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“Why would Markus contact Felix and betray his own pack?” Rain asked.
“They both share the same interest. They want me gone,” Kieran said. “Tonight, I plan to reveal to everyone else that Markus has been secretly meeting with Felix. I’m not sure how yet, but they have the right to know they cannot trust Markus.”
“This all sounds dangerous, Kieran,” she whispered.
“I know you’re terrified for me, but it is also the perfect opportunity to remind everyone why I’m fit to lead the pack and not a traitor like Markus,” Kieran said. He kissed the top of her head. “For now, let us rest. I predict Markus would only challenge me during dinner time.”
“Why dinner?” Rain asked him, then blinked. She answered her own question. “Because everyone would be present. He wants to make a spectacle out of this.”
His mate was a quick thinker. That was one of the things Kieran liked about her.
“Kieran, earlier, you asked Grace about her loyalties. You’ve known all this while that something like this would happen didn’t you? That by saving me—”
Kieran interrupted her with a kiss. “Markus has harbored resentment toward me for a long time, Rain. Saving you only provided him with an opportunity to finally act on his wishes,” he said. “So don’t blame yourself.”
Rain finally nodded. “Okay, I trust you. Just be careful about tonight. Okay?”
“I will,” he promised.
****
A knock on the door woke Kieran up. He growled, silenced by the sight of Rain, all tangled up next to him. Her beautiful hair lay spread out across his dark-blue sheets and pillow.
Despite the unsavory task he had to deal with tonight, his wolf had never before felt so calm or at peace. Rain completed him in ways he didn’t fully understand yet. The knock came again, insistent and loud. This time, it woke Rain.
Rain opened her eyes and saw him. She didn’t seem surprised. A sexy smile curved her lips. Kieran’s cock immediately woke up, but there was time for sex later on. He took her hands, then leaned in for a kiss. “I want to stay here in bed with you all night, but duty calls.”
She tightened her fingers over his. Now that a mate bond connected them, he could sense her emotions. Her terror of losing him right after meeting him overcame everything else. Kieran took deep breaths and reined in his own feelings.
Tonight, he couldn’t afford to be seen as weak. “I will not die so easily,” he reminded her.
Rain nodded, but he didn’t miss the defeated, miserable look in her eyes. She didn’t want him to fight, but then again, she hadn’t seen him at his full strength yet. She would soon.
Kieran rose from the bed and got dressed. He didn’t bother with a shirt. Pants would do, seeing as he expected to shift later on. Rain put her clothes back on and eyed him. “You’re going to dinner like that?” she asked, sounding exasperated. She bit her bottom lip when he touched her cheek.
“What’s bothering you?” Kieran asked her.
“Everyone will see my bite mark,” she said.
“Let them see,” Kieran said. “There’s no reason to hide the fact we’re mated.”
“Won’t you be cold?” Rain asked, and he laughed.
“Don’t worry, Rain. I have very thick skin,” he said.
“I’ll just have to growl at any omegas who lay their eyes at you,” she grumbled. Kieran decided he liked seeing her like this.
He finally walked up to the door and opened it. Scarlett stood there. His sister looked irritated, but she straightened herself as a group of pack mates walked by her.
“It’s time,” she told him. She raised one eyebrow as he exited the room, holding Rain’s hand. “You’re going like that?”
“I asked him the same question,” Rain muttered.
“Well, it will be fine,” Scarlett said dismissively.
Kieran already discussed his plans before with Scarlett, who he trusted the most. Even if the other enforcers would end up siding with Markus, family would stand by him. “Rain,” he told his new mate, “Scarlett will be with you during the challenge. Don’t stray from her sight.”
“A bodyguard?” Rain asked.
