Heat Rising: A KinKaid Wolf Pack Story (3 page)

Landry glanced up at his partner. Strands of auburn hair covered Kaleb’s pillow and fell over his shoulders. The rich color popped in vivid contrast to his friend’s unblemished pale flesh. Unusual for a redhead, but he’d never seen a freckle on Kaleb. Not that Landry would have minded. Hell, he’d give his right nut for the chance to bathe every little brown fleck on the male’s body with his tongue.

“Fuck,” Landry whispered under his breath, doing his best to resist the urge to grab his own cock and relieve the ache in his balls.
Not now.
Later, he’d have to do something about it in private or lose his mind. But for the moment, he had to take care of his friend and keep his hands off. Both of them.

Carefully, Landry stretched the cotton and maneuvered Kaleb’s right arm, then left, through the holes in the sleeves. Next, he gently palmed his friend’s nape and lifted Kaleb’s head to pull the tee over. With his chin and forehead free, Landry released Kaleb and f
inished tugging the material off. The back of Kaleb’s head plopped onto the pillow, but before Landry could turn away, his friend’s eyelashes fluttered open. At the same moment, two large palms locked onto Landry’s face.

Shit!
Landry braced his hands on either side of Kaleb’s shoulders, his gaze snagging with Kaleb’s blue one. The pink tip of his tongue emerged, and Kaleb licked his lips before easing his head up and tapping his forehead to Landry’s.

What the hell?
Landry couldn’t breathe. Dear God, he didn’t dare move. Was Kaleb going to…Landry’s brain short-circuited at the very idea of the other male’s mouth connecting with his.

“I-I love you, man,” Kaleb muttered and collapsed, a loud snore filling the room.

Air rushed from Landry’s lungs. “Son of a bitch,” he barked, his arms stiff and trembling where he’d braced himself over his sleeping partner. “If you weren’t already unconscious…” He huffed, straightened, and spun, stabbing his fingers through the short hairs on top of his head. Absently, he tossed a blanket over Kaleb’s half-naked form, then marched from the room.

Seconds later, the front door slammed behind him, and he headed for his SUV
, the pressure behind his zipper with every step a painful reminder of what he’d allowed himself to be sucked into. He grimaced and cursed under his breath. Sucked wasn’t the best choice of words.

He took his seat behind the wheel. Next time, he was cutting the other enforcer off after two drinks. Landry prided himself on the strength of his will, but there was only so much a male could take before he snapped. And having to strip Kaleb Dalton down, then put the male to bed—alone—took Landry too close to the maximum tensile strength of his sanity. He couldn’t allow another night like this one to recur. If it did, Landry was pretty sure he would not merely edge the line of what was appropriate between partners he’d charge right over the damn thing. Possibly ruining a two-decade old friendship.

Landry shoved the key into the ignition, twisted, and the engine rumbled to life. With the vehicle in reverse, he rolled out of the driveway. Studying the front porch where only minutes ago he’d helped his partner through the door, Landry tried to imagine what his life would be like without Dalton in it.

Empty.

Dark. His chest ached at the conjured altered reality.

No way could he fucking allow that to happen and survive.

Arick Gregorson closed the door to his office and turned to face the male who’d entered. “I’m glad we’ve finally gotten a chance to talk alone.”

“When are we going back to get my brother the hell out of the KinKaid’s hands?” The redheaded shifter snarled.

“Patience, Carl,” Arick said, his voice hushed. “Stefan and I have everything under control and plan to pay Evin KinKaid
a visit
very
soon.” Not soon enough for Arick’s taste. Stefan, Arick’s brother and the Gregorson alpha, was dragging his feet about taking the next obvious move against the KinKaids.

“The arrogant bastard KinKaid wanted to play it stupid. As if he had no idea why we’d be trespassing onto his land.”

“You told our alpha you hadn’t found anything in Evin’s home,” Arick stated.

