Kade
Page 36
“Why?”
“You’re my son. I took on Hell to save you, and I’d take on the world to protect you.”
“Why?”
Zoe smiles, obviously not bothered by the same single word I had to listen to during the trip from Pennsylvania to here. “Because that’s what people do when they love someone.”
“I don’t know you.”
“And I don’t know you, but I want to know you. Will you tell me what you like? What you don’t like?”
“I don’t like being hurt.”
Zoe presses her lips together. “I don’t like that either. How about we promise to never hurt each other?”
Zion looks past Zoe to where Kade’s silently standing several feet behind her. “Will other people hurt me?”
Kade approaches in a slow gait, then hunkers down with his loosely linked hands hanging between his legs. “This is my pride, and I do not allow innocents to be hurt.”
“I’m not innocent.”
“You are.” Kade nods. “I see it in your eyes.”
Zion’s brow furrows more. He touches the corner of his eye, then looks at his hand. “Asa said I was a weapon.”
“Asa lied.”
Zion studies Zoe. “Asa said I didn’t have a mother either. He said you didn’t want me.”
“Asa lied,” Zoe repeats.
“Why?”
“Because he was jealous.” Zoe again answers Zion’s repetitive question without huffing as I’d begun to do by the time the plane landed.
“Why?”
“Because he was pathetic and weak and cowardly, and he knew it. And sometimes people like that hurt other people to make themselves feel important,” Kade answers.
“I don’t like hurting.”
“Then you don’t have to anymore.” Zoe holds out a hand at the same time Kade does. “Will you come sit with us?”
Zion takes Zoe’s and Kade’s hands and walks between them back to the long table, and Bree lets loose with a string of curse words directed at Asa that has me laughing.
She whips her head to me. “What are you laughing at?”
“You.”
Bree straightens her spine. “And what exactly is so amusing about me?”
“You’re quite protective of your cousin’s son, and that’s wonderful, but I hadn’t expected those kinds of words to come out of…out of a…”
“Woman’s mouth?”
“Officer’s mouth.” I smirk at Bree’s narrowed eyes.
Bree plants a hand on her hip. “Agent’s mouth, actually. I joined Shifter Affairs a few days ago.”
“Really?” A surge of protectiveness has me leaning close enough to pick up on the scent of something sweet and tempting. Vanilla, maybe? “Who’s your partner?”
“One hasn’t been assigned to me yet, but I’m assuming one of your cousins.”
“You know who I am, then?” I hadn’t known anyone gave this woman my name or pointed me out to her.
“Aron Alexander, the man who was supposed to father Mira’s babies.”
And just like that, bitterness chokes me and wipes away the amusement Bree’s colorful litany spurred within me. I clear my throat. “Which of my cousins do you think will be lucky enough to be assigned as your partner?”
“Ezra. With Kade stepping back to focus on his dual pride duties, Ezra doesn’t have anyone. Assigning me to him makes sense.”
My gaze drifts to where Ezra is standing protectively over the three newborns Mira left lying in the middle of the barn while she’s retreated to the yard outside. He glances in our direction, likely hearing his name, then kneels next to the babies on the ground and unleashes claws on his right hand.
“What is he doing?” Bree bristles and takes a step forward.
I loop an arm around her waist. “Playing a vital role in the naming ceremony.”
Tipping her head back, she meets my gaze. “And what role is he playing with his claws out?”
Bree’s question demands an answer, but I can’t form words. The sight of this delicate human in my arms awakens me, stirring my shaft to life and triggering darker instincts that have no place here between us. She’s too small, too soft, too…breakable. I know it, but my body wants to see just how much she can take of me before she snaps and runs from the beast I am at heart.
Bree shakes her head and pushes against my arm. “Never mind. I’ll find out for myself.”
I pull her closer, uncaring that my hardness presses into her back, and lower myself so my mouth is near her ear. “Just watch.”
Josh walks into the barn, followed by Megan and Molly, and goes to where the babies are left on the cold wooden floor. Ezra touches the first baby’s head with his left hand, then slowly lowers his right until deadly, sharpened nails rest over the blue onesie covering the little boy.
Without any outward concern over Ezra’s claws poised over his son, Josh kneels next to them. He smiles at the babe and inspects his fingers and toes before pushing Ezra’s hand away and lifting the baby into his arms. He whispers a name only those close would hear, then hands the child to Molly, who cradles the newborn close.
He repeats the process with his next son before handing the baby over to Megan, then goes through the same motions with his daughter, but he doesn’t hand her off. He tucks her against his chest and glances at Megan and Molly, then the three of them walk out of the barn.
