I have never been more ready for anything in my life. “Where are we headed?”
“Caine has a cabin out in the forest about two hours’ drive from here. The pack usually uses it when the mating heat strikes. But because all of our pack are already mated or not yet of age, we don’t have to worry about anyone needing it in the near future,” Kira says as she locks the door and marches toward her little blue Jeep.
After throwing my bag into the back, I hop into the passenger seat. My mind runs a mile a minute with all the questions she just brought up.
“Yourpack?” It’s the first question that pops out as she starts driving us toward our destination.
“Well, it’s a little complicated. But yes, I see them as my pack.” She keeps her gaze glued to the gravel road she needs to traverse before getting to the main road.
“Why don’t you explain it to me,” I say as casually as I can. “We have quite a drive ahead.”
I’m feeling anything but calm at the thought of her having found somewhere she wants to be. She has found a new pack and a new family, and that’s just going to make this all so muchharder.
“When I left years ago, I had no idea what waited for me out there. I only knew I had to get away.” Her gaze flits to me, and I nod, remembering the night she left. “For six months, I was on my own, barely coping and struggling to get by. I even thought of coming back a couple of times. But then Talia found me.”
She laughs, her entire face lighting up. “She just stormed into my life without giving me a choice, and we’ve been best friends ever since. I live with her pack.”
“What’s so complicated about that?” I ask. Seems like she just found somewhere to be, with people who accepted her.
“They’re wolves,” Kira says with her head held high.
“What?” I ask way too loudly in the small space. “You can’t live with wolves! They are volatile, violent creatures. Barely in control of their animal.”
Kira hits the brakes so hard I have to catch myself on the dashboard. She turns toward me, fire blazing in her glare. “Don’t you dare presume to tell me what I can and cannot do, Rowan. Those people are more family to me than anyone in your godforsaken pack has ever been. They haven’t mentally and physically abused me or stripped me of all my worth.”
“I hear you, Kira, but it’s not safe.” I try to calm her down.
“And I’m so safe here?” She laughs harshly. “Wasn’t I attacked by your little girlfriend earlier today?”
“She’s not my girlfriend. And you managed yourself pretty well,” I retort.
“Because of Max,” she snaps. “Because the Katu Pack took me in and taught me how to fight, how to survive. Things my pack never did.”
I fall silent, chastised. How am I supposed to convince her to give me a chance? To accept me as her mate? She has so many other, better options out there. As she starts driving again,I ponder how I am going to make her stay in my life. I don’t know if I’ll be able to survive knowing she is out there when she is meant to be by my side.
Chapter Eight
Kira
Rowan irritates the shit out of me. We have been here for four days, and he has been nothing but attentive. Why can’t he be an asshole? No. Instead, he caters to my every need, and it’s driving me up the wall. I want him to prove that he’s the bad guy in my story, and he just isn’t doing that.
“Good morning.” Rowan smiles over a mug of steaming coffee when I emerge from the bathroom.
“Morning,” I grumble as the scent of bacon assaults my senses. He made breakfast, again.
It’s like some built-in need that he has. He constantly wants to feed me, asks me if I need anything, and tries to make sure I’m comfortable. He is forever in my personal space, and his scent has invaded not just every corner of the little cabin, but my mind as well.
I slept horribly, dreaming again of Rowan chasing me in the woods and hunting me down. My sexual frustration has hit a ten, and I’m raring for a fight.
“Would you stop already?” I snarl at him.
“Stop what?” Rowan asks, seeming genuinely confused.
“All of this.” I gesture toward him and then the food-laden table. “Stop trying to feed me, comfort me, make me happy.”
“But—”
I cut him off harshly. “No buts. I’m not happy. I don’t want to be mated to you, and I’m not ecstatic to be here either.” Turning, I stomp toward the door leading out onto the shitty little porch. I need to get away from him. But Rowan has other plans, gripping my wrist, pulling me back against his solid chest, and banding an arm around my middle.