by Zoe Chant
“And you just missed your friend Eve and her fiancé. I met them at the store.” The woman gave Kayden a curious look. “So you are the young man I’ve heard so much about?”
“Sorry,” Sidney said as she stood again. “I should have introduced you first.”
The small dog made a disappointed yip as no treats were forthcoming.
“This is Kayden Hunt. We were just looking at outfits for the wedding. And this is my old high school teacher I told you about, Kayden—”
“Amanda Granger,” she said promptly and shook Kayden’s hand. “One of our summer guests, I hear, who got lost in the woods? Nice catch,” she mouthed to Sidney.
Sidney blushed even as Kayden had to bite back a grin.
“I hope you’ll be staying for longer than just the summer.” Mrs. Granger winked at him. “It gets cold in the winter, but there are ways to keep warm...”
Sidney fidgeted by his side, her cheeks still red even though she was laughing. “Mrs. Granger, please! He only just arrived in this town; you’ll scare him away—”
“A big, strong man like that? He doesn’t look easily scared to me, honey,” the old teacher replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
Kayden found himself chuckling. He didn’t think it would take long at all to feel at home in this place.
“It takes a lot more to scare me,” he reassured them. Then he took hold of Sidney’s hand again. “In fact, I’m very, very good at keeping a house warm...”
“Oh, good, did I just hear someone volunteer to chop all my firewood?” Sidney teased.
“Now that is a sight I’d like to see.” Mrs. Granger laughed, the sound a little rusty, but her wrinkled face was animated and her little dog was dancing around between her feet.
Once more Kayden felt himself overcome by a strong sense of belonging. But just as sudden was the sharp awareness of how different he was. Linden Creek was nothing like the territory of Iron Fang’s clan. It was everything Kayden had ever wanted—but could he and his clan of runaway shifters truly fit in here?
We have to. No, we will. No matter what it takes, this is what we’ve sacrificed so much for.
The tiny dachshund was still bouncing in excitement, clearly awaiting another treat once they got home. Mrs. Granger waved as they took their leave.
“We’ll see you at the wedding,” Sidney called out and waved back.
Kayden twined their fingers, then raised her hand to his lips to press a kiss to her knuckles.
“She is nice,” he said, and then wickedly added, “And she has a point about keeping warm in winter.”
“Mm,” Sidney purred, her eyes gleaming at him. “What if I tell you that I’m just a little bit cold right now?”
“I would tell you—” Kayden stopped in the middle of his sentence.
Bear! all of his senses shouted in sudden alarm.
He stiffened and inhaled, fighting down the immediate fury of his inner bear.
It was the same scent as before. Was it Blood Claw? He still couldn’t say. It wasn’t strong enough for that. But what if the shifter was still nearby?
He grabbed hold of Sidney and pulled her into a little alcove to their left. There, a bench and one of the linden trees the town was named for formed a cozy, secluded spot, shielded by the wall of a house at the back and a wall surrounding a garden to the right.
While his senses were still on high alert for any nearby danger, he pressed her gently against the wall. Then he kissed her until her surprised gasp turned into a little moan, her body melting against his.
“Ooh,” she sighed when their lips parted. “Yes. Yes, that does seem to help! I’m feeling much warmer already.”
The scent was less strong here. Still, it kept irritating at the back of Kayden’s mind, a niggling little reminder that they were not as safe as he had hoped.
“Are you sure it’s working?” he murmured back. “I don’t want you to catch a cold!”
Let me fight! his bear roared inside his head. We need to protect our mate!
I can’t shift here, Kayden replied silently.
It was difficult to contain his bear’s anger and excitement. For most of his life, trusting his bear’s instinct and aggression had kept Kayden alive.
Still, if he wanted to remain in this town, he would have to prove that he could lead a normal life. And the first thing he needed to prove was that he had his bear under control.
Not here. Not in this town, and not in front of her, he thought in determination while his bear growled in anger.
