He wanted her but he understood. He had been too rough with her and she needed some time to recover. She wasn’t rejecting him.
“We don’t have time anyway. But I wouldn’t mind making Lucien wait for us.”
Kane kissed her gently and rolled off her, stood up. They showered and dressed then met Ellie, Baxter and Georges downstairs. Kane gave Georges directions to Lucien’s house and he sat in the back next to Emma, laced his fingers through hers and held her hand the entire ride.
Chapter 8
When they arrived, Lanie greeted them at the door. She hugged Kane with a knowing smile. Kane smiled sweetly and hugged her back.
Emma felt a sharp pang of jealousy when she saw how Kane responded to Lanie. It was such a tender moment Emma began to doubt Kane’s interest in her, his words of fidelity.
Lanie released Kane and welcomed her guests. She escorted them to the living room, where Nicolai, his mate Delia, and Harley were chatting with Lucien. Kane introduced everyone and they went into the dining room.
There was only room for eight and Emma wondered where everyone would sit. She watched as Lucien pulled Lanie onto his lap and Nicolai did the same thing to Delia. Lanie looked at Emma and smiled, encouraged her guests to sit and enjoy their meal.
Emma noticed that Nicolai fed Delia and she fed him. Lanie and Lucien also fed each other. They seemed to enjoy the intimacy of feeding each other, even though the dining room was full of people, half of whom were strangers.
Lucien shook his head when he noted the wicked gleam in Lanie’s eyes. She smiled mischievously at him and turned to the rest of the table.
“Kane, dear, I think it’s high time that you move out of that hotel room and into a house. Don’t you think so, Emma?”
Kane choked on his food and looked up at Lanie. His eyes pleaded with her not to say anything else to Emma. He looked at Lucien, begging him to stop Lanie. Lucien just shook his head and shrugged. Nicolai burst out laughing and buried his head in Delia’s hair.
Emma wasn’t sure why Lanie asked her about Kane’s lodgings, or why Nicolai was laughing. Did she think they were together? They’d had amazing sex, but that was all, wasn’t it?
“Um, I guess so.”
“So what is it that you do for a living, Emma?”
“I’m a financial advisor. Basically, I help Ellie and her company with their investments.”
“You only work for Ellie and her company?” Emma nodded.
“Do you have a large office, something with a window?”
Emma smiled as she answered, “I do have one, but usually I work from home or Ellie’s. I do most of my stuff on my laptop, so I can pretty much work anywhere.”
“How wonderful!” Lanie said with a smile. “I also can work from anywhere.”
“Oh, what do you do?” Emma inquired.
Lanie chuckled, “If you ask my mate, he’d say I cause trouble.”
Lucien burst out laughing, and so did the other wolves. Except Kane. Kane just shook his head and frowned.
“Um, what’s a mate?” Emma was curious.
“Oh, just the most wonderful thing that can happen, Emma. A mate is a wolf term. It’s like saying husband or wife. For wolves, there’s no formal ceremony and their idea of marriage is forever. There is no divorce. Not that you would ever need one.”
“Oh, why not?” Ellie was suddenly interested in this conversation.
“Because wolves are utterly devoted to their mates, no matter how naughty they are,” Lucien responded, looking pointedly at Lanie. Lanie laughed at his serious expression and caressed his face.
“Males can be very possessive of their mates, but I think it’s rather cute, don’t you agree, Delia?”
Delia nodded and replied, “I think it’s sexy.” She turned to Nicolai and stroked his face, kissed him lightly.
Emma glanced at Kane, who had suddenly found his salad extremely interesting.
“Possessive, huh? Like what, for instance?” Emma asked Lanie as she looked at Kane.
Lanie noticed and smiled, replying, “Well, for example, Lucien would kill any male that tried to take me away from him.”
“Uh-huh.”
Emma raised her brow and looked at Kane, who was deeply involved with his salad.
“From the moment he claimed me, we have been inseparable. Wolves can’t stand to be away from their mates for too long.”
“I see.”
