by Tl Reeve
Kalkin dropped Royce before he turned to address her. Royce hit the dusty ground, bouncing hard before he lay sprawled on his back again. “He’s a wolf-shifter, he’ll heal within hours or he can shift to help speed the process up. He’s not helpless.”
“He’s a pup,” she said, placing her hand on his wide chest.
“He’s a grown-ass man with a fucking death wish,” Kalkin barked.
“I won’t argue that point with you, but only because I agree. In his defense…” She ignored the long, low growl she could feel vibrating under the palm of her hand. “He thought he was protecting you.”
“More like being a shit stirrer.”
Kalkin had her there, and she fought the urge to nod in agreement. Her goal was to calm her mate down, not fire him up.
“Be that as it may, his intentions were good and so we need to give him credit and you need to not beat the shit out of him,” she challenged.
“Is that so?” His tone turned mildly deceptive and she wondered if perhaps she'd just overstepped her bounds. Maybe it would be a good idea to back off and go inside the house and let them beat, well, correction, Kal beat the shit out of his nephew. “Don’t you dare stop now, sweet cheeks,” he added as if sensing her thoughts.
Squaring her shoulders, Keeley looked him directly in his eyes. “It is so. I’m sure there will be times in the future he deserves to get the snot beat out of him, but today isn’t one of them,” she declared and gave a little yelp when Kalkin picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
He smacked her ass for no reason. Hard. Then caressed the stinging flesh through her shorts before he bounded up the stairs and into the house. She caught a glimpse of Royce smirking at them while Dani gave her a small wave and Caden appeared…indifferent. Well shit.
Chapter Fifteen
“You have to stand for something,” Kalkin said the words to Keeley a million times during the past week. He wondered if she heard him. Probably not.
For the last few days, Dani and she moved different things into his home, while Caden reluctantly gathered his belongings and left them at the Blueriver home. He tried to talk to his brother who, of course, was being obstinate. The bastard. None of his brothers or his nephew smelled a pregnancy on Danielle, nor did she have a tan line of a ring. She didn’t smell like Simon and by the way, since she’d been beaten and battered by the fuckwad, he doubted the woman would like the piece of shit near her bed.
So, what gives? Every time he tried to speak to Caden, he held up his hand and walked away. This little showdown already started to affect his and Keeley’s mating. This morning, instead of lounging with his mate, naked, she was over with Dani, trying to help situate little Aiden who’d been fussy all night—a sure sign of the tension radiating between the mated pair. Well, not quite mated pair. If his brother would only pull his head out of his ass long enough to see Danielle instead of the taint Simon placed over her.
He stepped out onto the porch and found Jace sitting on the wicker couch they’d bought from Mrs. Martin’s shop several years ago. The worn, rickety furniture piece probably should have been thrown out last summer, but he couldn’t quite force himself to do it yet. Maybe next year.
Jace stared across the creek at the house. A few months ago, it had been vacant. Had been that way for a few years. Crazy to think new tenants would cause such a stir with their presence. His brother lifted the mug in his hand to his lips, blew on it, then took a sip. The pensive way he stared, along with scent of longing and loneliness, disturbed Kalkin. He could smack the man, but he doubted it would change a thing. Jace could have what he had if he’d make a move. Claim their dispatcher and his lover as his mates, and start a life together. He didn’t have to be alone, and he didn’t have to hide.
“What you thinking about?” he groused, glancing back at Dani’s home.
“How stupid our brother is,” Jace answered. “How long has Keeley been there?”
“A couple of hours.”
Jace grunted. “You’d think he’d learn by now. If he doesn’t speak up, he’s only hurting himself and the rest of us.”
Pot, meet kettle. “Sure enough. I hope she kicks his ass. It would serve him right.” Kalkin took a sip of his coffee. “How'd things go during the full moon?”
His brother didn’t answer. Never seemed to. It’d been this way for years. Blake belonged in their pack as well, but due to their, whatever-the-hell-they-wanted-to-call-it, they didn’t seem comfortable showing their bond in public. In fact, Blake lived almost on the border of Arizona and New Mexico, to keep prying eyes from questioning their relationship.