No. The trace of the scent that had upset his bear so was still in the air—but whoever it was, he wasn’t close enough to attack. Kayden would have to deal with this problem, but not while Sidney was in his arms.
He kissed her again, his hands sliding around her hips until he could pull her even closer. Her mouth opened sweetly for him, the taste and the scent of her threatening to overwhelm his senses, although he was still alert for any danger. For one moment, he wished he was back out in the forest, in shifter territory, where he could have just grabbed his mate and run away with her.
But Iron Fang would have never allowed him to take a human mate.
And Sidney deserves better than that sort of life. Our cubs deserve better.
Passion turned to gentleness as he slowly drew back. He raised one of his hands to cup her cheek, tracing along the tender skin below her eye with the callused pad of his thumb, then trailing downward until he could follow the frantically beating pulse at her throat.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. “I don’t have a lot to offer, but I will keep you safe. Always. With my life, if I have to.”
Sidney smiled up at him, a dreamy smile of disbelieving pleasure.
“From the cold?” she murmured back, her voice a little hazy. “You’re a strange one, Kayden. Perhaps that’s why I like you so much.”
“From the cold and—and anything else.” Kayden hesitated a little before he continued. “Admittedly there can’t be much else in this town. Spoiled dachshunds begging for treats?”
“Oh, that will do.” Sidney bit her lip, clearly to hold back laughter as she lightly boxed his shoulder. “My hero and protector. Slayer of dachshunds. Only—don’t do that. The slaying,” she hastened to add.
Surprised, Kayden threw back his head and laughed.
“I promise,” he said when he had calmed again. “No slaying of dachshunds. Though I might have to barter for peace with the dachshund nation by offering treats, the next time we visit.”
“That will be acceptable,” Sidney proclaimed, still giggling as they slowly made their way out of their little alcove to continue down the street.
The scent of bear was still faint. Whoever it was hadn’t moved closer—unless the wind was playing a trick on him?
“Oh no!” Sidney suddenly called out, waving at the intersection in front of them where a woman was just stepping into a car. “We missed Eve and Chris!”
Despite Sidney’s waving, the car pulled away and turned to the left at the intersection, speeding away from them. Kayden didn’t get more than a glimpse of Eve’s blonde hair and a broad-shouldered man driving the car.
“With any luck, they’ll pull your sister off our trail,” Kayden offered.
Secretly, he felt glad that Sidney’s friends seemed to have finished whatever business they must have had at the stores here. If there was a shifter sneaking around these streets, it would be best if as few people as possible were around, just in case.
Once again Kayden felt torn. Shouldn’t he warn these people? The quiet town of Linden Creek didn’t deserve the devastation a war between shifters could cause. On the other hand—whom could he tell? He couldn’t just spill out all of their secrets to humans.
No, the best solution to this problem was to keep away and hope that Blood Claw would leave as well. After all, Blood Claw didn’t care about these folks. Blood Claw cared only about Kayden.
And once we kill him, that problem will be solved once and for
all, his bear growled dangerously.
Once again, Kayden found it hard to argue with that solution.
Chapter Seven: Sidney
Laughing and out of breath, they stumbled into Sidney’s house. On their way back, they’d continued to watch the rearview mirror as though Karen might show up any moment. It had been silly, lighthearted fun, and Sidney felt incredibly lucky. For the first time in her life, she'd found someone who would laugh with her, and not at her.
“God, I feel terrible.” Sidney laughed even as she allowed herself to be pulled into Kayden's arms. “Who keeps hiding from her own sister?”
“There were extenuating circumstances,” Kayden murmured, his breath hot against her throat. “Like you said, if she thought that you were driving home, she'd find some excuse to visit.”
“Mm,” Sidney purred at the sensation. “She would have. She's curious about you. They're all so curious. I love it. Sorry, I'm not usually so...” She gestured helplessly.