Emma bit her lip and looked at Kane. He was entranced with his salad, his eyes refusing to look anywhere else. If she didn’t know better, she would swear that his cheeks had colored slightly.
“You’re not a wolf, are you?” Emma asked and Lanie shook her head. “Does the same thing apply to you, I mean---“
“Am I possessive and need my mate near me? Yes. I don’t need him near me the same way he needs me, but I find that I don’t like for us to be apart for too long. I love having him near. I find it comforting.”
She ran her fingers through his hair and Lucien chuckled at her answer. He took her hand and kissed her fingers, then her palm. His eyes glowed bright blue in response to her arousal and he growled softly.
“Lucien, give the poor woman a break will you?” Harley shook his head at his Alpha.
Lanie chuckled at Harley’s exasperation, “Lucien, behave. We have guests.”
“Shall I throw them out?” He nuzzled her neck, perfectly serious.
She felt his thick erection under her and bit back a groan. Lanie sighed and stroked his cheek and whispered something in his ear, too low for the others to hear. Lucien sighed and glanced at Kane, who was busily studying his salad. He turned to gaze at his mate and nodded slightly.
Lucien addressed his guests, “Normally I would wait until after dinner to discuss this…situation. However, my mate has a need as do I. She refuses to leave you here while I take care of our need.”
“Lucien!”
He chuckled at her shocked outburst. He never missed an opportunity to make her blush. He held her chin, “IF it were up to me, we would already be in bed. Do you deny this?”
“You are incorrigible!” She buried her face in his neck, refusing to look at her guests. Emma looked at the Alpha couple, surprised that Lucien used the word “need,” like Kane. Must be a wolf thing, she thought.
“Tell me, Ellie, what news do you have about these ‘wolfnappers’?”
“Kane recognized a company logo, so we did some research into the company. It’s called Genesis 23 and works on DNA mapping. To date they have mapped the genome of several different ethnic groups. We suspect they are mapping werewolf DNA as well, since they took blood and tissue samples according to Kane and Reid. Genesis 23’s research division has a contract with the federal government. We don’t know for sure, but we suspect they are working on biological weapons that target specific DNA. Maybe even target your kind. We also found it that it is secretly owned by Steven Ellis.”
Kane’s head snapped up when he heard the name. He turned to Emma, “Is this the same Steven that wants you in Cancun?”
Emma nodded with a frown. He clenched his fists, realizing what the obvious plan would be.
“You’re not going anywhere near him, Emma.” His wolf would never allow another man who wanted her to be near her.
Emma was angry at his commanding tone.
“I’m not thrilled about having to be anywhere near him, believe me, but you can’t order me around!”
“The hell, I can’t.”
“Kane, I’m going to see him and you can’t stop me!”
“Yes, I can.” Kane said, voice tight, body tense, eyes glowing brilliant amber. His wolf would not allow her to endanger herself or to be around another man, especially one that wanted her.
“Kane!” Lanie admonished. She slipped off Lucien’s lap and walked over to him. She put her arms on his tense shoulders and massaged him. He calmed a little.
“Come with me, Kane.”
Lanie pulled away from him and reached for his hand. She tug
ged him into Lucien’s office and closed the door softly behind her.
“I’m happy for you Kane. We both are. But you are going to lose her if you don’t tell her. She’ll be a lot more understanding of your…possessiveness if she knows the truth.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Lanie.”
“Kane, don’t be so stubborn. Why haven’t you told her yet?”
“She’s human.”
“So?”
“Humans don’t feel things the way wolves do. What if she refuses me? What if she leaves me?” His voice broke and Kane sat down, head in his hands.
“She hasn’t refused you so far, has she? She’s still here, at your side, even though I’m sure you’ve been impossible.” Kane looked up at her in surprise.
“I know how you males are. Lucien is my mate, remember? I’m sure you’ve given her a dozen reasons to leave, but have you given her a single reason to stay?”
Kane shook his head and stood.
“You are very wise, Lanie. No wonder Lucien keeps you around. I guess you’re worth the trouble,” Kane teased.
