ALICIA MONTGOMERY
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
COPYRIGHT © 2018 ALICIA MONTGOMERY
E
DITED BY LAVERNE CLARK
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
THE TRUE MATES SERIES
Fated Mates
Blood Moon
Romancing the Alpha Witch’s Mate
Taming the Beast
Tempted by the Wolf
THE LONE WOLF DEFENDERS SERIES
Killian’s Secret
Loving Quinn
All for Connor
THE TRUE MATES STANDALONE NOVELS
Holly Jolly Lycan Christmas
A Mate for Jackson: Bad Alpha Dads
THE BLACKSTONE MOUNTAIN SERIES
The Blackstone Dragon Heir
The Blackstone Bad Dragon
The Blackstone Bear
The Blackstone Wolf
The Blackstone Lion
The Blackstone She-Wolf
The Blackstone She-Bear
The Blackstone She-Dragon
This book, A Mate for Jackson, is a complete standalone romance, but takes place in the True Mates Universe.
The books in the main series can also be read by themselves, but meant to be enjoyed as a series, as characters from the previous books appear in the next book.
The True Mates universe is set in a world where wolf shifters (called Lycans) live secretly among humans. The Lycans live in different clans with an Alpha as their leader.
It’s not necessary to read them all to enjoy this Bad Alpha Dad book, but if you would like to start from the beginning, I recommend you begin with Fated Mates.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
Preview: All for Connor
Preview: Fated Mates
About Bad Alpha Dads
Other books by Alicia Montgomery
Jackson Forrest slammed his foot on the brake, causing his truck to come to a screeching stop. He normally didn’t treat his Dolly this way, but today was an exception. Well, not exactly; it was the same shit, different day. But, just like shit that didn’t get cleaned, it could pile up, making it a pretty fucking awful day.
His fingers gripped the wheel so tight he could hear the plastic creaking under his hand.
Controlyourself. He’sjustaboy.
His inner wolf, that animal all Lycans shared with their bodies, was in conflict. On one hand, this was their cub, their blood. The child they had nurtured and raised. But on the other hand, Jackson was pissed. Sick and tired of his son’s out-of-control behavior.
“You learned your lesson yet, boy?” He looked up at the rearview mirror, at the green eyes so much like his own. In fact, except for his platinum blond hair, nine-year-old Austin was his spitting image. Even down to the scowl on his face.
“Yeah, yeah,” came the sour reply.
“And what did you learn?”
“That Jimmy Presley is a fucking rat that can’t be trusted.”
“Austin Campbell Forrest, watch your mouth!” Jackson whipped around to look his son straight in the eye. “What did I tell ya about cussing?”
“You do it all the time!” Austin accused.
“That’s because I’m an adult.” Jackson scrubbed his hand down his face. This shit was starting to get old. Hell, he was feeling ancient, at least when it came to his son. “Why the hell did you break into the teacher’s lounge?”
Austin shrugged. “I dunno. Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Standard Austin answer. “You’re grounded.”
“Yeah, yeah. Can I go now?”
“For a month.”
“A month?” Austin’s eyes went wide and his mouth twisted. “Why the hell—”
“You wanna make it two?”
Austin sank back into the seat. “Fine. I—” His head swung around as a loud sound rumbled from behind. A black truck identical to Jackson’s stopped right beside them. “Aunt Evie and Uncle Connor are here?”
“Yeah, it was a surprise trip.” His brother and sister-in-law, along with their infant son, Cliff, lived in New York, a couple of hours drive from the Shenandoah Valley. “They’re here for Grams’ birthday.”
“Yes!” Austin raised a fist in the air. “Are we going to have a party? Or a camping trip? Or—”
“Well, we—that’s Grams, Aunt Evie, Uncle Conner, and Cliff, and everyone else—will be celebrating with a big barbecue by the pond. You’ll be at home.”
“What?” The boy exclaimed. “You can’t stop me from going to Grams’ birthday!”
He wagged a finger at his son. “Grounded, remember?”
“This is so unfair!”
Jackson gritted his teeth to stop the words that wanted to come out of his mouth. Instead, he yanked the door open, stepped up, and walked over to the other side of his truck. His son was learning a valuable lesson. Life wasn’tfair. And that fact was cemented even more as he glanced at who was coming out of the other truck.
It was still strange, after all these months, looking at the man who was the exact mirror image of himself. Same height, build, face, and both sported tattoos all over their body. Identical twins, though they had only met last year. Connor had been taken away from their
family when he was an infant. The man who’d destroyed their lives had wanted to steal both boys, but ended up with only one. His brother still bore the scars from his cruel upbringing, and not just the physical one that ran down his eye and cheek.
Meanwhile, Jackson grew up with a mother, surrounded by family and other Lycans, and was now Alpha of his own clan. No, life certainly wasn’t fair.
“How’s it going?” he asked Connor, holding out his hand. “How was the drive?”
Connor grasped it and squeezed. “Long. But glad to finally be here.”
Instead of letting go, Jackson pulled him in for a hug. For once, Connor didn’t stiffen, though still didn’t quite relax either. Progress. His inner wolf was oddly calm, recognizing its brother’s scent and presence.
When Connor first showed up on their doorstep, Jackson’s wolf instantly went on the defense. It knew—Connor’s wolf was notright. But also, it recognized that the man standing outside their porch was the blood of their blood. And for Lycans, that meant more than anything in the world.
“Connor, a little help please?” came the feminine voice from the other side of the truck.
His twin pulled away and gave him a sheepish look. “’Scuse me.” He walked over to his wife and mate, Evie, who was struggling with a car seat. Connor easily took it from her.
“Thanks.” She pulled out the diaper bag from the back seat, and as she swung it around her shoulder, Connor leaned down and gave her a kiss on the mouth. She gave a girlish giggle when he finished. “Connor.” She gave him a playful swipe on the arm, which only earned her another kiss.
