stare and concentrated on the task ahead.

Donovan Body was seated at a table near the back just beyond the small stage. The tables around him were empty for now, but wouldn’t stay that way for long. Chrissten had quickly realized that Haven was a very popular club in the area and would fill up before the evening was very old.

As it was, the bar was lined with people and more than half the tables were full. The waitresses were winding around the room taking orders and delivering drinks. Behind the bar, both Michael and Benjamin poured and mixed drinks for the clientele. She knew Teague would be in the kitchen and Kevin would help him as needed. Isaiah and Meredith weren’t around, but she knew they wouldn’t be far away. They were probably in the office or possibly off somewhere with Joshua and his mate. After all, they were family and hadn’t seen one another in a while.

Donovan stood as they approached and, once again, she was struck by how alike he and her twin looked. The same build, the same tilt of their head when they were thinking hard about something, the same stubborn jaw and the same blue eyes. Their hair color was different and Donovan was a bit taller than Quinn, but the similarities were uncanny. There was no disguising the fact they were related. Although, thanks to his werewolf genetics, Donovan looked young enough to be Quinn’s brother instead of his father.

“How are you?” Chrissten could hear the genuine concern in Donovan’s voice and it loosened the tightening in her belly.

“Good. Better.” She slipped into the chair Quinn held for her. Her twin waited until Donovan had retaken his seat before finding his own.

Donovan nodded. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since he’d first seen her walking across the room. It was starting to unnerve her.

He sensed her discomfort and apologized. “I’m sorry. It’s just so amazing to see both of you sitting here.”

She couldn’t begin to imagine what this felt like for him. It was bizarre for her to be at the same table as her father. She glanced at Quinn. He was staring at the man. Brooding.

Bethany was working the floor as a waitress and swung by and put three drinks on the table, beer for both men and a juice for her. The other woman smiled. “Hank thought you might like something.”

Her eyes were once again drawn to the door where Hank stood. He was leaning back against the wall, arms crossed over his wide chest. He looked strong and powerful and determined. He was also watching her.

She picked up her glass and raised it too him. He inclined his head in acknowledgment.

“What’s going on between you and Hank?” Her father’s question was sharp and direct.

Chrissten took a sip of her drink before placing the glass back on the table. Beside her, Quinn stiffened. Bethany gave Quinn’s shoulder a squeeze and then wisely left them alone, working her way back into the crowd.

“That’s not any of your business.”

“It is if he’s sniffing around you. You’re mated to another. I can scent him on you.”

Chrissten laughed, the sound bitter even to her ears. “You don’t get a say in who sniffs around me and who doesn’t. I’m not your responsibility.”

Frustration rolled off Donovan in waves, battering her already frayed nerves. Why was everything a battle with the men in her life? All of them wanted to control her, with maybe the exception of Craig and Hank, although even Hank wanted his own way. She knew he didn’t want her anywhere near Brian. His protective nature wouldn’t condone such a thing.

“I’m your father,” Donovan insisted. He sat forward, his large body radiating power. She jerked back in her seat, wanting to put as much distance between them as possible. Angry as he was, he reminded her way too much of Brian.

Her fear made her stomach churn. Sweat broke out on her brow, followed quickly by anger. Who the hell was he to walk into her life and dictate to her? She placed both her palms on the table. “You’re a sperm donor. And that’s all you’ll ever be if you don’t back the hell off. I’ve had enough domineering males in my life. I have a mate to kill and a life to get back. Until that’s done you’ll have to simply wait your turn.”

She almost laughed at the incredulous look in his eyes. Obviously Donovan wasn’t used to anyone telling him what to do.