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Chapter 2

In the morning Elise awoke to find herself alone in bed. There was dent in the pillow beside her, the covers rumpled confirming the previous night hadn’t been a dream. She and Kane were mated despite the fact there was no love between them.

If it had been Bryan, they would have made a blood-bond, biting each other’s necks to mark the fact that they belonged together. It would have forged a mental connection that would grow throughout their lifetime. Kane had made no move to do this and while she was relieved not to bear his mark, she also was unaccountably miffed by the fact. She would have liked the opportunity to refuse and earn a small victory, proving she was still loyal to Bryan.

With a soft sigh she raised her head and looked around. There was no sign of Kane so she listened carefully, wondering if he was in the next room. All was silent. Well, at least she didn’t have to face him right away, though in some ways getting that first awkward greeting over with might have been nice. Rolling out of bed she made her way across to the bathroom, her feet silent on the soft carpeting.

The previous night she’d been too keyed-up to take in her surroundings, but now she looked around with interest. She seldom visited the cabins but knew her father had recently had them renovated. The decor was natural wood and colonial furnishings with splashes of colour found in the draperies and cushions; it was simple but pleasantly welcoming. The bathroom, while small, contained all the needed amenities . She made use of them then dressed in pants and a T-shirt. She wasn’t sure what the day would hold and was musing about the fact when the door opened and Kane entered the room.

“Good morning, Elise. I heard you in the shower when I came in, so I made some breakfast for us.”

“Oh. Thanks.” She glanced at him, then looked away feeling awkward in his presence.

He extended his arm, ushering her into the kitchenette. The table was set, bacon and eggs, juice and toast waiting. “I wasn’t sure what you liked to eat, but this is what I can cook. I hope it’s suitable.”

“You cooked this?” She looked at him in surprise. Her father had never set foot in the kitchen, always too busy with his work as Alpha.

“I am capable of fending for myself, you know.” He chuckled at her expression and helped her into a chair. “And, I can’t have you undernourished. People might think I don’t know how to take care of you.” This final remark was accompanied by a kiss on her cheek and a casual caress. She froze at the unexpected gesture, but Kane sat down opposite her as if nothing had happened and began serving.

“We’ll need to take a few days to get used to each other, to become acquainted with various likes and dislikes. Is there anything you aren’t fond of eating?” He paused in the middle of scooping up some egg and looked at her enquiringly.

“Um...not really.”

“Good. I’ll eat almost anything myself. Do you like to read? Watch movies?” The meal progressed with Kane asking her questions and her supplying answers. When she didn’t question him in return, he would fill in his own preferences. She had to admire him for the effort he was making. He was being friendly and polite, showing an interest in her. Apparently, he was committed to making their union work. After a while, she began to relax and found herself expanding on her answers. Kane smiled at her, obviously pleased that she was making an effort.

“Our territories adjoin to the east, and with our packs under an alliance, we technically have miles and miles of forest to roam in now,” he explained, leaning back and sipping his coffee. “Personally, I love a good run over rugged terrain. How about you? When I first saw you, it was apparent that you’d just come in from exercising.”

“Yes, I’d been out with...a friend.” The smile that had been on her face faded at the memory. If only she’d known it was to be the last time she would ever be with Bryan, she would have savoured the time even more, storing every sight and sound and scent.

“And this...friend...would he be the young male who was looking daggers at me yesterday? Tall with sandy hair, and about twenty years of age?”

She hesitated but knew Kane could find out from anyone in her pack. Her friendship with Bryan had been no secret. “Yes. That was Bryan. He’d hoped to speak to my father about being my...mate.” She looked away, her eyes misting over.

“And you?” Kane prodded softly. “How did you feel about that?”

Staring at her hands, she whispered her answer. “I... I was hoping for the same thing.”

“I see.” He was silent and then sighed heavily. “I’m not surprised. You’re beautiful and it would be strange if no one in your pack had wanted you.” He continued, seeming to choose his words carefully. “You know, Elise, sometimes our lives have moments of great disappointment. It’s difficult at the time, but we have to move beyond.” He reached across the table and put a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Our union was of great importance to the well-being of both our packs. It’s our duty to them to make this work, agreed?”

His amber eyes bore into hers, the authority of his position evident and, after a moment, she nodded in agreement. He was right. Duty to her pack, and duty to his, necessitated making their relationship work. He stood and extended his hand to her. Hesitantly she reached out, placing hers in his. Warmth enveloped her hand and slowly worked its way up her arm. Smiling encouragingly, he pulled her to her feet.

An hour later, Elise stood at the edge of the forest waiting for Kane. After cleaning up from their morning meal, he’d headed to the pack house to deal with a few pressing matters, saying he’d meet her in half an hour. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to run with him—it had been an activity that she and Bryan had enjoyed together—but knew that she needed to make their union work. Running could turn out to be one of the few things they had in common.

