Chapter 29-2
.Chapter 29-2
“Comforting,” Kane said dryly.
Claim
“You’re the only one left, Dash. Come see me this afternoon,” Janelle said as she gathered her supplies, though I could still feel her eyes on us. She knew. I was sure of it. The question was what
she planned to do with that information.
“Will do,” Dash said, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air. “Come on, let’s finish the
preparations.”
***
The journey to the border took several days, and by the time we made camp in the woods mid-way to Aerith territory, I was exhausted. Not from the travel, since I could run for hours in wolf form without breaking a sweat. No, I was tired from the constant effort of pretending I wasn’t affected
by Kane’s presence.
Every time we’d shifted back to human form for breaks, I’d felt his eyes on me. Every casual touch as we’d navigated difficult terrain had sent sparks through my system. The fact that we hadn’t been alone together since my bedroom probably had something to do with the intensity. My wolf was getting restless, wanting to be close to our mate, and I was running out of ways to distract
her.
“You’ve been weird all day,” Dash said, appearing beside me as I set up my sleeping area.
“I’m fine.”
“Bullshit. You’ve been jumpy and distracted, and you keep looking at-” He glanced toward where Kane was talking quietly with Jensen. “What’s going on with you and Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Growly? Did
you fight the other night?”
“No, and nothing’s happening. Mind your business, Dash.”
“I am minding my business. You are my business.” He crossed his arms, giving me his best big
brother stare. “So talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Right. That’s why you both disappeared upstairs the other night and came back looking like you’d
been through a washing machine.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “We explained that. The pipe-”
“Was a convenient excuse.” Dash’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not an idiot, Si. I can smell the tension
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Chapter 29-2
between you two from a mile away. If you hate each other, then tell me. I won’t leave you alone
with him again.”
Oh my god. He thinks we hate each other?!
“You’re imagining things.”
Claun
“Am I? Because he’s been watching you like he wants to throttle you, and you’ve been avoiding him
like he’s got the plague.”
I almost snorted at that. My sweet, sweet brother. Kane wanted to throttle me? Yeah, with his c**k maybe. Before I could answer, Saul called out from across the camp. “Simone, can you help me with the medical supplies inventory?”
I practically ran toward him, grateful for the excuse to escape Dash’s interrogation. But I could feel my brother’s eyes boring into my back, and I knew this conversation was far from over.
The rest of the evening passed without incident, but the tension in camp was palpable. Everyone knew we were walking into danger tomorrow, and the knowledge sat heavy over all of us. Jensen kept staring off toward Aerith territory, probably thinking about Irene. Saul was triple-checking his medical kit. Damien and Rosie were going over patrol schedules for the hundredth time.
And Kane was watching me.
I could feel his gaze even when I wasn’t looking in his direction. It was maddening, the way he seemed to track my every movement. Part of me wanted to march over there and demand he stop being so obvious. The other part wanted to drag him into the woods and have my wicked way with
him.
Neither option was particularly smart given our current circumstances.
“Watch out!”
Kane’s warning came just as I was about to step down hard on what I’d thought was a pile of leaves. His hand shot out, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me back against his chest just as I registered the rusty metal teeth of an old bear trap hidden beneath the foliage.
“Thank you,” I breathed, very aware of how his arm was still wrapped around me. His scent surrounded me, making my wolf practically purr with contentment.
“Always,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. For a moment, we just stood there, his body warm and solid behind mine. I could feel his heartbeat against my back, could sense the restraint
it was taking for him not to turn me around and kiss me senseless.
A pointed cough from behind us broke the moment.
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Chapter 29-2
Claim
I looked up to see Dash standing a few feet away, arms crossed and scowling. Shit.
“Who the hell places traps here, anyway?” I mumbled, stepping away from Kane and trying to
ignore the loss of warmth.
Dash didn’t answer, just continued staring at us with a knowing look. I honestly didn’t know what he thought he knew. I busied myself examining the trap, using the distraction to avoid meeting my brother’s eyes, but I knew our time was running out.
He was going to figure out the truth about Kane and me. And once he did, he’d probably figure out
the rest of it too.
The pregnancy. The mate bond. Everything.
I glanced at Kane, who was stealing furtive glances at me. The day after tomorrow we’d be walking into enemy territory, pretending to be captor and prisoner while trying to rescue our people and stop a war.
But right now, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to be alone with my mate, and how impossible that was becoming with my overprotective brother breathing down my neck.
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