by Kasey Belle
Casey nodded. The little imp’s eyes danced. “I thought his head was going to explode.”
Ella rubbed her hands together. “This is gold.”
“Okay. I’ll admit you did good, kids.”
“Good?” Ella scoffed and stood from her chair. “They did awesome. Who wants celebratory cookies and milk?”
“Me!” Casey, Jack, and Steve shouted at the same time then rushed to the kitchen sink to wash their hands.
Nikki took out her cellphone and dialed Jim. “You’re up, big guy. Yep. He’s pissed. Yep. Keep him busy. Love you too.”
Everyone was staring at her when she rang off. Nikki shared a conspiratorial smile with her partners in crime. “Jim cut a section of the fence separating our land from Black River Pack. He said it will take them at least an hour to repair it. Either way he’ll keep Devon occupied until it’s time for Koda to take you into town, Ella.” Nikki raised her mug. “To the final phase of Operation Mating Smackdown. Failure is not an option.”
Chapter 8
Janie’s little house had been invaded by her new kickass group of girlfriends. The women had all gathered on her bed after taking turns going through her closet. Janie held up the two dresses that seemed to be the most make-your-mate-jealous choices.
“No. Wear the red one.” Nikki wagged her eyebrows. “The color of passion. Bow-chica-wow-wow.”
Ella looked at Nikki as if she were insane and gave her a little shove. “Don’t listen to her. Go with the black. One can never go wrong with an LBD.”
Janie looked at Bow then Danika and cocked an eyebrow. Might as well hear everyone’s opinion before she made her final decision. Majority rules after all.
Bow shook her head vehemently and held up her hands. “Don’t look at me. I could never fathom wearing dresses that short this time of year. You’re going to freeze your hoo-ha off.”
The colorful beauty’s turn of phrase and the visual it made had them laughing.
“Personally,” Danika interjected once she stopped giggling. “I’d wear that cute slate grey sweater dress I found when I was rummaging through your closet. Pair it with leggings and knee-high boots. The outfit will be flattering, sexy, and warm. You’re beautiful, Janie. You’ll turn heads no matter what you wear. However, you don’t need to appear like you're trying too hard to get his attention. Devon may be a pain in the ass, but he’s not stupid. We don’t want him to figure out what we are doing until it’s too late. Plus, you’re going to a casual restaurant.”
“Danika is right,” Bow said. “Not that I think societal rules about appropriate fashion attire really matter.” She waved a hand at her own Boho Chic ensemble. “The red or black is something most women would wear to Maggio’s. Don Miguel’s isn’t a fancy-dress type of establishment.”
Don Miguel’s was the new Mexican restaurant that opened a month ago just outside the town limits. They’d chosen for her and Matt to have their date there. It would look less conspicuous if Koda and Devon stopped at Don Miguel’s for dinner after dropping Ella off at Danika’s for a made-up girl’s night instead of going to the Italian restaurant near the interstate. Which would have been out of the way in the opposite direction.
“Plus, no icicles hanging off my hoo-ha?” Janie barely go the question out without laughing.
Bow sniggered. “There is that.” She gave an exaggerated full body shiver and clenched her legs together.
Janie went with the outfit Danika suggested. She fixed her hair into a messy bun before applying her makeup. Janie loved cosmetics. The colorful pallets were her second addiction. Pretty lingerie being the first. Shoes were a close third.
She stepped into the living room and all eyes turned on her. Her friends’ expressions lit with smiles giving Janie’s confidence a much-needed boost.
“Wow look at you,” Ella praised and clapped her hands with glee. “This is going to be epic. I wish we could be there to see Devon’s face.”
The other women chuckled and nodded, and in some cases, clapped.
“I love the purple eye shadow. Really makes your eyes pop.”
“Thank you, Bow.” Janie sat in her favorite overstuffed chair and shoved her feet into her boots. She’d just zipped them up when the doorbell rang.
“That should be Matt.” Ella rushed to answer the door.