“It's all right. Remember, I heard your mother talk.” Kayden's hand slid up her waist. “God, I can't believe it. I hope you know that all those guys she listed were fools.”
“All of them but Christian.” Sidney shook her head with an amused laugh. “I can't believe she brought that up; that was in high school! Mom's really desperate these days. No grandkids from Karen so far, so she's decided that it's going to be me. If you hadn't shown up... I think she might have invited my awful ex Timothy to the wedding without telling me about it.”
Sidney grimaced at the thought. Would she have caused a scene? She'd promised herself that she would never talk to him again—but she couldn't ruin the wedding.
Oh God, it would have been horrible. He would have pretended nothing’s wrong. Then he’d get drunk and try to grope me on the dance floor, and later he'd cry and beg me to take him back.
“What did he do?” Kayden’s voice had gone dark, all of a sudden deadly serious after their earlier joking.
Sidney exhaled deeply. “The whole relationship was just... a complete clusterfuck. He'd make mistakes, and then he'd apologize and beg me to take him back, and I... I always ended up feeling sorry for him. And at the same time, whenever I had a problem, or if I felt upset and just needed someone to hold me, he got all annoyed and called me selfish and clingy. He'd tell me I just wanted attention and that I was a burden.”
Sidney bit her lip as some of the old despair and humiliation welled up in her again. Then she snorted, remembering the night with Kayden and how he’d made her feel instead.
Two years with Timothy, and he hadn't even come close in all that time to the care and the desire Kayden had shown in just a few days.
“Hey,” Kayden said softly and reached out to gently touch her cheek. “I don't need to meet him to know that that's all wrong. I've seen the way you get worked up because you want to make sure that your best friend and your cousin have a perfect wedding. And don't forget—you even claimed a nameless stranger as your wedding date to make your mother happy. You’re the least selfish person I know.”
“Oh, now that was selfish,” Sidney murmured, although she was smiling again as she looked up at him. “That was less about my mother and more about my own peace of mind. And of course, there was the fact that you are very hard to resist when you're wrapped in a sheet...”
“Only when I'm wrapped in a sheet?” Kayden teased. His arms came around her once more.
Sidney sighed and for a moment allowed herself to be held. Just held.
It felt so good. Kayden’s closeness. His scent. There was a hint of expensive cologne, but beneath it all was something feral and wild, something frighteningly masculine that made little bubbles of excitement burst inside her.
“Always,” she breathed. “You're always hard to resist.”
“I wouldn't have it any other way.”
Kayden kissed her, gentle but demanding, his tongue hot against her own so that she moaned.
“And I think I have something to prove to you today,” he murmured. “I owe you a dance...”
Sidney had to swallow before she could speak. Desire throbbed wet and hot between her legs, an ache that could only be filled by Kayden's touch. It caused her nearly physical pain to leave his arms. She'd never wanted a man more than she wanted him.
Would he really stay after the wedding? Would he still be here when winter came?
She felt too afraid to ask him again. Timothy had called her clingy. He'd been an asshole who'd been afraid of settling down—but ever since, a part of her had been afraid that it was true. That she was coming across as desperate.
Her hands trembled a little as she switched on the radio. She was too frazzled to find one of the CDs with songs they’d prepared for the party, but after a short search she found a station with some quiet, slow music that would do.
“Perfect,” Kayden murmured against her nape.
He'd come close enough to wrap his arms around her once more. For a moment, they simply swayed together.
Sidney listened to the sound of the wind outside. The entire house was quiet. There were only the two of them. There was only the heat of Kayden's body and the safety of his embrace.
Kayden turned her around. The look in his eyes was soft as he clasped her waist with one hand. With the other, he took hold of her hand, and then, slowly, gently, he began to twirl her around.
Warmth spread in Sidney's chest. His grip was firm. His strong, masculine body that had looked so intimidating now moved with careful precision. For a man so large and overwhelming, he held her as though she was as fragile as glass.
