This could all be an elaborate scheme to get her goodies. Ha. Lying to herself didn’t help her at all. She longed for the days prior when it did.
Koda’s back was to her and he sat on his overly large sofa, eating at the coffee table. Koda fought his emotions as he felt Dae standing wary before the table of food. He knew she was starving. What was she waiting for? He got up and motioned to the various containers. “Lasagna, linguine with bolognaise sauce, chicken fettuccine alfredo, ravioli, manicotti, strombolis, spaghetti and meatballs, penne with vodka sauce and pizza.”
Dae looked at Koda in shock as he moved around the table pointing out the stacks of containers. His body was tense and Dae was frozen in shock. Koda wouldn’t even look at her. He looked at the food, the table, the fridge, anywhere else but not at Dae. Dae felt saddened and she couldn’t even tamp her emotions down.
Dammit Dae was getting rusty. Her eyes kept itching and Dae had no idea what that meant. She had perfect vision all her life, could she be going blind?
Koda watched Dae as her brows furrowed. He scented her sadness… well she wasn’t the only one who was sad. Koda returned to his seat and resumed eating. This was his first meal since the last meal they shared together. He sat by himself to give Dae the space she thought she needed. He couldn’t afford to have her run from him again. He couldn’t lose her because he was impatient. He was going to have to tell her about what she was and about what he was. He didn’t have a choice in waiting. If he waited any longer, the next time she ran would be the time he lost her forever.
Iya and Raj came out of the bedroom wearing serious expressions. Too serious for them to be doing what Dae had foolishly assumed they were doing. The second Iya saw Dae her expression changed. It was so fake Dae almost confronted her. But after what Dae pulled? Dae wasn’t one to talk about performing.
Let it go on for as long as it will. No need to lose Iya faster.
Raj didn’t know what to say. He nodded at Dae and looked everywhere else but at the huge pink and black polka dotted elephant sitting on the table.
Iya perked up instantly as she saw Dae standing by the dining room table. Then Iya noticed Dae was looking at the floor and Iya knew that something was wrong.
“Hey, you hungry? The Sas- er Koda ordered 10 of everything from Pappy’s.”
Iya smiled an encouraging smile as Dae nodded. As starving as Dae was, thinking about eating the food without Koda sitting at the table with her was making her feel worse. Dae shifted her feet subconsciously. Koda sat by himself in the living room eating. He didn’t want to eat with her. Why something that trivial affected Dae she couldn’t say.
“I’m not feeling too good. I’m going to go lay down.”
Koda pretended not to listen but he scented the air. Dae was telling the truth. He fought his control to run over to her and figure out where it hurt. It took almost all his concentration to keep himself grounded in that spot.
Dae started to the door of the room she shared with Iya as Iya said, “Um, we uh kind of switched things around.” Dae faced Iya and stared blankly at her, saying nothing.
“For the moment, you’re staying in Koda’s room.” Iya continued.
Dae looked down on the floor as she mumbled, “I won’t put him out. I’ll take the couch.”
Koda’s head turned, confused at the scent of Dae’s sadness. It was overwhelming and surprising. He had only scented emotions that strong when she had been dreaming or unconscious. It was not a good sign.
Dae went into Koda’s room to grab her bag and fought against the bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Things were about to change, Dae could just about scent it in the air. Dae wasn’t sure if she was going to be happy with this change, but what could she do to stop it? Dae didn’t know. Dae heard Iya follow her into the room.
“You won’t be putting him out. He just wants you safe and comfortable.”
Dae’s eyes burned at Iya’s words. Dae took a deep breath and pushed all those emotions she used to be able to handle down so they weren’t ready to explode any minute. Dae straightened up and replied to Iya. “I know.”
Iya was shocked at Dae’s words. Dae, who adamantly refused to listen to anybody, was finally listening to Iya. What was this world coming to? It was too much for Iya to take.
“I’m going for a walk. Don’t worry, I’ll take Raj.” And interrogate him some more where Iya didn’t have to be afraid that Dae would over hear. It took a whole lot longer to write something than it did to say something. Raj wrote out pages explaining the answers to her questions and Iya still felt like she was in the dark.
