Kane's Mate (Armageddon Mates)

by Gower, Hazel

  He grinned at her, showing perfect white teeth. “Hi, Faith. I’m Dr. Jerome Stark. How are you feeling? You’re a very lucky woman.”

  Faith smiled, wincing in pain. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Stark. I’m not feeling that hot, my head is throbbing.”

  “That’s to be expected when a woman has a claw removed from the back of her head. You’re lucky it hadn’t embedded in your brain. You’re even luckier to have such remarkable healing abilities.”

  Kane shot the doctor a shut-the-fuck-up look.

  “I would have liked for you to stay a day or two so I could monitor you and make sure everything heals well, but with the military clearance and having a doctor as a husband we’ll get you on your way home in an hour or two.”

  Kane spoke up. “Jerome, she’s forgotten the past twenty-four hours, but I think she did well to only forget that much.”

  Jerome nodded to him and looked at Faith. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

  She smiled. “The last thing I remember is hugging Kane this morning, groaning about losing my heater, and begging him to stay before I pushed him out of bed or he would have given in to me.”

  The doctor smacked Kane on the back of the head. Kane turned. “What the hell did you do that for?”

  Dr. Stark glared at Kane. “Because if I had a wife like this I would have stayed in bed.” He turned his focus on her. “Faith, if you ever come to your senses about this idiot give me a call. I would gladly take his place.”

  Faith giggled. “Thank you, Dr. Stark. I’ll have to think about that.”

  He chuckled and came over to check her out, taking off the bandage. She breathed a sigh of relief as her hair tumbled down. He chuckled again.

  “Yes, I tried to save as much of your beautiful hair as I could, but the bottom half is shaved.” He gently lifted her head. “Unbelievable. You’ll be going home—with a military escort, I understand—as soon as I can do the paperwork. And somehow your husband has now been cleared for indefinite leave.” He shook his head then looked at Kane. “Don’t worry, I will be calling.” He smiled at her again and left.

  Kane said nothing for a long time and just stared at her. When she couldn’t take the silence anymore she sat up. “Where is everyone? I thought at least Jamie would have been here to see if I’m okay.”

  His face never changed from his deep-in-thought expression as he said, “They would have all been here if they were allowed, but you need your rest, so rest, Faith.” He walked out the door.

  Something was up. Everything felt very wrong.

  * * * *

  At home the feeling got worse as Kane placed her on the bed, kissed her forehead again, not her lips, and left, telling her to sleep. She lay in bed for fifteen minutes, and the sense of wrongness just got worse. She had never seen Kane like this. The whole ride home from the hospital he hadn’t said a word, even when she asked if he was okay. She asked if she could help make anything better, but he was so emotionless. Sitting up, she tried to feel for him with their bond, but like when she had tried in the car, she got nothing.

  She shivered and slipped out of the room. She headed for his study. Before she opened the door she heard him say, “I want her out. I don’t fucking care. I’ll find a way to resolve the mate claim. She’s human, that should help.” Faith couldn’t hold back the wince at the last comment. “If she can stay the fuck away from me for over four years she can do it again. I’ll set her and the baby up so she has no worries. You all can help her, just don’t let her get involved anymore in paranormal shit.”

  Faith took a step back, placing her hand over the child she now knew grew there. She shut her eyes, concentrating. Yep, she was pregnant, he was definitely there. She was too shocked with what she had heard to be angry with Kane for not telling her. Her heart was in a million pieces.

  “No, once she’s recovered I’ll be heading to Canberra. I’ll lead the enforcers up there for a couple of years.”

  Faith couldn’t stand to hear any more. She snuck quietly back to their room. She needed to leave. She knew she was taking the coward’s, the selfish, way out by not confronting him, but she couldn’t break her heart again and again for Kane Wolfen. She found her cellphone and called her friend to come pick her up.

