Chapter 3
Elise woke with a start from a deep sleep and blinked in confusion at her unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn’t her bedroom. Where was she? A noise from the foot of the bed drew her attention and she was greeted with the rear view of a very well-built and very naked male. The sight stunned her before she remembered recent events. She was in a cabin with her new mate, Kane. The past twenty-four hours hadn’t been a bad dream. She let her head sink back onto the pillow and silently studied the man who was getting dressed before her. Muscles rippled across his back and his taut buttocks. His legs were long and sturdy, also giving evidence of his strength. As his lower anatomy disappeared from view under a pair of briefs, he glanced her way and caught her watching him.
“I see you’re awake.”
“Uh-huh. What time is it?” Her voice was raspy, her throat still tight from her earlier emotions.
“Almost noon. You must have been tired after our run.” He turned to grab a shirt and she noticed a long scar on his side, its pink colour indicating that it was still fairly new. She vaguely recalled seeing it last night.
“What happened to your side?”
Kane barely glanced down at the mark. “Nothing. Just a scratch from a fight.” “That’s more than a scratch. Who was the fight with?”
“Another Lycan named Ryne.” Kane shrugged as if to dismiss the matter and stepped into his pants. The scar appeared to have come from a serious injury, not the result of a minor scuffle. Not sure why it suddenly mattered to her, she hitched herself up against the headboard and pressed for more information. “Why were you fighting?”
Kane sighed and finished doing up his zipper before turning and facing her, his arms crossed in resignation. “You aren’t going to leave this alone, are you?”
“No. I have an inquiring mind.” She gave him a smirk that indicated she wasn’t planning on backing down. He might be her Alpha, but she wasn’t going to let him walk all over her—she’d come to that decision earlier in the morning—and there was no time like the present to start showing that she had a backbone, especially since she still had home turf advantage.
“Well, in that case, I suppose I should tell you. Otherwise you might ask questions of the wrong people and end up with some incorrect information.” He rubbed his hands over his face then walked to the window and stared outside while speaking. “As you know, I’m the new Alpha of my pack. Our previous leader, Zack, was killed in an accident. Ryne and I were both Betas. Half of the Elders favoured me as the new Alpha and half wanted Ryne.”
“So, it went to a pack vote?”
“Usually that’s what would have happened, but Ryne pulled out the old rules and declared a challenge.”
“A challenge?” She sat up straight and shuddered. “That’s not done anymore. It’s ridiculous! We’ve evolved beyond that.” Two wolves fighting to the death for the leadership was barbaric.
“I agree, but he was within his rights.” “So...what happened?”
“We fought. I won.”
“Did you...kill him?” She almost hated to ask the question. The idea that her mate could kill a fellow Lycan was sickening.
“No. It was a long drawn out fight and both of us were pretty beaten up by time it was over. He made an impulsive move. I pinned him down and could have crushed his windpipe, but instead let him go.”
“And where is he now? Did he stay in the pack?”
Kane shook his head. “Ryne chose to leave. I told him he could stay we’d been packmates for years but he said he wasn’t going to grovel in front of me. He was bitter and said some crazy things.” He paused and shrugged, but the tone of his voice when he spoke again belied his outward lack of concern. “In the long run, it’s probably best he’s gone. There would have been too much division in the pack if he’d stayed.”
“And is the pack united behind you now? Even Ryne’s supporters?”
“Yes. The pack mentality still runs through all our blood. The strongest member is the leader and we instinctively accept that.” He raised his chin as he spoke, an Alpha’s confidence showing in his stance. “I proved myself and the others are at peace with the results.”
She considered what he’d told her. It must have been an awful position for him to find himself in; forced to fight someone who, quite likely, had been a friend for years. She was glad he’d shown mercy to the challenger. It spoke well for the kind of mate he would be.
Kane was watching her, one brow cocked, perhaps wondering what her reaction was to his tale. She gave him a nod. “I’m glad you won and that you healed well from your fight.”