Janie stood suddenly nervous about the faux date. Matt was a good-looking kid… guy. She had to stop thinking about him as a child. He was eighteen, but an adult nonetheless.
“Evening, ladies.” Matt said as he walked into the room. He looked handsome in his purple Oxford and dark washed jeans. His dark wavy hair brushed the collar of his shirt. A mischievous grin curled his mouth as usual.
“Damn, Janie. You look beautiful. You sure you want to waste your time with my reprobate cousin.” He posed and preened. “I am the much better-looking choice, you know?”
She laughed at his antics. He was a big flirt and didn’t mean a single word of what he just said. “We’ll see how tonight goes.”
He snickered. “Liar. I know I don’t stand a chance.” He wasn’t wrong. There wasn’t a male on the planet that could compete with Devon, not in her eyes anyway.
Matt let out long sad sigh. “Story of my life.”
Ella snorted and gave her nephew a shove. “Brat.”
“Hey! Don’t damage the goods.” He brushed invisible dirt off his shoulder. His expression turned serious. However, his eyes still dance with impish intent. He wasn’t fooling anyone. He glanced around the room. “You realize if Dev actually thinks I’m a serious threat to him, he’ll murder me. You all get that, right?” Matt tugged on his cuffs then ran his palms down the front of his shirt. “I’m too young and pretty to die.”
Ella and Nikki giggled while Bow and Danika shared a worried look. Janie couldn’t decide if she wanted to laugh or offer Matt a hug.
“I won’t let Devon hurt you.” She patted him on the shoulder. “I promise.”
“You won’t be able to stop him. Trust me on that.” Matt glared at Ella. “The things I do for my family.”
The Irish beauty blew him a kiss. “I doubt Dev will take this whole thing with you two seriously once he has a chance to stop and think about it.”
“Which most likely won’t happen until he’s standing over my mangled dead body while surveying his work.”
Janie hadn’t thought about it, but now that Matt mentioned it she couldn’t find fault in his logic. Even when they were kids, Devon had always been quick to temper especially where Matt was concerned. “We can scrap this whole idea and figure something else out.”
Matt blew out a heavy sigh. “No. I agreed to this sitcom worthy scheme of my elders.” He flashed her a playful smile. “I’ll hold your hand. You’ll laugh at all my awesome jokes. We’ll play smoochy face for the whole town to see.” He made kissing noises.
The scandalized expressions of every mated woman in the room amused the hell out of Janie. She slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles.
“Hold up. You plan on kissing her?” Ella stared agog at her nephew. “Are you insane? I know you love to get under Devon’s skin, but―” Ella shook her head as if she couldn’t find the words to finish her thought. “I don’t think even Koda could save you if you put your lips anywhere near Janie’s flesh.”
Matt rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air. “Look, I’m all for not dying, but you want this to work, right?” He glanced at Janie, then addressed the other women in the room. “Janie is six years older than me. The only way it will look even remotely convincing is to add in a little adult action.”
Just the thought of being intimate with Matt, even if it was for pretend, made Janie want to hurl. “No lips,” she blurted. “I mean no kissing.”
“Fine.” Matt huffed then looked her up and down as his mouth curled into a sly grin. His adorably handsome face alight with devilment. “For the record, the lips of Matthew the Brave are legen―wait for it―dary.”
“Wow,” Bow w
idened her eyes comically and mouthed.
Ella and Danika made gagging noises.
“You’re like twelve. You haven’t lived long enough for any part of you to become legen―wait for it―dary.” Nikki repeated Matt’s words in a mocking tone as she shook her head. “When Dev kills you, and he will if you touch her with your legendary―” Nikki made air quotes. “―lips, I’ll make sure they and your selfless gallantry live in infamy. I will call this tale of valor, How Matthew the Moron’s Mouth Got Him Murdered?”
Matt threw her a pouty face. “That’s just mean.”
A ping came from Ella’s cellphone. “Koda said he and Dev are at the restaurant.”
“Ready, my lady?” Matt offered his arm to Janie. “I don’t know about you, but I plan on ordering a chimichanga for my last meal.”
