I looked back to the road and tried to clear the lump in my throat. I wanted to give us a chance. So…bad. Cade was my kryptonite. If I was honest with myself, the last couple of months were hell. I wanted to be close to him. I needed to see his smile. Hear his laugh. Know he was happy. I sighed internally as the last wall crumbled around my resistance. Was I a fool for giving in? Probably. But what a way to go.
“Okay.” I breathed.
“Okay?” He asked, surprised. I laughed and nodded. A huge grin spread across his face. “Pull over.”
“What?”
“I said pull over.” I did as he asked and looked to him in confusion. “Step out and come over to my side.” He instructed as he slide out of the car. Still confused, I did as he asked. I rounded the car and stood beside him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” He grinned as he suddenly wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the ground. I gave a startled yelp as he swung me around in circles. Finally he set me down and gripped my head between his hands. “Thank you,” he breathed as he gazed into my eyes. “You won’t regret it.” He leaned down and lightly touched his lips to my own. I was so shocked I didn’t get a chance to respond before he pulled away.
“Come on,” he pulled the passenger side door open and waited for me. “They are clamoring for us to get back for presents. Well, mostly Brody.” He said with a tap to his temple.
“That’s your seat.” I pointed, although my head still reeled from his kiss. Did Cade really just kiss me?
“I’m not letting you drive right now.”
“Why?” I asked. He swooped down and kissed me again. I closed my eyes and savored the feeling.
“Because of that.” I opened my eyes to see him smirking. “Kissed senseless.”
“Am not.” I disputed as I scowled and placed my hands on my hips. He just laughed.
“Get in.” I rolled my eyes and decided it would be quicker if I just let him drive. I slid in and he closed the door after me. He rounded the car and folded himself into the driver’s seat. Before he made an illegal U-turn in the middle of the road, he clasped his hand around mine and flashed me a beaming smile.
He must have done some wolfy mind speak because when we returned it was to a mixture of happiness from Cassie, Bree, and Brody, unease from Liam and Mica, and barely masked hostility from Hunter. Cade parked the car next to Cassie’s and we both walked up to the group hand in hand.
“So, unknown factor of what she is, aside, huh?” Brody asked the obvious question.
“We’ll deal with that when we need to.” Cade replied as he pulled me into his side.
“What about what the pack needs?” Hunter asked, eyes narrowed. I looked between Hunter and Cade.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You can’t shift. You can’t lead our pack beside Cade when he steps up to be Alpha.”
“Hunter, we’ll deal with that later.” Cade bit out.
“We still have to figure out what Kendra is.” Liam’s voice rose over the trace growls between the two.
“Let’s take one day at a time for now.” Mica added with a stern look at Hunter. He backed down but not before he threw one more glare in my direction.
“Should we go inside?” Cassie suggested as she turned for the house. The rest of us followed and Cade gave me a reassuring squeeze around the waist. Mica and Liam disappeared into the house as our group took over the den downstairs. Cassie had already brought my box of presents inside. We sat down on the couch in our usual places. Unfortunately, Hunter still glared in my direction. That was one intense look I really didn’t appreciate directed my way.
“Hunter, stop glaring at me.” I demanded heatedly. “Cade and I don’t know where this is going any more than you do. It could all end tomorrow for all I know.” Cade growled softly beside me.
“It might not too.” Hunter commented gruffly.
“What’s the worst that could happen if I stay with Cade?”
“Our pack will look weak with a human, or whatever you are, mated to our future Alpha.”
“Back up a step.” I said with a raised hand. “We aren’t mated. Nor are we talking about anything that serious. Both of us recognized that we are uncomfortable being away from each other. I’m happy with him. He’s happy with me. Can’t that be enough for now?” I asked. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Bree stood up and Hunter’s eyes snapped to her. She made her way over to Hunter, sat beside him, and picked up his hand. The weirdest part? Hunter didn’t object, at all.
“Hunter,” Bree said softly. “Let them have this. For now. Things will get complicated enough after graduation.” Hunter’s eyes soften slightly at Bree’s touch and then he looked to us.
“For now.” He nodded. Bree made to stand but Hunter pulled on her hand to keep her seated by him. A slight blush came over Bree’s face but she didn’t object. Hmm…wonder what that was about?
“Who’s up for presents?” Brody broke the tension around the room. I turned my attention back to the others and gave a weak smile. What happens after graduation? I didn’t have time to ponder that thought, and no one seemed inclined to answer me, as we proceeded to pass out presents. My gifts to Brody and, begrudgingly, Hunter were pretty generic. Brody was always listening to music so I bought him a gift card to download more.
My gift to Hunter I was starting to rethink but he was already opening it. He was into weapons and sharp objects so I purchased a standard hunting knife that Steve recommended. He seemed to like it as he ran his fingers across it. He grudgingly thanked me for the present.
Cassie and Bree were a little harder to buy for. Since Cassie was more of a fashionista, I bought a gift card to her favorite store and a stylish woven hat to go with it. She was ecstatic and started planning out the next shopping spree. Brody groaned.
