28. Pride
Pride
Blake
T he Luna continued to bless me. Not only had she given me my fated mate in Kade, she had ensured that everything about the man was perfect for me. Together, Kade and I would turn the Sweetwater pack into something to be proud of.
I was in awe of my mate’s strength and was honored that he had accepted the bond. Knowing that he was going to be a representative on the council just blew my mind. Janet, from the bear sleuth, had said that my mate would be important and I couldn’t quite believe just how right she was.
We ate that evening with the omegas at their community house like we’d planned to days before. I was grateful that none of the omegas had come to harm and that the betas had suffered only minor injuries.
The only thing that caused a pang of sadness was that my mom wasn’t with us to witness this moment. She would have loved Kade.
“Alpha, may I have a word?” Cadence asked as she approached me. Everyone else was settling down to eat their meals, but I nodded and followed her into the now empty kitchen.
I won’t be long . I sent to Kade. Cadence just needs to tell me something . His acknowledgement came over the link and I smiled. I loved my mate dearly, and having him connected to our pack just felt right.
“Alpha Blake, I owe you and your mate an apology.” Cadence began.
“Why?” I asked, confused. Cadence couldn’t have done anything that required an apology.
“I kept something from you and it ended up putting our Alpha Mate in danger.” My concern ramped up a notch. She was being strangely formal.
“What’s the matter?” I felt Kade’s worry as I opened our personal link to allow him to hear this, too.
“It’s about Kaine. I’m the reason that he turned on you.” She took a deep breath, swallowing down tears. “I rejected him and, well, Melody thinks that Rincoln promised me to him. They tried to take me when they could have had another omega.”
My heart fell to my feet, but it made sense. “That doesn’t make it your fault. You know that, right?”
“I know, but I should have said something. He was… persistent. Always on the line of being too much.”
“You couldn’t have known,” I told her, placing a hand on her nape. “If it makes you feel any better, your apology, though not needed, is accepted.” I gave her a squeeze, feeling her melt into the touch and the forgiveness of her alpha. Then I let go and returned to my mate.
There was a plate piled high with my favorites as I sat next to Kade. He laid a hand on my thigh and kissed my cheek. His cheeks went rosy as our pack took in the gesture.
“Tomorrow, would you come with me to Mercury Delivers so I can quit and return my stuff? I’ll need to go to my house and get some things first.” He paused before adding, “maybe Roan can come so he can pick up some more of his things?”
“Of course, if you’re sure you want to. Roan has a lot of his things here already. My brothers found a house for him, so he’s been moving in slowly.”
“I’ll need to, with taking on the council job. I haven’t the time to do both and any duties as Alpha Mate.”
I nodded, but couldn’t help the tiny tendril of worry taking root. Kade reacted to my unease by squeezing my thigh gently. “Honestly, I’m fine, Blake. I’m happier within the pack. I’ll miss my peeps and Shelby, but I want to live and work here.”
Morning arrived, and I woke feeling well rested with Kade in my arms. I pressed kisses into the back of his neck and moaned as he wriggled against me, my hard aching cock sensitive to the friction.
“Blake, please.” Kade whispered.
“What do you want?”
“You, inside me.”
I reached around and felt his straining length damp at the tip with precum. We’d gone to sleep naked after we had sucked each other off. Kade had wanted me to fuck him, but I was worried he hadn’t had enough time to heal after his heat.
Pushing a finger inside his hole, I found him wet and ready for me. Still, I teased him, kissing and nipping along his neck and shoulder, stroking his cock and fingering him to open him further, remembering my lessons to wait until he was begging.
“Blake, please, we don’t have time for you to play with me all day.” Kade groaned.
“We do. We’re the Alpha Pair, so they wait for us.”
He laughed, and I relented, easing into him slowly. I moaned at the feeling of his tight, wet heat surrounding me.
I rocked into him, caressing every inch of him, trying to pour my feelings into every motion. Kade was my entire world, and I wanted him to feel cherished as we made love.
We were sweat slicked and panting when we both came together. I pushed back my knot. We really didn’t have all day to stay in bed together.
As I pulled out, I spread some of my release over his taint and balls again. My wolf was obsessed over having as much of my scent over our mate as possible. He knew we were going to be around other alphas and wanted everyone to know, without a doubt, that Kade belonged to us.
“You know we have to shower, right?” Kade asked, mirth in his voice.
Nuzzling his neck and licking his mating bite, making him moan, I said, “I know, just try to keep some of it inside you, please. My wolf needs it.”
“Hmmm, I’ll try.”
Once showered and dressed, my wolf suitably placated with my scent all over Kade, we headed to Kade’s home, with Roan driving us.
It was tense inside Kade’s former home, a stark contrast to the easy car ride.
I liked Roan and was glad that he had decided to stick around.
Before we left the compound, I performed the ritual to induct him into the pack and watched as tears glistened in his eyes.
“You have a home with us.” I told him, clapping him on the shoulder.
Kade hugged him and my wolf stayed silent, understanding that all their love for each other was now friendship.
Kade’s house was different from how I remembered. Perhaps it was just because it no longer held his energy. He cataloged the changes in silence, as his papa observed us with a frown.
I felt Kade’s relief as we left his house to head to Mercury Delivers. The warehouse wasn’t far and everyone stopped what they were doing to welcome him back.
“I’m really sorry, everyone, but I’m not back. I’m just handing back my things.” Their disappointment was evident.
“You are all welcome at the compound. We’ll be having a full moon run in a couple of weeks and the non-shifters can join us if you want.” I said, reaching out to his friends in the hope he wouldn’t lose them because of me.
“I’d like that,” a man said. A vampire with long dark glossy hair.
“Hey, Isaac.” Kade said. I felt his discomfort, but his face was carefully blank.
“I’ve been meaning to apologize.” Isaac said. “I’ve been a crappy friend, and I’d like to make that up to you, if you’ll let me.”
“Um, I’d like that. Maybe we could have lunch or something soon?” Kade looked at me as if he needed my permission.
I’d like you to maintain your friendships. It’s important for you to have a support system . Kade squeezed my hand at my words over our link.
“Lunch sounds good.” Isaac agreed.
“We better go and speak to Dakota,” Kade prompted, and he pulled me towards an office.
Inside, Dakota sat at his desk, looking blankly at the screen. “Kota? Are you alright?”
“Hmm?” Dakota looked up at Kade. “It’s nothing, just a few things on my mind.”
“You know we’re here for you if you need us,” I said, earning a warm smile from Kade.
“Of course, thank you, Alpha.”
Kade handed over his things. “I might be quitting work here, but I’m not quitting our friendship, Kota. You are my family now. Thank you for all you did to help me over these last weeks. I’ll never forget it.”
Dakota’s eyes filled, and he stood, wrapping Kade in his arms. My wolf stayed at peace, secure in the knowledge that Kade was covered in our scent and that Dakota was part of our growing family.