Jaguar's Judgment by Lia Davis Page B

ignored the growl of irritation in her tone and crossed his arms. “Rhea says he’s very advanced and could start taking some college courses online.”
    “I know. I met with the den mother this morning.” Sable returned her attention to the tablet. “Why are you really here, Jared? You’ve never been big on small talk.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me about him? Why did I have to find out from Kieran?” Anger filtered into his words. Nigel was his son, and he deserved to know who his father was. “Better yet, why did you tell him I was dead?”
    Sable jumped to her feet and came nose-to-nose with him. “You hurt me, Jared. I didn’t want to see you again or have you in our lives. Besides, you were dead to me.”
    He peered into her eyes, searching for any sign of untruth, but what he found made his chest constrict around his hammering heart. There was true pain in the depths of that teal-colored gaze. Hardening his stare and masking his own emotions from her, he bit out, “Your betrayal wounded the bond, not me.”
    She didn’t flinch at his harsh tone. She’d always been good at hiding behind that sheet of ice around her heart. “What was I supposed to say? Oh, by the way, my father is the boogieman of the shifter world? The king of all bastards. I’m sure that would have gone over well.”
    He turned away from her, not trusting himself. One part of him wanted to lash out at her, wound her like he’d been wounded. The other part wanted to claim her, bury himself deep inside her until they were one again, like the bond mates they once were.
    But that couldn’t happen, wouldn’t happen. He must never allow it.
    She was the enemy. Wasn’t she?
    Fuck, he didn’t know anymore. The brief look he’d had into her memories when she came to Ashwood told him she was trying to make amends for her crimes. She had formed the rebel group with the goal of taking down her father.
    “I don’t trust your intentions.”
    She let out a bitter laugh. “That makes two of us.”
    He whirled around and gripped her arm. Jerking her into his body, he growled low. “I can’t leave you alone either.”
    “Always asking for trouble.” Her jaguar flashed in her glare, but there was a hint of teasing in her tone.
    Heat flared between them, seeping into his flesh and shooting straight to his cock. Hesitantly, he raised his fingers to her cheek. When she swayed closer, he captured her lips in a demanding kiss. Sable wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, a soft moan escaping her.
    Breaking the kiss, Jared pressed his forehead to hers. He didn’t want to move from the spot. His body hummed, and his jaguar wanted more.
    Sable broke the brief silence. “They will look for me. You know I can’t stay here. The last thing your Pack needs is my mother knocking on your door.”
    She was right on so many levels. What could he do? The law stated she was to be held until her trial. However, the Council was reforming, and with Jared’s help, rewriting some of the laws.
    He stepped away from her and moved toward the door. Before leaving, he said, “I’ll talk to the Elders about moving you farther off Ashwood territory.”
    “It won’t do much good. Savannah and Felix need to be stopped.”
    Meeting her gaze, he raised a brow. “Do you know how to do that?”
    “Felix, yes. I need time to search for Savannah’s weaknesses.”
    “You would kill your parents?”
    She shrugged and sat back on the futon, picking up the tablet as she eased back. “To protect my son, yes. Even if I have to sacrifice myself in the process.”
    Dread hit him in the gut like lead. She was planning a suicide mission. He was sure of it. The man and cat growled at the thought. Without replying to her, he left the building and headed toward the Pack circle to find Keegan.
    Jared couldn’t allow her to go on with whatever crazy plot she was cooking up. He wouldn’t watch their son grieve over his mother.
     
    ****
     
    Jared spied Keegan with