Chapter 15
POV: Cain?
Kiera had left a few hours earlier. I took a shower, not because I wanted to wash away her scent, but because I needed to. I knew Xavier would smell the human all over me, especially when I told him I had found my mate.
But as I tried to scrub the scent of Kiera off of me, reluctantly, I knew it wouldn’t ever quite remove entirely.
She was there—inside my soul, along my skin, and in every single scent I smelled now that I had her and began the steps of claiming her as mine.
After I had dried myself clean, I sent off a text to Kiera, “I have a work trip. I’ll be back in a few days. Keep your location turned on.”
“Yes sir,” she sent back and I could hear the sarcasm through the phone.
“I want to make sure you’re safe while I’m away.”
“I’m an assistant, what harm could come of me?”
If she only knew.
But instead I sent back, “I meant what I said, Kiera. You’re mine and I’m yours.”
I stared at my phone for ten minutes waiting for a reply. She had me by my balls and she knew it. That damned woman.
I was preoccupied with Kiera for the last few days and was neglecting my duties as an Alpha as of late.
But it was time to get back to it, even if it was only for a day or two. And in reality, a day or two away from Kiera would be like torture.
But I still had a pack to run, and those duties were also a part of being able to keep my mate safe.
I was moved from my thoughts when a loud knock came from the other side of the door.
Xavier.
I opened the door and Xavier wrapped me in a hug. “Alpha. I wish I could say everything’s under wraps at the packhouse, but…”
“More uproar about my lack of mate?” I laughed, slinging my leather duffle bag over my arm and closing the door behind both of us.
“That and your absence. The elders are wondering why you were gone for so long, usually you are back every few days, it’s just unusual…” he gave me a wary look.
I slid into the passenger seat of the Cadillac Escalade as Xavier slid into the driver’s seat.
I smiled, thinking of Kiera. I missed her already and I hadn’t even left. “Well, I think the elders will be pleased to hear of the news I bring.”
“Oh?” he cocked an eyebrow, studying me. “What news? Did you finally wrap your stubborn head around taking a choice mate?”
“No,” I smiled, proudly, thinking of Kiera and claiming her last night. “Far from it. The pack will be happy to hear that I found my fated.”
He almost choked on his words, “Fated? You what? You found your fated mate while out in the human world? How?”
My jaw tensed as I thought of my best excuse. I couldn’t tell Xavier the truth…yet. “She’s gorgeous. Blonde. Curvy. Young,” I reflected.
“And which pack does she belong to?” he asked.
Shit.
I paused, “New Moon.”
His gaze muddied, “New Moon? All the way out here—in Denver? That’s far. What’s she doing out here?”
I guess I took a moment too long to respond because he began to catch on.
“You’re lying.”
I laughed but there was no humor to it. “That’s quite the accusation to make of your Alpha!” But I bared no teeth, as he was right.
“But you don’t deny it?” he asked, only proving his cause.
“I do,” I lied, “She’s part of New Moon.”
“I don’t believe you, Cain. I’ve known you since we were kids and I can tell when you are lying,” Xavier replied, staring at me as if he could smell Kiera on my skin.
“Xav..” I began, shaking my head, letting out a heavy breath.
“Tell me the truth then. Alpha to Beta.”
I let out a heavy sigh as I stared down at my lap. “They can’t know the truth, Xavier.”
He scoffed. “I knew it. She’s human isn’t she? She isn’t from New Moon and that’s why you’re lying? That’s why you’re being so secretive!”
“You can’t tell the pack, Xav. You know they would not approve.” It wasn’t like an Alpha to explain himself, but I had to—for Kiera’s sake.
“You’re crazy! How can we not tell the pack? They will take one look at her—one sniff at her and know she’s human. Unless…”
I gave him a warning look. “Don’t. I am not rejecting her.”
“Then what will you do?” he asked in disbelief.
“I will find a way to make this work. They will accept her. They have to—I’m their Alpha—I’m your Alpha,” I reminded him.