Kalkin didn’t care. If they were gay and mates, great. Congratulations. If they were bi-sexual and mates, even better. Hell, he smelled Jace’s lust when it came to Loraine, so he knew his brother wanted her something desperate, yet he continued to follow the same line as Caden. He finished his coffee and headed for the door. He had to get ready for work. Keeley would come find him later, he knew it.
He stepped back inside and went through the motions of getting ready for work. They still had to talk. As much as she gave over to him—sweetly, too—it didn’t mean she completely trusted him. She still held back. He’d like to say he understood her hesitation, and he’d willingly wait for her to open up, but something about the other day with Simon rubbed him the wrong way. The whole setup did. However, until she talked to him, there was nothing he could do to assuage her fears or help her.
Trust for him was a two-way street.
First, he had to deal with Caden.
When he exited the house, his twin stood beside the sheriff SUV, staring at the house across the creek. His gaze narrowed, his focus sharpened, what or why Kalkin didn’t have a clue until he saw Keeley marching across the bridge carrying Aiden in her arms. Caden didn’t even flinch when she scowled at him, nor when she curled her lip and carried the pup over to Kalkin.
“I will be watching my nephew for the morning so Danielle can sleep,” she huffed before stomping up onto the porch. “If you know what’s good for you both, you won’t come back 'til you knock some sense into your twin.”
He didn’t have a chance to zing a retort back at her, that she hadn’t slammed the door in both of their faces. Kalkin glanced over at Caden who continued to watch the house. Though he might not come out and say his little mate was right, in this situation, he could. Whatever his brother had done threatened his budding mating with Keeley, and he wouldn’t stand for it.
“What the fuck did you do?”
Caden stared at him before easing into the vehicle beside him. “Who said I did anything?”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Kalkin snorted. “You obviously did something. Danielle hasn’t slept a wink.”
Caden grunted.
“She’s not pregnant,” he said, pulling out of the driveway. “You’d smell it on her.”
“How do we know she didn’t terminate it? How do we know everything they are saying is the truth and he’s lying?”
Kalkin slammed on the breaks. “Are you saying my mate is lying?”
“I’m saying, we don’t know the whole truth,” Caden growled. “They came in here, set up house and have been leading us around by our dicks. Meanwhile, a guy shows up, knows everything about them, including stating he was married to Danielle, and she carries his child.”
“They’re not married either.” Kalkin held onto his control by a thread.
“Yeah, and Keeley is a hacker. She knows how to delete their digital footprints. How do you know she didn’t erase the marriage, too?”
The air rushed out of Kalkin. A hacker? They hadn’t talked about what she did for a job, but hacking systems didn’t fit with the person he knew. “You’re mistaken.”
“Yeah, well, the reason nothing happened between Dani and me is because I found a room in their home no one but Keeley could access. When I asked about it, Dani told me what it was.”
His insides twisted. Memories of the day he walked up on
Keeley and Dani sitting out front of the diner eating their lunch assailed him. She’d been so quick to slam her laptop shut when he arrived. What the fuck had she been doing? His stomach dropped, could they have gotten it all wrong? Was Dani on the run like Simon said?
No. He refused to believe his mate lied to him. Perhaps she didn’t tell him the whole truth, but she wouldn’t lie. “We saw them with our own eyes, brother. They were battered. Beaten to a pulp, no way they faked it.”
“I don’t think they faked it; however, I don’t believe they’re telling the whole truth either.” Caden stared out the windshield. “We’re missing something.”
The sun glared off the road in front of them as they drove through the middle of town. It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet, and already the shops were opening, readying for the coming day. The festival ended on a high note, those humans who came to enjoy the town celebration either left oblivious to everything or stayed, learning to grow accustomed to their new lives as members of the pack.