Sunlight fell in through her large windows. It painted golden rectangles on her hardwood floor. Kayden waltzed her through them, and it felt for a moment as if they were dancing on clouds. Her curvy body that had made her feel ashamed when others compared her to her perfect sister was completely at home in Kayden's strong arms.
It felt like a dream—only she knew it was real, because Kayden didn't look away from her even for one moment. Kayden saw her. Kayden saw the real her. Not someone she was supposed to be. Not the ways in that she wasn't like her sister. Kayden saw her, and they danced together as though they had been born to move together, her curves molding to his strong arms.
Heat spread wherever they touched. The sunlight gleamed on Kayden’s hair. With a soft laugh, she tilted back her head, allowing herself to be spun around.
Kayden moved closer, manly stubble scratching against her throat as he moved to press a kiss to the tip of her ear.
“Good enough for a wedding?” he asked, his voice a deep purr.
She shivered with delight at the sensation.
Good enough to keep forever, she thought, but didn’t dare to say it—not yet.
“I think you’re off the hook. No additional lessons needed,” she murmured.
He slowed a little. The radio was still playing. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, his scent filling her senses. Even here, in the middle of her living room, something of the wilderness seemed to cling to him.
The sunlight bathed them in golden warmth. She could feel Kayden’s heart beating against her chest: a deep, rhythmic thumping, the sensation strong and comforting as his arms wrapped protectively around her.
“I haven’t told you yet,” he said softly, “but much of this is still new to me. I grew up in a place that was very... different.”
“Different how?” She opened her eyes again to give him a questioning look.
His lips twitched a little. “It’s hard to explain. You’d think it very backwards. We lived very isolated. There was little technology. It was a strict community.”
Sidney’s eyes widened. “You grew up Amish?”
Now Kayden laughed. “Not quite, but I guess that’s close enough. So if I do something stupid, just tell me. I promise I won’t be offended.”
“You’ve been absolutely perfect so far.”
They had stopped dancing now, though Kayden was still holding her.
She ga
ve him a wary look. “Is that really true? You’ve got to be joking. Seriously, you’re perfect—I couldn’t ask for a better wedding date.”
Kayden tilted his head a little, his smile mischievous. “It’s been a few years. I decided I didn’t want to spend my life like that. So once I grew old enough, I took every opportunity I got to get out of there. To learn how to survive in the world outside our clan. It wasn’t always easy, but here I am.”
“Was it worth it?” Sidney asked in fascination, wondering whether he’d left a family behind.
There’d been pain in Kayden’s voice when he spoke—but also pride. And it was something he should be proud of. To leave behind everything he had been taught to find his own happiness, that took a lot of courage.
Kayden nodded slowly. “It was worth it,” he said, his eyes intent as he looked at her.
The emotion in his eyes left no doubt about what he truly meant. And then, as if to wipe away even the last remaining doubt, he leaned forward and kissed her once more. His mouth was demanding despite the gentleness of his embrace, until Sidney thought she was going to melt in his arms.
“I want you,” he growled softly when they parted. “I’ve been thinking about you all day. No more chases now. No more interruptions.”
“I want you, too,” she breathed.
She could feel him—he was erect, hot and hard against her even with the layers of clothing between them.
Feeling a little wicked, she allowed her hand to trail down his chest. She hadn’t dared to be so openly flirty since Timothy—but Kayden made her feel so sexy with the way he looked at her, all hungry and aroused.
It felt good to have that effect on him. She’d thought she’d never have another man look at her with real desire. But now here was Kayden, who was smoking hot, who could have anyone he wanted, and who for some reason seemed to only want her.
It felt damn good, and she was determined to drive him just as crazy with need as he kept doing to her.
She opened his jeans. He groaned as she pulled down the zipper, a low sound of hunger that was nearly the growl of an animal. It sent a delicious shiver running down her spine.