by Tl Reeve
Keeley pulled herself to her full height and squaring her shoulders, stiffening her spine while meeting her sister’s gaze full on. “Caden’s your mate, just like Kal is mine. There is no denying it. You and your constant damn talking about wild wolves and your fascination with how they mated for life. You wanted to experience it yourself. You told me so, on more than one occasion. We have a chance. Both of us. It’s palpable. All you have to do is let go of your fear. Don’t you think we should take the risk?”
Dani remained silent, blanking out on her.
“I’m doing this for us!” Keeley yelled. “So you can rest, enjoy life and be a mom to Aiden and a mate to Caden.”
She answered with a humorless chuckle. “And you’re getting nothing out of this, right?” She shook her head. “How about this? You keep Aiden. You have the perfect life with your mate. You’re free. You’re not pregnant with a monster's baby or married to him. I am apparently and everyone fucking believes it.”
“You are such a shit! You think this is easy for me, Danielle? Do you think all the changes are simple? They’re not. Then to hear what that bastard said. I might get Kal and the knowledge I’ve avenged my sins,” she stated, “but that’s all. I will always live with the guilt of understanding my shitty choices put us here. But you know what, I wouldn’t have it any other fucking way.” She stepped back up to her sister and poked her in the chest with her finger. “Why, you’d ask? Because at least I know we’re safe. We’re wanted. Here we’ll thrive and here we belong. You think this is easy?” It was her turn to give a mirthless chuckle. “No, it’s not even fucking easy. But at least I’m fucking trying. What the hell are you doing? Hiding? Having a damn pity party because what? I’m happy? Be fucking happy for me!”
“I’m sorry, Kee—”
“Don’t be sorry.” She reached out, placing her hand on her sister’s upper arm. “You spoke the truth. It is because of me Simon came into our lives, terrorizing us. And it’ll be because of me he’ll stop. I promise,” Keeley proclaimed.
“It’s dangerous,” Dani stated the obvious.
She shrugged. “Yeah, it is. So is running from town to town. But we’ll have help. Help we can count on.”
“And Kal is okay with this?” her sister asked before sitting on the floor.
Keeley reached over and tucked an errant strand of her long hair behind her ear. “No. I don’t honestly think he is,” she admitted.
“Then why is he even allowing you to do it?” A frown formed on her sister's brow.
“His other option would be waiting for the day we disappear.” She sighed. “Not something he really wants to occur.”
The furrow between her sister's brows got deeper. “So…you blackmailed him to get what you want?”
Her eyes widened. Had she blackmailed her mate to get what she wanted from him?
Ohmigod, she had. “Shit,” Keeley whispered, dropping to the floor beside her sister as her legs gave out from under her. “I did. Do you think he realizes what I did?”
Dani nodded. “You didn’t do it intentionally.”
“He threatened to redden my ass earlier,” she admitted.
She snorted. “There are times I’d say you deserve it.”
Keeley reached out, giving her sister a hearty shove. “Hey.”
“He must realize it wasn’t on purpose. You’re scared for our safety. If not, I don’t think you’d be able to either walk out of the house or sit.” Dani giggled. In those moments, she realized how much she missed hearing her sister laugh.
“You still mad at me?” She glanced up at her sister, hating when they argued.
“Oh, Keeley. I wasn’t mad.”
Keeley cocked a brow.
“I was scared, still am, and I lashed out at you. It’s not your fault we were born the way we are. We are how we are. I know you’ve done everything in your power to protect both of us.” Her sister reached for her, pulling her into an embrace. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” Keeley buried her nose into her sister's upper chest, inhaling deeply. Dani smelled different, like her normal scent, only a hint darker. Royce said he could scent Kalkin on her, so maybe what she smelled was Caden’s distinctive scent on her sister.
“Do I smell different?” Keeley asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
“I don’t know. I’m not in the habit of smelling you. Why’d you ask me that?”
“Well, you smell different. Darker,” Keeley admitted.
Dani jerked back, her eyes narrowing as she glared down at her. “Did he change you?”