Dae just nodded as she repacked her bag. Someone had taken her clothes and put them in the drawers of his dresser. Remaining in this room made the pressure worse in Dae’s chest.
When Dae left the room, Iya and Raj were gone. She was alone with Koda, who wouldn’t even look in the last spot she stood in. Dae didn’t know where to go from there on out. Dae scented her own sadness and his pain. Dae had hurt him and she couldn’t ignore that he wasn’t such a bad person.
Dae just wanted things to go back to… Dae wanted to say normal but when was her life ever normal? It just kept getting weirder and weirder as it went along. Did Dae want to go through the changes she was going to be faced with soon without Koda? That was the question. The why of her wanting him around her was irrelevant now.
Koda had become her banter partner, she teased him and he teased her. It was entertaining and now that Koda wouldn’t go near her with a 10 foot pole, Dae started to realize that somehow, some way Dae had started not hating Koda. Hurting him hurt her. Knowing that she hurt him, hurt her worse. That last argument had been harsh and Dae knew she could be a total bitch when cornered. Dae sighed as she made a decision she never thought she was going to make in her life. Ever.
Dae grabbed a few trays, some utensils and sat across from Koda on the opposite sofa.
They sat in silence eating but it wasn’t the right kind of silence. Dae’s chest ached because she knew that he wanted to get away from her. Dae didn’t think there was anything she could do to make it better.
Koda was shocked as his mate refused to make eye contact with him. There was only so much he could take before he grabbed her and held on to her until they both felt better. Koda was trying not to get in her space, but she kept on making it so damned hard! He kept his focus on the TV program he had been pretending to watch since she woke up. He still had no idea what the show was, who was in it, or even if it was the same show from an hour ago.
“I did it.” Dae said into the silence. Her voice shook and Dae thought she might do something she hadn’t done for years: cry. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Koda raised his brow at Dae; he couldn’t help it and then turned away. He knew that already. He couldn’t look at her face without seeing her wounds. Koda fought to stay seated.
“I did it all, the mall, the cologne… it was all me.”
Koda peered at Dae in his peripheral vision again and sighed. “I know.”
Dae shifted uncomfortably but still didn’t look up. “How long?’
“Since Sephora.”
“So why didn’t you stop it before it started?” Dae asked, curious as to why he let her pull the shit she pulled. Dae must be a terrible person if he saw what she was doing and didn’t want to confront her. And it made Dae feel so much worse.
“You would have found another way. And if I didn’t pay attention to the signs…it could have ended up much worse than it did. So I opted to play the game I could see at the time.” Sit. Sit. Sit. Sit…
Dae was waiting for it. This was where Koda said he had enough and left. Walked out of her life. Just what she wanted all along. Right? Oh, wait. This was his condo. He would tell her to leave. Dae was fighting back the words she wanted to say, they itched her throat and choked her. She needed to say them, but was terrified of what they meant.
Dae was confused; the things she felt still made no sense to her.
Before she realized it,
the words she was holding back slipped out of her traitorous lips. “I’m sorry. It was a bad idea.” Dae hated herself more than anything at that very moment. She felt weak and ashamed; two feelings she wasn’t used to having and didn’t know how to deal with.
Koda turned his head slightly to get a better peripheral look at his mate, doubting what his ears heard. Stay seated! Did she really apologize? To him? Stay seated! Koda bet it was her first real apology ever. Koda’s scented her guilt, her sadness, and her fear. Stay seated dammit! He was about to tell her everything. He couldn’t keep it inside when he knew that Dae never apologized for her schemes.
His mate was killing him.
Koda opened his mouth to start when he heard a knock at the door. He gave Raj and Iya a set of keys, so he couldn’t figure out who it could be. “I’ll be right back.”
He didn’t even look at her. Dae was losing –wait could she even lose someone she never had? Dae felt like someone stabbed her in the chest.
Koda got to the door and almost fell over with shock. Shit! Shit! SHIT! Not him, not him please…
“I can smell you.” Rain said through the door. Rain knew Koda would hear him.
