by Ramona Gray
Adina was laying the large smooth sticks against Reese’s leg and she looked briefly at them. “I will need someone to help me with this.”
“I will help,” Kane said hoarsely.
Borek shook his head and glanced at Radek. “Take Kane outside for some fresh air. I will stay and help the human.”
“I will not leave my mate!” Kane said angrily.
Borek stared in surprise at Radek who gave him a tiny shake of his head.
Kane glared at Adina. “If she wakes and I’m not here – “
“She’s not going to wake,” Adina replied. “If she does, we will find you.”
“Come with me, Kane,” Radek said gently. He urged the large shifter outside. There was no one there but Asher and Raina, and Radek gave him a curious look.
“I made them leave when she started screaming,” Asher said.
Kane shoved his hand through his hair and strode into the trees. He leaned against a large pine tree, his head down and his hands clenched into fists.
“Is the human – Reese – is she all right?” Raina asked urgently.
“Aye, she is.” Radek hugged her tightly. “Are you?”
“Aye. She saved my life, Radek.”
“I know.” He hugged her again. “What about Mia?”
“She’ll be fine,” Raina replied. She headed to Kane and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his back and hugging him firmly. He patted her arm gently and stared at the ground without speaking.
“He loves the human,” Asher said quietly.
“Aye, he does,” Radek replied. “If Dagon chooses her as his mate…”
“Kane will challenge him for alpha.”
“Will he?” Radek asked.
“Aye. He should be our alpha. Maven loved his son but I know he hoped that Kane would take over the pack. I hope that Dagon does choose the big human.”
“Have you gone mad, Uncle?” Radek said angrily. “Kane does not wish to lead. Even if he decides to challenge Dagon, what makes you think he will win? You know how powerful Dagon is.”
“Kane is stronger and smarter than him. Just because he does not believe he is, does not make it untrue.”
“She has a claiming mark on her shoulder,” Radek said in a low voice. “Kane has bitten her and claimed her as his own.”
“I am not surprised,” Asher replied softly. “If Dagon does choose her, Kane will be left with no choice but to challenge him for alpha.”
“He will leave the pack,” Radek said. “I know Kane – he has no desire to be the alpha. If Dagon chooses Reese, he will leave with her in the night.”
Asher scoffed. “Kane is not a coward.”
“I didn’t say he was!” Radek snapped. “What is wrong with you, Asher? I know you hate Dagon but there is no one amongst us who can defeat him. Not even Kane.”
“You’re wrong,” Asher said softly. Before Radek could protest, he clapped the younger shifter on the back. “Go to your friend, Radek. His mate is wounded and in pain and he could use your support.”
“He has not spoken to me since I treated his mate so rudely.”
Asher grinned at him. “Then it is time you apologized.”
Radek sighed loudly. “I never thought we would have humans in our pack. Or that Kane would fall in love with one.”
“The humans’ numbers grow with each passing day while ours dwindles,” Asher replied. “We need to find a way to coexist with them. As useless as Dagon is, he had the right idea in bringing humans into the pack. Although,” he frowned, “it would be handy if they healed as well as shifters do and enjoyed raw meat. The smell of cooked meat really does turn my stomach.”
He clapped Radek on the back and left. Radek walked toward Raina and Kane and touched Raina’s back lightly.
“Go back to the cabin, Raina.”
“No.” She frowned at him. “Kane needs me.”
“I will stay with him. You need to get some rest. Go on, now. I wish to speak to Kane privately.”
She glared at him and Kane patted her arm. “Your brother is right, Raina.”
“Can I see Reese?”
“She is resting. You can visit her when she wakes.”
She kissed Kane’s back and rolled her eyes when Radek ruffled her hair before leaving. Radek waited until she was in their cabin before speaking.
“I am sorry for the way I treated your human, Kane.”
“It is not me you should be apologizing to. And her name is Reese, not human.”
“I will apologize to Reese.”
When Kane didn’t reply, he sighed loudly. “I am sorry, Kane. Truly. It’s just – we have spent nearly our entire lives hating the humans. It is difficult for me to forget that hatred.”
“Aye, I know. You, more than any of us, have your reasons for hating them,” Kane said quietly. “I was horrible to her when I first met her, Radek. I insulted her and told her I did not care if she died. I was attracted to her from the moment I laid eyes on her but it did not stop me from nearly letting her freeze to death.”
He gave Radek a haunted look. “In return for my cruelty, she saved my life. I was drowning and without hesitating, she dove into the lake and saved me. Later when the tagen took her and I went after them, she saved my life again. She took on a tagen to save me, Radek. A tagen! I had no idea that there were humans like her.”
“She does seem…kind.”