For Bree, I consulted Cassie to see if Bree could use anything in her healing lessons. Apparently geodes were good for centering her abilities so I bought a few varieties that I thought were pretty if nothing else. She seemed more than happy with her gift.
Cade was probably the hardest of all. Even though things were strained between us for a while, I’d always planned on giving him a present. It just took me a while to figure out what that would be. I had decided on a drawing I’d been working on for a couple weeks. It was of the group, minus me, in wolf form playing near the waterfall. Cassie, Bree, and Brody looked like they were playing tag in the middle with Hunter watching over them. Cade was looking out from the picture, standing guard. This was the first time I showed the picture to anyone, so I was a little nervous. I watched as he slowly unwrapped the picture and just stared at it. Uh oh.
“I’m sorry.” I blurted as I reached for the drawing. “I thought you’d like it.” He held up his hand to halt my reach while his eyes never left the image. The others focused on us at my words and they all drew closer to Cade to peer over his shoulder.
“Oh wow.” Bree breathed. “It’s beautiful.”
“You did that?” Brody asked, awed.
“That’s our waterfall.” Cassie said, studying the picture. “Wait a minute. That reminds me when we were there. Before school started.”
“Cade looks like he’s waiting for something.” Brody commented.
“Yeah, he was really distracted that day.” Cassie added. “He kept looking back towards town.”
“Wasn’t that the day before we met Kendra?” Bree asked curiously.
“I just wanted something of you guys together.” I said a little unnerved that I seemed to draw something that actually happened.
“It was the day before.” Hunter grumbled. “I remember watching you three play tag.”
“Why didn’t you join in?” I asked, and could have cringed at the glare leveled my way.
“I was keeping watch.” Hunter growled.
“Oh.” I added and looked away. Never poke a sleeping bear…wolf…whatever.
“Did someone tell you about th
at day, Kendra? So you could draw it?” Cassie asked, finally looking up at me.
“Uh…no.”
“How did you draw it then?” She cocked her head to the side as she regarded me.
“She’s been doing that.” Cade commented quietly. “She’s been drawing us for a while, even before she knew we were wolves. I told Dad and Mom about it but they kept the information to themselves.”
“How could she draw something like that?” Cassie asked. Cade shrugged.
“It has to be connected to what she is, right?” Bree mused. No one answered.
“I’ve been drawing other things too.” I admitted. That got their attention. Cade studied me intently.
“What things?” He questioned.
“Other animals.”
“Other…animals?” Cade echoed.
“Like what?” Cassie asked.
“A panther mostly, especially after that encounter with that girl on our shopping trip. Actually I started drawing her before the trip. At least I think it’s her. I wouldn’t know for sure unless I saw her shift.”
“Fat chance of that.” Brody scoffed. “They don’t enter our territory.”
“Any other animals?” Cade asked.
“Not in great detail. More blurry than anything. I can’t seem to get the image right.”
“What other animals?” Cade demanded.
“From what I can tell, a few cougars, tigers, and bears.” I looked between Cade and Cassie who seemed to be having some private conversation. Damn wolfy traits. “What are you thinking?” Cassie was the first to look at me.
“You started drawing us before we told you what we were. You drew the panther before you met her. This,” she pointed at the drawing in Cade’s lap, “is an exact replica of a place in time before we even met you that no one told you about.” She looked to Cade then back to me and bit her lip. “You mentioned before that your sense of smell and hearing was increasing too, right?” I nodded.
“Your drawings,” Cade said slowly, “are like premonitions. Past or future, you’ve drawn both.”
“So, you think I can predict the future?” I said, with a roll of my eyes, not believing that for one second.
“Is it so farfetched after all you’ve learned about us?” Brody countered in a very serious, un-Brody-like way.
“Have you’re drawings always been that way?” Bree asked.
“No.” I said, shaking my head. “Before I came here, I’d draw an occasional animal based off of a picture or something I’d seen. I mostly drew landscapes.” I paused before adding, “Well, there was this one drawing that I used to always draw when I was younger. Until I had too many copies and made myself stop.”
“What was if of?” Bree asked.
“It was of a house with trees surrounding it. It had a big front porch with warmth emanating from the inside.” I sighed. That picture always made me feel at home.
“Do you have a copy?” Cade asked.
“Somewhere back in my room.”
He nodded before asking, “Cassie said your senses have improved too?”
“Yeah. I can smell things from a ways off and hear things that I never could before.”
“That is something we should probably tell my parents.” Cade commented. I shrugged. If he thought it was relevant to what I was, maybe it would help in their search. He looked back down at the drawing.
“Do you like it?” I asked, hesitantly.
“Of course.” He said, surprised I’d have to ask. He looked at me before he added, “It’s beautiful. Perfect.” I smiled in happiness.
“Now all we have to do is find a frame.” I commented.
“Open this one from me.” Cassie said as she handed over her gift. Everyone moved back to their seats. I took the present from her and immediately ripped the wrapping off and opened the box, then laughed.
“That was perfect timing.” Still grinning, I pulled out the rustic frame I’d spotted on our shopping spree. “It’s perfect. Thanks Cassie.”
