Lance lifted his chin, bearing what little neck he could. It was over.
The crowd cheered. Their Heir won. Victorious. But Kade knew it wasn’t over. He may have won the battle, but he would not force his Mate. No matter the traditions.
The audience quieted as Kade walked toward Mel. His heart pounded in his ears. This was by far scarier than the fight he just left. He loved her. What if she said no? What would he do if she left?
Kade stood in front of her. The sweet honey vanilla smell masked by her fear and pain.
“Mel?”
****
The brutality of the fight left Mel speechless. This was not humane. No, this was barbaric, animalistic. Her fault. Before Kade walked into the circle to fight, she knew she was making the wrong choice. Why did she let them fight? Why didn’t she love Kade enough to leave everything behind she has knew and worked for?
Even as she thought about it, she knew the answer. While she attended school, choices were made for her, paths laid and followed without resistance. Yet, now she held the decision. The power to follow her own life, her own path. No one could take that from her. She’d known Kade for less than a week. Spoke to him for less than a day. If he had merely given her time to decide before, the outcome may have been different. But not now. Confusion racked her brain. Time wasn’t an option, so the decision would break her heart. Already, she felt numb.
“Kade,” her voice broke. “I…”
“Leave us.” Startled, Mel looked around. The crowd dispersed quickly and quietly. Some still held curiosity, but most looked upon Kade with pity. Whether it be for her humanity or they knew her answer, she didn’t know.
Drawing on the little courage she had left, she spoke, “Kade, I can’t.” Pain flashed in his eyes, but he didn’t speak. “This isn’t my life. I can’t give up everything for a man I don’t know. Kade, we don’t know each other. You may have a wolf to guide you, but I only have my experiences.”
No one spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Then Kade bent down and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. Her breath hitched as he leaned further to touch his lips to hers. His hand still in her hair, he pulled her to him, kissing her with a desperation she thought was only hers. Their tongues clashed, lips hungry and eager. Finally, Kade released her.
“If that is your decision, I will let you go. I love you, Melanie Cross.” He lifted his arm as if to touch her once more, but let it fall.
With one last look, he pleaded with her, but she didn’t know what to do. He left the circle, taking her heart with him.
Chapter 11
Kade sat on his porch, a beer in his hand. Though his metabolism would burn off the effects quickly – he needed to feel nothing. Numb. Anything to get his mind off the fact that he was mateless after meeting two potentials. Mateless after two meetings in the circle. Mel left him.
You let her leave, you fool. Why didn’t you tie her up and keep her here. I’m sure there’s something you could’ve done to pass the time while she makes the right decision.
Kade snorted at his wolf’s attitude. Though an image of Mel tied naked to his bed-posts flooded his mind. Fuck. He shook his head. She left. That delicious fantasy would never happen.
Footsteps sounded on his driveway, altering Kade to an unwelcome guest.
“Hello Kade, you look like shit.” The sickly sweet voice pinched his nerve endings.
Tracy.
Tall and curvy, her body lent itself to many pup’s wet dreams. Long chocolate brown hair flowed to her ass, hours of work evident in its perfection. His body didn’t react. She wasn’t Mel.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with your mate, Grant?” Fuck, that sounded jealous. No, he wasn’t jealous of Grant. One look at Mel and Kade knew – Tracy wasn’t for him. No, he was jealous of what Tracy and Grant shared. What he lost when he let Mel walk away.
“That’s not a very nice greeting to someone you loved now is it?” She batted her eyes and pursed her lips. Typical, she needed something. What, he didn’t care. He just hoped she would leave so he could wallow in misery with his beer in peace. Was that too much to ask?
“I never loved you, Tracy, you know that. I thought we could have something because of our wolves, but you didn’t want me either.” Pain made him honest and slightly bitter, but who the fuck cared.
Tracy huffed. “Fine, Kade. Be an ass. But you are the fucking Heir of this Pack and you need to act like it. It was bad enough you were going to mate that human, but then you let her leave? I’m glad I picked Grant. You’re nothing.”
A growl slipped from his lips and she cowered in fear. Tracy’s wolf possessed almost no strength, yet she was a bitch. Kade, however, didn’t give a shit. He wouldn’t move from his perch for anyone but the blonde who left him.
“Leave Tracy.”
“No Kade, I won’t. I’m sorry for saying that, but I need help.”
“Go.”
“But its Grant, he lost his job and…”
“Go.”
“Kade.” Her whiny voice pleaded. Kade wanted to throw up.
“Tracy, I don’t care about you and Grant. If you have a problem, go see Jasper. That’s his job. But leave me the fuck alone. You wanted Grant? You have him.”
“And you have nothing.” Tracy’s sneer only confirmed his own shortcomings. It wasn’t anything new.
