What Lurks Beneath

Chapter 9

Kaida POV 

    Brone rests his head on my shoulders and inhales deeply, squeezing my back tighter into his chest. He moves the strands of my naturally burgundy hair out of his way and places gentle kisses going up my neck and outlining my jaw. I can feel each breath he takes as he traces my jawline. His thumb rubs small circles on the base of my back, dangerously close to my rear. I can feel a mild heat rising to my cheeks. This all makes me nervous and uncomfortable. He shouldn’t be touching me so intimately. I try to wiggle away from him but it only seems to make matters worse. I feel a sharp pressure start digging into my back and turn beet red. 

    “I suggest you settle down” he growls in a low husky voice into my ear nibbling it in the process “unless you want me to claim and mark you this instant. The way you’re dressed is borderline begging me to.” 

    Despite myself I feel my heart skip a beat. It’s hard to remain unaffected when an attractive male is actively seducing you. Especially when you had once loved this male, but I remined myself of everything this seducer has done to me up until now and quickly broke the mild spell he had cast. He was waiting for an answer. Did he seriously think there was even the slightest possibility that I would actually turn around and beg him to proceed? As if.  Feeling mildly insulted I respond, emphasizing each word with as much scorn and resentment I could muster. 

    “I wouldn’t let you mark me even if I did feel the bond and recognized you as my mate.” shocked, he loosens his grip and I take the opportunity to free myself of his grasp, and turn to face him not done with letting him know just how little I thought of him. 

    “I would sooner take Kane as a chosen mate and watch this pack burn then accept you as a fated mate” 

    I hear my wolf growl low and menacingly in my head, upset by what I had just said 

    You will do no such thing. Our mate is out there somewhere. We will never take a chosen mate, especially not that monster. Do I need to remind you of that day? 

    Flashes of the council's summit start invading my thoughts. The foaming mouth of one of the elders. His amused face as he watched the man suffer...  

    No. STOP, please I whimper, a lone tear slipping down my face.  

    Brone, who just seconds ago was angry and on the verge of tearing in to me, stopped dead in his tracks, baffled and at a loss. He brought his finger up to my face to wipe the tear away and I leaned my cheek into his palm. Desperate for any form of physical comfort. The last remnants of his anger slipping with that small gesture   

    Please don’t make me remember any more 

    “What was that about?” 

    I didn’t know whether or not I should tell him. This was Brone after all. But I was feeling exceptionally vulnerable in that moment 

    “Just my wolf, reminding me why we would never take Kane as a mate. She was exceptionally cruel about it too since she was mad that I would even suggest taking a chosen mate.”  

    “Well, I appreciate her support” he half joked trying to lighten the mood but also being half serious. He seemed genuinely relieved to hear my wolf was determined to only have her chosen mate. Maybe he really is our mate.  

    He nudged me playfully and I had no idea how to react. This was all new territory. 

    “So, what is so bad about Alpha Kane. Gotta love hearing about another Alpha’s bad side. Especially when it’s coming from the lips of your mate who just seconds ago threatened to pick him over you.” he wasn’t going to let this go any time soon. 

“Does he have a horrifically scarred face?” 

    I shook my head no  

    “Hm... must be he reeks then. Big Scary alpha scared of water? I can work with this!” he had a mischievous glint in his eyes and I could tell he was making an effort to make me feel more comfortable around him. I shake my head no once more, this time a small smile has creeped onto my face and he appears awfully pleased with himself. He brings his hands to his chin and starts acting like he’s pondering some important pack business when he gasps and slams his fist into the palm of his other hand. 

    “I know! You caught him after a shift and saw how tiny his little man was and now just the thought of a lifetime with no bedroom pleasure leaves you in tears!” he nudges me again while laughing and wiggling his eyebrows, begging for that to be the reason. I can’t help myself and unexpectedly let out a small chuckle. He stops laughing and just stares at me, his eyes filled with an emotion I never thought I would ever see directed at me again. Love. 

    “I’ve missed that so much. Your laughter. Goddess, I had nearly forgotten how happy it used to make me feel” 

    I look down uncomfortable. It was his own fault he hadn’t heard it in so long. What was I supposed to say to that? I take a deep breath, choosing to change the subject instead. 

    “I was at the summit” 

    “What?” 

    “Why we would never mate Kane specifically. I was at the summit when... When he became alpha.” 

    My body starts shaking at the memories and Brone embraces me in an attempt to sooth me, but nothing could make this better. Nothing ever would. He starts rubbing my back and shushing me like a baby who needs coddled.  

    “It’s my fault. It’s all my fault” 

    Brone tenses at my words, but then continues rocking me, his hold getting tighter in a comforting manner. 

    “Don’t be ridiculous. Kane is a psycho. You had nothing to do with it.” 

    I just whimper into his chest and say nothing further. Nothing he could say would make me feel any better. He wasn’t there. He didn’t see what I saw. He didn’t know what I did. He could never understand. We stand there until I manage to compose myself. When he’s sure my emotions are under check, he lifts my chin up and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. He interlocks our hands and gently leads me to the kitchen.  

    “Judging by those horrific sounds your stomach is making I'd venture to say you haven’t eaten yet” 

    I blush, horrified that he had heard my rumbling stomach.  

    “Yeah, I thought so, what do you want?” 

    “Um, just a sandwich will do” 

    He nods and heads for the fridge and starts pulling out different condiment and vegetable. I stare at him stupefied.  

    “What... What are you doing?” 

    “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m making you a sandwich” 

    I’m too taken aback to say anything further. Brone, future Alpha of this pack, is making me a sandwich. The omega slave he hates with every fiber of his being. Brone who hasn’t made his own sandwich since he was 15 because I've made every single one of his meals for him.  

    Check for poison.  

    I want to chastise Nikita for being ridiculous but then realized just how viable to possibility is and start observing him with increased caution. Making sure to catch every ingredient he adds to it. It ends up being a simple BLT but I'm still feeling warry. I sniff it just to make sure before I finally take a bite. My mouth is bombarded with delicious flavor and I let out an involuntary moan.  

    “If I knew I'd get that reaction I would have made you one sooner” he chuckled, pulling me into his arms again. This is quickly becoming a habit of his. One I'm growing slightly less uncomfortable with, but I don’t let my guard down. This could all just be one big lie. I’m about to take my last bite when the door bursts open and in saunters Claudia. Her eyes instantly lock onto me in Brone's arms and she shoots me the vilest glare. Her chest rumbles with a low menacing growl. She saunters over and rips me from his arms, placing herself where I once was in attempt to mark her territory. Pathetic.  

    “What is she doing here”