Chapter 14
14
Kai
K ai zipped up his jeans and moved over to the sink to wash his hands. The bathroom in the big lodge was quite nice. A huge shower stall lined one wall, with multiple showerheads, and the same rustic decorations were set about in a random yet cohesive pattern. His hands shook as he dried them, and he curled his fingers into his palms. He wouldn’t be meeting the people arriving tomorrow. He’d be safely ensconced in the cabin up the hill, but that still didn’t settle the gut-twisting butterflies wreaking havoc on his insides.
Looking in the mirror, he could see his fox gleaming through in anxiety. To wolves, his kind were prey, something to be hunted. The idea of being around strangers who were also wolf shifters made every nerve ending tingle with fear and incited the desperate desire to run and hide before they got there. Despite his instincts screaming at him to leave immediately, Kai trusted Cole to protect him. Cole would never let anything happen to him.
The thought of Cole calmed his nerves dramatically, and Kai smiled—a small lift of his lips, but he reached up and touched the curves of his mouth. It had been so long since he’d truly had anything to be happy about, and the expression felt almost foreign to him. He dropped his hand to the counter and leaned in closer to the mirror, studying his features. Did Cole truly want him? The skinny little nobody with pale skin and enough baggage to weigh down a thousand men? What would Cole do if he knew Kai wasn’t a good person? If he knew how Kai had stolen from people for his uncle?
Huffing, he shoved away from the mirror and yanked open the bathroom door. Kai stopped in surprise when he saw Cole standing there, ready to knock. “Cole,” he breathed.
Cole let his arm return to his side. “Everything okay?”
Kai nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Dinner is almost ready. You ready to eat?”
“Sure.”
Cole grabbed Kai’s hand and entwined their fingers together. He hesitated and looked at Kai again. “My wolf is already on edge about this weekend, Kai. Knowing there will be unmated wolves and our own bond is incomplete, I need you to stay in the cabin unless I’m with you, okay?”
“Okay.”
Smiling, Cole lifted Kai’s hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back. “Thank you.”
Kai had no intention of leaving the cabin during the time they were there. He’d have enough trouble controlling his fox’s instinctive need to hide once the other wolves arrived. Cole led him out to the house, where Elijah and Sara were already sitting at the table, waiting on them to start eating. It hit Kai hard. They looked like a family, one that wanted Kai to be a part of it. Blinking heavily, Kai slid onto the bench next to Cole.
“You okay, Kai?” Sara asked, a frown on her face.
“I’m fine,” he managed to say, his voice husky with emotion.
He could tell Sara wanted to question him further, but she accepted his word and moved on. The conversation flowed around him for a little while as he ate, distracted by his earlier realization. Eventually he heard his name.
“Kai?”
Looking up, he saw all three of them watching him. He flushed. “Sorry.”
Cole placed his hand on Kai’s knee. “You seem as though you’re not here. Are you worried about tomorrow?”
“Oh no. I’m fine!”
“Are you sure, honey?” Sara questioned.
“Yes, I’m sure. I think I’m just tired,” Kai fibbed.
“Do you want to go and lie down?” Cole asked.
Shaking his head, Kai said, “Not yet.”
“I hoped you could tell me more about what you know about your parents and your shifter history,” Elijah said.
Kai tensed. “Not much at all. My parents didn’t tell me anything except only my mother could shift. I didn’t understand what that meant until I shifted, and even then, I didn’t know much.”
“They never told you where your family came from? If there were other fox shifters?” Sara asked.
“No. Mom had no other family.”
“Your father was human?”
Kai nodded.
“What about any of his family? Did they know about your mother?”
He clenched his fingers around his fork, hoping his distress didn’t show. “No, no family either,” he mumbled. No way would he tell them about Jerrod.
Elijah hummed in disappointment. “I admit you are the first of your kind we have encountered. I wasn’t na?ve or vain enough to believe wolves were the only shifters, of course, but we’ve never come across another before now. I did inquire among some other Alphas I have connections with, but their answers were pretty much the same as ours.”
Kai shrugged. He didn’t have anything else to tell them.
