AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The truck passed through the gate and Kaine got out again to run back and shut it. Once he was settled into the seat, the vehicle sped off towards my home.
I trembled where I lay in Blake’s lap. “You can get up now,” he said. “Don’t worry, we’ll track him down and turn him in to the council. He’s broken several laws, so that should get him put away. Rincoln isn’t supposed to be near you.” He spoke to Axel. “I’ve messaged Deke, and he’s about to head out to look for Rincoln.”
“Why does Rincoln want you?” Kaine asked.
“He’s my dad.” I answered in a small voice. “He thinks he owns me, but I’d rather die than live the life he wants for me.”
All talk ended until we reached my house, and Axel parked the truck. “Let’s just get in and we can sort out how we’re going to find this bastard. We need to figure out how he keeps getting so deep into the compound.” Axel caught my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Try not to worry, okay? You’re family now. We’ll protect you.”
I managed a small smile for him, but it was an effort. Then I looked at the men. “Where’s everyone going to sleep? The couch isn’t bad if you or Kaine want to decide between yourselves.” There was no way that Axel would share a bed with Kaine. I just got the vibe from Kaine that he wouldn’t like it.
“I can just sleep in the truck,” Kaine said.
Blake was reading my response. Could he feel how conflicted I was? Because I really didn’t want Kaine in my house, but would feel guilty if anything happened to him while he was guarding us from outside. “I’d feel better if you were inside.” I couldn’t help poking at him, though. “You could always share with Axel?”
“The couch is fine,” Kaine muttered.
Stealing myself, I opened the door and rushed to the front step of my house. Blake pressed up close behind me. “Axel is just checking the perimeter.”
Just inside the doorway, I called Kaine and allowed him permission to enter my house. “Thank you, Alpha Mate.”
There was something about the small twist of his lips as he crossed the threshold that unsettled me further. Worry settled in my gut that I’d made a huge mistake. My other sense poking at me. I tried to let it go.
I got blankets for the couch and even though it was early, only late afternoon, I made an excuse about being tired and went to lie down. In the silence of my room, I thought about what I should do. All my bravado in front of Dakota about confronting my father had vanished. For the first time in a long time, I was scared. I didn’t want him to hurt Blake or anyone in the pack just to get to me. Was it best that I just left? Or turned myself in? No! My wolf surged forward at that idea. We wouldn’t give up and there was no running away from our mate.
Hours passed with Blake and Axel both coming to check on me and make me eat some of the snacks that they had found in the pantry and the meals made by James. As the afternoon wore into the evening, I saw Blake’s concern grow and my heart fell into my stomach, knowing what was coming.
“I’m sorry, Kade.” Blake looked gutted. “We lost him again. He has to be getting help, but I don’t know how many people he’s got on his side.”
He slumped onto the bed next to me, looking exhausted. “It’s okay.” I said softly, trying to reassure us both. My alpha had such a lot on his young shoulders. “We’ll lie low for a few days and work through the pack to see who’s turned. I have faith that you’ll keep me safe.”
“Thank you, my mate.”
Then I had an idea. We didn’t have to do this alone. The same as I wasn’t dealing with this mess by myself. I had a family and a pack now. Real friends too. “Tomorrow we should talk to Dakota, see if the bears can track Rincoln. I doubt he has any of them on his side. Probably never even considered them.”
“That’s a great idea.” Blake kissed me quickly, and the affection soothed me. He pushed so much feeling into the gesture and down our fledgling bond that my worry eased fractionally.
“I’m tired. Can we just go to sleep?”
“Of course. First though, my brothers and I agree it’s time to induct you into the pack. It’ll be easier to find you if we get separated.”
Just the thought of being separated from Blake had nausea rising and I had to clamp a hand over my mouth to keep it down.
“It’s okay. I’ll do everything that I can to prevent that ever happening. I just want to give us extra protection.”
My heart warmed at the way he was putting my safety first. He could have insisted we fully bond, but he wasn’t rushing that. Like he could hear my thoughts, he said, “I won’t push you to bond. I want it done when we are both ready.”
As much as I understood his reasoning, it still frightened me. I felt so powerless. Still, I nodded and got myself under control. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
I slipped onto the floor so that I was kneeling in front of him. The mood settled, the occasion weighing heavily on us both.
“Kade Turner, I formally invite you into the Sweetwater pack and offer you all the protections that we can provide. Do you swear by The Luna that you will honor your pack mates and alpha, putting their needs before your own?”
“I swear it. My pack is your pack and, as my alpha, you have my permission to lead as you see fit. I trust my safety to you. With The Luna as witness, I vow to protect the Sweetwater pack.”
My mate allowed his claws to extend, his alpha blood making the change seem easy. He then pricked a finger and pushed a drop of blood onto my waiting tongue.
Swallowing around it, I felt the pack bond slot into place, the hum of my pack mates in the background of my mind. My wolf yipped inside me, the small action involuntary and sapping their energy. They curled up again and rested.
