Kraig's Kat

by Brigit Aine

  “Okay, now that that is out of the way…” Ethan’s amused tone brought Kat back to her senses. She glanced around and saw sympathy and laughter on the women’s faces and pride in the men’s. The sympathy was easy to figure out as these were women dealing with the same kind of man as Kraig. The pride, well, not knowing a lot about people or werewolves, Kat thought it might just be male bonding. There was plenty of time to talk with the others about the kind of men they had chosen, but Kat wanted the opportunity to discuss things with Kraig first, as there seemed to be life-changing decisions being made. Katherine was the kind of person who dealt with challenges head on when she could. Right now though, there were too many things happening for her to be able to take this on. First things first—getting rid of Christopher.

  “Kat,” Cassie said, interrupting her thoughts. Katherine knew that Cassie could feel her emotions pouring from her despite the conscious effort of keeping her calm. “Let’s formulate a simple plan for now and you and Kraig can walk back to your house. We can meet again later, to go over a more detailed plan to help keep you out of danger. After you get some more boxes unpacked and chat with Kraig, about…well… things.”

  Kat knew Cassie was in tune with her and getting home was the best thing that could happen. She would be safe and able to be alone to talk with Kraig, which was what Kat wanted more than anything else right then.

  Nodding her assent, Kat sat back and waited to hear what the others, her friends, had to say. She was also able to have a better view of Kraig from this position and intended to make good use of it. Perusing the rest of him, now that she wasn’t as entranced with his eyes, wasn’t exactly a hardship and Kat wanted to make sure that, before they were alone and all her good sense fled, she had a chance to look long and hard at the man she knew was going to be with her every step of the way on this journey and probably the rest of the journeys to come.

  Clearly, Kraig knew her new position put him into her line of vision and that she was checking him out as he chose that moment to flex his thigh muscles as he stretched out in the chair, waiting for Ethan and Jared to come up with a plan for that moment. Kat saw that he was a little anxious, despite the relaxed pose, and his eyes were on Ethan and Jared, as if waiting for them to say or do something. As the Alpha, Kat supposed that Ethan had the most control, and Kraig had to wait for Ethan to decide when to tell the rest of them what was going on.

  “Since I was going to suggest round the clock police coverage in some fashion, and Kraig here has taken a shine to the job already,” Ethan smirked at Kraig who just smiled back, “I suppose until dinner, when we all meet up again, Kraig can stay with Kat. Jared and I will walk back to her shop with them. We need more protection when she is out on the street, since no one is clear on exactly what is going to happen. Red, why don’t you make something up to go with dinner that will help us all feel more alert and Cassie, when you are done here, and Jared comes back, you can take a walk through town, see if you pick up on anyone who is anxious or worried for an unknown reason. Jared can keep his nose to the wind while you are doing your thing.”

  Looking at Kat, Ethan said, “That is one of the nicer things about a small town and being the Sheriff. I know everything.”

  She laughed. “I think it is all the spies you have enlisted,” she said and he grinned at her, a big toothy grin that reminded her of the fairytale Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. She stopped laughing as realization dawned on her. “Oh my goodness,” Kat started laughing again and couldn’t stop. “Red and her wolf. That is amazing.” She managed to sputter out.

  Ethan, Jared and Kraig all leaned forward and looked at her as if she had done something wrong. “Ssshhhh, Kat.” Kraig hushed her and began looking around to see if anyone had noticed what she said. “Not everyone knows our secret. Even in a town like Torrent, our talent would be something unique.” Still looking around, he glanced back over at Ethan and Jared who were also looking around the bakery. When all three were satisfied that no one had overheard her, they gave each other discreet nods sitting back and relaxing in their chairs.

  “Gotcha. Okay. But we will talk more when no one is around?” Kat asked Kraig, who just nodded once and held her eyes. She didn’t want him to think that this was going to just blow over, but understood that this wasn’t something to discuss in public.