He shook his head in shock. “They won’t accept her—not fully. This will open up challenges. They will challenge your rule—they will challenge you for Alpha. All because you want a human for a mate!”
“I don’t want a human for a mate!” I seethed, baring my teeth this time. “She is my mate!” I would not allow anyone to speak ill of Kiera.
Xavier cowered. “I know, Alpha. But this is some shit luck.”
“It’s not,” I told him. “Kiera is mine. Last night we had sex and soon I will mark her. Officially, sealing the bond.”
Xavier cocked an eyebrow, looking over my face to find the truth, and that’s all there was. “I don’t doubt your love for this pack—or for your mate, but you have to understand how dangerous this could become…bringing a human into our world—having the pack accept her—you’ll have to protect her because she cannot protect herself.”
I didn’t as much as blink as I spoke, “She is my mate, I’ve considered breaking the bond, but that was before—before we got close—before I knew her—before we bonded and now, I’ve made my decision that she will be your Luna.”
He nodded in respect. “I understand. The choice I’m sure wasn’t made overnight. Just be prepared for what will come when you eventually reveal her identity to the pack.”
I nodded but deep inside my wolf paced restlessly. He knew there would be challenges ahead and he was prepared to defend his mate however needed.
By the time we arrived back at the packhouse, the trees loomed around us, even as they expected dread to come from my announcement.
I quickly glanced down at the new location notification I received on my phone. Kiera was out in the city.
I sent off a quick text message, “Be careful.”
Kiera: “Watching me?”
Cain: “It’s hard not to when you won’t stay still.”
Kiera: “You act like I’m one second away from being kidnapped.”
Cain: “The city can be dangerous. Please promise me you’ll go home before it gets dark out.”
Kiera: “If I get kidnapped I’ll text you.”
Cain: “Not funny, Kiera.”
Kiera: “Not funny, Mr. Naughton.”
Cain: “So disobedient for a fragile little girl.”
Kiera: “Not fragile or a little girl.”
Cain: “Baby, you have no idea how I could break you.”
Kiera: “If it’s anything like the other night then…”
Cain: “I went easy on you, then.”
I went 2 minutes without a reply and slipped my phone back in my pocket with a groan. That damned woman.
Almost immediately after my arrival, I was dragged into a nonsense meeting by the elders. They sat around the round table, like men who thought they wielded more power than they actually did.
I slumped back in my chair, scanning over their faces. Xavier sat at my side with a wary look still on his face.
Elder Vero was the first to speak up, his gangly old finger lifting to the air as if he was making a proclamation of importance. “We are concerned, Alpha.”
“Concerned?” I scoffed, leaning back further in my chair to show how little I thought of this meeting.
He continued, “Concerned about your absence as of late and concerned about your lack of mate.”
I laughed loud and rough. “Well I have news for the pack.”
He leaned forward, eager to hear.
“I have found my mate.”
Whispers and gasps stirred across the room from the members.
“Well that is excellent news, Alpha. Where is this mate of yours?” he asked.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “She will join us in the next few months.”
“Next few months?” he exclaimed as the room filled with disturbed whispers.
“You heard me correctly, Elder.”
“And which pack does she hail from?” he asked.
“New Moon,” I replied, casually, though the truth weighed inside of me. “She has duties to take care of before she assumes her role as Luna.”
“And you accept that?” he scoffed and so did the other elders.
“It is 2025, Elder Vero. I know you are used to forcing women into their roles, probably against their will, for the good of a man, but I am not willing to force her to abandon her previous duties to fulfill mine. It should be a relief to you as well as the pack that I have found my fated mate. Bless the Goddess and her will.”
“Bless the Goddess and her will,” he mumbled while keeping his eyes fixed on me.
The meeting was adjourned and the elders piled out.
Xavier sat unmoving at my side. “When do you plan on telling them the truth?”
I grunted. “Eventually.”
But deep inside, I knew that the Goddess’ will was more complicated than any of us bargained for, and eventually I’d have to admit the truth—that my mate was a human, not a werewolf, and somehow convince the pack and the elders to allot her the respect she deserved as Luna.