Her Hidden Scars (Loving Her Scars Series Book 2) Read online

  COPYRIGHT

  Her Hidden Scars is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  HER HIDDEN SCARS: A NOVEL

  Copyright © 2019 by B. M. Griffin

  All rights reserved.

  Edited by KP Editing

  Cover Design by KP Designs

  Published by Kingston Publishing Company

  The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  COPYRIGHT

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  DEDICATION

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  EPILOGUE

  EXTRAS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to every person who encourages me to keep writing. My friends, family, and co-workers. A big shout out to my husband for putting up with my long hours at night tapping out all the words on my laptop, often while sitting up in bed beside him as he tries to sleep.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Megan

  Shayla kept running her hands over her dress, trying to rearrange her veil in the mirror. Megan stepped in front of her and took both of Shayla’s hands in her own. She waited until Shayla had met her eyes and, judging by the purple hue that was shining through what were usually kind, brown eyes, Megan knew that Shayla’s anxiety had her wolf itching to come to the surface.

  “You are so beautiful,” Megan said, with a smile. “Adam isn’t going to know what hit him when you walk out there.”

  “Are you sure the veil isn’t too much?”

  Shayla’s veil hung to her waist, the lace blending in with the train that flowed out behind her dress. The stark white color of the dress only highlighted the beauty of her tanned skin. Something Megan had previously never imagined her friend having—a tan. It seemed that becoming a werewolf and falling in love, had been just what Shayla had needed to come out of her shell. She’d always been beautiful, but her growing confidence since her transition, had really made her bloom like a flower in springtime.

  Megan felt a pang of jealousy. Shayla had gone from being afraid to be alone with a man, to becoming the strongest werewolf Jared’s pack had ever known to exist. Then there was Megan -- she was just the weak human friend who’d had to hide out in the basement while her friends were in danger.

  Megan shook off her thoughts. She was being ridiculous this was Shayla’s day. She smiled brightly and pulled Shayla in for a hug. “The veil is perfect, Shayla. Honestly, you could walk out there in a potato sack and Adam would still see you as the most beautiful woman in the world.”

  “You’re the best friend a girl could ask for, you know that,” Shayla said. Her voice was raspy, and when Megan pulled back from their hug, she noticed tears trying to escape Shayla’s eyes. Honestly, she had to take a breath and sniff to get her own tears under control. She truly was happy for Shayla. She’d been through more than anyone should, and she’d finally found her happiness.

  Megan quickly grabbed some tissues off the dresser and lightly dabbed under Shayla’s eyes. “No crying,” she said, “today is a happy day.”

  Shayla nodded, “You’re right, the happiest.”

  ****

  The pack had really gone all out for the ceremony by turning Jared’s back yard into a bride’s dream. White chairs lined each side of the aisle, which was a designated strip of grass running up the middle of the backyard, with white roses running up and down the outer edges of the aisle. A few of the guys had built a gazebo just for this ceremony. It was decorated with red and white roses, with white lights highlighting every angle of the roof and the pillars that held it up.

  Looking around at all of the roses decorating the space, including the huge bouquets on either side of where Adam stood just in front of the gazebo, Megan was certain there wasn’t a flower shop within a hundred miles who still had roses on hand.

  Shayla’s dad was waiting at the back of the house. He had the same chestnut hair and kind brown eyes as Shayla, and Megan had instantly liked him. She was glad Shayla had a father who cared enough to give his daughter away on her wedding day. It was something Megan knew she wouldn’t have if she ever got married, because sometimes, it was better to leave certain people from your life behind.

  Megan reached for Shayla’s hand once more and gave it a quick squeeze. When Shayla smiled back at her, Megan winked and said, “Go get your man.”

  “I am,” Shayla said, then she turned to her dad and they linked their arms together, leaned into each other, and waited for their queue to begin walking.

  Jared stepped up beside Megan, and when his eyes ran down the length of her body, she felt the heat creep up her cheeks and knew she was blushing. Thank God Shayla hadn’t been one of those brides who insisted her maid of honor and bridesmaids looked like the icing on a cupcake at a toddler’s birthday party. No, she’d been happy to accept Megan’s input on their dresses and chose beautiful red gowns for them to wear. They were made of silk and draped around the chest enough to show off the tiniest cleavage, and the fit was perfect, showing off the ladies’ curves in the best way. Judging by Jared’s expression, the dress was doing great things for Megan’s figure.

  Jared looked damn good in his tux, too. Even the double-breasted jacket couldn’t hide the definition of the muscles that lay beneath it, and her fingers itched with the desire to mess up his black hair, which was slicked back for the ceremony. When he looked at her with those dark brown eyes like she was the only woman in the world, it took all of her strength not to drag him to a private room and have her way with him.