“Thanks. It was a few weeks ago; all water under the bridge now.” Flashing a smile at her, he seemed to relax, almost as if her reaction had mattered to him. He wandered back to the dresser and picked up his watch. “You need to get up and get dressed. We’ll be leaving in an hour.”
“Leaving?” She couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.
“Uh-huh. I need to return to my pack. It’s not that far but I want to get back in good time so that you can see your new home before it’s dark.” Grabbing his jacket, he left. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself. In an hour she’d be leaving the only home she’d ever known, leaving all the people she’d grown up with. She’d be joining a new pack, be surrounded by new faces. The only person she’d know would be Kane, and he was still the next best thing to a stranger to her. Once again, her stomach clenched as she slowly climbed out of bed and prepared to follow him. A short while later, Elise stood in the doorway of her old bedroom. All her possessions had been packed for her and the room was now bare, almost as if she’d never lived there.
Slowly, she entered, her steps echoing in the nearly empty space. She touched the mattress, smoothed the pillow, then ran her hand over the white dresser and pulled open a few random drawers, checking if anything had been left behind. They were empty. The packers had been efficient it seemed. Peeking into the closet, only one lonely hanger remained on the rod, forgotten and forlorn in the flurry of activity that had no doubt overtaken the room.
How could her whole life be gathered up and stuffed into a few boxes in such a short period of time? Wandering over to the window, she looked out at the familiar view of the yard and the forest beyond. A reminiscent smile played over her lips as she recalled all the times she’d stared out at the scene below dreaming of the future, planning her life around this small world that she’d grown up in. Leaving had never entered her mind. Instead, she’d envisioned herself blood-bonded to a packmate, raising her pups here, teaching them all the special, secret places in the woods.
Tears threatened and she turned away from the beloved view. Those had been nothing but foolish childhood dreams. She was an adult now with responsibilities that must be faced.
Swallowing hard, she walked to her bed, carefully tugging it away from the wall so that she could feel along the baseboards. There was a loose section and she moved it away, feeling inside the hidden space behind. Was it still there? Surely no one had found it. She reached in further until finally her fingers encountered a soft surface. Pulling it out, she shook the dust off the leather-bound book. It was an old diary; one that she’d kept on and off for years. Lately she hadn’t been writing in it, but she couldn’t leave it behind. Someone else might take over this room in the future and she didn’t want a stranger reading her private thoughts. Tucking the book into the large purse she had slung over her shoulder, she walked to the door. About to leave, she turned and gave the room one last glance before flipping the light switch and quietly closing the door on her childhood. Her chin quivered as she stood in the hallway, but she forced her emotions down. Taking a deep breath, she descended the stairs and went to meet Kane where he was waiting to take her to her new home. The drive was completed mostly in silence. Kane made a few idle comments along the way but seemed content to listen to the radio, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel as he kept time with the music. Elise didn’t feel inclined towards conversation either and was grateful for the songs that filled the quietness of the cab. With her head leaning against the window, she stared unseeing at the passing landscape, lost in thought...
Leaving the house had been hard. Sarah, usually a no-nonsense type of person, had uncharacteristically fussed over her, making her promise to come and visit soon.
“Now remember, just because you’re moving away doesn’t mean we have to lose contact.” Sarah tucked a stray lock of hair behind Elise’s ear. “You can call anytime and I’m sure we’ll find opportunities to visit.”
“I’m sure we will too.” She hugged her tightly knowing she’d miss the woman. While Sarah wasn’t exactly the warm, cuddly type, she’d still done her best to help raise Elise and her brother and sister, providing some of the attention that they missed once their mother was gone.
Jake gave her a one-armed hug, before ruffling her hair. “I’m going to miss you, kiddo. Who will drive me crazy with their non-stop talking now?”
She leaned her head against Jake’s chest, breathing in his comforting scent one last time. She’d always had a fun, relaxed relationship with the easy-going Beta; he was like a favourite uncle who tolerated her questions and teased her unmercifully yet was always there when needed. In many ways, he took the place of her father who always seemed too busy to have time for his youngest child. When she’d been little, her father had played with her or taken her into the woods but that had been years ago when her mother was still alive. With the death of his mate, the Alpha had seemed to withdraw from his children, perhaps too caught up in his own grief to deal with them. Whatever the reason, she had found herself looking more and more to Jake for fatherly attention and, as a result, felt closer to him than her own biological father. She harboured no bitterness about the fact; it was just the way things were.
