Heart of the Pack

by Jenny Frame

“Wait—you said was. What…?”

  “My parents died when I was twelve. They were on a trip outside the county, when a big rig swerved to miss another car and smashed into them on the freeway. The driver was drunk, and they were killed instantly.”

  Lena clasped her hand to her mouth in shock, and then took her hand. “I’m so sorry, Cade. I shouldn’t have asked about them.”

  Caden let out a sigh. “It’s okay. I don’t get to talk about them often. I’d be happy to tell you about them.”

  “I would love that.” Lena never let go of her hand, and Caden welcomed it.

  “My pater was called Chase and was Second to Dante’s pater.”

  “Second? I’ve heard people use that term for you. Is it like second-in-command of the company?”

  “Yeah, just like that. Dante is CEO and I am Second, like my pater before me.”

  “Is it an inherited thing?”

  Caden now had to explain wolf hierarchy to a human, which was nearly impossible without giving too much away. “Oh no. Dante’s CEO position is, well, as long as she is capable, but Second goes to the strongest candidate. Dante and I have always been close, and it was just natural for me to be her Second.”

  “And your mother? That is the right term, isn’t it?” Caden nodded. “What did she do?”

  “My mom was a nurse up until they had me. Then she stayed at home to look after me.” She would have loved Lena.

  “It must have been nice to have your mom at home with you. I hardly ever saw Mother when I was growing up. I spent a lot of time on my own.”

  Caden rubbed her thumb across the back of Lena’s hand in response. “It was. She was a kind and beautiful woman, and my pater adored her. I can remember them talking and laughing together when they thought I was asleep. They were very happy.”

  “They must have been a beautiful couple. Who took care of you after…?”

  “My grandmother. She was a wonderful woman and kept me going through a lot of dark times. Dante’s family took me under their wing too. Everyone takes care of each other in Wolfgang County.”

  “I’m beginning to see that.” Lena was quiet for a long time before asking her next question. “Do you have someone in your life now, Caden? Someone who cares for you?”

  Caden gave a hollow laugh. “No, I’ve never loved anyone before. I watched all my friends at school fall, each in turn, to a mate, but I knew I wasn’t destined for love.”

  “Oh.”

  Caden was sure she could feel Lena’s disappointment and was eager to ask her own question. “What about you? Has there been anyone special for you, Lena?”

  As she usually did when faced with a difficult topic, Lena bowed her head, allowing her hair to cover her face like a shield. “I don’t mix well with people and I prefer my own company. My mother tells me I need to make more of myself.”

  As Caden opened her mouth to tell Lena how beautiful she was, the phone rang.

  Lena jumped up. “Excuse me a moment, help yourself to a drink.”

  Caden got up and walked to the fridge to pour the milkshake they had brought in earlier.

  “Oh, hello, Mother.”

  Caden busied herself making the drink, so as not to appear as if she was listening, but she could hear every word.

  “Selena? We’ve just gotten back from our two-day trip to a voice mail from the hospital in Wolfgang County, to say you had been in an accident. Why didn’t you call us?”

  Caden chastised herself for forgetting to tell Nurse Skye not to notify Lena’s parents as she’d asked.

  “I’m sorry, Mother. It was just a simple broken arm and I didn’t want to bother you.”

  The anxiety was evident in Lena’s voice, and Caden didn’t need to turn around to scent the tension, as well as hear her heart rate.

  “Your father was extremely annoyed. You got this prestigious account, and within a week, you’re out of commission because of your own clumsiness, no doubt. Really, Selena, this is just not good enough. We’re getting tired of making excuses for you. I have no idea where your father and I got you—you are nothing like us.”

  Caden’s knuckles were white with the force of stopping herself from turning to rip the phone from Lena’s hand.

  “I’m sorry, Mother…” Lena’s voice began to crack with emotion.

  “I only hope this hasn’t made Ms. Wolfgang consider using a different company next time.”

  Lena looked over to Caden. “I’m sure it’ll be okay, Mother. Ms. Wolfgang and her wife have been very kind to me.”