“I don’t think that is how it works.”
“How does it work then?
“I’m not really sure. I didn’t ask,” Keeley confessed.
“Jesus, Keeley, you let him fuck—”
“He didn’t fuck me. He mated me. Big difference,” she snapped, wanting, no, needing to defend what happened between Kalkin and her. “Speaking of the mating. I think I should tell you what’s going to happen and why I think Caden is acting so funny toward you.” She’d have to be stupid not see this was not a topic her sister wanted to discuss, however, she pressed on. Dani’s blues eyes became icy and her body stiffened. “Just listen to what I have to say,” she pleaded.
Dani didn’t respond to her, she just shrugged.
Well, okay then. She was going to say what she wanted to say. Her sister would at least hear her and maybe process it later. “I think,” she began softly. “The reason Caden may have shut down on you a little is because of the whole mating three days out of each month, around the full moon, is for one purpose.” Dani’s eyes gaze flicked to hers. “Procreation.”
“Did he tell you this?”
“No. No one did. It just makes sense. Woman, by nature, are lunar. Menstrual cycles are approximately every twenty-eight days, which means around the time of the full moon, we should be ovulating.” Her sister’s eyes widened, and Keeley realized she had to finish it. “The pull of the full moon urges them to fuck. From what I understand, it can be painful for the male, who is aware of who their mate is. I have no clue if the female wolves feel the same. For three days, during a woman’s peak fertility and during the full moon, the male wolf’s cock will knot inside the female, assuring his seed takes root. Think about it, Dani. What did we give out last night at the stand? Phallic pastry, fertility symbols.”
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah, holy shit. Every time I’ve been intimate with Kal, he mentions placing his pup inside me. Every time.” Her voice broke at the end, not from fear, but from a want so deep for the same thing Kalkin promised every time he came inside of her.
“Did he tell you any of this?” Dani could turn off all her emotions, bury them deep inside of herself.
She shook her head. “Doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. Caden’s urge to mate you, give you his pup, is riding him hard. Last night, something he anticipated didn’t happen, then he finds out Simon is going around telling people you’re married and pregnant with Simon’s kid and not his. True or not, it’s bound to fuck with his head.”
“So you're saying, I should give him a break?”
“I’m saying, don’t shut down on him. Don’t turn your emotions off and become cold. Confront him with what you know. Knowledge is power,” she advised.
As usual, when her sister was contemplating the universe, she remained silent. Pushing her to speak, or ruminate on it, would make no difference. She had to come to the realization Keeley was right with her observation. She had faith in her sister and she hoped Caden would yank his head out of his ass and talk to her sister.
“You seem so sure. Of everything, but especially of him and his ability to protect us. How do you know this is right?” she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
“I just know. I can’t explain it. When Caden completes the mating, come find me. I bet the worry you’re feeling is gone, and your faith will be in Caden, too.”
“I hope so,” Dani said softly.
It made her heart break a little. Keeley reached out and placed her hand in her sister’s hand. If Caden should hurt or break her sister’s heart, brother to Kalkin or not, she’d kick his ass. “Trust me.”
Dani nodded, clutching her hand ever so slightly. Knowing she had given her older sister enough to think on, she moved to a more pressing matter. Getting her stuff packed up. “If you’re going to stay, make yourself useful and help me pack up my stuff.”
“It’s going to take a lot longer than the time you have left.” Dani glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “I’m amazed he hasn’t come searching for you. It’s over the hour he allotted you.”
Keeley smiled. “Kal knows you’re here, and he understands we’re talking. Unless it’s a life or death situation, he wouldn’t disturb us.”
“You’re overthinking it, as usual.” Dani rolled her eyes. “Grab a bag, throw some underwear, bras, shorts, tops and toiletries and you’re good to go to your man…I mean, mate. It’s not like you’re moving across the country. You’re right across the bridge, and you can slowly move your stuff over.”
“You’re right,” she agreed, glancing at the mess on the bed and floor. “I need to clean this all up then.”