Jackson pushed down the envy churning in his stomach and told his whining wolf to quiet down. He was happy his brother had found love, and in his True Mate no less. The one his soul was destined for. Maybe life wasn’t fair, but there were other ways that the scales tipped.
He cleared his throat. “Momma will be happier than a clam when she sees the three of you.”
“It was a great idea,” Evie said as she walked over to give him a hug. “Thanks for inviting us.”
Jackson returned it, but quickly released his sister-in-law when he saw Connor tense. “You know you can come over anytime, no need for invites or any of that formal stuff.” Lycans were very territorial, and if a Lycan from one clan wanted to visit another, they had to get permission from the Alpha.
Technically, Connor was part of the New York clan, though his brother was previously a Lone Wolf, a Lycan with no clan. That had changed last year when he decided to pledge to the Alpha of New York, Grant Anderson. Connor was born to the Shenandoah clan and could have pledged to them, but Jackson didn’t begrudge him that choice; after all, Evie’s life and career as a Broadway actress was in New York and so was the rest of Connor’s adoptive family, the ones who had rescued him and gave him a home after the ordeal he went through.
“Where is Lily?” Evie asked. “And Austin?”
“Momma’s probably out checking on the new folk. She’ll be home within the hour.” Jackson stepped over to his truck and yanked the backseat door open. “Austin,” he said. “Come out here and say hello. Then march straight to your room.”
Austin’s scowl deepened, but he did as he was told, unbuckling his seat belt and hopping down. He trudged over to Evie, wrapped his arms around her waist and murmured something, then looked over to his uncle.
Connor sighed and dropped to Austin’s height. “How’re you, kid?”
“Fine. I guess.” He looked over at the small bundle in the carrier in Connor’s hand. “Wow, he’s gettin’ big, huh?”
Connor snorted. “Babies tend to do that.”
“Do you still think babies are stupid?” Evie asked.
The boy sniffed. “Not Cliff. He’s my cousin. And he’s not a girl.”
“Austin,” Jackson warned.
Evie laughed. “Well, maybe the next one’ll be a girl.”
Jackson raised a brow. “Is there a next one?”
“No.” But she blushed as she looked at Connor. “We’ll see.”
“Whatever you want, Evie,” he said. “I know you still got plans. Things you wanna do. We can wait.”
Jackson’s lips pulled into a thin line. The scales definitely did tip in favor of his brother. And it was damned time, considering the hell Connor had been through before he met Evie.
“Maybe you’ll get a little sister instead, Austin.” Evie had that mischievous look on her face.
“Ew!” Austin crossed his small arms over his chest and pouted. “I’m puttin’ my foot down, Pa. No sister. Or brother. Ever.”
“Maybe I should get you a little brother or sister, serves you right,” Jackson bit back, then shook his head. No, there would be no mate and no other kids. True love and True Mates were a rare thing, and Jackson didn’t have time to go looking for either. He was plenty occupied with being Alpha, running the ranch, and raising Austin. Whenever the need for female companionship struck, he could always run down to the dive bar in town.
“Aww, Pa! No.”
“Now go to your room,” Jackson ordered. “And stay there until dinner.”
“Fine.” Austin turned on his heel and stomped—very loudly— toward the house.
As Jackson let out a sigh, Evie gave him a sympathetic pat on the arm. “It’s just a phase. He’ll grow out of it.”
“I sure hope so.” This phase had been going on for years, ever since Austin could walk and talk. Sometimes he wondered, if Arlene had stayed, maybe things would be different. But Austin’s biological mother had walked away from them.
They weren’t in a serious relationship or anything, not at first. He and Arlene hooked up every now and then; she was convenient, was there when he was feeling horny, and never demanded anything more than he could give.
Jackson had been ecstatic when he found out she was pregnant and she confirmed it was his. After all, Lycans had a hard time conceiving and every pup born was a joy to their kind. He married her right away. Big mistake. They fought all the time, and one day,
she just served him with divorce papers. Said the mother thing wasn’t working out for her. Last he heard, she was shacking up with the Beta of some clan in Texas. Goodriddance. Now she was some other guy’s problem.
“Jackson? Did you hear what I said?” Evie’s voice cut through his muddled thoughts.
“Huh?”
“I said, could we head up to our room and get refreshed? I’d love to take a shower before Lily comes home.”
He scratched his head. “Sorry ’bout that. Of course.” Thoughts of the past forgotten, he motioned to the house. “Everything’s ready. And Momma doesn’t suspect a thing, so she’ll be mighty surprised.”
“It really is great having you here,” Lily Forrest said as she cuddled little Cliff against her chest. “I was disappointed when Jackson said you weren’t going to come to the party.” She gave sly looks to her sons.
“We wanted it to be a surprise.” Jackson winked at Evie and Connor.
Evie took a sip of her coffee. “We haven’t seen you since you came over when Cliff was born. And we haven’t visited since before we bought the house.”
“How are things around here?” Connor asked.
“All good,” Jackson answered. “Busy. But good.”
“More than good,” Lily interjected. “Especially with Grant Anderson and Sebastian Creed sending those Lycans here for their rehab.”
“The Alpha and Creed are happy with the results so far,” Connor said.
“We have you to thank, for putting in a good word,” Jackson replied.
Most of the Lycans from the Shenandoah clan were notoriously difficult a lot of them had aggressive wolves and would have ended
up cast out of any other clan or worse, which is why they chose to live in isolation. However, the steady work and maybe the freedom to shift and roam as they pleased somehow turned out to be a good thing for them, allowing them to lead normal lives.
When Grant Anderson, Alpha of New York, and Sebastian Creed, Connor’s boss, had found out about this, they asked Jackson to take on a few of their charges—wolves who had been taken and brainwashed by their enemies, the Mages—to see if they could help them out. Jackson agreed and took on three of the broken Lycans, putting them to work on the ranch and helping them work through their violent tendencies. In less than three months, their aggression levels went down and two of them were reunited with their families, while one even stayed behind to work with the Shenandoah clan.