  “That takes care of one problem,” Katherine turned to Red who was both speaking and laughing at Cassie at the same time. Kat cocked her head to one side in question. “I don’t have to break it to you like I did to Cassie here.” Cassie pretended to glare at Red and swiped her with the towel she had brought from the counter. Their comedy act helped bring the tension that had spiked back down. Even with Cassie’s talent the tension had been almost palpable.

  “I am also going to contact Deena.” Katherine saw Ethan look over at her as he said the new name. “She is our computer expert and I want her to try and track your dad’s movements so we can see if he knows where you are or is looking for you.” Katherine nodded at Ethan as he spoke. That made sense to Kat. Her movements had always been reactionary, after Christopher had found her. Now though that there were people to help and who knew what they were doing, Kat was going to be able to prepare for her next meeting with him.

  Katherine looked over at Jared as Ethan was talking to see his reactions to the plan. Jared chose then to speak up. “Ethan, maybe we should have Deena come out for a visit and see if she can rig up a security system, or if she knows someone who can. It wouldn’t hurt for all of us to have some up-to- date technology at our homes and shops. And goodness knows the department could use some updating both in security and computers.”

  “Great idea–we’ll have an added level of security for warning. For now, why don’t we head back down to Kat’s Place.” Ethan’s voice had a touch of excitement in it now and Kat could tell he was a man who wanted to always be prepared and know what was going on– much like a Boy Scout, she thought.

  Kat’s smile widened when everyone looked at her as Ethan had placed the emphasis on the title. “That is a great name, Ethan. I am going to try and open a tarot reading shop next to the house and I may have to call it that. Although,” she gave a sly smile and look to Kraig that she knew had him sitting up straighter, “now that you have put Kraig there all the time, I may have to come up with something that includes him in the title.” Watching everyone turn to look at Kraig was worth making the comment.

  * * * * *

  Kraig was blushing as everyone looked at him and laughed at what Kat had said, but his inner animal was so happy it sat up and howled. The fact she could make his animal happy was unexpected. Kraig didn’t have as tight a hold over the wolf instincts that and he began to shimmer as the animal tried to come out and meet Katherine.

  Kraig was trying to get a hold of both sides of himself, but he was losing. “Kraig.” Ethan’s voice was very distant. However, Kraig’s wolf noticed the alpha tone immediately and that helped to keep it somewhat in control. Kraig still felt he was losing the battle to change.

  “Oh wow.” The awe in Kat’s voice as she saw him beginning to shimmer with the change managed what Ethan’s hadn’t. Kraig knew he couldn’t shift for the first time in the café with Kat there. He had to make it special. With willpower he didn’t know he had, Kraig got a hold of his inner beast and pushed it back down deep inside.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize how the emotions and decisions would affect the wolf.” Kraig wasn’t looking at his Alpha as he spoke. He knew he could be punished and indeed deserved to be punished for what just happened. Even in Torrent the pack couldn’t be careless with their animals.

  “Look at me.” Ethan’s tone created no defiance and Katherine recognized it as the same tone he had used when Kraig had approached the table earlier. It was stern and compassionate at the same time. Kraig looked up. “You know the rules. When this case is over, you will report to me at the station. I do understand you weren’t prepared, and there will be leniency. Perhaps onl
y two days of paperwork instead of five.”

  Kraig sighed and nodded to Ethan. “Thank you.” It could have been worse. There could have been actual Alpha punishment, but Kraig knew Ethan tried to be as fair as possible.

  * * * * *

  Kat had watched the entire proceeding with curiosity. She quickly figured out from the expressions on the faces of the others, Kraig was starting to change and this was forbidden. Hadn’t they just told her they still weren’t public? She also saw the understanding in Ethan as he spoke with Kraig. It was obvious she had been right earlier and Ethan was obviously the Alpha here in Torrent. Kat also realized there had to be some consequence for Kraig’s lack of selfcontrol. She felt bad she had been the cause of it. Kat was glad to know Ethan was a compassionate leader who used his human side as well as his wolf to govern his pack.