Lanie laughed and hugged him, just as Emma opened the door. She saw Kane smiling with Lanie in his arms and felt a sharp stab of jealousy. She clamped her jaw, pursed her lips, turned around and stomped out of the room, heading to the front door.
“Fuck! Emma, wait!” Kane called after her as he followed her to the front door. He caught up with her outside, grabbed her arm and spun her around. He pulled her into his arms, saw the tears run down her face and smelled the pungent scent of her pain.
“Honey, don’t. Your pain is unbearable to me.” He held her face in his large hands, forced her to look at him.
“You lied to me, you Bastard. You said you’d never touch another. I saw you with Lanie. I know you care for her and she cares for you.” Emma’s voice broke and felt a sharp stabbing pain in her heart.
“Lanie is a very good friend, nothing more. She is mated to my Alpha. Do you really think he would let me live if I wanted his mate?” Emma considered it, thinking of the way Lucien held Lanie in a possessive manner.
“Lanie was giving me some advice and I was thanking her, that’s all. I swear, I have not lied to you.” Kane wiped away her tears with his thumb.
“Advice? A-about what?” she hiccupped.
“About you,” Kane said quietly.
“Me? What do you mean? Why would you need advice about me?”
“How to keep you,” Kane said softly, caressing her face.
Emma was shocked. “Keep… me?”
Kane swallowed the lump forming in his throat and nodded.
“I...I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry for the hurtful things I said to you when we met. I wanted to hurt you before you could hurt me.”
“What? Why would you think….oh, because you thought I’d treat you like a slave or a pet?”
Kane shook his head and released her. He turned away from her, too ashamed to face her.
“From the moment I saw you standing by the fireplace, I knew. I was bound, helpless before you. I am a soldier and couldn’t protect myself. How could I ever protect you? I was a failure as your mate.”
“My what?”
“I knew you wouldn’t want me, so I hurt you on purpose, before you could hurt me.”
“Oh, Kane!”
For such a powerful wolf to be helpless must have badly damaged his ego. He was insecure about his scars, but never about his abilities, his strength. He took pride in being a soldier, a protector. It must have been awful for him to be helpless before his mate. During dinner, she began to suspect it, but the realization hit her suddenly and she was stunned. She was Kane’s mate!
“Kane?”
Kane turned around slowly, gripped her gently by her arms. His eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“A wolf can’t resist its mate. But humans don’t have the same compulsion. Please don’t leave me, Emma. I’ll be good to you. I—” Kane never got to finish his plea because Emma stepped closer to him and kissed him. She slid her arms up his chest and wrapped them around his neck, held him close as she kissed him. His arms wrapped around her waist and he held her close, kissing her just as passionately.
“That’s why you kept insisting you take care of everything for me?” Kane nodded.
“You were driving me crazy because you wanted me?” Emma shook her head in disbelief as Kane nodded.
“So I’m your mate and you are mine?” Emma inquired.
“Always,” Kane stated without hesitation.
Emma wasn’t quite sure what she felt. Relief? Perhaps. She was glad that Lanie didn’t want Kane and that Kane didn’t want Lanie. Kane wanted her, and that made her ecstatic. The things he said and did that drove her crazy suddenly seemed sweet, even a little bit romantic in a Neanderthal sort of way.
“Shall we go back inside? The sooner we finish this, the sooner I can take you home, mate.” Emma smiled at Kane and nodded at her mate.
Chapter 9
Kane held Emma’s hand and they walked back into the Alpha’s home. They walked back into the dining room and sat down in their previous seats. Lanie was sitting comfortably on Lucien’s lap, and he was absently caressing her knee. Lanie looked worried and Kane smiled at her.
“Thank you Lanie. I’ll forgive you this evening’s torment if Lucien promises to punish you.”
“Done!” Lucien said with a wicked grin. The other wolves just groaned.
“Please let it wait until after we leave!”
“Why did you have to encourage him, Kane?” Harley asked shaking his head.
Kane cleared his throat and took Emma’s hand in his.