The program had been so successful that they now regularly took on more “clients” from the New York clan. It was good money, adding to the Shenandoah clan’s struggling bottom line and kept them busy the last year.
“You do great work,” Connor said.
Jackson nodded. “We’re glad to help.” And he really was. Their clan had been isolated for so long, it was nice to be able to meet other Lycans and Alphas too.
“Are they sending any more new people?” Evie asked.
“Not at the moment. Though Grant wanted to talk to me about doing corporate-type retreats for his Lycan employees.”
“I hear those things are big now,” Lily said. “Getting in touch with nature and all that.”
Connor scowled. “You mean, that hipster, feel good, touchy-feely, bullcrap?”
Evie chuckled. “Connor hates hipsters. They take up too much time ordering at his favorite coffee shop.”
“Why the hell do you need more than one second to order a cup of coffee?” Connor grunted. “Fair trade, soy milk, gluten-free, what a load of shit. Coffee. Black. That’s all you need.”
Jackson raised his mug. “I hear ya, bro.” He took a sip of the hot liquid. “But, Grant’s idea might be worth a try. I don’t know how you city Lycans stand it, not being able to just shift whenever you want.”
“You get used to it, I suppose,” Lily said. “But yet, it’s a shame you have to hide all the time.”
“It might be good for these city slickers to get outside. Get them in touch with their Lycan sides again, maybe take them out for a big camping trip under the stars. Hell, we’ll do some trust falls and team-building exercises if that’s what Grant wants.” It seemed easy enough. Rehabbing the broken wolves was challenging. A couple of corporate pencil pushers looking for an adventure and maybe a run in their wolf form? He could handle that with one hand tied behind him.
“It’ll certainly bring more excitement around here, not to mention money,” Lily added.
“Momma,” Connor began, “if you need money—”
“Oh hush, Connor,” Lily interrupted, making Cliff stir in her arms. She cooed at him and rocked him against her chest. “We’re doing fine, especially with what the last batch of rehabbers brought in.”
“They were the worst bunch yet, so Creed put in a big bonus,” Jackson added. “We’re good, really we are. And we’re glad to help.” He didn’t add, of course, that it was his way of making up for Connor. For being the one who had escaped that horrible fate.
Still, Connor had not held it against him and Lily never made him feel less loved, but it kept Jackson awake at night. What if he’dbeen the one who was taken away to be raised by monsters and forced to fight in a cage since he was a teen?
A loud bang came from upstairs followed by a string of muffled curses, then a series of loud thuds. Jackson sighed. Austin had come down to eat dinner, then been promptly sent back upstairs without any dessert.
Lily handed Cliff to Connor. “I’ll go check on him.”
“No, Momma, sit down and enjoy your coffee,” Jackson said. “He’s just looking for attention.”
“What he’s lookin’ for is an ass-whooping,” Connor added. Jackson couldn’t agree more, but that just wasn’t his way. Though maybe if it had been he wouldn’t be in this situation.
“Connor,” Evie admonished. “Would you hurt Cliff?”
“What? Of course not,” Connor said. “But then again, he ain’t never tried to change the grades on his report card. Or burn down a high school. Or,” he turned to Jackson, “what did he do again this time?”
“Break into the teacher’s lounge.” Jackson sighed. “Maybe Austin does need a stronger hand.”
“What Austin needs is a gentlerhand,” Lily countered.
“A what?” This time, both Connor and Jackson said it together.
“I think what Lily is trying to say,” Evie began, “is Austin needs a mom.”
“Oh no.” Jackson put up his hand. “No way. Uh-uh.” He got up, dropping his napkin on the table.
“C’mon, Jackson, would it be so bad?” Lily said. “Austin needs someone to take care of him. A female influence.”
“He’s got you, Momma,” he pointed out.
Lily laughed. “I’m his grandmother. It’s my job to spoil him and give him everything he wants. Only a mother can give him that ‘I’m disappointed in you’ look that will make him think twice of doing anything bad.”
“Not to mention, a wife might do you good, too,” Evie said in a teasing voice. “Someone to share your troubles with.”
“Ha!” Now they really were delusional. No way was he getting married again. It just wasn’t worth it, not after what happened with Arlene. “I think I hear … the cows mooing.” Pathetic excuse, but he needed to get out of there. “‘Night everyone, I’ll see you all tomorrow. I’ll be out early getting supplies for the party.”
Jackson headed out the door, not even giving them a chance to stop him. He left the kitchen–dining room and headed to the front door, stepping out onto the wraparound porch.
The air was cool this time of the year, signs that winter was behind them and that spring was here. It was his favorite time of the year—a new beginning. And he wished there was such a thing in life. A new beginning. A do-over.
Not that he would ever wish Austin was never born. Of course not; he loved his son. He was just a failure as a father and he knew
it. But what was he supposed to do? He had so many responsibilities, he couldn’t juggle them all.
“You okay?”
Jackson wasn’t even surprised that he didn’t notice Connor had followed him. He moved silently, even for a man of his size. “Yeah,” he answered back, not bothering to turn around to look at his brother. “Can you believe it? Me with a wife?”
“Can you believe me with a wife? And a son?”
Jackson spat on the porch, a move that his momma hated. “Not you too.” He turned around. “Are you gonna give me a lecture about finding a mom for Austin?”
“Me? Give a lecture?” Connor shrugged. “That boy doesn’t need a mother.”
“Glad you agree with me.”
“But maybe what you need is a mate.”
“Ha! It’ll be easier to find a mother for my little hell-raiser. Besides,” he glanced back at the house. “What you got with Evie? One in a million.”
“You would think so,” Connor said. “But I’ve seen stranger things.” He placed a hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “Also, you know that Momma and Evie are in there plotting right now.”
Jackson let out an audible groan. “I don’t know where they would even find any woman who would date me. The few females in our clan already know what they’re in for with Austin which is why none of them would even touch me, and I’m not ready to bring a human into the clan.” Lycans were mostly unknown to the rest of the world, save for a few who were considered Alliance families. And of course, with the lack of available Lycan mates, many of their kind married humans.