“That’s right,” he grumbled. “We tore the place apart, but it was clean. Not one piece of damn evidence that he’s been spying on our territory. I just knew we’d find something to show Stefan and have the final proof we need to slay those bastards and show them what it’s like to be part of a real pack.” The shifter white-knuckled his fist in emphasis.

“We appreciated your efforts, Carl, and don’t worry about your brother.” Arick narrowed his gaze on the other male and nodded. “We’ll get him back.”

Carl snarled, his upper lip curling, revealing a thick set of fangs. “There have been too many things going down around here for it not to be the KinKaids. And damn if it didn’t feel good to hand them a little payback for the wolves they left dead on our lands. Not to mention…” Carl’s voice lowered. “You know we’ve heard rumors of the threats being left for your brother to find.”

Arick schooled his features, making sure nothing but disdain at the acts the other male referenced showed on his face. Of course the pack had heard of the notes left for the alpha and the other little signs that a terrorist with a thirst for power was among them. Arick had made sure of it, and his plan was proceeding perfectly. Soon the pack rage against the KinKaids would reach a fever pitch, and his brother would fall from power without a sliver of suspicion ever pointing in Arick’s direction. Everything he’d been waiting for would soon be his—the alpha’s seat and Landry Michaels back in his bed.

“Yes, I’m aware the word has gotten out. As lead enforcer for our pack, I take any threat very seriously. But especially those aimed at Stefan. The alpha’s security is my top priority.” Arick rounded his desk and eased onto the thick leather cushion of his executive chair. He glanced up and met the dark blue gaze of the shifter on the other side of the furniture. “Stefan is not only our leader but
my
blood. And no one gets away with threatening family.”
Except for me, of course.
But Carl didn’t need to know that little detail.

“No doubt, enforcer.” Carl squared his shoulders.

“You filled Stefan in on the details of your search and of your encounter with Evin. Now, I want you to think very hard about every shifter you interacted with while you were there. Was there anything you found out of the ordinary?”

Carl’s brow creased as if he were deep in thought, and he swiped a wide palm over his day’s growth of beard. “Well, now that you mention it, there was this female who showed up outside of the alpha’s house when we were being hauled out of there by KinKaid’s enforcers.”

“A female?” Arick settled his shoulders on the chair’s backrest, the leather squeaking under the shift in weight.

“Yes, sir, Evin’s sister. I overheard them call her Rosa. So I know it was her.”

“Really? Interesting.” What the hell had she been doing out there?

“I’d heard the alpha had a twin sister,” Carl went on to say. “But she doesn’t look anything like that ugly bastard. She’s quite beautiful.” He grinned. “Blonde. Petite. Like an angel under the moonlight.”

“Yeah, yeah. She’s pretty,” Arick snapped and surged forward, elbows going to his desk. “I get it. Now go on with the rest.” The male was testing his patience.

Carl cleared his throat. “Well, apparently she thought one of the shifters with the Halo around me and my brother’s neck was hot too, judging by the whiff of arousal that burned up my nostrils when I got near her. They were real protective of her too, and I don’t think it was just because she’s the alpha’s sister. From the way they both watched her, I’d say there was more going on than an enforcer doing his job.”

“I see,” Arick drawled, his pulse tapping out a ragged beat.

It couldn’t be…him.

Not the male he’d hooked up with a few months ago in the fetish club. What had started out as a few anonymous fucks—at least that was what Landry assumed—to gather intelligence from the KinKaid’s alpha’s top enforcer had turned into a savage thirst Arick had yet to quench. Bottoming wasn’t something Arick often submitted to for any male. But with Landry… The shifter had struck a nerve, stimulated an itch only he could scratch. Arick had lost his mind under the dominant male, and in the aftermath, he’d slipped, asking Michaels one too many questions.

Landry hadn’t been stupid, though. Arick had tripped the other shifter’s alarm, sending his lover on a
seek and find
mission for Arick’s true identity. And for Landry, the resulting revelation had morphed their mutual pleasure sessions into something that should have never happened. Not when both males were the lead enforcer for rival packs.

“Besides Rosa’s name, did you happen to pick up on any of the others?” Arick curled one of the ink pens inside his palm, waiting.