  Jared held out his arm, bent at the elbow, and Megan linked her arm through his. Just before they walked out ahead of Shayla and her dad, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You’re gorgeous.”

  Before Megan could react, they were walking down the aisle toward the gazebo where they separated, and Jared took his place next to Adam. They turned toward the aisle and watched while Shayla and her father made their way down. Megan took Shayla’s bouquet when it was offered to her, and passed her friend the ring she would put on Adam’s hand, but after that, she had basically missed the rest of the ceremony. Jared never moved his eyes from hers, and she did the same; both of them lost in the other
’s gaze while Shayla and Adam exchanged vows. Megan knew it was a far-fetched dream to imagine her and Jared in their place, especially since she was a human and Jared was not, but she couldn’t stop the thoughts from entering her mind while they stared into each other’s eyes.

  When whistling and loud clapping erupted around them, Megan finally pulled her head out of the clouds and turned her attention back to Shayla. Her friend was glowing and happier than she’d ever seen her. Megan was happy for Shayla; she deserved eternal happiness. Megan smiled at Shayla when she passed her bouquet back, so she and Adam could make their way down the aisle. But as happy as she was for them, she couldn’t completely let go of the feeling that was slowly settling in her chest—that she would never have this. She knew she would probably get married one day, but she didn’t think she’d ever been able to put the kind of trust in another person that was required to be so completely happy. Even if this thing between her and Jared continued to grow, they weren’t equals and that was something that would always keep her from letting her shields completely down. She wouldn’t allow herself to be the weak one in their relationship, because he’d always be trying to protect her from all the danger that came along with his world. She was not someone who could hide out and let others protect her - not anymore.

  ****

  An hour into the reception and Megan was sitting at a table alone, sipping on her fourth glass of wine, and watching all the couples on the dance floor. Once the ceremony was over, she’d been looking forward to a nice night with Jared, instead, she had not seen him since Shayla and Adam cut the cake.

  Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She’d seen him, but only because he was making rounds checking in with the pack members who had been tasked with security for the wedding. What he had not done, was remember that he’d promised Megan that they would have fun. That for once, it would feel like they were on a date and that they would dance and have a good time.

  Whenever Shayla looked her way, Megan would hold up her glass and plaster a bright smile on her face. Twice Adam had asked her to dance and she knew Shayla had been the one to suggest it, so she’d sucked up her pride for Shayla because the last thing she wanted was to have Shayla worrying about her on her wedding day. She waited until Shayla and Adam announced they were on their way out and then she grabbed her phone and put in a request for an Uber.

  Jared came out of nowhere and stopped in front of her in the front lawn. “Where are ya goin’?”

  He ran his hand down her arm and tried to take hold of her hand, but Megan shook him off. “I’m going home. Shayla and Adam are gone, so there’s no reason for me to be here.”

  Jared’s face fell, but only for a second before he regained control over his expression. “I thought we were going to spend some time together tonight?”

  His tone was so stoic, like he really could care less whether she left or stayed. Megan narrowed her eyes at him, he was not the only one who could hide behind a mask. “Yeah, well, that was for the wedding party, but you clearly had better things to do, so don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine at home. Alone.”

  Jared’s eyebrows drew tight, as he stepped up closer to Megan and gripped her shoulders. “You know we have been on high alert for the past month, Megan. It’s my responsibility to make sure my pack is safe, even for weddings, and I’m going to be even more determined to keep things safe when you’re around. I won’t let you get hurt because of some shit my pack is mixed up in. Don’t you get that? I just want to keep you safe.”

  Megan knew he was telling the truth, and she knew that she shouldn’t be pissed that he focused on keeping her safe anytime she was around the pack, but she was still pissed off. Too many times in her life she’d been protected by someone she loved, only to leave them vulnerable to evil itself. She was sick of being taken care of, because she was too powerless to fight side by side with the people she cared about. She’d rather be alone than be forced to hide and watch anyone she loved, get hurt again.

  Megan stepped around Jared, forcing him to drop his hands from her shoulders, and she took a couple of steps away from him before she turned back to look at him. “I don’t need someone who feels like they always have to protect me, Jared. I just needed you to be with me, for you and me to be different. For you to recognize that I don’t want to be treated with kid gloves, I just want to be treated like someone you love.”

  Jared sighed before replying, “But what you don’t understand, Megan, is that’s the very reason I need to protect you. As much as I want you, we are very different, and I will always make sure you are safe while we’re together. Being with me while you’re human is the most dangerous thing you will do in your life. I understand if that’s not something you want to take on, and I won’t chase you if you want to leave me.”