  Faith walked out the door five minutes later with a backpack full of clothes. Fifteen minutes later Remy came to pick her up. Only then did she ring Della, Kane’s mother, telling her she was safe and staying with a friend, and she would come get Bengie tomorrow. She hung up before Della could ask any questions. Faith rung her parents and told them she was staying with a friend for a couple of weeks. Faith then called the mobile she’d gotten for Bengie, telling him she was fine, she loved him, and to call if he needed her, but otherwise she would see him tomorrow.

  After they arrived at Remy’s apartment, Remy left her in peace for a day, then, in true Remy style, she came storming into the room, joining Faith on the bed where she had been sulking. “What the fuck did the cradle-robbing dick do to you this time?”

  Faith couldn’t hold it in any longer, she broke down and told Remy everything, swearing her to secrecy. Faith knew Remy would believe her story, because Faith kept Remy’s secret about being a fire element. The only thing Faith left out was what Bengie really was.

  Remy looked shocked, terrified, and angry. “I knew there was a reason why I fucking stayed away from them.”

  “Remy, they save the world, they’re good. I love them, they’re my family.”

  Remy sighed then hugged her. “Sounds like you save the world too. How do you feel about that?”

  As soon as Remy asked that question the last twenty-four hours came back to Faith. Sick to her stomach, she rushed to the bathroom and threw up. When she finished Remy helped clean her up, then Faith answered her question. “I truly don’t know how I feel. I need time to get my priorities in order.” She placed her hand over the baby growing inside her, which she had only just found out about thanks to her psychic powers. She looked straight into Remy’s eyes. “I need to grow up, and not just for me.”

  Remy nodded, and they fell asleep hugging each other.

  * * * *

  Kane went to the bedroom to check on Faith. He knew he’d been too cold with her, but he had to start distancing himself from her if he was going to give her the normal life she wanted. He knew it was going to kill him, especially now that she was pregnant with his child, but he wanted her to be happy. Kane took a deep breath before entering the room, which was empty. Calling her name, he checked the bathroom, then walked to the lounge and finally into the kitchen. On the fridge he saw a note.

  Dear Dr. Wolfen,

  I’m out. There is no need for you to move to Canberra. As you said, I’m human. I will avoid you like I have for four years. I will not do this again with you. Thanks for the lesson. You have made me stronger. I won’t get burnt again. You may see your son whenever you want, within reason. Your parents can be the go-between. I don’t need your help to set me up.

  Good luck,

  Faith York

  P.S: I will look after my brother, and I will pick up his stuff when I find a place.

  Kane sat on the floor against the fridge. He reread the note several times. He went over his conversation with his father again and again. By the sound of the letter, he knew she had heard part of the conversation. He sat there until the sun rose. He had a sense of déjà vu. He went through the conversation Faith had with the major. His mind was on a twenty-four hour loop. His wolf was howling, ripping at its cage to get out and find its mate, he couldn’t go without her again. Kane got up, knowing he needed to find his brothers, he needed to know the full conversation with the major.

  None of his brothers answered their phones. He tried going around to Arden and Griffen’s but they wouldn’t open the door. He pulled the big guns in then…he called his mother. “Hi, Mum. Can y—”

  “What have you done to her this time, Kane? I thought I raised you better.”

  He winced and al
most didn’t ask his favor. “Mum, is Ben there?”

  His mother sighed. “No, Faith has taken him out. He’ll be back tonight. I told her we’d keep him until she finds a place, but Kane, it better bloody well not come to that.”

  Kane put his head in his hands. “Look, Mum, I’m coming around. Can you call my brothers, please? I need to talk to them.”

  “You better make it right. Give me ten minutes.”

  * * * *

  By the time Kane reached his parents’ house he knew all his brothers were there bar Rane. His mother opened the door and batted him on the head whilst telling him they were all in the den. He walked in to see his brothers glaring at him.

  “Look, I know you’re angry,” Kane said, “but I need you to tell me the whole conversation Faith had with the major.”