“I assume you were adopted after your parents died?” Sara asked.
Sara’s question was unexpected, and Kai stiffened, sweat breaking out over his brow. He tried to swallow, but his throat felt so tight the saliva didn’t want to go down. A loud buzzing noise reverberated in his ears, and he could barely catch his breath. The sound of Cole’s voice filtered through the static, and Kai leaned closer to Cole, who wrapped an arm around Kai’s shoulders.
“Mom, enough. He doesn’t want to talk about his past.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. I didn’t mean to upset him. I didn’t mean to pry, Kai.”
Kai turned his face toward Cole’s chest and breathed in deep, the scent of earth flooding his senses. The warmth of Cole’s body and the smell of his familiar musk sent waves of calm through Kai. “It’s okay, kit. I’ve got you,” Cole said, rubbing a hand over Kai’s bicep.
“I’m sorry,” Kai whispered.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
Without lifting his head from Cole’s chest, Kai looked at Sara, apologetic. She smiled at him and reached out a hand to touch the one still gripping his fork on the table. “You never have to talk about anything you don’t want to, honey. We’re your family now, and whatever it is, we’ll understand.”
Tears stung Kai’s eyes as he stared at Sara. He’d been without anyone in his court for years, and the idea of having a family again overwhelmed him. “Thank you.”
Sara squeezed his hand and then let go. “Let’s finish dinner. I brought one of Jo’s famous cheesecakes.”
Cole nuzzled his chin against the crown of Kai’s head. “Finish up, kit. Jo’s cheesecake is to die for.”
Kai swiped at his cheek, cleared his throat, and sat up straight. “I’ve never had cheesecake. What is it?”
Sara gasped and stared at Kai in shock. “Never had cheesecake? Oh my! You’re in for a treat, then. It’s the most sinful, amazing dessert on the planet.”
“Is it made with cheese?” Kai asked.
Cole chuckled. “In a sense. It’s made with cream cheese, sugar, and a few other ingredients.”
“I look forward to trying it.”
The conversation flowed around Kai again while they finished their meal. When Sara brought out the cake, Kai gazed at it in wonder. Several inches thick with fresh strawberries on top, the dessert smelled heavenly. His fox chirped its eagerness to taste the confection. Sara cut him a large slice, placed it on a plate, and passed it to him. He eagerly dug in, taking a huge forkful and stuffing it in his mouth. Creamy rich flavor exploded over his tongue, and he moaned, eyes closing in lust. Kai had never tasted anything as sinful or amazing.
He opened his eyes to see Sara and Cole watching him, bemusement on their features. Kai flushed, but took another bite, though a smaller one this time.
“You like it?” Cole asked.
“It’s amazing,” Kai answered when he’d managed to swallow.
Cole smiled. “I’ll make sure we get more. There are other flavors we can try as well.”
“There’s more?” Kai asked in surprise.
“Lots more. Chocolate, cookies and cream, caramel, banana cream, too many to name.”
Kai dropped his fork to his plate in astonishment. “Caramel? Really?”
“Is caramel your favorite?” Cole asked.
Kai nodded in excitement. “I didn’t get to have it often, but I love caramel.”
“Well we’ll try that one first, then,” Cole said, running his fingers over Kai’s cheek before standing. “I’ll help clear the dishes, Mom.”
“Thanks, baby. Your father brought some of his favorite whiskey if you want to grab the bottle out of the bag by the front door.”
Cole started stacking plates. Kai jumped up to help, but Cole waved his hand at him. “Don’t worry, kit. I’ve got this.”
“But I should help!” Kai protested.
“How can I impress you with my muscles if I let you help?” Cole said with a wink and a grin. He placed all their dinner plates onto the platter that had held their steaks and picked up the plate with the leftover cheesecake on it in the other hand. “Honestly, don’t worry about it, kit. You just sit there and relax.”
Kai sighed and sat down again as Cole went into the cabin with Sara. He stared at the scratches in the wood of the table, uncomfortable being left alone with Elijah.