“I’ll miss you, Jake.” The simple statement was all she could get out due to the sudden thickness of her throat. He nodded at her in understanding and kissed the top of her head. Taking a deep breath, she stepped away and turned to her father. She loved him, but it was a much more formal relationship. He was always the Alpha first and being a father came second. They’d studied each other and then he’d pulled her into an awkward embrace.
“You’ll be fine with Kane,” he whispered in her ear. “He’s a good man.”
She nodded, knowing her father had done what he thought was best, and would never have consented to her going with someone totally unsuitable. Being the Alpha wasn’t an easy position and the needs of the pack had to be considered first; she just wished it hadn’t come at the expense of her own dreams.
Since there was no going back, she’d plastered a fake smile on her face and climbed into Kane’s truck, waving at the other pack members who had gathered outside. Searching the group, she noted Bryan was absent and regretted not seeing him one last time but perhaps it was for the best.
As they pulled out of the driveway, she stared straight ahead. If she had to watch the house slowly disappearing from sight, she knew she’d burst into tears and she didn’t want to show such weakness in front of Kane. It wasn’t that she thought he’d say anything about it, but she had her pride. She wouldn’t be a snivelling, weak mate. There might not be any love between them but at least she’d ensure that he respected her.
As she came out of her reverie, she began to take note of the passing scenery. They’d left her father’s territory some time ago and were now in Kane’s. Would his home be similar to her own? Each pack owned large parcels of land that consisted mainly of wilderness, clearly marked as private property. Within a territory, there was always one main Alpha house where meetings were held and the Alpha and Beta’s families resided. Surrounding the main home were several small cabins where other pack members could live when needed. Many had their own homes located within the territory and a few chose to live in nearby towns with the human population. Packs were generally stable. Occasionally new members would join, but they tended to be close-knit societies and spent a great deal of time at each other’s homes, though the Alpha house was the centre of most activity. At any given time, members could be found lounging about the living room, preparing food in the kitchen or roaming the property. There was never a chance to be lonely.
“How large is your pack?” She broke the silence between them. Kane flicked a look her way. “About the same size as the one you grew up in. Our Alpha house has six bedrooms and four baths, office space, a living room, a large dining area and a kitchen. The basement was recently renovated into a multi-purpose room for meetings with a media centre, pool table, and play area for the young ones.”
“It sounds nice. Who shares the house with you?”
“Besides yourself?” He grinned over at her before returning his attention to the road. “My Beta is John and his mate’s name is Carrie. They’re expecting their first in a few months. Zack’s widow—he was the previous Alpha—she’s continued to stay there as well. Her name is Helen.”
Nodding, she decided having three other people in the house should make things easier. She wouldn’t be alone with Kane all the time—she still wasn’t that comfortable around him—and having two other women to talk to would be good. Hopefully, they’d like her. If Carrie was having her first pup, she’d be about the same age, so maybe they’d have something in common. “There are always people in and out of our house—I mean my father’s house. Is yours similar?”
“Yeah, sometimes it’s a three-ring circus. With you arriving, it will probably be especially busy as everyone stops by to meet you.” She bit her lip, not looking forward to meeting so many new people. Names, and scents and hierarchy placements to remember. It sounded overwhelming. Possibly sensing her trepidation, Kane reached over and clasped her knee. “It will be fine. We’re not as...traditional...as your old pack. They’re a friendly bunch and will be happy to meet you.”