  “Her wife? Oh, dear God. Well, it’s an important contract for the company, so you will have to put up with it. I wouldn’t tell your father, or discuss it at his party.”

  Lena took the telephone into the bedroom, to get some privacy, Caden guessed, but of course she could still hear everything.

  “Yes, Mother.”

  When Lena went out of sight, Caden threw her glass in the sink and pulled off her shirt in anger. Lena’s mother didn’t once ask how Lena was? How her pain was? When she would get better? What kind of mutts were those people?

  Caden stopped dead when she heard Lena crying. She rushed to the bedroom and found her sitting on the bed with tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Why do you let them treat you like that?” Caden asked.

  Lena walked over to the window, trying to hide her tearstained face. “You don’t know how they treat me.”

  “Your mother does nothing but make you feel bad about yourself. She called to criticize you for having an accident, and never once asked how you were. That’s all I need to know.”

  Lena turned around angrily. “How could you possibly know that? Were you listening on the other handset?”

  “I have excellent hearing,” Caden said in a matter-of-fact fashion.

  That seemed to make Selena all the more angry. “Excellent hearing, impossible strength, perfect body? We aren’t all that lucky, Caden. My mother is just pointing out the obvious. I’m overweight, clumsy, and a disappointment. She’s trying to help me make the most of myself.”

  Caden strode up to Lena and forcibly turned her around so that she was looking at her own reflection in the closet mirror. “Lena, you need to stop living your life with fear, trying to live up to their impossible expectations. Look at yourself.”

  Lena struggled and tried to turn away.

  “No. Look,” Caden demanded.

  Her voice softened considerably as her eyes took in Lena’s soft curves and full breasts. “I see a perfectly healthy female.” Caden ran her hands from Lena’s shoulders, down her sides, and finished by grasping her hips.

  She heard Lena groan, and the scent of her arousal was beginning to fill Caden’s senses. “You are the one who is perfect, beautiful one,” she told her. Caden lowered her lips till they were brushing Lena’s ear, and her hot breath whispered, “You have curvaceous hips to bear young, full breasts to feed them, and soft flesh for your mate to kiss and adore.”

  Lena’s head fell back, exposing her neck. Her eyes were still tightly shut and she groaned, “Cade…”

  Caden was close to becoming lost. She could scent the female’s readiness to mate, and her wolf was demanding she respond. She pulled Lena’s hips to her center and felt the deep-seated need to thrust into her. She pressed her lips to the expanse of neck offered to her and was overcome with the urge to bite down, deep and fast.

  Her teeth started to shift, and her mouth watered at the thought of tasting Lena’s blood. “My Goddess of the Moon,” she whispered.

  Lena squirmed and moaned, seemingly lost in utter lust. Caden opened her mouth in readiness to bite, and her eyes lifted to watch Lena’s face in the mirror. She stilled when she was faced with her own yellow eyes, burning bright and hot, and her fangs about to bite into the human before her.

  The human. What was she doing? Caden was rudely awakened from her lustful haze. She had to get out of there.

  She let go of Lena’s hips and pulled away. “I’m sorry, I have to
go.” Lena’s eyes sprang open, and the hurt was evident on her face. “Forgive me, Lena.”

  “Caden, please?”

  Caden turned and ran from the room, and out the apartment door.

  *

  Caden ran and hunted the whole night, trying to rid herself of the feelings that were driving her insane. And insane was actually the word she would use to describe her mood that morning. She’d grabbed whatever clothes she had found on the floor and driven straight to the head office to speak to Dante. She waited in her truck until she saw Dante’s car arrive, then hurried over and jumped into her front seat.

  “Cade? Are you all right?”

  Caden felt like she was teetering on the edge of control. “No, I’m not all right, Alpha. I need to go, leave the county. I want you to send me to hunt for Leroux. I need to get away from here.”

  “Wait, wait, just take a breath, Second. First, we have no leads on Leroux’s whereabouts, so how can I send you on the hunt? And I need you by my side, to protect pack lands.”