Connor shook his head. “I don’t envy you right now.”
“I don’t envy me right now either.” Jackson rubbed a palm down his face. “Let them try. I doubt they’d find anyone who would be interested in me.” His wolf, which had been quiet and calm most of the night, let out a whine. Oh, he knew what it wanted; whenever they were around Evie and Connor, it had longed for what they had —love, companionship, and more pups. It was like that damned
biological clock women supposedly had, but this one had teeth and claws instead of a ticking hand.
“You never know,” Connor said.
“You too?” he accused.
Connor chuckled—a rare sight. “I dunno. When women put their minds to something …”
“They can try.”
Jackson looked out at the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley and the sun setting behind them, bathing everything in a golden light. He should be content, with everything he had. A clan. A thriving ranch. His brother back after being cruelly taken away from them. And yes, even Austin. Despite what the kid put him through— and what he suspected he would be put through as the boy grew into his teenage years—he had everything he needed and wanted right now. A wife would just be another monkey wrench that would turn his world upside down.
Jordan Matsumoto was the first person to enter the lab on the thirty-third floor at the Fenrir Corporation Headquarters every weekday at seven thirty in the morning. Usually, she was also the last to leave, which served her just fine.
Flipping on the lights, Jordan walked over to her station in the far corner and slung her messenger bag on the back of the chair. She reached for the gallon squirt bottle of alcohol gel sanitizer on her desk and gave it two healthy squeezes. The subway was filthy after all. Germs.Yuck.
The antiseptic smell was acrid and burning, especially to her sensitive Lycan senses. She could practically see her inner wolf cowering and covering its nose up with its paws, but ignored it, like she always did. The strong alcohol scent gave her a sense of relief as she imagined the germs on her skin screaming as they died. She squirted more on a tissue and wiped it over her workstation.
Die,germsdie!Haha!
Satisfied with the level of cleanliness around her, she sat down and turned her computer on, listening to the fans whirring to life as her screen lit up. Immediately, she opened the program she had been working on, ignoring the various pings and dings of her email and the Fenrir Corporation intranet messaging system as her computer connected to the network. They could wait. Other people could always wait. But science couldn’t.
Growing up in the San Francisco Lycan clan, the only thing she wanted to do was become a scientist. She went to school, got good grades, graduated top of her class and went to Berkeley on a scholarship where she got her Bachelor’s in Biochemistry. She was two years into her research grad classes when she got the call of a lifetime.
Dr. Jade Creed—yes, the Dr. Jade Creed, genius Lycan scientist who held two PhDs at the age of twenty was looking for a new research assistant. Specifically, a Lycan research assistant, to join her team in New York where they studied all things related to magic and science.
It was her cousin and Alpha, Liam Henney, who called Jordan personally. Would she be able to leave her current position and move to New York right away? Hells yeah. Not only was Dr. Creed one of her idols and possibly lady crushes, but the chance to work with her was a dream come true.
And it was a dream, working alongside Dr. Creed. She tried to play it cool, of course, but she couldn’t help but gush and fangirl at her idol the first day she walked into the lab. And every day, she happily skipped into work, looking forward to be working with a genius. Her coworkers thought her weird and avoided her, but that was fine with Jordan. She never did learn to play with others, and she was too damned old at twenty-six to start now.
Another hour passed and Jordan busied herself, walking around the lab and checking on the various experiments in the stations, and finishing up some tasks she had left for today—cleaning out some supplies, running the centrifuge, making sure the charts were up-todate. When she was satisfied with her work, she went back to her desk. More messages had piled up, and she ignored them. She also heard a sound—was that a rattling—from somewhere in the lab. The hairs on the back of her neck raised and her inner wolf whined at her. She ignored it, of course. Like she always did. Her wolf had no place in science.
“Hello? Jordan, did you hear what I said?”
Jordan raised her head from the screen and looked up at the frowning face of her boss. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in, Dr.
Creed. Did you need something?”
Jade Creed sighed and rubbed a hand on her temple. “I asked if you had those samples ready for me. The one we put in yesterday?”
“As a matter of fact, I did,” Jordan said in a smug voice. She stood up and wiped her hands down her lab coat. “Actually, I took them out of the UV chamber and put them into the centrifuge.” She nodded over to the machine, a mere six feet away to their right.
Dr. Creed’s eyes went wide. “You what?”
“I said I put them in the—”
But Jordan didn’t get to finish her sentence. A loud bang filled the air and everything went black.
When Jordan’s eyes fluttered open, the first thing she felt was the shot of pain down her side. “Sonofa—”
“You’re awake.”
Her vision was blurry and she had to blink a few times. When the two indistinct shapes in front of her merged into one, she knew her vision had returned to normal. “Dr. Creed? What—ow!” This time, the pain wasn’t as bad, though she could feel the bones and skin knitting back together. It was an uncomfortable sensation, like an itch she couldn’t scratch.
“Stay down, Jordan,” Dr. Creed said, pushing her back on the scratchy sheets.
Jordan looked around her, at the white walls, the harsh overhead lighting, and the metal-framed bed she was lying on. She must have been in the infirmary at Fenrir. “What happened?” She raised her arms, eyes widening as realized they were covered in bandages. “The last thing I remember was that we were standing in the lab and—”
“A big explosion?” Dr. Creed finished. “When the centrifuge blew up?”
“B-b-blew up?” That explained why she had blacked out and why her body currently felt like some bizarre arts and crafts project and
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein had a love child. If she had been human, she would be in the hospital for weeks, if she survived at all. Of course, that didn’t explain why Dr. Creed, who had been standing right in front of her during the explosion, didn’t even have a scratch on her. “Er, are youall right, Dr. Creed?”
The other woman put her hands on her hips. “I’m fine. Did you not read the emails? Or talk to the other lab assistants?”
“Huh?”