As they got closer to Kane’s home, he offered further explanations as to who the pack members were as well as pointing out areas of interest. There was a medium- sized town nearby that they went to for supplies, though for the most part the pack stayed within their territory. It was heavily wooded and at the farthest point touched her father’s land. Several streams fed a small lake and there was even a waterfall due to ancient, glacier-cut ravines. They stopped once along the way to get gas and then Kane pulled into a small strip mall, explaining that he needed to pick up a few things. She opted to wait in the truck and watched Kane sauntering down the sidewalk. The few people he encountered nodded at him, but none stopped to talk. What was the pack’s relationship with the townsfolk? Were they friendly or did they secretly whisper about the strange group of people who lived outside of town? From her own experience with her pack, she knew that most people were wrapped up in their own lives and didn’t give a great deal of thought to the close-knit group that lived nearby. People thought they were odd, but that was it. No one suspected that a pack of werewolves lived next door.
That hadn’t always been the case. She’d heard tales of packs that had been persecuted by the human population, not because they were werewolves, but because their close-knit society was somehow deemed unnatural. Some packs had even been forced to leave their territory for fear of being discovered. All it took was one or two curious humans to start questioning their lifestyle. She hoped that wasn’t the case here.
Soon Kane returned and stowed his purchases in the back. He climbed into the cab of the truck and smiled over at her, seeming happier and more relaxed now they were closer to his home. It was only natural, of course. No wolf was comfortable if it was away from its pack for too long. By the time they pulled into the driveway that led to Kane’s house, she was a bundle of nerves. She did her best to mask the fact; it wouldn’t do for the others to smell fear on her. As the Alpha’s mate, she had a status to maintain. In ancient times, a weak mate might have been challenged by one of the other females who wanted to usurp her, but that wasn’t done now, and she was thankful for the fact. Being a new pack member would be hard enough without someone wanting to bump her position.
The truck came to a stop in front of a sprawling two storey home that featured a wrap-around porch. Situated in the middle of a large treed lot, there were woods on three sides. As Kane climbed out, the front door opened and people spilled out, calling his name and enveloping him in hugs. She watched the activity from inside the truck, and when it became apparent that it would be a while before Kane could free himself from the crowd, she stepped out of the cab on her own. Hesitantly, she stood by the vehicle, unsure of what to do. Kane looked up and, catching her eye, made his way over to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “Everyone, this is Elise, my mate.”
His announcement caused everyone to stop talking and stare at her. The silence was uncomfortable and she had to force herself not to cower against his side. Tentatively, she smiled at the small crowd and finally a petite, red-haired woman about her age stepped forward with her hand extended. From the size of her belly, she had to be Carrie, the Beta’s wife.
“Hello, Elise. I’m Carrie. Welcome to our pack.” Her voice was calm and friendly, making Elise immediately feel welcomed. Some of the tension in her body began to relax.
“And I’m John, her mate, and Kane’s Beta.” The man was about the same height as Kane, with blond hair and friendly blue eyes.
“I’m pleased to meet you.” She tried to sound confident and shook their hands firmly. After that, everyone started talking at once, stepping forward with greetings until her head was swirling with names. The group moved towards the house and Kane grabbed two of her bags from the vehicle. “Come on inside. The others will bring the rest of your things.” A few of the men immediately headed towards the truck, grabbing the remaining boxes. Kane hadn’t issued a command, but they knew implicitly what he expected and obeyed unquestioningly.
She followed behind Kane until they got to the door. As she was about to walk in, someone hip-checked her and cut in front.
“Excuse me.” A tall, blonde woman threw the comment over her shoulder, blocking the doorway and separating her from Kane.
From the woman’s tone, Elise knew there was no real regret for the action. She searched her mind for a name but then realized that this female hadn’t stepped forward to introduce herself outside.
“Marla.” John growled a low warning to the blonde who was still blocking the doorway.
“Oh. Am I in your way? Sorry, John.” The woman Marla flashed John a smile and sauntered into the house as if nothing had happened. Elise looked at John, but the man shrugged and gave her a tight smile. “That’s Marla. Just ignore her. She has...issues.”
Watching the woman slide up to Kane and rest her hand on his arm while smiling brightly, Elise wondered what the ‘issues’ might be. Somehow, she knew that Marla was not going to be welcoming her to the pack.