Koda opened the door but blocked it with his body. Rain didn’t need to be in his condo. Let him get his own. Koda was going to have to explain it all to Dae anyway, so he would get rid of Rain. Then explain to Dae, and then call Rain with the update the Alpha wanted. It was a good plan.
“Later. I’m busy.” Koda tried to slam the door in Rain’s face but Rain wedged his foot in the door so it bounced back. Rain leaned against it so Koda couldn’t remove him without a fight and that was not what Dae needed right now.
Asshole.
“My, such a warm welcoming for family.” Rain sneered. Rain just about sneered everything he said. He was probably born with a sneer on his face.
“You know me; I’m a warm kind of guy. Now like I was saying, get lost.”
“I don’t think so. I’m here for a report, so report.”
Koda growled as he decided that Rain could come in the condo, as long as that fine brown coat of fur was up on his wall.
“Company?” Dae was behind Koda eyeing Rain as if he was a threat. Crap, Koda gave Dae the wrong impression. Well, technically, it was the right impression but Koda didn’t want Dae to react the way he knew she would react. He did not need Rain to know who she was.
“He was just leaving.” Koda replied.
“How rude of you Koda, wont you introduce me?” Rain appreciatively eyed Dae’s cut off tights and shirt. Koda fought the desire to rip his throat out. It would really piss the Alpha off.
“This is Rain he’s my…” Koda paused trying to find an accurate description for who Rain was to him. There were just so many but none he wanted to admit to. It might make Dae think less of him.
“I’m his brother, but don’t hold that against me.” The new comer said with a grin, offering her his hand to shake. Dae was sure that grin was meant to be sexy, and maybe if she were anybody else, it would have had that effect on her. It wasn’t that the man wasn’t sexy; any woman besides herself would have seen that he oozed sex appeal, sophistication, and probably a sexually transmitted disease or three.
Rain had broad shoulders, a muscular chest, and was taller than she was but shorter than Koda. Rain lacked many of the things Dae liked about Koda. While Koda’s whole being permeated sincerity, trust, and kindness, Rain’s was ingrained with deception and envy. They were both gorgeous with those perfect shaped cheek bones and masculine jaws but besides that there clearly wasn’t a familial resemblance Dae could see.
Rain’s hair was various shades of brown and Dae could scent the chemicals he used to make it that way. His eyes hinted at Asian blood while his skin was like hot caramel. His eerie green eyes looked unnatural but then again who was Dae to talk? He had an air of aristocracy that made Dae want nothing more than to beat it out of him.
He smelled funny too and not in the way most men smelled of aftershave and deodorant over their natural scent. Rain smelled like cloves, lemon grass, spruce trees and wild, which Dae found strange. Koda, Raj, Raphael and his offspring were the only people she knew had varied and unique scents like that. There were other scents Rain was emitting, one being particularly more nauseating than the others she wasn’t quite sure of to identify.
It had to be arrogance; his arrogance literally reeked. Dae still didn’t say anything or grasp his outstretched hand.
Koda stared at Dae, scenting her emotions she tried to hide. She did a very good job of it. Before Dae was killing him with her emotions; she was making him lose his resolve to respect her wishes, but now it was as if she was Fort Knox. If he wasn’t so close and already accustomed to her, he would have barely recognized the distaste and the wariness that whispered off of her.
Koda felt like smiling as he watched Rain’s attempt at being appealing to Dae. Koda didn’t smile; he was waiting to see what his mate would do next. She always surprised him and for the first time in the past week, Koda was actually looking forward to Dae’s natural reactions.
Rain dropped his hand with a slight frown. Then he screwed on that dopey smile again and Dae noticed. He looked like the type of person to keep his game face on at all times. She wondered what about this encounter displeased him so. She needed to figure it out quickly so she could keep on doing it until he got disgusted enough to leave.
She didn’t like him being in Koda’s condo. Not at all.
She knew feeling as she did was illogical; Koda couldn’t even stand to look at her a minute ago. Koda and Dae were barely strangers, but somehow she knew Koda didn’t like this guy who stood at the door. Koda didn’t trust him and Dae didn’t trust a-n-y-b-o-d-y.