Dr. Creed sighed. “I sent out three emails that no one was to use the centrifuge today. It was going to be picked up for repairs.”
“I-I-I must have missed it.” Shit.Oh, God. Someone could have been hurt. No, wait, someone had been hurt. Namely, her. “I’m sorry. I mean, I take full responsibility.” Her voice broke. Dr. Creed was going to fire her. Or worse.
“Jade, what the hellhappened?”
The voice was gruff and made the hairs on the back of her neck raise. She gripped the paper-thin sheet in her hands, her knuckles growing white as the air in the room grew thick.
Yup. Definitely worse. Her day really was turning to shit. Sebastian Creed, husband and mate to her boss and as it happens, the only known dragon shifter in the world, stood in the doorway, his face glowering.
“I’m fine, Sebastian,” Dr. Creed turned around to reassure her mate. “It’s all fine.”
Creed’s steps thundered as he went over to his mate and pulled her in for a tight hug. “Fine?” he asked, his rough voice sending a chill down Jordan’s spine. “I had to hear from Meredith that there was an explosion in the lab and you tell me everything is fine?” The air in the lab was choking now, and Jordan swore she could smell sulfur.
Dr. Creed pulled away from him and spread her arms. “As you can see, I’m unhurt. Not a scratch on me.”
“How the hell did that happen, anyway?” Jordan slapped a hand over her mouth when the words just spilled out. But she couldn’t help herself. “What the heck is going on?”
Creed’s eyes flashed gold for a second before returning to its normal color. Steel gray eyes pierced right into hers and looked down at the bandages on her arms. Then, his head swung over to his wife. “Jade? Are you …?”
Dr. Creed’s pretty face lit up. “Yes.”
Creed let out a whoop and lifted his mate into his arms, pulling her in for a passionate kiss. “Darlin’, I’m so fucking happy right now. I don’t even care what happened.”
The mood in the room lightened, and Jordan felt like she could breathe again. “Uhm, could someone explain what’s going on?”
The lovers pulled apart and Dr. Creed cleared her throat delicately, the blush on her cheeks deepening. “Sebastian, why don’t you pick up Dee from the day care and we can all go home for lunch? I need to take care of a few things first, though.”
“Whatever you want, darlin’. I’ll meet you at the car.” He planted a firm kiss on her lips before he turned and walked out the door.
Once the door closed behind them, Dr. Creed turned to Jordan. “You’re extremely lucky that I happen to be pregnant at the moment.”
“Oh.” She had heard about this phenomenon but had never actually seen it for herself. Whenever a True Mate female, Lycan or human, was pregnant, she was invulnerable to any kind of harm. While it might take a regular Lycan like Jordan another few hours or days to recover fully from injuries, all of Dr. Creed’s wounds would have healed in an instant. “Thank God, then.”
“Indeed.” Dr. Creed took a deep breath and walked over to her. “Jordan, you know you’re a brilliant scientist and a hard worker.”
“I am?” Of course she knew that, but hearing it from Dr. Creed made her giddy.
“Yes. In fact, I see a bit of myself in you.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe a bit too much.”
Dr. Creed didn’t seem happy at the comparison and Jordan’s heart dropped into her stomach. “Am I fired?”
“I really should let you go,” Dr. Creed began. “You refuse to work with your coworkers, or even listen to their opinions.”
“Science isn’t about opinions,” Jordan retorted with an indignant sniff.
“What I’m saying is that you can’t seem to play nice with other people. It’s not just about what happened today. The other researchers raised their concerns about you. You’re always defying protocol and procedure. And you never consult with anyone else, even when I ask you to. And I can’t have that here.”
Jordan always knew she was different. Even her wolf was … odd. She wasn’t like all the other Lycan children growing up. They all loved shifting, being outdoors, playing and roughhousing, while Jordan preferred to stay home and read books or watch documentaries. Wolves were supposed to be social creatures, but she preferred her own company. And frankly, other people were idiots. “I’ll pack my things then, as soon as I’m—”
She held her hand up. “No, Jordan, that’s not what I meant.”
“It’s not?” Now she was confused again.
Dr. Creed shook her head. “I don’t want to lose you. Frankly, I can’t afford to. Do you know how many Lycans specialize in biochemistry?”
“Not a lot?”
“Two, Jordan,” Dr Creed said. “Me and you.”
“Oh.” Good. She was needed around here, then.
“But I can’t risk my lab and the lives of the people around us. So, I’m going to put you in time-out.”
“Time-out?” WhatwasDr.Creedtalkingabout?
A determined look crossed her boss’ face. “You’re going away for a while.”
“I have to take a vacation?” Oh, God, she hated vacations. It didn’t matter where. Sand from the beach always got everywhere, as did dirt in the mountains. Cities were too dirty and noisy, and forget the country—her allergies would blow up.
“No, Jordan, I’m sending you on a special retreat,” Dr. Creed said. “I just heard about it from Sebastian. A new program the Alpha is starting with another clan. In West Virginia.”
“West Virginia? Er, will it be at a hotel or conference center?” Oh, God, please say it’s going to be at a nice, air-conditioned luxury
resort.
Dr. Creed shook her head. “I’m afraid not. In fact, it’s all going to be done outdoors.”
“I can’t go,” she stated flatly. “I’m deathly allergic.”
“To what?”
“To everything?”
Dr. Creed chortled. “Excuse me? You’re a Lycan. We’re not allergic to anything. Especially not the outdoors.”
“I can give you a doctor’s note. In fact, I’ll give you six doctor’s notes.” Just the thought of being in the outdoors made her want to break out in hives. And then her chest started to hurt. “And I have asthma.”
“You’re joking!” Dr. Creed said in an incredulous voice. “Jordan, you’re being silly. Stop it.”
“I swear, it’s true.” Her parents had brought her to a dozen Lycan and human doctors when she was growing up. Most of the Lycan doctors said it was psychosomatic and she would grow out of it. Her human doctors found nothing wrong with her—or so they said—but the medicines they prescribed seem to work on her. All her doctors seemed to think it was psychosomatic, but they weren’t the ones who felt the symptoms.