  Caden let her head fall forward and clasped her hands behind her head. “I can’t control my wolf.”

  Dante grasped the back of her neck and pulled her to her. “Calm yourself, Wolf. I will help you. Let’s go up to my office.”

  Caden knew that every wolf they passed in the Venator building sensed her confusion and tension. This was the last thing the Alpha needed. For the pack to be strong, her wolves needed to feel secure in the leadership. If Caden’s situation continued, the wolves below her in the hierarchy would start to feel frightened and insecure, and insecure wolves brought conflict and fights for dominance.

  Marcy stood and saluted as they approached. “Alpha, Second. What…?”

  Dante shook her head at Marcy, silencing her. “Marcy, push back my conference call for a few hours. I have pack matters to deal with first.”

  “Of course, Alpha.”

  Dante closed the office door and sat at her desk. “Sit, Cade.”

  Caden obeyed and Dante asked, “What happened? Did you shift in front of her?”

  “No, but only because her eyes were closed, and I got away from her.” She jumped up and began to pace up and down in front of the Alpha’s desk. “She was upset. Her parents…they are not good humans. They judge her, make her feel less. I got angry and forced her to try and see what I do, that she’s a beautiful female who the Great Mother has made exactly as she planned.”

  Dante sat back in her leather armchair and calmly listened to her best friend. “And what happened next?”

  “She responded to my wolf, my scent. She called to me, called to my wolf to take her, and I started to partially shift. I wanted to bite her more than I’ve ever wanted anything before in my life, Dante. I had no control over my wolf. That’s never happened to me before.”

  “But you didn’t—you stopped and got out, didn’t you?”

  “Only because I got away from her. When I’m with her, Alpha, I feel like my wolf is physically hurting from not touching her, not being with her.” Caden slumped back into the seat.

  “Sounds like you’re going through the rush, Second.”

  “I am not a cub, Alpha. I’ve been through the rush long ago,” Caden snapped angrily.

  Dante rumbled a growl, and Caden dropped her eyes. “Physically, you did, Second, but your heart didn’t. Most wolves find their mate during the rush—you didn’t. Now, as an adult wolf with adult needs, you are struggling to control your wolf.”

  Caden felt defeated. She knew her Alpha was right. “What choice do I have, then? I have to leave.”

  “Selena is here on an open-ended assignment. I cannot be without my Second for that long. I could send her back, make up some excuse about her being unsatisfactory, or—”

  “No.” Caden’s protective instincts brought back her anger. “It would destroy her, Alpha. This assignment is her chance to get away from her pack and have some independence. I can’t take that away from her just because I can’t control my wolf.”

  “You didn’t let me finish, Second. Or you can tell her how you feel. She appears to feel something for you.”

  Caden was horrified. “I can’t do that. She might be attracted to me, but a human could never love me. If she found out about me, us…the safety of the pack would be at risk, and she would think I’m some sort of monster.”

  Dante got up and walked to sit on the corner of the desk beside her friend. “Cade, this is not something I do lightly, but Eden tells me she trusts this young woman. I would be prepared to give permission for this relationship because if you don’t do something, this love will destroy you.”

  Caden looked up at her friend and said with sadness, “Perhaps I should leave. I’ve always been a lone wolf. I could travel around, try to work this love out of my heart.”

  “I will never allow you to leave, Caden, and I will have no other Second in our pack. You will face this, and if she rejects you, then you will have the pack to support and care for you. One thing I know for certain, Cade. You can’t fight nature. The Great Mother has a plan for you and Lena, and you must trust in that.”

  “Have faith?” Caden asked.

  Dante put her hand on Caden’s shoulder. “Yes. Have faith. I think your grandmother may have been right all along.”

  *

  Caden waited in her truck outside Lena’s apartment building. She had come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t keep running, but telling Lena how she felt and all that came with that was another matter altogether. But she was taking the Alpha’s advice. No more hiding. She was going to confront her feelings and work out if Lena felt the same, before she risked the secret of the whole pack.