She doubted they were family, even in that step-fashion she saw on Brady Bunch reruns.
She couldn’t explain to herself why it was so imperative to piss this guy off, but then again, Dae couldn’t explain many things she felt compelled to do. Parts of Dae were an enigma to herself. And surprisingly enough, both parts of her agreed on this. Times like these confirmed Dae was a freaking psycho.
Padded room for one, please?
“I came to visit my little brother for the weekend. I’m all about the family bonding. We’re a very close knit kind.” Rain said with a wink.
Was this guy for real? Dae read between the lines and heard what he really meant. ‘Koda hates me and doesn’t want me around so I’m here to watch and annoy him because it gives me a woody’. Or something like that.
The low rumble coming from Koda’s chest only confirmed her suspicions. Rain continued to stare at her like she was a place holder for anything Koda wanted. Dae could already tell his charm had one purpose; to royally piss Koda off and take something from him.
Dae wasn’t anyone’s to take; she wouldn’t be playing this game. At least not the way Rain intended her to play.
“You must be Dae.” Rain said still grinning like the fool he was. Koda was shocked; he had not given anyone Dae’s name. Something was seriously wrong.
“I guess so. That’s what it says on my tighty whities.” Dae spoke in a monotone voice while shrugging. Koda mysteriously started choking as Rain’s mouth hung open in horror. Dae must have offended Rain’s sensibilities, and she wasn’t even trying. Yet.
“Keep that up and you’re going to get flies.” Dae fought her sadness remembering those were the exact words Koda had once said to her. Back when Koda used to look at her.
Dae focused on the task at hand. Rain’s mouth snapped shut as Dae narrowed her eyes on his luggage. There were five pieces in the hallway. Five large designer brand suitcases just for a weekend? Dae didn’t think so.
“Those yours?” Dae asked feigning intrigue.
“Yes they are, do you like them? Italian leather is the best.” Smug bastard. Dae hated smug bastards.
“Yeah, I bet you and that biker dude from the Village People just love it. Nah, actually I was just thinking you sure do have a lot of luggage f
or a weekend visit. Do you always pack like a girl?”
“Excuse me–” Rain snarled as Koda stepped between them. Dae was surprised her own growling was overshadowed by Koda’s. He hadn’t even looked at her while she stood next to him at the door. His eyes were glued to Rain. Anywhere but at her. Dae couldn’t focus on that thought as her skin began to feel itchy and tight. It was so bad she wanted to scratch it all off.
“Mind your tone brother.” Koda said, now snarling like a wild beast, as he stepped closer to Rain, the underlying threat unsaid but still understood.
“What? Am I supposed to just stand here and be insulted by some pup who doesn’t know her place?”
Rain sneered at Koda but before Koda could reply or rip his throat out, Dae shocked him by saying, “Well then, stand the fuck over there ASSHOLE! Who knows, the new spot could make all the difference.”
Dae aggressively pointed to farther out in the hallway. Her subtlety wasn’t missed. Koda had to turn and grab her waist to keep her from launching at Rain’s exposed throat. “And what the fuck did you call me Renée?!”
“You better teach her some manners brother; you know what Alpha will do with a disrespectful bitch like that.” Koda was pushing Dae behind him, ready to kill Rain himself.
Koda didn’t care that Rain being older technically meant Koda was supposed to be the submissive, or that Rain was higher in line to be the next Alpha than he was. Both man and wolf demanded his blood for insulting his mate. But both man and wolf demanded Dae be safe first. He pushed her into the sofa so he could shift and challenge Rain, which would require one helluva an explanation later but try telling Dae that! Dae didn’t care. Koda bet she didn’t even realize she was trying to fight her way through him to get to Rain.
Dae was already launching herself at a stunned Rain. Koda grabbed her mid air before she could make contact. He growled for her to stop but that was useless; Dae didn’t even listen to him when he talked to her like a human. Koda pushed her behind his back, but she was already squirming her smaller body out of his arms to renew her attack.
Lost & Found (A Lost Ones Novel Book 1) Page 27