“Well, you’re just going to have to suck it up and bring all the medication you can carry. Because you’re going and that’s final.”
“You can’t make me.”
She ignored Jordan’s protests. “You’ll be paid the entire time, of course, plus if you finish this program,” she lowered her voice, “I won’t tell my husband you caused the explosion.”
Jordan groaned. Her options were to go on this stupid retreat or let the world’s only fire-breathing dragon shifter know she almost killed his mate. The choice was clear. “When do I leave?”
Jackson shook his head at the carnage by his feet. Half a dozen chickens dead, their carcasses a mangle of blood, feathers, and guts. Dead chickens, he’d seen plenty of times. But this was a massacre. Nothing they couldn’t recover from as they had many more chickens in the coop. But it was a waste. Each chicken gave them around twenty eggs a month. There wasn’t even anything left for them to turn into a meal.
“Get rid of these,” he told Carl, one of the younger employees.
“Yes, Alpha.” Carl turned and ran back toward the barn, leaving Jackson alone with Garland, one of his most trusted ranch hands.
“What do you think about this?” he asked the older man.
Garland stroked his snowy mustache with the tip of his thumb and forefinger. “Never seen anything quite like this, Alpha.”
“I know. This isn’t just some animal looking for a meal.” Jackson glanced around.
“Lycan, then? Some new pup not in control of his or her shifts?” Garland asked.
“Could be, but we know each and every kid in the clan who’s about ready for the shift. No one’s even close to that age this year.” Lycans only began to shift around their teen years, and when that happened, the clan helped ease them into the transition. The first few shifts were messy affairs, and the pups needed to be taught to control their animals.
“You know the other explanation.”
“Yeah.” Jackson clenched his jaw. “But I don’t want to say it out loud.”
“Someone’s going feral.”
There. Garland had said it for him. Some Lycans went feral—a state where they couldn’t control their wolves—for a variety of reasons, but usually it had to do with some type of trauma.
Garland took his hat off. “So, are you thinking it’s one of the new guys, then, Alpha?”
“Out of the sixteen wolves we rehabbed, three elected to stay,” Jackson began. “Elijah, Samuel, and Carter.” Elijah had been one of the older Lycans, a man in his fifties. He’d been brainwashed by the Mages and before that, he’d been a Lone Wolf for such a long time, he didn’t remember where his original clan was from. He was a hard worker and didn’t look like he could hurt a fly.
Then there were the two younger ones. Carter was brash and a show-off, but so were most young men his age. Jackson didn’t like his attitude and how he was always mouthing off. But he said he wanted to stay on, and he had made many friends among the Shenandoah clan who vouched for him.
Samuel on the other hand … Jackson could feel something was off about the man. All the broken wolves who came to them had something wrong with them. After all, they had been brainwashed or controlled in one way or another. That was why Jackson had yet to accept the three fully into the fold when they asked to stay and pledge to the Shenandoah clan. Jackson had them on a probationary period which was usually standard for any Lycan looking to join another clan. He hadn’t made them any promises, but allowed them to stay and earn their keep.
But what made Samuel stand out was that Jackson just could not get a read on the man. When he looked into the man’s eyes, he saw nothing. Just a dead, cold stare. He knew what he had gone through. It wasn’t much different from what Connor had experience. That made Jackson pity the man, but now …
“Let’s keep an eye on this,” he told Garland.
“Will do, Alpha.”
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[1158] Ps. xc. 9, 10.
[1159] Gen ii 4
[1160] Ps. cxviii. 24.
[1161] The first letter of the name of Jesus, and used as the sign of ten.
[1162] In close conjunction with idolatry, fornication is mentioned, Col iii 5, Gal v 20, 1 Pet iv 3
[1163] Jer. iii. 9.
[1164] ἀγαθοί εἰς are supplied here to complete
[1165] οὐκ ἀντιληπτικοῖς is substituted here for ἀντιληπτοῖς of the text.
[1166] Iliad, i 544
[1167] 1 Cor. iii. 12.
[1168] Ps cxxxiii, 2
[1169] John i. 3.
[1170] i e the body is the Jewish people, and philosophy is something external to it, like the garment
[1171] Ex. xxviii. 3.
[1172] Christ
[1173] ἐπίπνοιαν, preferred by Sylburgius and the Latin translator to the reading ἐπίνοιαν.
[1174] “When the Most High divided the nations, as He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the nations according to the angels of God” (Deut. xxxii. 8, Sept.). The Hebrew and the Latin and A. V. have, “according to the number of the children of Israel.”
[1175] Lowth proposes to read κατὰ τοὺς ἐπὶ μέρους instead of καὶ τῶν, etc ; and Montfaucon, instead of Ἐνίοις, ἄνοις for ἀνθρώποις But the sense is, in any case, as given above
[1176] For ὡς ἐν τέχναις it is proposed to read ὡς ἂν αἱ τέχναι.
[1177] Ps xxiv 1; 1 Cor x 26
[1178]
“Blue-eyed Athene inspired him with prowess ” Iliad, x 482
“And put excessive boldness in his breast.” Iliad, xvii. 570.
“To Diomede son of Tydeus Pallas Athene gave strength and boldness.” Iliad, v. 1, 2.
[1179] 1 Tim iv 10
[1180] The author’s meaning is, that it is only by a process of philosophical reasoning that you can decide whether philosophy is possible, valid, or useful. You must philosophize in order to decide whether you ought or ought not to philosophize.
[1181] 1 Cor viii 4
[1182] Matt. v. 20; Jas. ii. 8.
[1183] βασιλικοί, Jas ii 8 (royal law)
[1184] 2 Cor. x. 15, 16.
[1185] Acts xvii
[1186] 2 Cor. xi. 6.