Chapter 9
Devon didn’t want to be there. A civilized dinner with his cousin wasn’t high on the list of shit he wanted to do tonight. Who the hell did his mate have a date with? More accurately who did he have to kill? He wanted information. But he couldn’t ask without explaining why he was so interested.
Koda picked up his menu reading over the options as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Fucker. Why did he have to be so damn happy and content? Why couldn’t the whole world be miserable like Devon? Was that too much to ask? He didn’t think so. As they say, misery loves company.
“Do you know what you’re having?” Koda nodded at the untouched menu sitting in front of Devon.
Murderous thoughts. A mental breakdown. “I don’t know. Fajitas I guess.”
“Sounds good. What kind?”
Devon locked down on the growl wanting to escape his chest. “Steak.”
“Cool.” Koda shot him a look that Devon couldn’t decipher. Part understanding, part amusement, maybe? He glared at his cousin as Koda went back to studying his menu and muttering about what looked good to him.
Their server stopped by and dropped off a couple of glasses of ice water and took their orders. A few minutes later she was back with Devon’s beer and Koda’s tea. Movement by the door caught Dev’s attention. His chest rumbled with a low growl when he noticed the couple who’d just walked in.
“What the fuck?” he snarled under his breath.
Koda jerked his eyes up from whatever he was reading on his cellphone. “What’s wrong?”
“What is she doing here with Matthew?”
“Who?” Koda glanced over his shoulder at Janie and his soon to be dead nephew. His cousin shrugged. “Looks like they’re on a date.”
“Why is he touching her?”
He turned his attention back to Devon. “Why do you care? I thought you weren’t interested. I recall you saying you didn’t want a mate and had no plan to claim her.”
He wanted to yell that it didn’t matter. Janie was his mate, and she was here with someone other than him!
“What happened to wanting her to move on?” Wolf mocked. “Isn’t that what you said was best for us?”
The hostess led Janie and Matt to their table. She looked so fucking beautiful. The sweater dress she had on looked soft and warm and highlighted her curves in the best way possible. The boots she wore made her shapely legs look impossibly long. Her messy bun sported that just ravished look that better have been intentional.
As they were about to pass his and Koda’s table Matt stopped. His little cousin wore a stupid smug expression and nodded a greeting. “Sup, Dev. Koda.” He and Koda shared a fist bump. Janie barely spared them a glance.
“Matty. Good to see you.” Koda leaned in and peered around Matt at Janie. “Hey, Janie”
She shot Koda a little wave, but still refused to look at either of them.
“How are you, Dev?” Matt asked.
Devon grunted like a caveman in response.
His younger cousin sniggered. Devon ground his teeth. “Guess we should make our way to our table. See you later.” Matt turned his attention to Janie. “Ready, babe?”
“Babe?” Wolf roared.
Matt placed his hand on the small of Janie’s back and led her away. Devon was going to rip that appendage from Matt’s body and shove it up his ass.
“Don’t,” Koda ordered when Dev made a move toward Matt.
“Fucker.”
Koda cocked an eyebrow silently asking who the hell Devon thought he was talking to.
“Him. Not you,” he explained quickly. Dev tried to calm his rage. He counted to ten. It didn’t work, so he kept going to a hundred. When that didn’t work he downed his beer, then flagged down their server and requested another beer along with a shot of tequila.
The whole time Koda watched him with undisguised amusement. “Good thing I’m driving. When will you be done throwing your adult version of a tantrum?”
“Janie’s my mate,” he stated with the sullen tone of a pouting five-year-old.
“Whom you do not want.” There was no denying the challenge in his cousin’s eyes. He expected Devon to refute his comment. He couldn’t though. Janie deserved so much better than who he’d become.
“People in glass houses, Dakoda. You didn’t want a mate either if I recall. You were pretty asinine about the whole exile thing from what I hear.”