Bree grips my arm where it’s still linked around her waist. She turns in my embrace, bringing her lips dangerously close to mine, and stares at me with wide, curious eyes that tempt me closer. “What just happened? I thought we were supposed to learn their names? It’s been driving me nuts calling them baby one, two, and three.”
My gaze drifts from her hazel eyes to her lips. “Didn’t anyone tell you what would happen at this ceremony?”
“No. I know next to nothing about shifters or your customs. That’s my first task—to learn everything I can about the shifter world. My partner is supposed to help me.”
“Oh, is he?”
“That’s what Ella said.”
I part my lips and fight the urge to close the distance between us. Bree smells sweet, like a rich wine I could get drunk on. “Then you should be assigned to someone…knowledgeable, don’t you agree?”
“I would hope.”
I turn Bree’s face to the barn door, purposely stroking my fingertips over her jaw. Her soft skin sensitizes me. Leaning close to her, I brush my lips over the path I’d stroked to her ear. “Josh was claiming his young. If he’d found any babes unworthy, Ezra would’ve killed them. Mira stood outside to await her mate’s choice over which, if any of their children, would be announced to the world. Once all those who came here to witness the naming ceremony step outside, the babies’ names will be spoken to all.”
Bree turns and presses her hands to my chest. “Then what are we waiting for?”
“I’ve been wondering that exact thing all my life.” I move to take her hands in mine, but she evades my attempt to lead her outside and instead motions for me to walk with her.
“Sounds more like a personal problem.” She grins. “Maybe you should take a hard look at your life. I bet the answer is right in front of you.”
With an outstretched arm, I catch the barn door as the wind blows it and save Bree from getting whacked in the shoulder, then I stand there and take in all the family and friends I essentially blew off when I skipped town last summer. None point me out as the loser who abandoned Mira. None make any comments about it being awkward I’m here. And none of the shifters gathered here ask me to leave.
Josh glances our way, then nods to Molly. Holding the baby close to her chest, Molly walks to where Mira stands alone in the middle of the yard, then hands the babe over to Mira and announces in a loud, clear voice, “Killian.”
Mira smiles, kisses her baby’s head, then hands him back to Molly as Megan approaches and goes through the same motions. Once Megan hands over the baby, she turns to everyone watching. “This is my baby brother, Mor
gan. Captain Morgan, arr!”
Laughter and smiles abound from all those present, and Mira narrows her eyes at her mate as he closes the distance between them. Grinning, she shakes her head and takes the baby from him. “And which of the possible names we picked did you decide on for our daughter?”
Josh looks from Mira to the baby she’s holding and grins. “Bailey, of course.”
“Of course.” Mira laughs, then kisses her baby before lifting her head for her mate’s kiss.
Warmth spreads through me, a happy feeling I wasn’t expecting tonight. Maybe it’s seeing the woman I was promised to but never wanted finally happy. Maybe it’s everyone else’s amusement rubbing off on me. Maybe…
“Josh named his kids after alcoholic drinks!” Bree turns exasperated eyes on me. “Can you believe it?”
“Actually, yes.” I let the door close on the empty barn, then lean against the wood. “Oh, and you’re right, Bree. Maybe the answer to what I’ve been waiting for is right here in front of me.”
And there’s only one way to find out. Stay and see.
Also by Dana Archer
Shifter WorldⓇ Royals and AlphasⓇ
Rafe
Devin
Josh
Sean
Nic
Ethan
Xander
Anton
Shifter WorldⓇ Agents of Shifter Affairs™
Rick
Ilan
Uri
Kade
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About the Author
Dana Archer is the alter ego of Nancy Corrigan. She’s a dreamer who one day decided to write down what the voices in her head were telling her. Years later, she's still at it. The number of heroes and heroines waiting for their happily ever after have grown. As a result, you'll find her typing frantically at all hours of the day or night as she brings their stories to life.
When she's not lost in her imagination, she's busy being a wife, mother, and chemist. Yes, she might run on caffeine some days as she juggles all her roles, but that's okay. She loves coffee.
She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, their three children, dog, snake, cats, and guinea pigs. Her other interests include tattoos, animals, classic cars, and mythology.
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
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Nancy Corrigan (Dana Archer’s mainstream fiction romance pen name), 247, 325 N 10th St. Ste. 400, Lewisburg, PA 17837
Uri Copyright © 2019 by Nancy Corrigan
Cover art by Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs
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All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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Electronic publication: May 2020 (1st edition)
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This is the tame version of Possessed (by the Alpha) by Nancy Corrigan.
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www.DanaArcher.com
ISBN: 978-1-946672-94-0