  Arden’s answer was immediate. “Fuck you, Kane. I renounce you. You’re an arsehole to her every time. I don’t know why you got the privilege to have her.” He turned his back on him.

  Kane stared at Arden, shocked by his words. He mentally shook his head, trying to help himself focus on the problem at hand and not Arden, who had always been his number one supporter. He turned to Griffen. “Come on, Grif. Please. I beg you, and I never beg.”

  Sneering at him, Griffen replied, “What does it matter? It shouldn’t, and you know it. All you have to do is look at her and her actions over the last fourteen to fifteen years she’s known you. I shouldn’t have to say this, but she shines. We aren’t the only ones drawn to it, let’s just say it was a lot of trouble to keep the wolves we sent to just check on her, they all fell in love with her and wanted her for their own. I know for a fact she turned down many offers for dates.”

  Kane shut his eyes, trying to get all the images out of his head.

  Jamie spoke up. “I talked to her.”

  His eyes shot open. “Where is she, Jamie? I need to—”

  Jamie lunged, punching him. “You don’t need to do fuck. She won’t tell me where she is. She made sure none of us were around when she picked Ben up. I will never understand why she chose you from the first day. I was the one who saved her, I love her, but every time she chooses you. Do you want to know the thing that pisses me off the most? No matter what you do to her she still loves you. This is what she said when she called… ‘I’m just ringing to say not to bother coming around. Kane doesn’t want me for a mate, so I’m going to give him what he wants and leave. When I get settled you can come and protect me. Don’t worry, I’m safe. I love you. Please be nice to Kane, try to look after him for me...’ She wouldn’t let me get a word in, then she hung up and turned off her phone.”

  Devlin chimed in. “Tell him, Arden. Tell him what was said.”

  Arden looked at Devlin. “Are you crazy?”

  He shook his head. “Look at him. Look at our cool, collected alpha brother Dr. Kane Wolfen.”

  Arden looked him over then started. “She said, and I quote, ‘I came back from overseas and straightaway I’m thrown back into all this, and mated to Kane, who I love with all my heart. I would gladly go through anything just to be with him. I loved him from the first moment I laid eyes on him, but being thrown back into it all... My visions before I left were never this strong, long, or thorough. I’m really just trying to figure out my place in all this.’ And you heard the rest.”

  Kane knew he was white. He sat on the floor and didn’t even notice his brothers leave, he just sat and thought everything over. Kane couldn’t believe his stupidity, he even remembered a lecture on head injuries, usually patients remembered what they wanted to, or from a certain point in their lives where they were happy. He banged his head on the lounge because he knew Faith remembered them snuggling in bed, her begging him not to go to work. He thought about how when she woke up in the hospital her first words were to yell for him. He laughed bitterly. She had even told him she loved him and would never love anyone else. The whole ride home she had asked if he was okay.

  He shut down. He couldn’t believe what he had done, he had lost her again.

  Chapter 11

  Faith sat outside with Remy, practicing controlling her visions.

  “So have you decided what you’re going to do?”

  Faith smiled. She felt fantastic. For the last week she had been working out her options. She’d been to see a therapist, and she had spoken to Remy every night, telling her everything. It felt great to have a human friend that she could tell everything to. It was nice, it made her feel normal, and after a week of talking and thinking she knew without a doubt what she was going to do. “I’m going to fight. You’re right, I could never live with myself if I turned my back. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’ve been checking on Kane. He’s not doing so good. I need to see him, to tell him that I don’t want to be normal, I want to be me. I want to help, and if he doesn’t like it, he’ll have to learn to suck it up, because I’m not going to run anymore.”

  Remy sighed. “I know you love him, but he’s not good enough for you, Faith. All he seems to do is break your heart.”

  Faith shut her eyes to stop the tears. “I love you, Remy, but it wasn’t all him, as they say it takes two to tango. I was childish. I stayed away from him for over four years, he was the main reason I went overseas. I need to let go of the past. I need to try, even if it’s only for the baby.”