It was another lovely fall day. The trees were painted with orange, red, and gold while the sky was a bright clear blue. Heat from the rising sun was burning off the morning mist but wisps still swirled low to the ground giving everything a faintly magical appearance. She loved this land and knew every square inch by heart. Closing her eyes, she visualized running down the twisting paths, leaping over fallen logs, splashing through streams. It really was the best place in the world and she couldn’t imagine ever being this comfortable or at peace anywhere else.

Inhaling deeply, she let the fresh, crisp air invade her lungs and energize her body. Kane was later than he had thought he’d be and she began to move around restlessly, bending to touch her toes, stretching her arms over her head then twisting side to side.

She glanced towards the house. How much longer would he be? As Alpha, she knew his time would not always be his own, but did that mean that her time must be spent waiting, doing nothing? She stared deep into the woods. The land was calling to her. Did she dare go ahead without him? Her father had expressly forbidden any pack member to go out by themselves. Hunters sometimes laid illegal leg traps and a wolf could be caught and shot before anyone in the pack was aware. That was how her mother had died.

“Good morning.” A voice spoke behind her and she jumped. Spinning around, she saw Bryan standing a few feet away. The sun was shining on his sandy brown hair, giving it a golden glow.

“Bryan!” Her heart leapt with joy and she rushed over to hug him, only to have her friend step away when she was but a foot away. His movement brought her headlong rush to an immediate stop. “Bryan? What’s the matter?”

“What do you mean, what’s the matter? You know what the problem is.”

“No, I don’t.” She shook her head puzzled at the change in her friend. Bryan was usually so happy and easy going. Now he sounded bitter, a scowl marring his normally handsome face.

“You’re mated to Kane. I can smell his scent on you.”

His words cut like a knife into her heart. How could he be so cruel? “You know that wasn’t my choice! The Elders decided on the need for the union. You were at the ceremony yesterday and heard the speeches just as I did.”

Bryan looked away, his mouth tightly compressed. “I know. It’s just...” He seemed to be waging some type of internal struggle, his fists clenching and unclenching. Finally, he sighed deeply, the scowl fading away leaving sorrow in its wake. “I had hoped to be your mate.”

“I know.” She took a step closer and laid her hand on his arm. “I’d hoped for the same thing.” She took his hand in hers. “This union was for the good of the packs, but it doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped caring for you.”

He turned and looked at her, his gaze drifting over her features. “And I still care for you.” He reached out and stroked her cheek, his focus settling on her lips. Silence stretched between them and she realized that he was leaning closer to her, his intention of kissing her evident. Her conscience pricked and she knew she should step away. Bryan wasn’t her mate. Kane was.

Before she could act, a twig snapped behind her and Bryan jumped away, pulling his hand from hers. They both turned to see Kane standing nearby, his eyes narrowing into a glare as he took in the two of them.

“Elise, I’m glad you found a way to keep yourself occupied while I was finishing off pack business.” There was an angry edge to his voice which made her skin prickle with anxiety.

“I... I was talking to Bryan,” she stammered. His expression frightened her and she stepped back.

“So I see.” Kane shot her a brief glance, and then focused his attention on Bryan, a look of disdain on his face. “This is the...friend...you spoke of this morning?”

“Yes, this is Bryan. We’ve been friends since we were young.”

Kane gave Bryan an almost imperceptible nod. “I’m glad you had someone to keep you company while you were waiting. However, it would do your ‘friend’ well to remember that you are now my mate and off limits to all others.”

Feeling her face burn at his innuendo, she tried to defend her actions. “We were just talking, nothing else!”

“I don’t appreciate other males standing quite so close when...talking...to my mate.” The words rumbled from his throat and Bryan retreated, instinctively acknowledging Kane’s dominance.

“Elise, I’d better go. I... I’ll see you around.” Regret laced his voice.

“Yes, I’ll see you around.” Sadness filled her, knowing that it was unlikely Bryan would approach her again. Their friendship was over. Anger bubbled up inside her and she kept her eyes fixed on the retreating figure, while addressing Kane. “You didn’t need to chase him off like that.”

“I didn’t chase him off. I merely let him know that you are my mate now and a proper distance needs to be maintained.”

“He was just—”

“I know what he was just doing,” Kane interrupted sharply. “I could scent his desire for you and I do not share my mate with anyone. We are bonded and you are mine. No other male is allowed to sniff around you.”

“Sniff around me?” She turned to stare at him in outrage.

“Yes. That boy needs to remember you are off-limits before he makes a grave mistake.”

She huffed indignantly. “Kane, you—”

“Elise, this conversation is over.” His tone was firm, implacable. “You are my mate. Bryan will stay away. End of topic. Now, are we going for a run or not?”