“Yes, I was. I thought I made it clear that you should learn from my mistakes.” Koda leaned forward placing his elbows on the table. “When I pushed Ella away, I thought I was doing what was best. I was wrong to make the choice for her. In all honesty, I’m not even sure it had anything to do with her. I was blinded by my own anger, guilt, and insecurities.”
Koda glanced around before gaining our server’s attention. “Could you make our dinners to-go, please?”
The young woman nodded and turned on her heel heading straight to the kitchen.
“I think it would be best to have our discussion in private. Don’t you?”
No, he most certainly did not. He wanted to march over to the table occupied by Janie and his soon to be dead cousin and throw Matt out the window. Leaving was nowhere in that equation.
Devon stewed on his anger as they waited for their food. He fought his shift and need to defend his claim on the beautiful blond woman in the corner.
The entire ride back to the sanctuary, Koda extolled the virtues of claiming a mate. He waxed poetic about how his life had changed for the better because of a red-headed Irish spitfire. Devon never commented, never even uttered the tiniest peep. Doing what he wanted to do which was punch Koda in the mouth wouldn’t have ended well for Devon. So, in the interest of self-preservation, he rode in the passenger seat in stony silence. Just as Devon reached the end of his rope, they pulled up in front of Koda’s cabin.
Koda removed the key from the ignition and handed Devon his to-go plate. “You want to come in? We can talk some more.”
Yeah, not. “No.”
“You sure.” Koda shot him a sly grin.
Devon responded with a glare. He opened the car door and Koda grabbed his arm. “Figure this out, Dev. I don’t like keeping things from my mate.”
Dev jerked a nod and climbed out the SUV. He didn’t bother telling Koda goodnight as he stomped off to his cabin. He was going to drop the food in the fridge and hit the road. He had something he needed to do.
“What do we need to do?”
“Make sure Janie gets home safe.
“Why?”
“Because.” Devon opened the front door. He didn’t bother keeping it locked. Nobody would enter his cabin without permission and they didn’t have to worry about crime at The Sanctuary.
“Thank you for clarifying,” Wolf replied in a sardonic tone. “You make a compelling argument.”
Whatever, he thought. Devon ignored his wolf and followed his initial plan. He walked straight to the little galley kitchen and the refrigerator. He exchanged his food for a bottled water then grabbed his keys.
****
When he heard Devon’s truck crank up, Koda pulled the curtain back and peered out the window. He snickered as h
e watched Devon’s vehicle go tearing down the drive. Another successful phase of their operation completed.
“Well?”
He glanced over his shoulder at Ella and grinned. “Hey, baby. Worked like a charm.”
She walked over, and he pulled her into his arms. “Was that him flying out of here like a bat out of hell?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Koda laughed again. “You should have seen his face when Janie walked in with Matt. It was all I could do to restrain Devon from murdering my brother’s only child.”
Elle worried her bottom lip. “You don’t really think he’d do that, do you?”
“No. I laid down the law.”
“You’re getting awfully good at that.”
“I know, right? It’s so weird. I’ve never been able to do it before.”
“Maybe you were. Perhaps the power laid dormant until you had a pack of your own. Everything happens for a reason you know?”
“Truth.” He made a note to speak to his father. Koda wanted to make sure he had control of his newly found power. He didn’t want to abuse it and had a feeling it would be easy to do if you weren’t aware.
“Does he still think us ladies are clueless?”
“Oh yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “I told him I didn’t like keeping things from you. Not my fault he took it the wrong way.”
Ella giggled. Damn he loved that sound. Hearing her joy never got old. Koda pressed his forehead to hers. He loved Ella so damn much. More every day if that was even possible. Throw his little princess Stephanie Ann into the mix. His life couldn’t get any better. She’d saved him. He’d gone from the brooding, broken loner he once was to happily mated family man. And, yes, he was one of those annoying in-love people who wanted everyone else around them to pair off and be happy. He owned that change in his personality. He couldn’t imagine his life without Ella and their precious girl. He wanted Devon to experience the same peace and happiness he did every day. If that made him a meddlesome asshole, then so be it.