“Lucien, I would like to present my mate, Emma.”
Lucien smiled and acknowledged him, “Welcome to the pack, Emma. Kane is a good man and I know that he will make you as happy as you make him.” Lucien paused then continued, “Kane, I hope your mate is less troublesome than mine.”
Lanie growled at him and he kissed her.
“Oh no, see what you’ve started! We’ll be here all night if he takes her to bed.”
“Do you want to interrupt the Alpha?” Nicolai asked with a grin.
Harley shook his head in denial. “I’d like to keep all of my body parts, thank you.”
Lanie broke off their kiss and turned to Harley.
“Just wait until you find your mate! I plan on keeping her away from you just to make you crazy.”
“As if Lucien would allow you to stay away from him for that long!” They all laughed at his comment, knowing it to be true.
Lanie turned to Emma, “Welcome to the family, Emma. I’m sorry about earlier. I couldn’t help teasing Kane. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me, anytime. Kane will give you my number.”
Emma smiled at Lanie and felt silly. Lanie was obviously happy and in love with her mate, how could she possibly think Lanie was interested in Kane?
The group ate dinner and discussed their plan to infiltrate Genesis 23. Emma would contact Steven, asking him to dinner. She would lament not having her own wolf and hopefully he would arrange for her to see a wolf, maybe even take her to where they were being held. Kane insisted on going with her and Lucien refused.
“Kane, I know how I would react if that were Lanie instead of Emma. I would kill any man that flirted with her. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself. I’m sorry, but you will have to stay here. You will have to trust in Emma to be true to you. Nicolai and Harley will accompany her and keep her safe.”
“But I’m more comfortable with Georges and Baxter,” Emma protested.
“I know you are, but Nicolai and Harley are excellent bodyguards. Aside from Kane, they are my best soldiers. In addition to their skills, they have a much better sense of smell than humans. If a wolf is in the area, they will know it. Besides, having Nicolai there will help to ease Kane’s concern. They are good friends and Kane knows Nicolai would never allow anything to happen to you.”
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Emma agreed since it would help Kane deal with her being near Steven.
“I really can’t stand Steven. My biggest fear is not being able to hide my disgust from him.”
“Luckily for you, he is a human, so he can’t smell your emotions. You’ll be fine, Emma. But don’t worry. If you feel scared or so disgusted with him that you have to leave, the wolves will scent it and remove you from the situation. That’s another reason to have them as your guards.”
“Okay. I…I’ll do my best.”
Lucien smiled at her gently, “You don’t have to do this at all Emma, but we do appreciate your sacrifice to help our wolves. I am glad that you are part of this family. I’m proud of what you have done so far, in freeing two wolves. I know Kane is very proud of you.” Kane beamed at Lucien’s compliment.
“Now that everything’s settled, get out of my house so I can take my mate to bed.” Lucien growled in warning.
“Lucien! Behave!” Lanie admonished him.
Just then a cry was heard over the baby monitor discreetly placed on the curio cabinet behind Nicolai.
“Uh, oh, someone’s awake. I’ll get her this time,” Lanie said to Lucien and slipped off his lap. Lucien swore.
“Every single time! She must have radar or something!” He shook his head, obviously disappointed that his plans to satisfy his mate were ruined.
“We could babysit for you if you’d like, Lucien,” Delia offered quietly.
Nicolai growled softly. Delia laughed at his frustration.
“Just think of how Lucien feels!” Nicolai nuzzled his mate and sighed.
“All right, Lucien. I guess we will baby sit while you take care of your mate.”
Lucien winked at Nicolai. Smiling he said, “I guess it will be good practice for you.”
Delia blushed and buried her face in Nicolai’s neck. Lanie walked in holding her one year old baby girl. Everyone ‘oohed’ and ‘aaahhed’ at the pretty young girl. They all noted how Lucien’s face lit up as he held his daughter while Lanie went to get her bottle. Emma shook her head. If Kane was overprotective of her, she could only imagine how overprotective Lucien would be of his baby girl.
Stubborn Mate Page 5