Kane snorted laughter. “She saved my life, and she saved Deena from drowning and your sister from a mantorian and all you can say is that she seems kind?”
Radek gave him a crooked grin. “I have never had a way with words, Kane.”
“She is not from our world,” Kane said suddenly.
“What do you mean?”
“She is from another world. She was brought to ours by a glowing orb, she says. She speaks of strange metal carriages and warmth and light without fire.”
Radek gave him a hesitant look. “She sounds mad, Kane.”
“Aye, I know. But she is not. I believe her. I didn’t at first, thought she was as mad as you think her to be, but her scent is so strange, Radek. When she speaks of her world, I see the truth of what she’s saying.’
“She does have a strange scent,” Radek agreed. “But what she says is impossible.”
“Is it? There are many things in our world that cannot be explained.”
“Aye, but another world outside of this one? If what she says is true, why was she brought to ours?”
“I do not know,” Kane replied. “But whatever magic brought her here, I will forever be grateful for it.”
He gave Radek a searching look before saying hoarsely, “I love her.”
“Aye, I know you do.” Radek squeezed his shoulder. “Kane, you need to – “
The door to Kane’s cabin opened and Borek stuck his head out. “She is awake and asking for you, Kane.”
Kane hurried to the cabin and disappeared inside as Radek followed more slowly. He stood with Borek in the cold sunshine and rubbed wearily at his forehead. Borek shut the door and leaned against it.
“Kane’s precious flower.”
“What?” Radek frowned at him.
“Deena refers to the human as Kane’s precious flower, and I am beginning to see the truth in it.”
“The human means nothing to Kane,” Radek said shortly.
Borek laughed. “Does she not? I was there, Radek, when he called her his mate.”
“A slip of the tongue, nothing more.”
“And the claiming mark on her shoulder?”
Radek gave him a startled look and Borek nodded solemnly. “I saw it when she was struggling on the bed. Kane has claimed her as his own.”
Radek grabbed Borek and pulled him forward until they were nose to nose. “You will speak to no one of what you saw unless you want Deena to find herself without a mate. Do you hear me, Borek?”
“Enough, Radek!” Borek pushed him away with a scowl. “The human saved my mate’s life. Do y
ou really believe I will run and tattle to our alpha like a child?”
“I do not know what you will do. You are loyal to our alpha,” Radek replied.
“Am I?” Borek said suddenly. “Do you know that after Deena healed from the bear shifter’s attack and it became apparent that she was not the same, our alpha told me it would be best if I killed her and put her out of her misery? He said she weakened our pack.”
He snarled angrily. “He honestly expected that I would do as he said. That I would take the woman I loved into the woods and put her down like a dog that can no longer serve its master. Our alpha is not fit to rule us. He is more mad than my mate.”
He gave Radek a solemn look. “I must get back to Deena. I will speak to no one of what I heard and saw today, Radek. You have my word.”
* * *
“Reese, are you sure you cannot eat just a little?” Kane said anxiously. “You need to regain your strength.”
Reese shook her head. Darkness had fallen and Adina had just left. She had spent most of the day drifting in and out of consciousness which she suspected had something to do with the foul-tasting tea Adina had kept forcing her to drink. The tea dulled the pain in her leg but it also made her sleepy and weak. Still, she was grateful for it.
“I’m too tired, Kane. I just want to sleep.”
“Do you need to use the bathroom?”
She shook her head again. “No, Adina helped me earlier.” She had been totally humiliated when Adina had brought a shallow dish to the bed. She had even changed the soft cloth in her underwear for a fresh one and had shrugged off Reese’s apology.
“Do not worry, Reese,” she had spoken soothingly. “I am more than happy to help. Tomorrow when you are feeling better, I will wash your hair and help you bathe. Get some rest tonight.”
Now, as Kane climbed carefully into the bed beside her, she closed her eyes and melted into his warm embrace.
“What you did was very foolish, Reese,” he whispered into her hair.
“It would have killed Raina and Mia,” she murmured.
“It nearly killed you.” His stomach clenched at the memory of his mate dangling in the mantorian’s grip. He touched her throat lightly. It was swollen and bruises were rising on her pale skin.
“If I hadn’t gotten there in time - “
He stopped, his hand tightening around her waist and she rubbed his arm. “You did. I’m fine, shifter.”
He grunted. “A broken leg is not fine, Reese.”
She smiled sleepily at him. “It’s better than being dead. I’m so tired, Kane.”
“I know, my love. Go to sleep.” He kissed her lightly and she closed her eyes. She was asleep in a matter of moments and he stared at her, memorizing every line of her sweet face, before resting his forehead against hers.
“I love you,” he whispered.
She didn’t stir and he placed his head next to hers and closed his eyes.
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.
&nbs
p; 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.”