She considered leaving in a snit, but she’d be cutting off her nose to spite her face. She loved to run and Kane was right. As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn’t encourage a relationship with Bryan anymore. It wasn’t fair to him. With a brief nod to Kane, she shifted into her wolf form and ran into the forest. The leaves crunched beneath her feet, trees and shrubs a mere blur as she raced past. Leaping over logs, skirting around trunks, she ran for the sheer love of it. Her eyes constantly scanned the horizon as she quickly adjusted her path and pace to suit the terrain. At the same time, she was aware of Kane running behind her. He made no attempt to pass her, but she sensed he was holding back. His breathing was slow and steady, no hint of exertion coming from him.

She quickened her pace, curious to see the limits of the wolf behind her. Within seconds, he had matched his pace to hers, the distance between them remaining constant. Again and again she tested him, running faster and faster yet he never once fell behind nor attempted to overtake her.

He was toying with her. Vexed, she veered off the path heading for rougher terrain. Barrelling over a crest, she headed down a slope, her claws digging into the soil as she sought to gain traction on the slippery, leaf covered ground. At the bottom, a stream meandered along, and she splashed across it, before charging up the bank. Her breathing was ragged now, but she wasn’t about to give in. Intent on jumping over a pile of brush ahead of her, she put on a final burst of speed. Without warning, she found herself knocked to the ground and began to fight the assailant. Snapping and rolling, she kept trying to evade her attacker but to no avail. In a flash Kane had pinned her to the ground, his teeth lightly gripping her throat. Instinctively, she froze and whimpered in submission. Kane held on for a second longer then let go and sat back. As one, they phased into human form. Kane was breathing faster than normal, but he didn’t appear spent. On the other hand, her own chest was heaving as she pulled oxygen in to nourish her starving lungs and protesting muscles.

“Why did you do that?” She panted.

“There’s a leg trap directly ahead of you. A few more yards and you would have stepped in it.”

She turned and scanned the area ahead of her. Sure enough, barely visible in the carpet of leaves was a glint of steel. A shudder passed over her as she thought of her mother, shot to death with her leg caught in such a device.

“Just this morning, scouts reported more poachers had been seen in the area. We’re near the edge of the property so I was on the lookout. Rest here for a minute. I’m going to spring that one and then see what else I can find.”

“I’m coming with you.” She stood, lifting her chin defiantly when it appeared that he’d have her remain where she was.

“Fine but stay behind me.” Kane gave her a warning look before searching for a sturdy stick and carefully pressing it against the trigger of the trap. It was an older model, with sharp metal teeth designed to dig into the flesh of any creature unfortunate enough to step in it. She jumped as the trap sprang shut, snapping the stick in two. Swallowing hard, she thought of how painful it would have been to have her leg caught in such a device. For another half hour they scoured the edge of the property, discovering four more traps before Kane was satisfied that none remained. “We’ll report this to your father when we return, and he can send another set of scouts out to check.” He had gathered the traps into a pile and marked the location so that they could be collected later. Traps were never sprung and then left behind. The hunters would just reset them. At least this way the humans would be out money and time since they’d have to purchase new ones.

“Thank you.” She touched Kane’s arm as he stood up after hiding the traps under some brush.

“For what?”

“For stopping me. I could have snapped a bone if I’d stepped in one of those.” “I’m your Alpha now. It’s my job to watch out for everyone in the pack, but especially you. As my mate, you’re the most important member to me.” He stared at her intently and she flushed.

“Yes, but I should have been more careful. I know these woods. I... I wasn’t paying attention.”

“What were you thinking about instead?”

She hesitated before answering. “You, or to be more precise, I guess I was testing you to see if you’d keep up.”

A crooked smile appeared on his face and he reached out, cupping the back of her head and drawing her in for a quick kiss. “Rest assured, Elise, no matter what you dish out, I will keep up with you.”

Somehow, she knew he was speaking the truth.

They shifted back into wolf form and this time she followed as Kane led the way to the edge of the woods. When they arrived at the cabin, she headed for the bathroom while he went to the house to tell her father about the traps.

The run had left her hot and sweaty and she couldn’t wait to be clean. Leaving her clothes on the bedroom floor, she padded into the bathroom and turned on the water, adjusting the flow and temperature. As the water cascaded down on her, she pondered the morning’s events. Kane had been polite to her, even kind. He’d saved her from severe injury in a leg trap and while he’d been bossy, telling her to follow behind, she couldn’t really fault him. As Alpha, he needed a take charge attitude. His reaction to Bryan had been interesting as well. While he hadn’t been outwardly aggressive, he hadn’t been encouraging of her relationship with the other male either. Was Kane just being instinctively territorial; she was his mate and no one else was allowed near her? Most likely that was the answer. It was too much to expect that he had any feelings toward her beyond a sense of responsibility and ownership. Would it always be this way; Kane showing polite interest in her but spending most of his time working? Would he ever come to care for her, or was she destined for a lukewarm relationship for the rest of her life? If she’d been mated to Bryan, it would have been so different. A wave of sadness washed over her and she turned off the water and wrapped herself in a terrycloth robe. Returning to the bedroom, she flopped down on the bed and curled up into a ball, sniffling as she contemplated her future.

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