“I don’t want you to think you can’t trust us, Kai,” Elijah said. “Our pack would never let anything happen to you or judge you for your past. No matter what it is.”
Biting the inside of his lip, Kai remained silent and kept his gaze on the table.
Elijah didn’t press any further. Kai heard the rustle of fabric and glanced up under his eyelashes to see Elijah pull a cigar and a packet of matches out of his front shirt pocket. The door behind Kai opened, and Cole appeared at his side. This time he held two glasses and a bottle with brown liquid inside. The smell of alcohol hit his nostrils the second Cole opened the bottle. Flashbacks caused by the scent of it flashed through Kai’s mind: his uncle’s hot, disgusting breath in his face as he yelled at Kai for screwing up again, the feel of his uncle’s fists slamming into his face and body, and Jerrod tossing liquor on him and threatening to set him on fire because he hadn’t found anything worth a damn from a house he’d stolen from.
A whimper lodged itself in his throat as cigar smoke wafted over his face. Kai almost fell as he struggled to get off the bench. Cole asking him what was wrong brought Kai’s attention to Cole, but Kai flinched away when Cole reached for him. The sound of a dish shattering on the floor and a loud curse from inside the house released the small cry Kai had stifled at first. Kai whirled on his feet and raced off toward the cabin he was sharing with Cole. “Kai!”
He didn’t stop, running swift and terrified. The dark had no impact on his ability to see as he rushed up the hill to the front door. He shoved it open, went inside, and slammed it behind him. Kai darted into the bedroom, shifted, and hid under the bed. His body heaved with each shuddering breath, and tiny yips of fear rattled in his throat.
The sound of the front door sent Kai curling into an even tighter ball. He brought his tail over his face and tried to remain still. “Kai!”
Cole’s voice sent a shiver through Kai. “Kai, are you in here?”
Kai wanted to give in to his animal self and go to Cole, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave the safety of his spot. The bedroom light flicked on, slivers penetrating the fur of his tail. A soft intake of air alerted him that Cole had spotted him. Cole’s next actions shocked Kai. Instead of attempting to coax Kai out, a flash of light briefly lit his hiding space, and then a warm body joined him beneath the bed, curling around him as much as Cole could in the tight confines.
He pressed closer to Cole’s wolf, absorbing the comfort and protection Cole offered. There were no sounds aside from those of their hearts beating and the soft in and out of their breathing. The terror that had encompassed Kai ebbed away with each moment. Faster than ever before when he’d been alone. His blood no longer roared in his ears, and the uncontrollable tremors receded a little at a time.
Kai couldn’t tell how long they remained under the bed together, but eventually he fell into a light sleep. When the warmth of Cole’s body left him, Kai protested with a small chirp, but Cole shifted and shushed him, pulling him out from under the bed. Cole placed him in the center of the bed and lay down with him, once more wrapping his larger frame around Kai. “Will you shift for me, kit?” Cole whispered.
At first, Kai debated denying him, but in the end he returned to his human form, his legs entwined with Cole’s. “I’m sorry,” Kai mumbled into Cole’s chest.
“For what? There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
“I was rude to your parents by leaving the way I did.”
Cole sighed, his breath feathering the hair on top of Kai’s head. “My parents didn’t see it as rude. They were worried about you. You weren’t rude. Something obviously terrified you.”
Kai picked up on the question in Cole’s tone. He warred with himself, but finally he said, “The smell of the alcohol.”
“I don’t understand. Why did it scare you?”
Kai picked at a piece of lint on Cole’s shirt and swallowed hard. He had to force the words past the lump stuck in his throat. “My un-uncle. When he drinks, he hits me.”
A sharp intake of air and Cole tightened his arms around Kai. “He’s the one you thought I was taking you to, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Kai murmured.
“How long?”
“What?”
“How long did he abuse you?”
“Ten years.”
“Jesus!” Cole growled.
“After my parents died, I didn’t have any other family except him. He didn’t start hitting me until a few months after they were gone. I broke a dish while trying to get something to eat for myself, and he had been drinking.”
“You were eleven years old, for fuck’s sake!”