“Of course you don’t have to use it for that. It’s like re-gifting it to Cade and all.”
“No, I think it’s perfect.” I smiled and handed the frame over to Cade. He proceeded to open the frame to place the drawing inside. He set it gently beside him before reaching down and pulling up two presents. He handed the large, flat, rectangular one to me first.
“Open this one first.” I took the gift from him and opened that one as well. It turned out to be the lake scene from our shopping trip.
“Oh wow.” I breathed. “You spent way too much.” I chided softly while I looked appreciatively over the beautiful painting.
“You’re more than worth it.” He smiled at me before handing me the second gift. “Now this one.”
“Another one?” I couldn’t help the grin that popped out as I accepted his gift. I carefully opened the small box to find a delicate silver oval pendant with an encryption on the front. I slowly read the cursive words and smiled.
Pack Forever
“Now you’ll always know you are one of us.” Cade smiled.
“Thank you, this is really great.” I said.
“I had it designed so it could sit on the same chain as your other pendant, if you don’t mind?”
“Oh, no. That’s a great idea.” I unclasped the silver chain from around my neck and slid the new pendant on the chain.
“Here.” Cade took the necklace from me and I turned so he could place it around my neck. He clasped the back then lifted my hair over the necklace. I put my hand up and thumbed the pendants. A soft kiss where my shoulder met my neck made me catch my breath. Cade pulled me back around and nestled me down into his side. I kept my hand wrapped around my necklace.
“You never did tell me where you got your necklace? You always wear it, so I figured it means something to you.” Cade asked as we watched everyone look over their gifts.
“It was left with me when I was two.”
“You think it is from your parents?”
“I don’t know. But I’ve worn it ever since.”
“Well, you have us. You know that, right?”
“Yes. Thank you. For everything.”
“Anything for you, Kendra.” He leaned over and kissed me lightly on the lips. The rest of the night was spent laughing and playing with our new presents. I was more than content to sit next to Cade, surrounded by his warmth.
Chapter Twelve
A few months after the holidays, the temperature began to rise and spring was in the air. I was accepted into Southern Oregon University and excited about starting classes in the fall. Bree had decided to stay home and keep learning from her Mom since she would be the next Omega of the pack. Cassie would be taking online courses to lessen her chances of being snatched away. I’m not sure she was too happy about having to stay home but without constant guards it wouldn’t be safe for her outside the pack’s land.
I finally figured out what Bree had meant when she told Hunter things would be complicated enough after graduation. Cade, being the next Alpha, had to complete five years of High Council Enforcer Training upon completion of high school. Which meant I’d see him very little. I tried to ask what his training entailed, but he said that was something decided once you entered the training.
March came and went with Cassie and Cade turning eighteen and no lifemates stepping forward. I think Cassie was both happy and relieved for herself. Cassie wasn’t that attached to any of the guys in her pack which meant her lifemate was out there somewhere else in the world. Cassie was all about finding her independence as soon as possible. Cade just shrugged when no lifemate stepped forward and looked at me expectantly. Internally, I was relieved. My heart was safe for the time being. When Bree turned eighteen in April, we all had the surprise of our life.
Her birthday was on a Saturday so I spent Friday night at the McCoy’s house to usher in her new “eligible” status. We were in the basement den stuffing ourselves with junk food. Bree was positive there was no one from the pack tha
t was her lifemate, seeing as she was still under the impression no wolf would want a lowly Omega for a mate. Cassie and I were adamant about setting her straight.
“Any wolf would be lucky to have you.” I insisted.
“Yeah. Just think. They would never even have to worry about a paper cut cause you would be right there to heal them.” Cassie pointed out giggling.
“Yeah, because a paper cut is your guys’ biggest worry.” I rolled my eyes. I’d been reading more about the shifter wars in the past, and let me tell you, they could be brutal.
“It doesn’t matter.” Bree insisted.
“What about Hunter?” I asked. I watched at Bree’s eyes widened and she looked around the room as if the man himself would pop up any minute.
“What about him?” She asked hesitantly.
“You two seem cozier lately.” I commented.
“He’s been more uptight lately.” Bree countered.
“More uptight than usual?” I scoffed. Bree surprised me by glaring at me.
“He’s still unsure of this thing you have going with Cade. He’s just looking out for the pack.”
“I understand that. But it’s not like we are getting married tomorrow. Or even next year. He’s going off to Enforcer Training soon and who’s to say things will survive that?”
“Hunter has been different lately.” Cassie added. “He’s been around us a lot more than the other two.”
“He’s always two steps behind Bree.” I pointed out.
“He’s just watching out for us.” Bree insisted.
“For you.” I countered. I paused before adding, “Do you like him?”
“Who?” Bree hedged. I played along.
“Hunter.”
“He’s…I…” Bree couldn’t seem to finish the sentence.
“Well, I guess we’ll find out soon because you turn eighteen in three…two…one. Happy Birthday!” Cassie exclaimed and launched herself at Bree and gave her a hug. I laughed at her exuberance. Once she let Bree up for air, I leaned over and gave her a quick hug too.
“Happy Birthday Bree.” I said.
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