18. Pack #2
I gave a scoff. “My old pack wasn’t much better.
Papa, my birthing parent, had a job as a kindergarten teacher because it was seen as a feminine job.
” It was my turn to give an eye-roll. “My father, Rincoln, was the alpha, so he could make more of an allowance for Papa to keep him happy. Most of the omegas, though, were kept at home with their children. We were to keep house and serve the alphas and betas.”
Blake, still in wolf form, paused his tussle with Axel to stop and stare at me.
“He says that he believes that omegas are the heart of the pack and it’s their alphas job to serve them and ensure their happiness,” Chase explained, a far off look in his eyes before he snapped back to reality and made a gagging noise. “I’m not saying that! Moon help me!”
I looked between the wolf and his brother. “What?”
Chase faked a resigned look. “Blake says you are already his heart and he and his wolf would do anything to make you happy.” He gagged again, and I laughed.
“My baby brother’s gotten very sentimental since he met you, you know?
My teeth’ll rot from the sweetness. Once he’s shifted back, get him to let you in on the pack link, won’t you?
It means joining formally, but we all know you’ll be leading us soon. ”
“Sure.”
“Hey Georgia!” Chase called out, and I spun around to see an older woman approaching with long blonde hair tied in a simple but elegant braid. She walked tall and poised, giving off an air of authority. “Kade, this is Georgia. She runs things around here. Georgia, this is Kade, our Alpha Mate”
The woman inclined her neck to me in a show of submission that caused a pang in my heart. “Oh no! You don’t have to do that! We aren’t fully mated yet.”
“Yet,” she said, “so I’ll still show the deference that you deserve for the mate of our beloved Alpha Blake.
” I heard the genuine affection in her voice for my mate and it eased some of those stray worries that always lingered around alphas.
This woman had seen things, I could tell by her eyes, and still she loved my mate and believed that he was a great alpha.
“He wanted us to come earlier so we could help or just look after the kids.”
Georgia gave Blake another fond look. “I bet he did. Come on, we’ll go inside and meet the others.
” She led me and Chase into the large building, sending Chase off to start cooking with the others and gave me a very brief tour of the schoolrooms, a small indoor pool where the children learnt to swim, and the hall where we would be eating with a large kitchen attached.
I was introduced to so many people that their faces and names were all blurred.
“I’m sorry. The thing is, I’m probably going to forget almost everyone’s names!
” They all laughed, and some assured me I’d soon learn who they were by scent.
My face fell slightly. I didn’t tell them that while my senses were improving, they still weren’t quite there.
The women, and a few of the alpha fathers that had finished work for the day, bustled around, working like a well-oiled machine to make the dinner. I found myself standing off to the side, observing them instead of getting in their way.
“Kade?” The one I thought was called Cadence called. “Would you go out and round up the pups and our alpha, please?”
“Sure thing, Cadence.” She smiled, and I felt good that I’d at least gotten one name to sink into my head.
Heading outside, it took me a minute to track the kids and my mate. The sounds of laughter floated on the breeze close to the fence at the edge of the omega area. I walked over to them, enjoying the warm breeze on my skin after the heat of the kitchen.
“Blake? Kids? It’s time for dinner.” I called.
Soon I was surrounded by a mass of furry bodies, each one wanting to rub against me.
I ran my hands over heads and snouts, loving the acceptance and joy that they all exuded.
Once they were petted, they dashed off to where their clothes were piled up to shift back and dress for dinner.
“Don’t forget to wash your hands!” I shouted as they started to dash inside.
My mate shifted and kissed my cheek as he passed. My eyes strayed to his ass as he stalked to get his clothes that Chase had unceremoniously dumped by the truck.
I waited for them all and noticed a straggler. The little boy shifted so he could shout, “there’s a man! The strange man!” My eyes roamed the line of fence but saw no one.
Blake, only partially dressed, rushed to my side. “Stay here.” Some of the omegas ran out of the building to their alpha’s side. “We need to check if it’s the same guy.” He told them. Then, fanning out, they ran along the fence line, scenting the air.
“Here, Alpha.” One called to him, picking up on the scent.
Within seconds, Blake had raced to the omega’s side, nose in the air as he tried to pick up on the scent.
“Kade? Get in the car!” Blake yelled, sounding frantic. It had to be him. Only he would have Blake so terrified for me. My dad had found me. I wasn’t ready for this.
Without being told twice, I moved to the truck and got in the back seat, fumbling with the seatbelt as nerves made my fingers clumsy.
My mate hurried all the children and their mothers inside, Chase staying with them to guard them. Then he and Axel quickly got into the truck.
“We need to get Kade home where he’s safest,” Blake told his brother.
“Kade, duck down until we’re out of the compound and onto the open road.
We don’t need your dad seeing us.” Ice filled me, but I did as he suggested, knowing he was as freaked out as I was about the whole thing.
We’d been having such a good time and Rincoln had ruined it again, the way he ruined everything good in my life.
“Agreed. I think we should have another enforcer with us, just in case. I’ll stay with you both.” Axel eased the truck out of the omega area and sped towards the main gate.
“I don’t want us to linger in the compound. We’ll just grab whoever is on the gate and they can call for someone else to come watch it.” Blake’s voice was hard, but I could feel his fear. I laid my head in his lap and he carded his fingers through my hair, reassuring us both that we were safe.
Minutes later, we were at the gate, the lone guard coming out of his hut to stop the vehicle.
“Alpha Blake, is everything okay?” Kaine asked as we pulled up.
“Call for someone else to come watch the gate. I need you to come with us. The rogue alpha caught Kade’s scent. He needs to be at home, where he’s safe.”
Kaine disappeared back into his hut and made a call, then grabbed his things, went to open the gate and got into the front passenger seat.
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.
Blake pulled me up into his arms and rested our foreheads together. Welcome to the pack, my mate.
In my mind, I heard Blake and Axel’s wolves howl in greeting and wished that mine could join them in celebration. Welcome to the family, Axel sent.
Thank you. After I sent the thought to him, I worked to pull my barriers into place, a little out of practice after so long without a pack.
Feelings that I thought I’d never feel again rose in me and I couldn’t help the words that poured out. “Blake, I... I’m falling in love with you. The Luna gave me such a great gift with you.”
“I love you, Kade, and I can’t wait to earn your love in return.
Just knowing you have feelings for me is such a prize.
” He ended his declaration with a deep kiss.
His tongue licked into my mouth as he showed me with his lips just how much he adored me.
Blake held me tight and kissed me until we were breathless, but didn’t push for more, likely picking up on my lack of arousal.
I was too drained, too fearful for what was to come for anything more.
“Come on,” my mate urged, “let’s get ready for bed.”
With Blake by my side, we checked out the house, making sure we locked everything up. Kaine was already dozing on the sofa, with Axel waiting to hand over to him in a couple of hours.
We washed up and brushed our teeth. Blake was a steady presence by my side, giving me smiles in the bathroom mirror, keeping us in contact all the while. I felt so much better having the pack bond and my mate by my side.
Despite the events of the day, I slipped into sleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow, Blake wrapped around me.