  Megan brought her hand up to her chest and tried to rub away the pain that was suddenly ripping through her heart. She knew he’d meant his words to comfort her, to let her know he cared enough to want her safe, but all her heart was focused on were his last ten words, “I won’t chase you if you want to leave me.” Without another word, she turned around and got into her ride, and by some miracle, she managed to hold in her tears until she was inside her own home.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Jared

  Jared turned and watched Megan leave. It took every ounce of strength in him not to go after her; to stop her and make her understand that he had to keep her safe. That from the moment he’d laid eyes on her, his wolf had known she was meant to be his. He’d wanted to dance with her, hell he wished he could have been right at her side all night. She was always beautiful, but that red dress had really highlighted her curves. She’d left her long, dark hair down in waves that brushed over the swell of her cleavage with every step she took, and her eyes … he could get lost in her beautiful, hazel eyes. With his wolf eager to bond with her, his instinct to keep her safe was constantly in overdrive, and yeah, that meant that he was probably going to be a shitty boyfriend for the foreseeable future. “Fuck!” Jared kicked at the grass, then he called out to Lou with his mind. Within a minute, Lou and Allen were both at his side.

  “Somethin’ up?” Lou asked.

  “I need the two of you to see to putting this party to bed. I’ve gotta go for a run. Work some shit out for a bit.”

  Allen pursed his lips. “So, you want us to clean up while you get in some exercise?”

  Lou punched him in the arm, while Jared tried to glare a hole through his skull. “Don’t be a smart ass,” Jared told him.

  “Megan left, huh?” Lou chimed in.

  “Yup.” Jared didn’t say anything else; he didn’t need to. Even Allen knew better than to say anything else to aggravate him.

  “We’ll take care of getting everyone home and the cleanup,” Lou assured him.

  Jared just nodded, and when Lou and Allen headed back to the house, he headed for the woods. He removed his clothes at the edge of the trees and let his wolf take over from there. He lost track of time while he ran, and before he realized where his feet were taking him, he was in Megan’s backyard. He could see a dim light coming from one of the rooms in the back of the house, so she was probably still up. Not that it mattered. He wasn’t going to knock on the door and try to apologize again.

  Nope, he preferred to just hide out in her backyard beneath the tree line. Jared knew it made him sound like a bit of a creep, but he couldn’t force himself to leave. At least if he was there, he would know she was safe, and that was better than nothing at all. Hell, he owed that to her. Being associated with him and his pack was the whole reason she needed someone to keep an eye on her. If any of their enemies found out she was human, she would move to the top of their list, as an easy target to get to Jared as the Alpha.

  True, it had been Shayla and Adam who introduced her to their world, but he’d been the one who wanted her to stick around, even though he knew it wasn’t safe. After tonight, he was afraid that she might not have any desire to hang around him ever again. Damn,
he thought, he should have just asked her to dance.

  ****

  Jared felt someone running their fingers through his hair, and what was that amazing smell? Coffee. He opened his eyes and found Megan crouched in the grass beside his head, with a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.

  “I thought you might need this,” Megan said. “I’d guess that sleeping on the ground all night doesn’t make for a lot of rest.”

  Jared stood up and helped Megan back to her feet, before accepting the coffee she offered him. He watched her eyes, which seemed to deliberately look anywhere but at him. It took him a minute before he realized why she was avoiding looking at him … he’d shifted back to his human form in his sleep. Which meant he was standing in her backyard with a hot cup of coffee in his hand, completely naked.

  “Uh, why don’t you come inside?” Megan moved toward the house.

  Jared smirked and shrugged. “It’s nice out here this morning, don’t you think?”

  He kept his eyes locked on Megan and he didn’t miss it when her eyes moved lower, before she quickly jerked her head away again.

  “I think my neighbors might call the police when they notice a naked man in my backyard.” She glanced at him once more with a tiny smile playing at her lips. “Or they might take pictures to save for later.”

  Jared laughed and followed her inside. Once they were inside, Megan headed down a hallway toward what Jared assumed was her bedroom, without saying a word. Jared figured he’d be polite and not follow her to her room in his naked state, so he waited for her in the living room. When she came back, she had a pair of black cotton shorts in her hands, and she passed them to him with her arms spread out in front of her, obviously trying to keep as much distance between them as she could.

  Jared was surprised to see that the shorts were a men’s XL, and he felt a bit of the ugly green monster rising within him thinking about another man in Megan’s room, a man who clearly left his shorts behind. He held the shorts up between them and looked at Megan with a raised brow. “Please tell me you like to sleep in extra baggy men’s shorts or something like that.”