19: Those We Need

HARPER

I stole a glance at Sierra as she moved swiftly down the hallway. She seemed to have regained her composure from last night, but I suspected it was more due to the knock on the door than any issue with me. She had no reason to be upset, not after the way she had just tantalizingly explored my body, her hand wrapping around me, her first stroke nearly sending me over the edge.

The sensation of her teeth on my neck was intoxicating, and that final bite felt like pure bliss. I had felt an urge to reciprocate, to surrender to her in a way I had never experienced before. If this was how it was going to be every time she needed to feed, hell yeah, I’d let her use me for her pleasure.

I’d sit there and let her take control for as long as she wanted. I wished she had. I grumbled a bit as the knock on the door echoed again.

“I said just a minute!” I shouted, knowing the person outside could hear me.

I moved into my kitchen and through a side door that led to my laundry room and the small garage. I hastily tossed my clothes into the washer and grabbed a pair of loose pants from the dryer. I had done this last night, but I was glad there was another pair here.

I wasn’t about to answer the door with evidence of our recent activities on me. I wasn’t sure who was at the door, but the next rhythmic tapping gave me a pretty good idea. It was almost as if they were mocking my earlier shout.

I’d bet a thousand dollars it was Grace. I reached the door and swung it open quickly, an annoyed expression on my face. I blocked the doorway with my body, my hand resting on the frame.

Grace looked up at me, a bright smile on her face and an eyebrow raised in question.

“Why did it take you so long to answer the door, dear brother?” she asked, a twinkle in her eyes.

I gave her a dry look. “I just woke up. If you’re here because of my text, I didn’t mean right this second,” I replied.

She raised an eyebrow at me, clearly having something to say but holding back. “Really? Just woke up? You sent me that text an hour ago. Nice hickey you’ve got there, Harper,” Grace said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

I didn’t take the bait and touch my neck, but the spot where Sierra had bitten me suddenly felt warmer. I wasn’t ashamed of enjoying my mate, and my pesky little sister was going to have to try harder than that.

“When was the last time you had one, Grace?” I retorted. She gave me a look. I noticed a hint of pink on her cheeks.

“Whatever, men are a waste of my time anyway,” Grace declared, pushing past me to enter the house.

Part of me was relieved to hear her say that. In my opinion, Grace was too good for any of these guys. Call me overprotective if you want, but Grace was worth more than some low-level werewolf.

Or any species for that matter. My sister was a smart, driven woman. “Glad to hear it. Come on in, I guess,” I said. She breezed past me.

“Thank you, I will,” she replied.

I was surprised she had knocked. She usually just let herself in with her key. I suspected she was smart enough to know that Sierra was here and it was better to knock than barge in, and I appreciated it.

“I am here about your text, by the way,” Grace said.

I glanced down the hall as Sierra emerged, dressed in her clothes from yesterday. My gaze devoured her, and I noticed her blush as she gave me a quick once-over.

“Grace, Sierra. Sierra, Grace. Grace is my sister. I asked her here to take you shopping for anything you might need. I thought it might be better to have a woman for company. I also have some work I need to get to. Are you okay with that?” I asked Sierra, who extended her hand to Grace.

“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Grace,” Sierra said, shaking Grace’s hand.

Grace smiled at her. “Nice to meet you, Lady Sierra,” Grace responded.

I was grateful that Grace was generally a welcoming person. I was glad she wasn’t being too nosy right off the bat.

“Harper sent me a message earlier that you would need a few things. I don’t mind helping you out. Harper isn’t exactly good at shopping. He’s kind of basic when it comes to essentials,” Grace said, giving me a teasing smile.

“What frivolous things do I even need to look at? Useless, I’m fine with basics,” I retorted. Grace rolled her eyes.

“My god, Harper, you could decorate a little, add some color to your walls. It’s boring in here if you ask me. I bet Sierra has a better sense of decor,” Grace said.

Sierra gave her a small smile. “Whatever, white walls don’t bother me. There’s color in here,” I defended. Grace shook her head.

“Yeah, I bought some of those things. Like those throw pillows and a few other items. Don’t even try to deny it, you basic male,” Grace said.

I just waved a dismissive hand at her as she grinned. “Whatever,” I repeated, moving past Sierra toward my bedroom.

“I need to shower and head to the main office. Are you okay going with Grace to get anything you might need?” I asked again.

“Yes, thank you, Harper,” Sierra replied, and I nodded.

“Here, Grace,” I said, moving over to my office door and punching in the code. I grabbed a card from inside and handed it to Grace.

“Please get her whatever she needs with this,” I instructed. Grace raised an eyebrow at me but smiled. She winked at me.

“Yes, sir,” Grace replied as I turned to leave.

