Everything That You Are (19 page)

“My fault!”
Kaden
exclaimed indignantly but with a smile on his face.

Michael pulled the shower curtain closed after making sure the temperature was right,
then
turned to his mate with a sly grin curving his lips.
“Hell yeah.
If you weren’t so damned tempting, I wouldn’t have to rip off your clothes every time I kiss you. Better yet, I’m thinking you should just stay naked all the time once the folks leave.
Less stress on Mom and all that.”

Kaden
threw his head back and captivated Michael again. The boy’s laugh was so
cheerful,
it took the world away until there was only the two of them.

* * * *

Michael opened the front door to Dennis and Nick and gave them both a nod of greeting before tugging on his mate’s hand to pull him from the house. He could feel the man’s nervousness beating at him and knew it must be due to the presence of his Betas, but it was understandable. He hadn’t spent very much time in their presence since coming here.

“Wow, you look a lot better. I hope you don’t mind, but after we heard about what happened, we came over to check in on you. You had everyone worried,” Dennis said.

Kaden’s
eyes widened at the unexpected attention, then slanted in anger as his slight frame began to shake with emotions so strong, Michael was having a hard time differentiating them.

“You don’t have to pretend to be nice to me. We all know I was a whore and that you don’t approve of me.” Michael saw the man swallow forcibly and inch his body closer to him before continuing. “But don’t worry, I promise I won’t embarrass your Alpha any more than I already have.”

Whether
Kaden
was quaking from anger or pain, Michael couldn’t tell, but he felt his own anger rise up at
Kaden’s
words. His mate had nothing to be ashamed of, unlike himself. He was about to grind out a frustrated objection but Dennis beat him to it.

“Michael, wait.” He held up a hand to stop him but never took his eyes from
Kaden’s
face. “You’re right. I was worried at first that you weren’t the best choice for my Alpha. But after seeing the stress he’s been carrying for years after he fucked up…” He glanced at Michael and said, “No offence, but you did,” then turned back to
Kaden
. “Seeing it disappear just from having you around, I’m grateful to you. I can’t think of a better mate for my Alpha than a man who not only brings him peace, but is also strong enough to risk himself by testifying against killers. That takes some guts.”

Kaden
shook his head in denial.

“I’m assuming that because you’re still here, you’re giving my Alpha a second chance when you could have just told us who the killers were days ago. I can’t say that I would be strong enough to risk my heart after being rejected the way you were. Honestly, you amaze me.” Dennis raised a hand and held it out, palm side up, to
Kaden
. “I want to show how sorry I am for wronging you, and that I’m telling you the truth, if
that’s
okay.”

Kaden
looked from the man’s face to his hand, then back again. Dennis’s expression was completely open, hiding none of shame he was professing to, but
Kaden
still seemed hesitant to touch the man in order to gauge his intent. He looked up at Michael with a questioning gaze and Michael nodded to him, trying to tell him that he trusted his Beta’s gesture.
Kaden
took a deep breath and stretched out his hand, laying it in the much larger one of the man in front of him.

Michael watched as
Kaden’s
eyes widened again and felt his anger melt away.

“
Kaden
?”
Michael asked from behind him.

Smiling weakly, he looked into Dennis’s face and said, “Thank you. I know you’re telling me the truth.” He let go of the other’s hand and returned to Michael’s side.

Dennis let out a relieved breath. Nick laughed and punched him in the arm. “That was like, eloquent, man.
Brought a tear to my eye.
Didn’t know you had it in you.”

Dennis growled. “Shut up,
Pinky
.”

“No, really, Brain. You should write poetry or some shit. Hey,
Kaden
, you sure part of your power isn’t bringing intelligence to idiots? ‘
Cause
I
gotta
say—”

Dennis turned to Michael and said, “Alpha,
Kaden
, please excuse me for a moment.”

Nick had stopped in mid-sentence when he saw the look that promised death cross Dennis’s face, at odds with his polite words, and grinned before taking off at full speed around the side of the house. Dennis was on his heels within seconds and sounds of fighting could be heard just before Missy came out to join them.

“You kids have five minutes to pull your heads out of each other’s asses. I expect you to be at the ranch by the time we get there,”
Michael sent to his Betas.
 

“Are they at it again?”
Joseph asked.

Michael sent the mental equivalent of a laugh. “
Aren’t you glad you’re on surveillance detail?”
He heard his most mature Beta by far grumbling in his mind and he laughed out loud as he jumped into the driver’s side and made sure both
Kaden
and Missy were buckled in.

As he started the truck and headed out towards the road, he caught the worried look on his mate’s face. “Don’t worry. Those two are always at it. Dennis is the genius and Nick has all the charm, hence the
Pinky
and the Brain references. You get used to it.”
Kaden
sent him a doubtful look but he just grinned.

The drive to the ranch was filled with Missy’s bubbling personality as she went over some of her courses and explained, in excruciating detail, every minute of the time she’d been spending with Katherine. He didn’t mind the constant talking, or even the endless questions, but he’d have to have a talk with his mother about her recent habit of blurting out his more embarrassing moments in life.

As they drew closer, Michael could see
Kaden
start to fidget as though he was nervous. He reached over and squeezed his mate’s hand, confirming his suspicion. He had no idea what Henry must think of
Kaden’s
absence, but the older man was reasonable and he was sure they could work something out for his mate to keep his job and still stay with Michael.