  As she waited for Lena to come out, a cab pulled up to the curb. Lena came out of the building and walked toward it.

  Caden beeped the horn to alert Lena to her presence.

  Lena turned to the sound and walked to the window of her truck. “Caden? I didn’t expect to see you till I got to the office.”

  She detected an annoyed tone in Lena’s voice. “Yeah, but since you can’t drive, I wanted to take you to work, and I wanted to apologize for running out on you last weekend.”

  Lena sighed and looked over to the cab. “I ordered a cab, I can’t just send it away.”

  “Leave it to me.” Caden got out and headed over to the cab. After a quick word with the driver, it sped off.

  Caden opened the truck door and indicated for Lena to get in. She scowled at her and didn’t move.

  “Please?” begged Caden.

  Lena gave in and entered the truck. When Caden got in and opened her mouth to speak, Lena cut her off. “What gives you the right to send away my cab? You keep trying to make decisions for me, and I won’t have it, Caden, not if you want to continue being friends. I get enough of that back home. I mean, one minute you run off when I think we’re becoming close, and then I don’t see you for a whole week, and next you show up to drive me to work, as if nothing’s happened.”

  Caden smiled inwardly. The shy, introverted woman she had met had apparently found some teeth. If only she could tell her she hadn’t abandoned her and that she had seen her over the week, as she stood watch every night. But Lena’s eyes showed her anger and hurt, and that made Caden feel guilty, to know she had caused it.

  “I’m sorry. I always seem to jump in and take charge without thinking. I’m not trying to control you. I’m just trying to be a friend and take care of you. About Valentine’s night—”

  Lena narrowed her eyes and said, “When you were trying to tell me I shouldn’t feel bad about myself, and then you ran out on me. That night, yes?”

  She felt thoroughly chastised and that wasn’t a usual experience. “Lena, I feel bad for running. I’m not used to having a friend, and I suppose I felt…scared, caring for someone.”

  “You’re friends with Dante and some of the others.”

  She couldn’t meet Lena’s eyes, so she looked straight ahead and said, “It’s not the same. They’re fellow hunter
s.”

  Lena looked confused. “Hunters? What does—”

  Caden had to stop this line of questioning, so she turned and placed her hand on her heart. “Look, I’m truly sorry, and if you let me continue to be your friend I will never run out on you again. I give you my word.”

  Lena’s face softened into a smile. “Of course I want to be your friend. I care about you too, and I missed you a lot. I’m sorry, maybe I said too much. I was just frustrated with my mother and then you ran off, and—”

  “Stop.” She reached and took Lena’s hand. “I deserved what you said. You finally got angry at someone and stood up for yourself. Don’t take it back now.”

  The little shy smile that melted Caden’s heart was back. “Okay then. I’m glad we’re still friends.”

  Caden’s heart felt so much lighter. “Well? May I drive us to work? You’re in charge,” she said with a wink.

  Lena giggled. “Yes, you may, Caden, but I don’t want to be in charge all the time, you know.”

  That comment, which was probably said in all innocence, went straight to Caden’s core. She might be doing the right thing, but it was going to be hard.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Caden knew Flash and the other farmworkers raised an eyebrow when they saw the pack Second walk with a spring in her step, whistling across the ranch.

  The previous week she had been stomping around, growling at everyone. Today she felt much calmer, now that she had decided running from what she felt wasn’t an option. All she had left to do was show Lena how much she cared, and hopefully not scare her off with her wolf ways.

  This morning, sitting at her desk, she’d been caught staring at Lena, who’d been concentrating on something on the computer screen while she sucked the end of the wolf pen Caden had gotten her, in a way that made Caden’s mouth water.

  Caden left the office and went out to work with the animals, hoping the smell of manure and dirt would cool her libido. It worked, only a little.

  A few hours later, she strode back into the office and threw her Stetson onto the coat hook. Lena looked up and smiled at her. “I’m back, and I’ve brought you a present.”