“No, you don’t. Aiden can sleep with me, and Caden can take the spare room. I’m not sure until all of this is situated he’ll be anywhere near me.” Pink suffused her cheeks.
“If not, the couch downstairs is pretty comfortable,” she teased.
Her sister laughed. “Those Raferty boys don’t really look like the type of men to be sleeping on a couch.”
“Agreed.” She smiled. “Might be a good idea for you to give the couch a test run then.”
“Maybe,” Dani snickered.
“Pfft. I’d bet he’d be hauling your skinny ass back upstairs to your bed in under five minutes.”
“Hey,” her sister gave her a little bump with her hit. “He likes my skinny ass.”
“Bet he tries to fuck it,” she mumbled.
“Keeley,” Dani screeched, her face had gone pale and her eyes wide. “Did Kal?”
She laughed, knowing she was teasing her sister, but it was fun and weren’t sisters supposed to torture each other? “For me to know and you to find out,” she announced, bending over to snag one of the smaller bags from the floor to throw the essentials in.
“Tell me,” her sister pleaded.
“Nope,” she said, giving her sister a smirk. “My bags are packed, and I'm ready to head over. You going with me?”
“Yes,” Dani huffed. “Did it hurt? I mean, I’d think it would hurt, wouldn’t you? Did you like it?”
The curiosity in her sister’s voice had her pausing. Oh my, Dani had been totally interested. Who would have thought it, since her sister always came across so…uptight when it came to sex? Rarely did she discuss it, and if she did it was quick and to the point. Keeley had to wonder if her sister was still a virgin like she had been.
She put her hand on her hip. “Have you ever had sex?”
“Excuse me?”
“Excuse me, my ass. You heard me. Are you still a virgin?” Keeley pressed.
“On top of being a personal question, it’s really none of your business,” she snapped.
“We’re sisters for cripe's sake.”
“Were you?” Dani came right at her.
“Well, not after the last couple of days,” she declared.
“Did he say anything?” Dani whispered. Wouldn’t Caden be in for a surprise if he believed her sister was pregnant, only to find proof during their mating she wasn’t.
“Only that I should have told him before. He was worried about hurting me. He’s uh.” She coughed as a flush rushed up her neck and cheeks. “Well endowed.”
“Oh.” Her sister’s mouth formed a perfect “O.” “Do you think Caden is, too?”
“Eww, Dani.” She shuddered. “I’m not thinking about Caden’s junk.”
“I’d sure as hell hope not, otherwise I’d have to kick my twin's ass,” a dark, growly voice said from the doorway.
She covered a giggle while Keeley bowed her head, taking a sudden interest in the design of the wooden floor. “Busted.”
“Keeley, look at me,” Kalkin growled. The panty-dampening sound had her pressing her thighs together to stave off the demand. “Won’t ask again, sweet cheeks.”
Slowly she brought her head up, until her gaze rested on his. His jaw muscle twitched as he clenched his jaw and the vein at his temple throbbed. Yet, she saw amusement in those ice blue eyes of his.
“Good girl,” he cooed and for a second she totally forgot her sister was in the room 'til Dani cleared her throat, reminding them she was still there. “Were you thinking about one of my brother’s dicks?” His cast his gaze toward Danielle. “Specifically Caden’s?”
“Ah, no,” she answered quickly. “Dani asked me a question—”
He smirked. “I’m aware. Heard it coming up the stairs.”
“Then why did you ask?” she asked, knowing she might be pushing. It didn’t help when a sardonic smile encased those sexy lips of his.
“Just testing you,” he replied, the smile reaching his eyes and then it hit her. He’d been teasing her.
Dropping her bag on the floor, Keeley braced her hand on her hip, willing herself to not show an ounce of weakness with the big man lounging against the door jamb. “What the hell is with you and your family testing me? It’s going to get old, real damn quick,” she announced.
“Reminds me.” He rubbed at the scruff of a beard on his chin. “Still gotta kick Royce’s ass for that.”
“Asshole,” she mumbled under her breath before she leaned down to grab her things.
“I heard you,” he announced.