“There’s a logical explanation for it. I won’t believe my mate has any nefarious intentions when it comes to this pack or our mating. I think everything with Mackenzie and Marjorie fucked you up in the head and now you don’t even trust yourself let alone a potential mate.” Nevertheless, he couldn’t stop the niggle of worry creeping through his veins. What if everything Kalkin knew about Keeley—which wasn’t much—had been a fabrication? An utter and complete lie?
“Don’t bring up Mac,” Caden growled. “He has nothing to do with the fact we have a damn hacker in our pack, as your mate. She could have done all sorts of things. What if she knew about us or you? Or—”
“Careful, brother. You might very well be my twin, but I won’t hesitate cutting you down for attacking my mate.”
“I figured you’d say something stupid,” he groused. “Your head is stuck in mate mode when I am thinking of our family. Seem to be the only one these days. We have too much danger surrounding us, and now, we have to add another variable.”
As soon as Kalkin stopped the truck near the front of the sheriff’s department, Caden jumped out. He’d pushed his brother hard. It caused him to lash out at Kalkin, say things his brother wouldn’t normally say or do, but it also left gut-twisting lingering questions. Later you’ll get the answers. Right now, you have to concentrate on work and make sure Simon doesn’t get close to the girls.
As he stepped out of the vehicle, Logan approached him from the eastern side of the building. He appeared a little long in the tooth. Two days’ worth of scruff covered his cheeks. His eyes were bloodshot and tired. “I’m glad you’re here.” Even his voice held a note of weariness to it.
“What’s going on? Everything okay?”
Logan rubbed the back of his neck. “Describe okay.” He held his hand up. “Sorry. Stupid question. Simon is still here. There is a woman staying with him and from the sounds of it, she enjoyed herself through the festivities.”
“I fucking knew it.” Married, his fucking left nut. The stench of Simon’s lies when he opened his mouth the first time had been enough to gag Kalkin. This time, though, he’d fucked up. The bastard let his guard down. “Anything else?”
He nodded. “They left yesterday, went east toward New Mexico. Sage followed as best as she could without getting caught. But, she lost them on an old two-lane road. The assholes had to have known she was there.”
“Shit,” Kalkin grumbled. “At least you got good intel. Go home and sleep. Come back tomorrow morning. Where’s Sage?”
“Already home. I wouldn’t let her do anything else.”
“Good.” He nodded to his deputy before striding for the office door. “Oh, Logan.” He stopped, bracing his hand on the door. “I might need you to keep an eye on Danielle and Aiden for a bit tomorrow. I’ll let you know.”
“The pup doing well?”
“He’s fine.” His new mom, not so much. “Just, be ready.”
“Will do.”
After the way he left things with Caden, he didn’t want to chance his brother leaving them alone in the house and Simon getting froggy. At least if Logan watched over them, he could ward off any would be attacks.
Kalkin stepped inside the sheriff’s department. The blare of phones ringing and people talking caught him by surprise. Caden sat at his desk, going over incident reports from the weekend while he and Danielle were gone, while two of his other deputies helped Loraine out with the calls. He figured most of it would be simple stuff. A county as big as Apache was bound to have other issues besides wolves and asshole psychic bounty hunters.
Sitting in the chair directly across from him wearing a shit-eating smile was their resident pain in the ass kid, Nico Lopez. His hands were behind his back, cuffed. Kalkin shook his head. The fourteen-year-old kid didn’t mean any harm, but as one of the pups without a family, he sure did get into more trouble than he was sometimes worth. “What did you do this time?”
“Why does everyone assume I’m the bad guy?” he chuckled.
Kalkin narrowed his eyes.
“Fine,” he sighed. “I caught Jeremy and Paul messing around with Mrs. Martin's shop, but when I tried to stop them, she latched onto me instead of them.” He glanced up at Kalkin. “They said something about the Quincy pack.”
Shit. Of all the days…he didn’t need this crap on his plate, too. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll let you go, but you have to do me a favor in return.”
The kid’s eyes brightened. “Anything.”
