Chapter 24

 

“How is Reese?” Radek asked.

It was three days later and Kane had finally joined the others for the evening meal. “She is healing. She’s been having nightmares about the mantorian.”

“Aye, Raina as well. It was a close call for them.”

“Too close,” Kane replied.

He glanced around at the others before frowning. “Why is Adina not sitting with Dagon?”

“Why would she be?” Radek asked.

“Has he not chosen her as his mate?”

Radek shook his head. “Not yet.”

“The day that they were attacked, Dagon told us he was choosing Adina. He was going to make the announcement that night.”

“He did not. Perhaps with everything that happened, he has decided to wait.”

“Perhaps.”

As if he had heard them, Dagon appeared in front of them. He sat down next to Kane and clapped him on the back. “How is the human?”

“She is healing.”

“Good. Is the moon still full for her?”

Kane gave him a cautious look. “No.”

“Good, good.” Dagon stared at the others in the pack. “She is rather brave for a human.”

Kane didn’t reply and Dagon cleared his throat. “I have instructed Anna to give the human some meat this evening. As a thank you for saving Raina and Mia. She will like that, will she not?”

“Aye,” Kane said. He had gone out every night and hunted for Reese. She had worried that he would be caught but he had refused to let his mate starve.

“When will you make your announcement that you are taking Adina as your mate?” He asked abruptly.

“All in good time, Kane,” Dagon said smoothly. “I thought it would be best to wait until the excitement had died down.”

He stood and nodded to the two of them before walking away. Kane watched him leave, a narrow look of suspicion on his face, as Radek touched his shoulder.

“You see? He will make the announcement soon and then you are free to claim Reese as your mate.”

“Aye,” Kane said softly. He stood. “I’m going to check on Reese. Goodnight, Radek.”

 

* * *

 

“You should be eating dinner with the others, Raina.” Reese said as the young shifter sat beside her on the bed.

Raina shrugged. “I’m not that hungry.”

She stared at Reese’s leg for a moment before saying solemnly, “Thank you for saving my life, Reese.”

“I didn’t. Kane saved all of us,” Reese said softly.

“Aye. Kane would do anything to save his mate.”

“I’m not his mate, Raina,” Reese replied.

Raina blinked at her. “Aye, you are, human – I mean, Reese. You bear his mark, do you not?”

“What do you mean?” She frowned at Raina.

Raina leaned forward and brushed her shirt aside before touching the scar from Kane’s bite. “His mark. Was it not Kane who bit you?”

“Yes,” Reese whispered. “But it was an accident, Raina.”

Raina laughed. “A shifter does not accidentally claim his mate, Reese.”

She gave Reese a curious look. “How could you not know? Did Kane not talk to you before he bit you?”

Reese shook her head. “No. He told me after that it was an accident and that he hadn’t meant to do it.”

“He’s lying,” Raina said cheerfully as she slid off the bed. “No other shifter will go near you when they see the mark. You belong to him now, Reese. He loves you.”

“Raina! You cannot say anything to anyone! Promise me!” Reese said frantically.

“I won’t,” Raina replied. “If Dagon finds out that Kane claimed you for his own, he will be so angry.”

“Shit,” Reese muttered under her breath.

“Don’t worry, Reese,” Raina said soothingly. “If Dagon does choose you for his mate, then Kane will fight him and he will become our new alpha.”

Reese’s face paled. “I don’t want him fighting Dagon. He’s too big and too strong.”

“Kane is stronger,” Raina said simply. “Uncle Asher always says he should be our alpha.”

Reese stared up at the ceiling. Her head was reeling, her stomach was rolling with an odd combination of fear and happiness, and Raina’s declaration that Kane loved her was ringing in her brain.

Kane loved her. He had claimed her as his mate and he loved her.

“Reese?” Raina’s face appeared above her. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. Would you mind leaving, Raina? I’m very tired.” She smiled at the shifter.

“Aye. Do you want me to bring you some food?”

“No. Kane will bring me some.”

Raina hesitated before placing a kiss on Reese’s cheek. “Bye, Reese.”

As the shifter left the cabin, Reese held her hand up and stared at it. It was trembling badly and she lowered it to the bed. Her cheeks were warm and a fierce type of joy was flooding through her body in a hot, sweet rush. Kane loved her.

You love him.

She did. She loved him more than she thought was possible. The relief at finally admitting her feelings poured through her, and she wiped away the tears that were beginning to run down her cheeks. She loved him and he loved her.

 

* * *

 

Reese rested her head against Kane’s broad chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. Her leg ached dully but for the first time in nearly five days, she didn’t need to drink tea to dull the pain enough to help her sleep. She wasn’t the least bit sleepy but she was ridiculously happy, and she smiled as Kane rubbed her back.

Kane rubbed Reese’s warm skin. She had fallen asleep nearly ten minutes ago and he buried his face in her soft hair and inhaled deeply. He was feeling restless and jumpy. Dagon’s refusal to name Adina as his mate was worrying him. What if he had changed his mind? What if he chose Reese instead?

We will kill him, his wolf whispered persuasively.

He pushed the thought away. Dagon would choose Adina – he had to – and Reese would belong to him forever. He kissed her smooth forehead and, as he did every night now, whispered, “I love you.”

He jerked in surprise when her low voice came floating out of the darkness. “I love you too.”

He sat up, his heart thudding in his chest, and stared at her in the soft light of the fire. “Reese, I – I thought you were sleeping.”

“No,” she replied.

“I – did you mean it when you said you love me?”

“Yes,” she said calmly. “I love you, Kane.”

