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“It’s no trouble at all,” Kieran said, handing Gia over. The pup seemed reluctant to leave him and whined. He only rubbed at her ears and allowed Rose to take her.
“Shall we continue?” Kieran asked her.
He started on a stoned but even footpath that would lead to the woods. Rain had been confined in bed for days. A walk and some fresh would do her some good.
Admittedly, Kieran did have a number of matters he had to attend to, but Damien and Scarlett agreed to cover for him. He wanted to make time for Rain and get to know her better.
“You’re nothing like what I expected,” Rain said once they were alone.
“What did you expect?” Kieran asked.
“Someone like Felix.”
Kieran growled at the mention of that name. He couldn’t believe Rain would think to compare him to Felix. Then again, she didn’t know him well yet, so he’d forgive her for that wrong assumption.
“I’m wrong, obviously,” Rain said. “I haven’t been here long, but your pack feels different from the one I left.”
“How so?” Kieran asked.
Rain had a faraway look in her eyes. “The day Felix took over from the former lead alpha, everything went to hell. The Silverbite Pack lost its way, but the Crimson Maw Pack … is full of life. I thought you would rule with fear, like Felix, but everyone here respects you.”
“You can tell all that from a single day of observation?” he asked her.
“I’ve been here for longer than that,” Rain reminded him. “Even when I was a kid, I’d always been good at observing. Watching. After my father died, most of my pack mates chose to pretend I didn’t exist.”
“Sounds like a lonely existence,” Kieran said. Rain might act tough, but she still needed what all wolves needed—companionship and a sense of belonging to something greater. “Tell me about your father, Rain. Felix called you the daughter of a traitor. Is that true?”
Rain shrugged. Kieran didn’t think she’d open up to him that quickly, but she answered him. Maybe because she simply needed someone to share her burdens with.
“My father and three other werewolves believed Felix should be replaced. That if the pack continued under Felix’s leadership, it would be doomed.” Rain paused. She looked at a cluster of maple trees before continuing. “My dad tried to get another young alpha to challenge Felix. Felix found out about my father’s schemes and put an end to them. Felix killed both my father and the young alpha.”
“What of the three others who aligned themselves with your father?” Kieran asked.
“They denied they were part of the rebellion and swore their oaths to Felix again,” Rain answered dully.
The two of them continued their way, but halfway through the forest, Rain grasped his left bicep. She panted, and Kieran narrowed his eyes. He saw flecks of blood on her shirt.
“We will head back. I shouldn’t have pushed you to walk this far,” Kieran said, shaking his head. He was angry at himself. Kieran should have seen through Rain’s act. She pretended like she was fine, all healed up. Truth was, she was still in recovery.
“I wanted to push myself,” Rain whispered. She stumbled, but he caught her.
Rain protested weakly as Kieran placed his hands on her waist, careful of her wound. He hefted her easily in his arms.
“Put me down, Kieran. This is ridiculous. You can’t carry me back to your pack house like this,” she said.
“I can and I will,” he said.
Seeing how serious he was, she eventually stopped fighting him. She rested her head against the curve of his shoulder, her breathing even. Possessiveness gripped him. He didn’t understand it, but he’d move heaven and earth for this female.
For generations, his family ruled the Crimson Maw Pack, and the lead alphas always took mates from the current pool of pack mates. By choosing Rain, Kieran deviated from the norm.
“Grace gave me directions,” she whispered.
He touched her forehead, concerned that she’d become delirious. “What do you mean?” he demanded, focusing on her words.
“I planned on escaping today. I wanted to see if I could make it out on my own, but then you insisted on going on a walk with me,” she said.
Her words wounded him more than she realized. A growl slipped from his lips. Fury kindled inside him. So Grace told Rain how to leave the pack lands? Grace wanted Rain gone? Scarlett hinted that Grace might be a problem, that Kieran should find a replacement for her, but the pack only had one healer. Kieran wanted the best for Rain.