It didn’t surprise him that Dennis and Nick were already there, leaning against Dennis’s car as they waited. He parked next to them, noticed the state of their clothes, and sighed.
Kaden’s
eyes were huge as he got out of the truck and took in the streaks of dirt and Dennis’s busted lip. Nick winked at him and grinned, while the other man grumbled under his breath.
Kaden
sent a questioning look at Michael, who just shrugged and came around from the other side of the truck to take his hand.

Missy had already jumped out and was bounding up the steps and banging on the door like her life depended on it.

“Do you know where Henry should be around this time?” Michael asked.

Kaden
thought for a moment then said, “He’s usually in his office. I think his wife was supposed to visit with her family but she should be back by now. She should know where he is.” Michael nodded and they both joined Missy on the porch while Nick and Dennis followed a short distance behind.

He couldn’t detect any other sounds on the ranch except for those of the animals. Hopefully that meant that all of the workers were elsewhere at the moment. He inhaled deeply and scanned the area, trying to sense anything out of the ordinary. He’d memorised the scents of the murderers the night he had found
Kaden
in the barn along with Stephen’s corpse, but he couldn’t smell them now.

“Joseph?”

“All good out here boss. There’re a few humans working in the stables but no wolves.”

“Keep an eye out. We shouldn’t be here for more than an hour or two.”

The house was huge, and with no doorbell or intercom system, it could take a while for someone to respond. After a few minutes, though, Henry’s wife answered the door. She was a sturdy, middle-aged woman in full cowgirl regalia, including the hat and tassels. Michael recognised her immediately, although he’d only met her once. As soon as she spotted
Kaden
and his sister, she broke out into a smile that looked like it carried more relief than joy.

 
“Jade, Missy!” she exclaimed. “I’m so glad to see you two.” She instantly wrapped the girl in a strong embrace but, after taking a single step towards
Kaden
, she seemed to rethink doing the same with him. Michael didn’t think it likely that
Kaden
had made her aware of his power, which told him that
Kaden
must have a relationship with the
Connel’s
that went beyond employer-employee.

“I was afraid after that incident you’d decided to quit. Henry told me all about it. That man was causing trouble before then and I told Henry we should have fired him months ago but we never thought he would go that far. Are you okay, sweetie?”

Michael saw a faint blush creep into
Kaden’s
cheeks as he answered the woman, but Michael was too busy taking in this new information to pay much attention to their greetings. This was the second time someone had mentioned the fact that his mate had been in danger on the ranch before he’d found him.
And why was she calling him Jade?

Michael heard his name spoken, pulling him from his thoughts, and looked over at the woman who had addressed him.

“Michael
Rockheim
, right?” She glanced down at his hand that still held
Kaden’s
but didn’t remark on it as she continued, “Cheryl
Connel
. I think we only met the once at a horse show about a year ago, but my husband raves all the time about your brilliant business mind. Seems you’ve helped him out on more than a few ventures. It’s nice to see you again. Please, come on in.” Michael gave her his most charming smile,
then
glanced back at his Betas.
 

“This is Nick and Dennis. If you don’t mind, they wanted to take a look around the area. It’s a beautiful piece of land you’ve got here. Dennis is thinking about purchasing a few acres of his own, so I thought I’d bring him along so he could get an idea of what exactly he’s looking for.” It was a small lie, but he needed the men outside to keep an eye on the house while Joseph stayed closer to the barn and the outskirts.

“Not at all.
You gentlemen have a quick look-see while I take them to Henry.” She turned back to
Kaden
. “He’ll be so happy to see that you’re okay. He’s been worried about you.” Both men nodded and thanked her before Michael turned to close the door. They followed the woman through a spacious living and dining room, then down a long hallway before stopping at a partially open door.

“Henry,” she called out as she opened the door to a rustic-looking office. Almost everything inside was made of wood, including the walls, and a few trophy heads of elk and deer adorned the walls. Henry sat behind a huge, oak desk littered with papers, and looked up at the sound of Cheryl’s voice. His eyes lit up brightly as he took in their presence, but just as his wife had done, he ignored Michael in favour of
Kaden
.

“Damn, it’s good to see you boy.” Henry raised himself from his desk chair and started towards
Kaden
but seemed to remember himself before he got halfway across the room. There was no doubt in Michael’s mind now that
Kaden
had given them the impression that he didn’t like to be touched. He could also see that Henry cared just as much for the man as his wife did.

The older man beamed a smile at Missy, who was ploughing into him almost before he could open his arms to return her hug.

The girl was too excited to slow down, though, and she whirled back to Cheryl, asking, “Has someone been watering my plants? I left a note. I’m sorry I had to leave. Is my garden okay?”

Cheryl, obviously accustomed to the girl’s eccentricity, took her by the shoulders and steered her towards the door. “Everything should be fine. Why don’t we leave these gentlemen to their business and go check up on your plants?” She closed the door on their way out, giving them a little privacy.

“Hi, Mr
Connel
.
I’m sorry I’ve been gone for so long. Things have been a little…well…”
Kaden’s
voice lowered and he sent a desperate glance at Michael.

“Son, is this about what happened with Jim?” Henry cast a furtive look at Michael then returned to
Kaden
. “Did he hurt you again? I called the cops and gave them a report the day you went missing. I didn’t give them all the details, but you’ve never missed a day of work since I hired you and I got worried.”

Michael watched
Kaden
blush furiously again and shake his head. “No, it’s nothing like that. I had some other problems I needed to take care of. I’m sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble.”

Henry narrowed his eyes at
Kaden
as though trying to ascertain whether he was being told the truth or not. Finally, the man turned to Michael and said, “Mr
Rockheim
, it’s good to see you again.” He also took notice of their joined hands but ignored it just as his wife had.