[1187] Cor ii 10, 14
[1188] Following Hervetus, the Latin translator, who interpolates into the text here, as seems necessary, οἱ φιλόσοφοι τοῖς Ἕλλησι.
[1189] Ps. cxix. 2.
[1190] Heb. v. 14.
[1191] Or, as rendered by the Latin translator, “continual care for his soul and occupation, bestowed on the Deity,” etc.
[1192] Potter’s text has καταδεδουλωμένον which Lowth changes into καταδεδουλωμένος, nominative; and this has been adopted in the translation The thought is the same as in vol i p 23
[1193] This sentence has been thus rendered by Sylburgius and by Bp. Kaye. Lowth, however, suggests the supplying of ἐνεργεῖ, or something similar, to govern πεποίθησιν, confidence.
[1194] Ἀναδεδειγμένῳ Instead of this, ἀναδεδεγμένῳ, “having received,” has been suggested by Sylburgius
[1195] By omitting “him” (τόν), as Sylburgius does, the translation would run thus: “For He compels no one to receive
salvation from Him, because he is able to choose and fulfil from himself what pertains to the laying hold of the hope.”
[1196] Deut. xxxii. 8, 9, Septuagint, quoted already more than once.
[1197] Prov viii 30
[1198] The magnet.
[1199] Lowth here reads ἐκτεινομένῳ, agreeing with πνεύματι, instead of ἐκτεινομένη, as in the Oxford text
[1200] 1 Tim. i. 9.
[1201] Instead of ἐπίγησιν, the corrupt reading of the text, ἐπίκτησιν (as above), ἐπίδοσιν, and ἐπ’ ἐξήγησιν have been proposed
[1202] Eph. iv. 13.
[1203] The text has ὅτε, but the sense seems to require, as Sylburgius suggests, ὅθεν or ὥστε
[1204] Instead of ἑλόμενος, Sylburgius proposes ἁλάμενος, making a leap by faith to perfection.
[1205] The reading varies here. For οἰκήσεις of the text, Heinsius and the Latin translator adopt οἰκείαν, which, on the whole, seems preferable to οἴκησιν or ἡκούσης.
[1206] Matt v 8
[1207] Phil. iv. 18.
[1208] Ps li 17, 19
[1209] Rom. vi. 6, 7; 2 Cor. x. 5; Eph. v. 22–24; Col. iii. 8, 9, etc.
[1210] John i 3
[1211] κρατεῖν is here supplied to complete the sense.
[1212] ἀντιτάσσεσθαι is suggested instead of ἀντιτάσσεται of the text
[1213] ἅμα is here, on the authority of a . and with the approval of Sylburgius, to be substituted for ἅλμα.
[1214] κόσμιος καὶ ὑπερκόσμιος The author plays on the double meaning of κόσμος, world or order
[1215] Eph. vi. 12.
[1216] τὸ θέατρον used for the place, the spectacle, and the spectators.
[1217] Ἀδράστεια, a name given to Nemesis, said to be from an altar erected to her by Adrastus; but as used here, and when employed as an adjective qualifying Nemesis, it has reference to διδράσκω.
[1218] Iliad, x 929
[1219] The text has Ἡ αὐτή, which is plainly unsuitable; hence the suggestion ἡ Αητώ.
[1220] These lines are quoted by Theodoret, and have been amended and arranged by Sylburgius and Grotius The text has Ἀγαθόν τι; Theodoret and Grotius omit τ as above
[1221] Odyss. i. 181.
[1222] Which were used in lustrations, ὠά The text has ὦτα
[1223] Translated as arranged and amended by Grotius.
[1224] Euripides, Orestes, v 477
[1225] A Platonic phrase: παίγνιον Θεοῦ.
[1226] So Sylburgius, who, instead of παιδιᾶς τέχνης of the text, reads παιδιὰν τέχνης.
[1227] God Himself is ἱερός, and everything dedicated to Him.
[1228] Montacutius suggests ἐκκλητῶν, from its connection with Ἐκκλησια, instead of ἐκλεκτῶν.
[1229] Translated as arranged by Grotius
[1230] These lines are translated as arranged by Grotius, who differs in some parts from the text.
[1231] ἐφ’ οἷς, substituted by Lowth for ἅ in the text
[1232] δρυῶν, a probable conjecture of Gataker for the reading of the text, δαιμόνων.
[1233] ἀνθρώπου supplied by Lowth
[1234] ψυχή, animal life.
[1235] i e in the institution of the scape-goat
[1236] Or, of water. For instead of ὑλὶκῆς in the text, it is proposed to read ὑδατικῆς.
[1237] Consult Matt iii 11; Luke iii 16; Heb iv 12
[1238] Ps. cxix. 164.
[1239] Ps cxix 66
[1240] According to Heinsius’ reading, who substitutes ἀπονενεμημένη for ἀπονενεμημένῳ.
[1241] Ps. cxli. 2.
[1242] Rom. viii. 26.
[1243] τὸ δὲ ἐπιτελεῖν
κοινὸν βίον is the reading of the text; which Potter amends, so as to bring out what is plainly the idea of the author, the reference to pleasure as the third end of actions, and the end pursued by ordinary men, by changing διά into ἡδέα, which is simple, and leaves δύσοιστον (intolerable) to stand. Sylburgius notes that the Latin translator renders as if he read διὰ τὴν ἡδονήν, which is adopted above.
[1244] Or, “persecuted;” for ἀδικουμένου (Lowth) and διωκομένου (Potter and Latin translator) have been both suggested instead of the reading of the text, διακονουμένου.
[1245] προσφέρεσθαι and προφέρεσθαι are both found here.
[1246] συνιέντας, and (Sylburgius) συνιόντας.
[1247] Rom ii 25; Eph ii 11
[1248] 1 Cor. ix. 19, etc.
[1249] This sentence is obscure, and has been construed and amended variously
[1250] Luke xix. 26.
[1251] Luke xx 36
[1252] Ps. xxiv. 3–6.