“I was a burden he didn’t want,” Kai said. “If I hadn’t proved useful, he probably would have abandoned me years ago.”
“Is he the one who caused the scars on your throat and wrists?” Cole asked.
Nodding against Cole’s chest, Kai replied, “When I shifted for the first time, it terrified him. He demanded to know what I was, and he locked me in the cellar. Eventually, after I’d gotten out a couple of times, he put a collar and a chain on me, shackling it to one of the support beams in the basement.”
“Fucking hell. No one noticed you weren’t going to school? What about Child Protective Services?”
“No one noticed because he never let me go to school. Once they’d handed me over to my uncle, they were finished with me and didn’t care enough to check in again. My uncle’s neighbors were almost as bad as him and couldn’t care less what happened to me.”
“How did you get away?”
Kai didn’t want to tell Cole about his uncle forcing him to steal. He didn’t want Cole to hate him. “I stole food and a little bit of money, change mostly, over a couple of years. I hid it as best I could to keep him from finding it. Took some time, but one day, my uncle blacked out in the basement, and I managed to steal the key to the chain from him. I escaped and have been running ever since. Twice, he almost caught me, but I shifted and disappeared.”
Cole hugged him harder, pressing his lips to Kai’s temple. “He’ll never hurt you again, kit. I swear it on my life.”
Kai slid an arm around Cole’s waist and clung to him. “He will find me. He always does.”
“If he shows up, he’ll wish he hadn’t. You have me and the entire pack by your side, Kai. He won’t live to see another day if he even comes near you.”
Shuddering at the cold tone in Cole’s voice, Kai didn’t say anything further. Would the same coldness be directed at him if Cole found out about him stealing from innocent people?
They both eventually fell asleep, and Kai only woke once the sun shone through the curtains, casting a ray of light across his face. Cole had already left the bed and Kai could hear the shower running in the bathroom. The idea of a naked Cole just a few feet away sent a surprising heat through his entire body. He’d never really considered being sexually attracted to anyone, considering what he’d seen with his uncle and the multitude of women he’d gone through over the years. But with Cole it somehow seemed different.
Kai heard the shower turn off and sat up. He ran his hands through his hair and tried to straighten the mess it had become overnight. Cole exited the bathroom at the same moment Kai went to stand from the bed, causing Kai to yank the blanket over his lap in a hurry to cover the reaction between his legs. The sheer expanse of tanned skin on Cole’s chest shone with dampness. A simple terry-cloth towel hung low on his hips, and Kai almost fainted when the towel slipped a little.
“Good morning, kit,” Cole greeted, smiling. “I thought we’d have breakfast with my parents before the others start arriving.”
“Okay,” Kai squeaked.
“I’ll get dressed while you shower. Don’t take too long, though. It’s already after nine, and the other pack members and Senaka pack arrive at eleven, so we only have a short window.”
Nodding, Kai scooted into the bathroom and closed the door. He leaned against it and sighed. Holy crap! His fox half chirped in his head, and Kai agreed. “Tell me about it, buddy,” Kai whispered.
He moved fast, showering and washing his hair in less than ten minutes. He turned off the water and grabbed one of the towels on a rack nearby. He dried his body and then rubbed at his hair, ruffling it and squeezing out as much of the water as he could. Tying the towel around his waist in a similar fashion as Cole, Kai grabbed up his comb from the sink and made short work of the shoulder-length, ragged locks. He’d cut his hair himself over the years but never managed to make it even. Most of the strands in the back tended to be longer than those on the sides. He had no bangs.
The mirror began to defog and reveal the deep scars around his throat and Kai winced. He snatched up the collar he’d removed prior to his shower and wrapped it around his neck again. It didn’t take long to brush his teeth and use a splash of Cole’s mouthwash. When he exited the bathroom, Cole had already gotten dressed and sat perched on the edge of the bed. Kai halted in the doorway, uncertain and shy.