“I’ll see you later. Don’t worry about anything, just get what you need,” I told Sierra.

“Thank you, Harper. You are very kind. I will only get necessities,” Sierra assured me.

I didn’t argue with her. I just shrugged and headed down the hall. I let out a sigh before entering my room and heading toward my bathroom. I noticed that the bed was made and everything was in its place. She was observant, wasn’t she?

SIERRA

The moment I heard a woman’s voice in the living room, a pang of jealousy hit me. Who was this woman who had just walked in, and who was he talking to?

I was taken aback by the sudden surge of anger, compelling me to storm out of the room.

I paused, taking a deep breath to compose myself before leaving the room. I was still reeling from the taste of him on my tongue, the memory of his touch. My desire for him was making me edgy, and I knew I had to keep it in check.

Harper introduced me to Grace, and the revelation that she was his sister was a relief. She seemed like a genuinely nice person. I didn’t sense any ill intentions from her.

Her smile was warm and genuine. I found it endearing how she teased Harper, and it was clear that they shared a close bond. I made a mental note of this, realizing that Harper must value his sister’s opinion greatly.

If he had asked her to come over so quickly, she must mean a lot to him. I decided then that I would make an effort to leave a good impression on her.

I had to admit it to myself—I wanted Harper. There was no point in denying it. But I also wanted to get to know him better before doing anything rash.

Like the incident on the couch earlier, where I had practically thrown myself at him. Thankfully, he had been receptive. I couldn’t help but admire him as he stood there in nothing but a pair of loose pants.

He was incredibly attractive, and I found myself wishing he would do something wrong, just so I could find a flaw in him. But no, he was considerate enough to ask me twice if I was okay with him inviting his sister over to take me shopping.

The idea of shopping for myself was a novelty. I was usually told what I could buy, if I was allowed to shop at all. Otherwise, tailors would come to me and make my clothes.

Any products or items I needed were delivered to me. This was a new experience, and I was secretly thrilled. The fact that he asked for my consent not once, but twice, only made me want him more.

I was falling for him, and it was happening faster than I could have imagined.

“Well, Lady Sierra, shall we?” Grace asked.

I looked at her, taking in her light brown hair tied back in a ponytail and her hazel eyes, so similar to Harper’s.

“Just Sierra is fine. Yes, I’m ready, thank you,” I replied, giving her a slight nod.

She looked me over and led the way to a small red car parked outside. I got in, deciding to stay silent unless spoken to.

“You seem like the quiet type,” Grace observed, her fingers drumming on the steering wheel. She seemed so carefree, and I found myself wishing I could feel the same way.

“I’m willing to talk. I just thought it best to wait until spoken to. It’s how I’ve always lived my life,” I explained.

She glanced at me, falling silent as we drove toward a busier part of town.

“I’m sorry you’ve had to live like that. Men don’t rule the roost here,” Grace said.

“I can see the difference. You’re lucky to have such freedoms,” I replied. She sighed.

“You seem like a smart, well-educated woman. Clearly affected by the place you were born and raised,” Grace observed. I could tell there was more she wanted to say, even though she paused.

“Thank you for the compliment. But I sense there’s something else you want to say,” I said.

We were stopped at a red light, and she turned to look at me. Her eyes were dark, her smile daring.

“I don’t care if you’re Suzie Homemaker. If you hurt my brother, I’ll make sure your own mother won’t recognize you. True mate or not, he’s my family, and we protect our own. I don’t know you well enough yet. All I can do is hope that my brother’s other half is like him and won’t cause him pain. I know how soft his heart really is,” Grace said, her voice steady and matter-of-fact. I could see the wolf in her, just beneath the surface.

“He’s lucky to have you, and you him. It’s hard to break someone’s heart when you’re scared of your own. I’m still figuring all of this out. I hope you won’t judge me too quickly. We’re not bonded yet,” I replied softly. I didn’t deny what I was, but I was still unsure of how things would turn out. How much I had accepted.

“If I wasn’t willing to give you a chance, I wouldn’t have come over. I feel it’s my duty to warn you. I’m a lycan too, and we’re fiercely loyal. Harper means a lot to me. You should know that,” Grace said.

“I promise you, I have no intention of coming between Harper and his loved ones,” I assured her.

But I couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy. She had people who cared about her, friends. She could sit here and threaten me because she loved someone and wasn’t afraid of them. I didn’t have that with anyone.

A single tear escaped my eye as I looked out the window. The reality of what my father and Kaven had done to me had never felt more real than in that moment. I was damaged, emotionally and mentally.

It hurt to look at someone who wasn’t broken and realize that I might be the problem. But I had a chance to change that now. I had a man who was nothing like those from my past. I had to be brave and see where this would go.

I wasn’t going back to Red Coven without a fight.