[1253] Heb i 3
[1254] Matt. xi. 27.
[1255] 1 Cor xiv 6
[1256] 1 Cor. xiii. 3.
[1257] Eph iv 13
[1258] ὁρᾶ; or, desires, ἐρᾷ, as Sylburgius suggests.
[1259] Prov i 7
[1260] 1 Cor. xiii. 7.
[1261] 2 Thess. ii. 4.
[1262] Matt vi 24; Luke vi 13
[1263] According to the text, instead of “to witness,” as above, it would be “not to witness.” Lowth suggests the omission of “not” (μη) Retaining it, and translating “is not even for children to witness,” the clause yields a suitable sense
[1264] ὑπὸ τοιούτων is here substituted by Heinsius for ὑπὸ τῶν αὐτῶν.
[1265] Matt vii 21
[1266] ποθεῖν suggested by Lowth instead of ποιεῖν.
[1267] ἀτεχνῶς adopted instead of ἀτέχνως of the text, and transferred to the beginning of this sentence from the close of the preceding, where it appears in the text
[1268] Matt. xxi. 21; Mark xi. 23; 1 Cor. xiii. 2, etc. etc.
[1269] Referring to Matt vi 21
[1270] Or His, i.e. the Lord’s.
[1271] Rom ii 29
[1272] ἁγίων, as in the best authorities; or ἀγγέλων, as in recent editions.
[1273] Ps. xix. 9.
[1274] Luke xiv. 26, 27.
[1275] i.e. The sentient soul, which he calls the irrational spirit, in contrast with the rational soul.
[1276] Gal v 17
[1277] In allusion to Gal. vi. 8, where, however, the apostle speaks of sowing to the flesh.
[1278] Job i 21
[1279] Job i. 1.
[1280] Matt vi 12; Luke xi 4
[1281] Matt. v. 48.
[1282] Ps xxxiv 11
[1283] 1 Cor. iii. 16.
[1284] These words are not found in Scripture. Solomon often warns against strange women, and there are our Lord’s words in Matt v 28
[1285] Matt. x. 16.
[1286] Ps xlviii 12
[1287] Eph. iv. 13.
[1288] 1 Cor vi 1, 2
[1289] Matt. v. 44.
[1290] εὐπειθεῖς here substituted by Sylburgius for ἀπειθεῖς May not the true reading be ἀπαθεῖς, as the topic is ἀπαθεία?
[1291] Matt. v. 45.
[1292] 1 Cor vi 7, 8
[1293] 1 Cor. vi. 9.
[1294] 1 Cor vi 9
[1295] ἄνευ; or above, ἄνω.
[1296] 1 Cor vi 12
[1297] 1 Cor. vi. 13.
[1298] Matt v ; sic τέλειοι τελείως
[1299] 1 Cor. xi. 19.
[1300] δοκίμους, same word as above translated “approved ”
[1301] Luke ix. 62.
[1302] Tertullian, who treats of the above-mentioned topic, attributes these words to Ezekiel; but they are sought for in vain in Ezekiel, or in any other part of Scripture
[1303] Heb. i. 1.
[1304] An apocryphal scripture probably.
[1305] 1 Cor. x. 1, 3, 4.
[1306] Luke vi. 46, combined with Matt. vii. 21.
[1307] εἴ τις instead of ἥτις.
[1308] 1 Cor. iv. 19.
[1309] Rom. xiii. 9.
[1310] Those who initiate into the mysteries.
[1311]
In the translation, the change recommended, on high authority, of Αὐγούστου into Τιβερίου in the last clause, is adopted, as on the whole the best way of solving the unquestionable difficulty here If we retain Αὐγούστου, the clause must then be made parenthetical, and the sense would be: “For the teaching of the Lord on His advent, beginning with Augustus and Tiberius (in the middle of the times of Augustus), was completed.” The objection to this (not by any means conclusive) is, that it does not specify the end of the period.
The first 15 years of the life of our Lord were the last 15 of the reign of Augustus; and in the 15th year of the reign of his successor Tiberius our Lord was baptized Clement elsewhere broaches the singular opinion, that our Lord’s ministry lasted only a year, and consequently that He died in the year in which He was baptized As Augustus reigned, according to one of the chronologies of Clement, 43, and according to the other 46 years 4 months 1 day, and Tiberius 22 or 26 years 6 months 19 days, the period of the teaching of the gospel specified above began during the reign of Augustus, and ended during the reign of Tiberius.
[1312] Θεοδάδι ἀκηκοέναι is the reading, which eminent authorities (Bentley, Grabe, etc ) have changed into Θεοδᾶ (or Θευδᾶ) διακηκοέναι
[1313] Much learning and ingenuity have been expended on this sentence, which, read as it stands in the text, appears to state that Marcion was an old man while Basilides and Valentinus were young men; and that Simon (Magus) was posterior to them in time. Marcion was certainly not an old man when Valentinus and Basilides were young men, as they flourished in the first half of the second century, and he was born about the beginning of it The difficulty in regard to Simon is really best got over by supposing that Clement, speaking of these heresiarchs in ascending order, describes Marcion as further back in time; which sense μεθ’ ὅν of course will bear, although it does seem somewhat harsh, as “after” thus means “before ”
[1314] Luke x. 22.
[1315] Luke vi. 46.
[1316] Ps. i. 4.
[1317] Isa. xl. 15.
[1318] Matt vii 7; Luke xi 9
[1319] It is necessary to read λόγον here, though not in the text, on account of ἐκπορίζοντα which follows; and as εὔλογον εἶναι λόγον occurs afterwards, it seems better to retain εὔλογον than to substitute λόγον for it
[1320] Ἐπιθυμητικοῦ, which accords with what Plato says in the Timæus, p. 1078. Lowth, however, reads φυτικοῦ.
Transcriber’s Notes:
1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently.
2 Where hyphenation is in doubt, it has been retained as in the original
3 Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have been retained as in the original
4 Where appropriate, the original spelling has been retained
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