“Goodbye, Tracy.”
“I’m glad that human left you. You aren’t even worthy that piece of shit.”
Kade leapt off the porch and had Tracy on the ground, gasping for breath before she could blink.
“You may call me names but you will not dishonor Melanie. She is mine.”
“But…” He pressed down harder on her windpipe.
“I love her, Tracy. You will respect her.”
Her eyes widened and she nodded before Kade released her. She scrambled up, not bothering to wipe the dirt from her dress and ran.
You chose the right woman, Kade. Tracy isn’t worth anything. Mel will come back. She will see reason.
Kade let out a pathetic half-laugh. No, Mel made her choice. Kade was just the one who had to live with it.
****
Ben and Jerry’s Karmal Sutra ice cream was manna. The creamy caramel and chocolate fudge ice creams surrounded a thick column of caramel goodness. Mel sighed in ecstasy as she let another spoonful melt on her tongue, the flavors cascading in an almost orgasmic symphony.
And this was as good as it got. Ice cream and the Discovery Channel on a Saturday night. No men or sex for her. She was the fucking idiot who walked away from her mate and left him. Now she faced four hundred freshman three days a week teaching them general chemistry, though they could care less. When she wasn’t banging her head against the chalk board explaining once again that energy of light is inversely, not directly, proportional to it wavelength, she was again stuck behind a lab bench. With her new title she now called the shots but she still didn’t have a passion for it. She really didn’t give a crap about the radioactive nuclides and alkali metals in different silicates and soils. She’d lost her passion. No, not loss, she’d left her passion with Kade.
Her door opened without an announcement and Larissa strode in, an angry look on her face. After the match, and her dismissal of Kade, Larissa drove her home in a silence that scared the shit out of her. Her best friend wouldn’t even look at her, nor speak. When they arrived at her home, Larissa sat there, a sad look on her face and waited wordlessly for Mel to leave. That was the last time she saw her and it’d been almost a month. Mel braced herself – this wouldn’t be good.
“You pathetic human. You are sitting here eating fucking ice cream and watching the god damn TV? What the hell is your problem?”
“Larissa…”
“Shut up, I’m not done yet. You left the perfect man for you because you didn’t know him? Why couldn’t you have just talked to him? Is that such a foreign concept? For such a smart girl, you sure do make the worst decisions.”
; Shame flooded her. She knew she made the wrong decision, but how could she go back to him? She left and walked away. He didn’t want her back. Why would he?
“I know you’re miserable. I can feel it pulsating from you. Why are you still here?” Larissa sat down on the couch in an inelegant plop, exhaustion, and clear bewilderment on her face.
Mel broke down in gut wrenching sobs. She knew she was an idiot, but she couldn’t go back.
“Oh baby.” Larissa moved to her side and enveloped her in her arms. Warm scents of apple pie and earth filled her nose. Mel dug deeper, salty tears running down her face, staining her best friend’s shirt.
“Shh, it’s okay. We can fix this.” Her witch crooned in her ear, comforting her.
“I don’t think I can, Larissa. I think I screwed up bad.”
“Don’t worry, just cry it out. We’ll figure out something.”
“But what if he doesn’t want me?” Deep down that was her biggest fear. And if Mel were honest with herself, that was her fear all along. She lied to herself when she said it was about her job, her life. No, fear ruled her and said Kade would change is his mind and let her go. So she let him go first. Or worse, he would do the honorable thing and stick with her, but resent her through their long lives.
“Oh baby, he wants you. He’s just as miserable, if not more, as you.”
“Really?” Okay, now she was happy that he shared her misery. Wow. Pathetic, much?
“He’s your mate.”
Yes, he was.
Chapter 12
She never called. A month passed and his mate didn’t call. Kade knew he should have followed or begged her. But he couldn’t. He kept to his own promise as Heir to not influence or force his will on his mate.
The past month clearly won for the hardest of his life. His wolf barely spoke to him and was grouchy as hell. In turn Kade acted like an ass to anyone who came within five feet of him.
His father, the Alpha of the pack, told him to get his shit together and stop moping about a woman. Nice. Great parenting skills there.
He threw himself into his work and designed his mate a home. Their home. She would come back. She had to. Once she came, he would start building so they could have a future together. If he lost that hope and let the stray thought of her not calling enter his head, he didn’t know what he would do. Maybe go lone wolf, because he wasn’t sure his Pack would tolerate his mood much longer. His heart ached for Mel. He could barely eat and sleep was a far off concept.
The sound of a foot on a broken tree branch brought him out of his reverie and he turned to the source, ready to attack.
Honey and Vanilla teased his senses.
Mel.
She stood in front of him, in light worn jeans and dark green sweater. His wolf howled in celebration.
“Melanie.” A gasp along his breath. Why?