“Don’t care,” she replied, stepping closer to him. She held out the bag to him.
“What about the rest of this shit?” He scanned the room.
“There’s enough in the bag to get me started. I can move over a little each day until everything is over in your house. Will that work for you, Alpha?”
He pushed off the door jamb and towered over her. He leaned down, getting right into her face as if he wanted to intimidate her.
“Ah, Keeley, maybe y-o-ou shoul-d-d…” Her sister swallowed with an audible gulp when Kalkin lifted his head and stared at for her a second then turned his gaze back toward Keeley.
“Turns me on, sweet cheeks, when you call me Alpha.” He wiggled his brows at her and she laughed.
“Good to know,” she replied, hearing Dani’s breathing return to normal behind her.
“You have ten minutes to finish up here and get your sweet ass over to our house. Don’t make me come get you, pet. ‘Cause I will,” he assured her. The dark timbre of his voice had her nipples tightening to pinpoints and moisture gathering on her sex. “Got me?”
“Yes,” she whimpered, swearing she just came and not even giving a flying fig Dani was in the room, watching the entire interaction between them. He made her lose her head quicker than several shots of tequila.
Kalkin inhaled deeply through his nose, groaning. Without him saying anything, she knew he could smell her arousal mixed with her release. “Make it five,” he announced before he leaned in. Her heart sped up as his warm, wet tongue laved at the mark he’d bestowed on her last night.
Her entire body quivered and her breath hitched, preventing her from lobbing something sarcastic to him. She blinked and he was sauntering away from her, his sculptured back encased in a tight black shirt, she swore it pulled at the seams. And his ass, Lord have mercy, he had a fine ass. It filled the old, worn blue jeans perfectly. Closing her eyes, she fought to gain what little control she had left back.
“Holy shit,” Dani panted beside her. “I think I just had an orgasm.”
“Seriously?”
“You didn’t?” Heat filled her cheeks. “You so did. It’s why he said five minutes instead of ten!” Wanting to change the subject and quickly, she reached for her sister's
hand and started out of the bedroom. “Your silence tells me everything I need to know!”
“Let’s go.” She tugged Dani’s hand, leading her toward the stairs.
“What’s your hurry?” She jerked her hand from Keeley’s hold.
“I’m going to try to stop a beat down on his nephew,” she called over her shoulder as she moved down the stairs.
“Royce?” Her sister followed her.
“Yes.” Keeley took off the moment her right foot hit the first floor. She pushed through the screen door and ran across their lawn to the bridge—her sister hot on her heels.
“Shit,” she muttered, as the right hook Kalkin threw connected with his nephew's jaw, sending the boy sprawling. “Kal.”
His stormy gaze flickered to her.
“You’re the Alpha.”
“I don’t need reminding of who and what I am, sweet cheeks. This is between family,” he snarled.
She smiled. “If you get a single bruise or cut on any part of your body, I won’t be happy.”
He growled, and she cocked a brow at him while tapping her foot impatiently.
“You think this pup has a chance?”
“He might get in one or two good hits. He is, after all, a Raferty.” She fought back a smile when he nodded in agreement. “As you said, he’s a pup.” A pup with the mouth and body of a full-grown man.
“Pussy,” Royce snickered from his position on the ground. “Did she tell you the best part? I made her breakfast, shirtless.”
She groaned. “Kal—”
“You little bastard,” Kalkin spat, ignoring her. He leaned down, wrapped a massive hand around his nephew’s shirt and lifted him off the ground. Royce’s feet dangled. She gave him credit, he didn’t fight Kalkin.
“Put him down,” she demanded as she stomped over to him, wrapping her hands on his large biceps and pulled. Shit, he is strong. His arm didn’t even quiver. “He did it to get a reaction from you, and he’s getting it.” She glanced up at Royce and noticed the look of boredom on his handsome features. Maybe reverse psychology would work on her hard-headed, stubborn mate. “Go ahead, beat the shit out of him. Just know, if you beat him bloody, I’ll have to spend several hours tending to his injuries and all night making sure you didn’t give him a concussion.”