  She felt that she should step in, given that she had just caused the rebuke. “I think perhaps I should get Kraig somewhere we can talk privately. There are some things we need to sort out and I would like to get home for the conversation, so there are no more consequences given.”

  At that, everyone began to stand up and move away from the table. Red and Cassie began collecting the dishes. They each kissed their men goodbye and headed back behind the counter and to the kitchen. Red looked back over her shoulder. “Kat, good luck and remember if you need advice or want to know what he won’t tell you.” She gave a wicked grin, “I would love to fill you in on it. Oh and trust me, there will be plenty he won’t tell you and some he may even not know himself. But Cass and I, we have lots of experience.”

  Cassie chimed in, “Oh yeah, girl talk on wolfboys… what could be more fun?” Kat laughed. “I think we will be having those for years to come ladies.” There was a light heartedness amongst them all as Kat and Kraig, followed by Jared and Ethan, walked out the door of the bakery, not realizing that trouble was brewing faster than they expected.

  Chapter Three

  Damned girl had escaped. How had she managed to get away from him this time? He was sure he had had her covered. Grabbing his cell phone off the massive oak desk in front of him, he flipped it open with a snap of his wrist. The light caught the pearl cuff as he did this and he smiled as he looked at it. He enjoyed expensive things. The people who were mingling in the other room didn’t want to mess with him– he would crush them and his appearance told them so. His Armani silk suit and the ever present scowl on his face showed he meant business. Never one to mince words, or give false hope, most who had done business with him found themselves respecting him out of fear for their livelihoods. Of course, it would have been easier if the damn girl were there. She could have told him right away who he could trust and who he should start tearing down immediately. Now he had to try and figure it out himself.

  “Grayson.” The tone on the other end was aggravated.

  “Where is she? How did you lose her?”

  “I’m not sure, sir. My men were unable to follow her when she left the townhouse. They

  swear they didn’t see her leave and they never saw the car pull out of the garage. Unless she has some sort of secret entrance you didn’t tell us about, she must have done something to disable the tracking devices we had on her car. I’m working on tracing her credit cards and bank accounts now.”

  “When you find her, I want to know where she is. This time, do it yourself. I do not want a screw up. When you find her, we will both go and collect her. This time I will be there.” He closed the phone with a snap. This time, he wasn’t going to make any mistakes. She belonged to him and he would be damned if he would let her escape. He thought about how he would crush her for leaving his side. She didn’t have a right to anything outside of what he wanted her to have.

  * * * * *

  Grayson threw his phone across the room, when the dial tone beeped in his ear, and growled. He hated working for that man. He was a strong being in his own right and he didn’t have to take this job. He was going to fire the girl at the front desk, who thought he should investigate every missing person case that walked through the door. Or at least hire someone who knew how to look past the money. Snarling again, he began pacing in his office. The missing girl had done nothing wrong other than not wanting to be used. Grayson could sympathize. It was why he worked on his own and not for someone else. His own secrets made it such that he couldn’t work closely with anyone outside of his clan, for fear they would try to use him for their own gain.

  He would find her, but he’d be damned if he’d let the old bastard have her. He would figure out a way to protect her, if she hadn’t already done it herself. She was resourceful if she had managed to fool his guys, so hopefully she had found someplace safe to lock herself down. His computer beeped and he saw that he had a hit on her bank accounts. Great. He clicked on the button, revealing her location – Torrent. Wherever the hell that was. Well, he would take his time researching it before he decided to call the old man or take a trip.