  “I bet you wish you could just see what was going to happen.”

  Faith laughed. “I wish it worked like that, but I very rarely see anything that has to do with me.”

  Remy frowned. “But I thought you saw those women, and you saw Brad was going to propose if you decided to start seeing him.”

  “It’s hard to explain, but I’ll start by saying that the future can always be changed. It’s only the past that’s set in stone. And Brad proposing will never come to pass now as I changed the future. The women I saved…I only saw three demons, but there ended up being easily double that. The frustrating thing is I only see what fate wants me to see. It’s the other gifts that help. I just hope it will be enough to save us all.” She looked up to see the worried look on Remy’s face. Shit, she really shouldn’t have said all that. “I’m so sorry to put all my trouble and worries on you.”

  Remy waved her hand and hugged Faith. “I asked. I’m glad you’re going to help the fight, it sure does make me feel better. How about we do something fun before we pick up your brother this afternoon? Let’s go shopping.”

  * * * *

  Kane spent a week in hell. He couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened. He needed to get Faith back, he couldn’t live without her again. He was going to give her anything she wanted. Kane knew she wasn’t perfect, but she was damn near perfect to him. He had tried his brothers, but none would talk to him. His sisters were worse. No one would tell him where Faith was, not even his parents. His mother had said Faith would tell him, just give her time, and his father said if he really wanted to find her he needed to think.

  Today he was at his parents’ house. He had finally used his brain, he grabbed Bengie before he started playing his video games, which didn’t go down well. The kid had some moves. When Kane finally had him the first words out of his mouth were, “I thought you would have come after me sooner, but Faith said I’m not to tell you where she is.” He sighed.

  Kane smiled. “Do you want to go for a drive? Come with me to do something special first, and then we’ll play a game called hot and cold.”

  Ben nodded, and Kane’s smile grew bigger as they got in his car and speed away.

  He drove first to Jake’s Tattoo Parlor to get his surprise.

  An hour later they left the shop with him having a new tattoo. When they were in the car, he turned to Ben. “Now I’m going to take you to go visit your sister.”

  “She said I’m not to tell you where she is.”

  “Well, you’re not really. In this game all you’re going to do is say ‘hot’ or ‘cold’, ‘really cold’ if I’m really wrong and ‘really hot’ if
we’re almost there or close by.”

  Bengie smiled. “Ah, very clever.”

  * * * *

  Two hours later Kane was really, really hot, but ten minutes ago he didn’t need to play the game anymore, his wolf had taken over and he could feel the bond. They arrived out front of a quiet, tiny cottage with a reserve behind it and a blue little Beetle car out front. He let Ben go before him, knowing he would need him to get in.

  Ben knocked on the door. He was so eager he was bouncing. A tiny woman answered. She was about five foot two with short blonde hair. She reminded him of what a pixie would look like. Her face lit up as soon as she saw Ben, and damn if Ben’s face didn’t just light up like a Christmas tree. Who would of thought?

  “Ben, we were just coming to get you. Come in. Faith will be so happy to see you.”

  Ben walked through the door, smiling the whole time, though careful not to show his sharp teeth.

  “Who’s brought you this time? I know it wasn’t Arden because Faith told me he went away yesterday for a couple of months.” The pixie rolled her eyes. “Like I care what he does. I have never met him nor do I want to meet him anyti...” She stopped and stared at Kane as he finally came out of the shadows and tried to get inside. The little pixie shocked him with the words that came out of her mouth next. “Holy crap, you look like shit. What the hell happened to you?” Then she looked closer. “You’re the motherfucker who...” She kicked him, then punched his stomach. “Ouch! That was for Faith.” She shut the door in his face, and he heard her yell, “Faith, you’re not going to believe it, but a fucking cradle-robbing psychopath is out front. You better call in reinforcement, because he looks like shit. I thought you said they weren’t covered in hair. He looks like sasquatch.”