He tried to cover his chest with his arms. His ribs were less obvious after Cole had kept feeding him every chance he got over the last two weeks, but he was still ashamed of his body. Nothing could have prepared him for the hunger he saw crowd onto Cole’s features. Hunger was one emotion he knew. It looked the same no matter what the person wanted—food or sex. Somehow he knew Cole wanted him. “I-I should have brought my clothes into the bathroom with me,” Kai mumbled, making a beeline for the dresser to take out a pair of jeans and underwear.
“Kai,” Cole growled a split second before Kai found himself pressed up against the dresser and a very hard body covering his. Cole cupped the side of Kai’s face and leaned in, capturing Kai’s lips. Kai gasped in surprise, which quickly faded, and he brought his arms up to wrap around Cole’s neck, holding on for dear life in the tidal wave of lust emanating from Cole.
A deep groan rattled in Cole’s chest, and then the weight of Cole against him disappeared, leaving Kai panting and struggling to remain standing by gripping the dresser. “Cole?” Kai asked, bewildered.
Cole left the bedroom without a word. Surprise kept Kai immobile for a moment, and then a frown worked its way across his face. What had he done to make Cole stop? Kai dressed quickly in jeans and a black T-shirt, then shoved his feet into his sneakers. He entered the main room of the cabin to find Cole standing at the window facing the huge cabin the main pack members would be staying in. “Cole?”
Turning, Cole gave him a smile. “Ready?”
“Did I… did I do something wrong?” Kai asked.
“What?” Cole’s smile faded, and his brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“The kiss,” Kai mumbled. “You just… left.”
Cole walked toward Kai and stopped in front of him. He gripped Kai’s upper arms and leaned in close. “If I hadn’t left, it would have gone a lot further than you were ready for. I don’t want to rush you into anything, and the more I touch you the harder it gets to remember you aren’t ready.”
Eyes widening, Kai stared at Cole. “Oh.”
Grinning, Cole repeated, “Oh.”
Kai’s face heated, and he knew he had to be blushing furiously. Cole chuckled and pulled Kai into a brief embrace. “Let’s get some breakfast.”
They left the cabin and headed to the main house. Sara was already in the process of making eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. “You’re amazing, Mom,” Cole said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “What can we help with?”
“If you could butter the toast, Cole, and Kai, if you could set the table that would be a big help.”
“Sure,” Kai said. He grabbed the plates already sitting on the counter, along with silverware, and walked outside to the same table they’d used last night. The temperature outdoors was perfect, warm enough to be pleasant with a slight breeze, and Kai breathed in deep. The smell of grass, trees, and flowers bombarded his senses. While he’d been on the run, he hadn’t had the chance to slow down and absorb being out in the fresh air again or seeing the grass and sunlight. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he had enjoyed the sights and scents.
The sound of an engine reached Kai’s ears before he saw the vehicle. Tension tightened the muscles in his shoulders and fear engulfed him. He couldn’t bring himself to move until he felt Cole’s hands on his shoulders, and Cole crowded him into the lodge. “It’s okay, kit.”
Kai couldn’t catch his breath.
“Mom!” Cole called out.
Sara rushed into the main room of the cabin. “What’s the matter?”
“Someone arrived early. I thought we had until eleven.”
The sound of car doors opening and slamming shut caused Kai to whimper. He tried to struggle free from Cole’s embrace to run back to his safe space in their cabin. “Kai, stop,” Cole murmured.
“Let me go,” Kai begged.
“Kai!” Sara said sharply.
Kai stilled and looked at her.
“No one is going to hurt you here, Kai. This is our family, our pack, and once they know you’re Cole’s mate, they will protect you as they would Cole. You can’t live your life afraid.”
Kai stared at Sara for a few heartbeats, then gave a minute nod. Sara broke into a smile and said, “Cole, can you and Kai grab a few more place settings? I’ll go see who is here already.”
Cole drew Kai into the kitchen to get a few more plates and sets of silverware. He put them on the counter and then turned to Kai. “If you really can’t handle meeting some of our pack members, we can go to our cabin together.”
The offer appealed more than anything else, but he knew Sara was right. “No. I have to stop being scared. Not everyone will treat me like my uncle did. You and your parents have shown me nothing but kindness since I’ve been here.”