  Chapter Four

  Once the men had walked her back to her house, Ethan was going to the station and Jared was going to go get Cassie for a walk around town. They were also going to call Deena and see if they could track Kat’s dad, like he was surely tracking her. Kat watched them walk back towards the center of town from her front window. Even though she was in her own house now with Kraig, with all of these great people surrounding her life and offering to help her, the wonderful feeling she had this morning was still with her. Her emotions had settled, even knowing she was going to have to face her dad or whomever he sent after her. Now she wasn’t by herself and that thought alone was enough to give her the courage to do it. She had always been on her own and now, now she had friends and maybe the prospect of a boyfriend. She smiled at the thought and turned to find Kraig watching her. He was standing perfectly still, his eyes almost glowing as he stared at her.

  “You should be away from the window,” he growled. “If he is as mad as you say he is, he may try to hurt you.”

  Sighing, Kat knew she was going to have to talk with him about his protectiveness. After all, she had been on her own a long time and had been just fine. “Kraig, just because something weird happened between us at the bakery,” she started, but just as she was going to go into her overprotective speech and get herself all wound up, she found herself off the floor and his arms around her waist. He had just lifted her until they were at eye level. Not a small distance.

  “I am here to protect you and I will do that until my last breath. You know it was more than ‘something weird,’ do not degrade it that way. When I am excited or agitated like this, the wolf runs close to the surface, like in the bakery. I know you want to be independent, but please, let me do this for the moment, or I may lose control again and you will meet the wolf before we talk rather than after.

  Kat pondered what he had just said, but decided she was a grown up and wouldn’t worry about what her actions might do to his wolf. Crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out at him, Kat thought she was being very grown up, given the statement he had just made. She giggled to herself until she felt her tongue being sucked into his mouth. Kat felt she might pass out from the pleasure as she began to feel light-headed. Her tongue and lips seemed to become separated from the rest of her as they kissed him back.

  Kraig couldn’t help himself. When she stuck her tongue out, it was too much for man or wolf to resist. As she kissed him back, he felt her mold her body to his and try to get her as close to him as possible. His wolf growled and wanted more. Kraig walked her over to the couch and sat, placing her on his lap. His hands were crawling over her back and he wanted to strip her clothes off and feel her skin against his. The thought was more than he could bear since he knew they really needed to talk right then, not get naked. With that willpower he had only just learned he had, Kraig pulled his mouth from hers and slowed his hands down.

  Kat put her head on his shoulder and tried to slow her breathing. Thank goodness one of them had the sense to pull away. If he hadn�
��t stopped, she didn’t know if she could have. It was by far the sweetest, hottest kiss she had ever experienced and Kat was in shock. As her breathing began to feel almost normal, Kat put her hand up on Kraig’s other shoulder. “Wow.”

  “For a first kiss, not bad, huh?” Kat could hear the underlying chuckle in Kraig’s voice and feel the laughter in his chest. She just enjoyed the chance to lay there and feel his heart steady under her ear. Knowing there were things they needed to discuss, she took the first move.

  “So what were all those things we were going to talk about?” Kat asked in a soft voice, hating to break the moment they were having. It felt good to just be held and taken care of – it had been so long since anyone had made her feel safe. She could barely remember when her father would hold her and tell her the nightmares she had weren’t real and he would protect her forever. Now he was the boogieman chasing her in her dreams and he was very much a reality in her world.

  “Well, first we need to make sure the house is secure. So we each have our things to do, like staying away from the windows for you and double checking all the locks for me. I’m sure Ethan and Jared are getting Deena to identify whomever it is your father has tracking you, but I want to make sure, even if someone does show up here, that you are safe. Then if you are up for it, I thought you might like to meet my wolf.”

  There was some anxiety in his last statement. “I would be honored to meet your wolf, if he would like to meet me.” Hoping she sounded like someone who was excited to meet the wolf inside of the man she just kissed, Kat looked at Kraig.

  “Okay then. I am going to go around to all the windows and doors and check the locks. You can walk with me if you want or if there is something you would rather do, that is fine too. I don’t want you to feel you can’t go about doing the everyday things. Your routine is still important to you.”