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Keeping Kade
Roan
Rincolnledmedown the stairs to the basement, where I locked eyes with Kade. “Roan, no!” he cried out, filled with despair. My heart broke for him. He had to think that I was going to be another of the alphas that betrayed him. No wonder he didn’t trust us easily. It was a wonder he’d stayed partially bonded to Blake, even refreshing that bond as it weakened.
As Rincoln talked about us bonding, I couldn’t help my twitch. I wasn’t trained for situations like this. Everything I was doing was born out of instinct. My wolf led me through it all, and I trusted him.
It took me all the self-control I had not to react like Kade at the casual way that Rincoln threatened all of his friends, his found family. I knew how much he loved them all in his own way.
Answering Rincoln and giving nothing away was one of the hardest things to do and when Kade blurted out that he couldn’t have kids? Well, my heart about broke. I’d paid off his doctor for information on him, so I knew that there was a good chance that it could be fixed. The fucker of a doctor was too easy, and it didn’t surprise me he’d sold the information to other sources. I’d be reporting him once this was all done.
Kade’s eyes narrowed as he took in my lack of response. Good. He was suspicious. This could only help me later. His father hadn’t seemed to notice anything, too wrapped up in his ludicrous plan.
I turned the subject to the fertility boosting potion Rincoln had given me, the thing that had set this all in motion years ago. Watching, I saw Kade’s eyes widen with realization when he figured out why I’d left. I couldn’t help the warmth in my gaze. Even though he was no longer mine, he was my first love. Hell, my only love, and I just wanted what was best for him. And that was his mate, who was hopefully on the way soon.
Once Rincoln left, I held a finger to my lips, searching for sounds. Once clear, I explained things to Kade and got him uncuffed. It was difficult to deny the urge to touch him and I gave in to my longing, hating that I loved it so much. He wasn’t mine, and I needed to remember that. I’d just missed him so damn much.
When he was free, I had to push him to shift to buy us a little more time. There was no way for us to bond with him in his wolf form. I’d had doubts he could call forth his wolf, but Kade was stronger than he looked. That look of utter acceptance as he shifted nearly floored me. It was a look of coming home, of being whole again.
His wolf greeted me with a lick to the face and I buried my hands in the thick fur around his neck and pressed our foreheads together. “I’ll always be your best friend, but you have a fated mate now. It’s my job to keep you safe for Blake. Listen to what I say and stay behind me, okay?” I was sure that Rincoln and his men were far enough away that they couldn’t hear us. They expected Kade to go into heat after all, but I still kept my voice low.
We needed to get into a better position than where we were. Down here in this windowless room, we were trapped. I needed to get Kade onto the first floor.
“Follow me,” I mouthed and inched towards the stairs. It was unlikely that we could get outside and make a run for it without blowing my cover and turning the situation dangerous for us both. I could get us into a room that was more comfortable for Kade to hide out in. One where we could see someone approach.
The door creaked as it opened and I flinched. We’d just cleared the kitchen when Rincoln came charging into the house in a fury. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he yelled.
Thinking on my feet, I fed him some bullshit. “He still smells of that alpha. He needs a shower and we’ll need a proper bed.”
That brought him up short. “Ah, yes. Good thinking. We wouldn’t want any pups conceived in a basement.” I felt Kade bristle beside me. “We’ve got the water running again. I believe there’s a room with furniture covered in sheets. I’m sure you can handle the room while Kade washes up.”
We turned to leave and Rincoln spoke again. “Why’s he in wolf form?” Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“He said that his doctor told him that if he can maintain a shift, it’s more likely he’ll be able to have pups after all. We’re testing that he isn’t too fucked up.” I just about managed a sneer, like Rincoln was giving me second-hand goods that weren’t to my standards. Kade bristled and pushed against my hand for reassurance. I sank my fingers into his fur in apology.
“Right. Get him to shift back and get washed up and bond him. There’s no time for messing about. His alpha is likely looking for him.”
“Do you have eyes on the alpha?”
“Didn’t want anyone to get caught and give up where we are based.” Rincoln knew more about being an alpha than I did. I’d forgotten that alpha leaders could use pack bonds to force the truth out of their members. A lot of these men surrounding the farmhouse were Sweetwater pack. Until their alpha was dead or had dismissed them, they were still Alpha Blake’s people. They couldn’t swear to Rincoln and form a new pack yet.
When Blake’s father had been killed, the temporary leadership had already transferred to the acting alpha, otherwise it would have been a headache getting them to swear their oath again. That kind of magic wasn’t done every day and usually it was a case of the alpha passing on the pack by having the new alpha swear an oath to him. If there was a challenge, it automatically moved to the winner. The Luna honored the win with her magic.
“Besides, I want him to find us, just when it’s too late and his precious mate is already someone else’s. Then I’m going to kill him and take over his pack.”