Cole placed his hands on Kai’s shoulders. “You are amazing, kit.”
Kai shook his head. “I’m nothing special.”
“But you are,” Cole insisted. He leaned toward Kai and gave him a gentle kiss, no more than a simple brush of his lips over Kai’s but enough to warm Kai from the inside out. “I’ve never known anyone as strong as you are. Anyone else who had gone through the horrors you have wouldn’t have been able to withstand half as much as you without going crazy.”
Biting his lip, Kai flushed and dropped his gaze to the hollow at Cole’s throat. He didn’t know what to say. Cole squeezed his shoulders and let go. “We should get out there, okay?”
Kai nodded and without a word picked up the plates while Cole grabbed the silverware. Terror made Kai tremble, and his breathing grew shallow as they exited the lodge. Since Sara had referred to them as pack, Kai could only assume the four people standing there talking to her were shifters. A blond woman wearing blue jeans and a white tank top stood next to a dark-haired young man who looked to be in his late teens or early twenties. Two other men were next to her, smiling and chatting. One of the men had black hair while the other had platinum blond. Their attention immediately centered on Cole and Kai, and Kai retreated slightly, edging a little behind Cole.
“Cole!” the blond exclaimed, coming toward him.
“Hey, Maggie,” Cole greeted, wrapping her in a tight hug.
A low growl rattled in Kai’s ears, and he realized when everyone stared at him in surprise that the sound came from him. Cole released the woman named Maggie and took his place next to Kai, sliding an arm around Kai’s waist. “Everyone, this is Kai, my mate.” He said it proudly, and Kai couldn’t help but feel bad for being jealous.
“I’m so happy to meet you!” Maggie cried. She started to move toward Kai, but Cole shook his head.
“He’s a little shy about being touched,” Cole said without further explanation.
Maggie stopped. “Oh, I’m sorry! Hello, Kai. My name’s Maggie. I’m Cole’s cousin-in-law.”
“Hi,” Kai murmured.
“This young man who is badly in need of a haircut is my son, Travis.”
“Sup?” Travis grunted.
“He’s not the most eloquent,” Maggie said, rolling her eyes. “The big lug standing next to him is my mate and Cole’s cousin, Daryl.”
“Congratulations, you two,” Daryl said with a grin. “Nothing better than being mated.”
Maggie linked her arm with Travis’s. “And this”—she gestured at the platinum blond—“is my brother Maddox.”
Kai nodded in greeting, leaning into Cole’s side a little farther. “Hello.”
Maddox smiled. “It’s great to meet you, Kai. Congratulations, Cole.”
“Why don’t we sit down to eat?” Sara said. “I made eggs, bacon, and toast, and there’s plenty for everyone.”
“Oh, we don’t want to intrude! We should just go get settled in.”
“Nonsense, Maggie. Put your bags inside the door and come sit down.”
“Thank you, Sara,” Maggie replied. “We are a little hungry after the trip.”
Kai scrunched in closer to Cole’s side as the three of them moved past to set their stuff down. Cole made sure Kai was between him and Elijah when they sat down. Kai sensed eyes on him several times during breakfast. They all seemed curious about him. Did they find him lacking as a mate for Cole? Were they staring because he didn’t measure up?
“How did you two find each other, Cole?” Maggie asked.
“We just kind of bumped into each other in town,” Cole replied.
“Isn’t that the best? Finding the one person meant for you by being in the right place at the right time?” Maggie said with a dreamy expression on her face. “Was it love at first sight?”
“Not exactly,” Cole chuckled. “Still working on winning him over.”
Maggie furrowed her brow. “He’s a shifter, right? The pull between shifter mates is undeniable.”
Kai tensed and dropped his fork to the table, staring at the plate in front of him as if he could burn a hole in it with his gaze. Cole wrapped a strong arm around Kai’s shoulders.
“Maggie, why don’t you tell us about the new remodel to your kitchen?” Sara interrupted.
The tension eased out of Kai as Maggie launched into the details of what they’d done to their home. Cole nuzzled at his temple. “You okay, kit?”