“I’m so sorry Kade,” her eyes filled with tears and he fought the urge to wipe them. “I needed more time, but I shouldn’t have left the way I did.”
The uncomfortable silence grew heavy with tension.
“Why are you here?”
Oh good job ass. Why aren’t you welcoming her with open arms?
“I called yesterday. Your father answered and told me where you were. He also told me you were acting like a shithead and I needed to come fix it. I think it was an order.” She smiled wryly at him and he laughed at her.
“My father knew you were coming? What the hell? Why didn’t he say anything?” He needed to kick his father’s ass once his brain turned back from mush.
“I think he wanted it to be a surprise. Don’t be mad at him. I am sorry it took so long for me to get my act together and not be an idiot. I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry you even fought. Lance was never an option Kade.” Hope swelled. She wanted him, not that douche bag.
“I was so lost and confused at first and by the time I got my thoughts into something similar to a coherent pattern, I had so much planning to do.”
“Planning?” he really needed to work on those one word sentences.
“Planning.” She smiled and continued. “I had to quit my job and find a teaching position I liked near here. I know that I won’t be able to stay there too long because I won’t be aging and that might become suspicious but I still want to work for awhile. Of course if I become pregnant that might be another matter. Oh and will I give birth to puppies? Because frankly that scares the shit out of me.” She smiled again and Kade lost it. His mate was moving here and talking of bearing his young. Heaven.
He couldn’t wait any longer. He grabbed her and crushed his mouth to hers. He almost forgot her taste of sweet ecstasy. Her tongue fought for control against his as she rocked her body against him.
After however long they stood there tasting and touching each other, they finally broke apart gasping for breath.
“You’re here. You are really here.”
“Uh huh.” She smiled brightly and his heart melted again.
“I love you Melanie. I am so glad you came. I made a house for you. Well not a full house, just the plans, but if you want to change everything let me know. I would do anything for you, my Melanie.” He held her against him and breathed in her sweet scent.
“I love you too, Kade. I am sorry it took so long for me to get here. But I’m not leaving. I want you too much and I want to see your world. Teach me everything.”
“My pleasure, mate, I will teach you anything you desire.” He smiled wickedly and carried her off to his room. Melanie was here, with him. Their future together would intertwine, walking the same path. It was about time.
****
Kade cradled her to his chest, the feel of his heartbeat against her cheek brought her home. No amount of job security or teaching could replace this.
“I love you Kade.” She knew she already said it, but it needed repeating.
“I know.”
Mel slapped his arm.
“Really” ‘I know?’ Who do you think you are? Harrison Ford?”
“Oh God, my mate makes Star Wars jokes. I think I just fell a little more in love with you.” Kade set her on his bed – their bed.
Mel gulped. “I talked to Larissa about mating and she told me a bit.” Kade looked down at her expectantly while stripping them both of their clothes. “I want you to mark me.”
His eyes glowed as he growled. “That can be arranged.” A guttural sound. His hands shifted, sliding up her bare skin sending goose bumps down her body. The cotton sheets below her cooled her overheated body, as his kissed her lips, then along her jaw down to her neck. She braced herself for the bite, but Kade lifted his head.
“Are you sure you want this?” Oh, how she loved this man, this wolf. Even now, he gave her options.
“Yes. With everything I have.”
Kade moaned before kissing her, his tongue playing with hers. She fought for breath as his mouth trailed long her neck again, and gasped has his calloused fingertips brushed and pinched her nipples. He licked the crease where her neck met her shoulder and she shivered. Anticipation crawled through her. She felt his teeth elongate before they punctured her shoulder. The tension of her skin ebbed as his teeth slid into her skin.
Mel braced for the pain, yet it soon passed as a soft flow of love and sex flooded her. Holy shit. Kade’s bite pulsated through her body, pinching her nipples and clenching her pussy. As he bit and growled, her climax neared. Kade bit harder once more and her control broke. Spasms of need and glorious warmth cascaded as she came. Fuck, and he didn’t even touch her down there.
“Mine.” One word. Yet full of possessive meaning.
Her mate removed his fangs as they slid back to their normal self.
“Yours.” Her voice deepened into a raspy tone.
Still wet and swollen from her orgasm, the head of Kade’s cock brushed her folds and she shuddered.
“I want you Melanie.”
“Now. Please.”
Kade, propped up on his forearms above her, kissed her soft
ly. Gazes locked, he entered her in one quick thrust. She groaned as her walls clamped down on him. He practically whimpered, then reared back and slammed into her.
Each thrust brought her closer to completion as she lay underneath her mate. He reached down and drew circles around her clit and she shattered, him following soon behind.
“I love you Melanie.”
“I love you Kade.”
An Alpha's Path Page 7