“See where they’re meeting and report back to me. Even if you think it’s stupid, let me know. In return, I’ll talk with Mrs. Martin. Deal?”
Nico turned in his chair, showing Kalkin his hands. “Deal.”
Kalkin returned home as the sun touched the horizon. Caden decided to spend the evening at the station, needing to put space between him and Danielle. Plus, he was going to wait to see if Nico returned with any updates on the Quincy pack. Even though he gave Caden the information Logan passed along, it didn’t sway him. He’d been convinced Danielle and Keeley were hiding something big between them. And, with the stupid shit going on with Raymond Quincy, he didn’t blame his brother. The pack would continue to be the bane of their existence, especially where Mac, their eldest brother, was concerned.
Fucking asshole. Why’d he have to be so goddamned stupid?
The answer was simple.
A stupid fucking wolf who tickled his dick the right way and Mac fell hard for her. Gave her a pup, too, which she discarded. Royce had been the reminder of what happened when they trusted the wrong people. Nevertheless, Keeley wasn’t the same as Marjorie. She didn’t have a nasty bone in her body, nor had she been the least bit bitchy. Sure, she hid, but after what she and Danielle endured, who could blame them? Who could blame her?
He’d get Keeley to tell him the truth, no matter the outcome, and he’d relay it to Caden. A stupid agreement, because he had a feeling she wouldn’t tell him anything he didn't already know. Except, he couldn’t help but wonder if there’d been more to what she and Danielle had gone through.
He hoped to hell it didn’t backfire in his face.
He pulled up to the house and threw the vehicle into park. Jace sat on the porch, bottle of beer in his hand, another one waiting beside him, probably for Kalkin. His brother stared out at nothing, most likely lost in his thoughts. He did it a lot lately; unfortunately, Kalkin could only help them one at a time. After getting out of the truck, he stepped up onto the porch and drew his brother’s attention away from whatever he’d been concentrating on.
“Hey, Keeley said she’d be with her sister 'til later, but if you wanted her, come get her.” He shook his head before scowling. “I’m not your human memo boards.”
He laughed. “No, you’re not. Thank you, though.”
As if on cue, Keeley appeared on the bridge striding toward them. She didn’t seem happy, and he didn’t blame her. They had shit to hash out, including who she’d really been before she arrived in Window Rock and
why she felt the need to keep it from him. However, he also realized she’d need to vent about Dani.
“Hey,” Kalkin called, raising his hand in greeting.
A small smile tugged at her lips. “Hey, yourself.” She stepped up to him.
“How’s Danielle and Aiden?” He leaned in and kissed her.
“Better now. I think.” She frowned. “I’m lying. I don’t really…” She sighed. “Can your brother be less cruel to her?”
Kalkin urged her to the door. “I think I figured out what happened, but we should talk about this in private.”
“Sure.” If she had any inkling of what he’d expected from her, she didn’t show it. “Where do you want to talk?”
He kicked the door closed, then pushed her against it, holding her there as he ravished her mouth. Fuck, even with the full moon waning, the magnetic pull to his mate grabbed him by the balls and all rational thought fled from him. He could use this to his advantage. He shoved the flowy material of her shirt away from her flesh, allowing the heat of her skin to warm his palms. He groaned into the kiss when he found her large, round breasts unbound and her nipples hard. He teased the peaks with the tips of his fingers, first grazing the points, then plucking them until she cried out, writhing against him.
“Fuck, you make me lose my head,” he muttered across her lips. “Come on.” He palmed her ass and lifted her. He loved her lush curves, the way they contoured to his body when he held her close.
She locked her legs around his waist and the heat of her sex seared him. He missed this. The whole day he’d been trapped in his thoughts of what if. What if he’d made a mistake? What if he'd picked the wrong mate? However, holding her as he did, those questions disappeared and a sense of rightness settled over him. There were always logical explanations to every situation.
He carried her up the stairs to his room, and then slammed the door. “Get naked. Now.” He put her down on the bed. “Don’t fuck with me either.”