“You are mine,” he suddenly said fiercely. “Mine forever.”

“Yes – yours forever.” She touched his face delicately, tracing the stubble on his jawline. He turned and kissed the palm of her hand.

“Reese, the mark on your shoulder, it is – “

“I know,” she interrupted him. “You’ve claimed me as your mate.”

He gaped at her. “How do you know this?”

“Raina was here earlier while you were having dinner with the others. She told me what the mark meant. She was surprised that I didn’t already know.”

There was no anger in her voice but shame filled him and he looked away from her steady gaze. “I’m sorry, Reese. I should not have lied to you about it.”

“Why did you?” She asked softly.

“Because I should not have claimed you without your permission and because I – I was confused by what I had done.”

“But you aren’t confused anymore?”

He shook his head and kissed her palm again. “No. I love you. You are my mate, Reese, and I will love you for the rest of my life.”

Her mouth began to tremble and tears slipped down her cheeks. “I love you too, Kane.”

“You are not just saying that?” He said anxiously. “Did Raina tell you that no shifter will touch you when they see my mark?”

“Yes,” Reese replied. “But I’m not saying it because I have no choice. I could find a human who wouldn’t know what the mark means.”

He began to growl softly. “You belong to me, Reese. You are not to – “

She laughed and patted his face. “God, I love you, Kane. You’re stubborn and bullheaded and a raging Neanderthal but you’re also kind and gentle and sweet. I am ridiculously in love with you.”

He kissed her softly on the mouth and she immediately parted her lips and coaxed his tongue into her mouth. She sucked softly on it, moaning lightly when his big hand cupped her naked breast and kneaded it. His thumb circled her hardened nipple and she ran her fingers through his hair restlessly. He kissed down her neck and she reached under the covers and gripped his cock.

He moaned and she smiled at him as she stroked him firmly. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” he panted as his hips moved with the motion of her hand.

“Touch me, honey,” she pleaded.

He slipped his hand between her legs and rubbed at her clit. She parted her legs and he froze when she made a cry of pain and her face paled.

“I’m okay.” She gave him a look of disappointment when he moved his hand away from her.

“No, my love, you are not,” he said quietly. “We cannot do this – not while you still heal.”

“We can go slowly.” Disappointment laced her words. “Please, Kane. It’s been so long.”

He shook his head. “No, it is not worth the risk of hurting your leg, Reese.”

“It is to me,” she muttered before pouting at him.

He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. “Once you are healed fully I will fuck you, Reese.”

“So romantic.” She rolled her eyes.

“I am very good at sweet talking.” He laughed again.

He cupped her breast and kissed the top of her head. “Go to sleep, my love.”

She snuggled against him and lay quietly for a while. As her happiness faded and worry set in, he rubbed her back soothingly.

“What is wrong, my love?”

“Nothing.”

“Do not lie to me, Reese. Your body is tensing and your scent has changed,” he replied.

She sighed. “If Dagon chooses me – “

“He will not,” Kane interrupted. “He told us that he was claiming Adina as his mate.”

“Adina?” Reese stared up at him. “She didn’t say anything to me.”

“He hasn’t announced it yet.”

“Why not?”

“He was going to make the announcement the day you were attacked by the mantorians.”

“That was nearly a week ago,” she pointed out.

“Aye, he decided to wait.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure.” He rubbed her back again. “Go to sleep, Reese.”

“What if he’s changed his mind?” She spoke the words that he had refused to articulate to himself.

“He hasn’t.”

“But what if he has? What if he hasn’t said anything because he’s decided not to choose Adina?” She asked worriedly.

“If he chooses you, I will challenge him for the alpha position.”

“No!”

Her cry of dismay startled him and he jerked in the bed. She groaned when it jostled her leg and he cupped her face. “My love, I’m sorry. Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She gave him a frightened look. “Kane, I don’t want you challenging Dagon.”

“I will have no choice, Reese.”

“Yes, you do! We could leave, Kane. We could just leave in the night.”

“You would have me leave my pack? Have me run away like a frightened pup?” He said softly.

“It is better than watching you die!” She said angrily. “Dagon is too big and strong, Kane. He killed his own father and his mates for God’s sake!”

“I can defeat him.”

“And if you can’t?” She was starting to cry. “You will be dead and I’ll be Dagon’s mate. I’ll kill myself before I let that happen.”

“Don’t say that!” His voice was rough with fear.

“I can’t live without you,” she said quietly. “I can’t, Kane.”

He held her tightly and stroked her hair as she buried her face in his throat. “Promise me you won’t challenge him, Kane.” Her voice was muffled.

“Reese – “

“Promise me!” She said fiercely. “We will leave together and make a new pack. I’m sorry, I know you’ll miss your pack mates but I would rather you miss them then watch as they bury you in a shallow grave.”

“I am not as weak as you believe me to be, Reese.” There was an edge of anger in his voice. “Is it so hard for you to believe that I can be alpha?”

“Of course not!” She said immediately. “You’d be an amazing alpha, Kane. But your life isn’t worth the risk to me. I would rather have you alive and in my arms.”

She kissed him lightly. “I love you, Kane.”

“I love you too,” he sighed. “Do not worry, my love. Dagon will choose Adina. And I will speak to my pack mates and tell them that we cannot allow Dagon to hurt Adina like he hurt his other mates. All right?”

“All right,” she said in defeat.

He held her close and rubbed her back as Reese stared into the darkness. He hadn’t promised not to challenge Dagon and she trembled violently in his arms as an image of Dagon taking Kane’s head flashed through her.