“Yes, sir. I sure did.” Carl plastered on a proud smile. “Rosa called the shifter who had me in his loop, Landry.”

A tremor raced down Arick’s spine.
Dammit!
Had Landry been salivating over that KinKaid bitch?

“She was pissed,” Carl continued, oblivious to the fact Arick was a grenade whose pin had just been pulled. “When the enforcer guided me past her, I sort of offered to help take care of her—if you know what I mean?” The tall male chuckled. “The enforcer snapped, hit me, then scolded her for not being properly dressed. Man…” He shook his head. “She didn’t like that in the least bit.”

“Why was she there?” Arick tapped out a melody on his desk with the ballpoint. “Did she say?”

“Only that she was worried about her brother.”

“Well…she should be.” Arick tossed the pen onto the surface and stood.” He’s screwing with the wrong pack.”

“Damn straight,” Carl stated with a flash of fang.

Arick rounded his desk, tugging on the sleeves of his black and gold-trimmed jacket. “That’ll be all for now. Rest assured, I’ll notify you soon with our next step.”

“I would appreciate that.” Carl turned for the exit.

“I’m sure you’d like to join us for the retrieval of your brother.” Arick brushed past the other male and reached for the doorknob. “Am I right?”

“That I would,” the shifter growled.

Arick held the door open for the other male to pass through. “Then we’ll make that happen. You have my word,” Arick stated, his voice gruff.

Carl nodded, his mouth drawn into a thin line, then strode out into the corridor.

What the fuck?
Arick braced his palms on the closed wood. This was not the news he’d expected to hear. Could Michaels be interested in that female?
Hell no!
The shifter was going to be his. Together, they would be an unstoppable force, sitting at the top of the Gregorson pack.

But now… Landry could
not
be fawning over some weak KinKaid whore. This could never be allowed to happen. It would ruin everything.

Behind Arick, another door
snicked
shut. “Interesting development, Landry’s interest in the alpha’s twin,” a male voice stated, confidence ringing in the tone.

“I don’t know how you can say that,” Arick growled and spun. “This complicates my plan.”

“Oh, to the contrary. I think this couldn’t have played into your hand any better.” The tall, dark-haired male, salt and pepper sprinkled at his temples, eased onto the leather seat in front of Arick’s desk. He crossed his legs, not a wrinkle visible in his well-tailored slacks, and slung an arm over the back of the chair’s twin at his right.

“Please, enlighten me on how you see this helping my cause.” Arick plopped back into place behind the width of his desk.

“Simple.” The elder male sneered, yet the scorn failed to reach his eyes. His dark irises remained flat, void of emotion.

And Arick thought himself a cold-ass bastard…

He’d have to keep a close watch on this shifter. With his tongue, the other male had vowed his only incentive behind their collaboration was a share of the power and status, once Arick finally took control of the pack. But behind the cold, hard stare, Lucas Allister clearly harbored some sort of an agenda other than Arick’s. That was obvious. Why else would the guy risk so much for the
promise
of an elevated position in the pack? Lucas surely knew Arick had no intention of sharing the power.

But the elder shifter was clever, and Arick needed the male and his mind for political strategy. Partnering with Allister would be worth the risk in the end when Arick achieved his goals. He didn’t give a fuck what Lucas was after as long as he stayed out of Arick’s way.

And if Lucas failed to do so…? There were deadly consequences for standing between Arick and what he wanted.

“You’ve successfully planted all your seeds deep,” the senior male began. “Your brother has no doubts the KinKaid alpha wants him dead—wants his pack. The KinKaids believe our alpha has targeted them. Both sides are primed for war.”

“Tell me something I don’t know, Lucas.” The male was indeed smart when it came to political tactics, but at times, he tried Arick’s patience.

The large male sighed. “Where is your appreciation for the excitement of a well-delivered plot, Gregorson?”

“I’m fresh out,” Arick deadpanned.

“Fine.” Lucas lowered his leg and leaned forward. “You have an open invitation to walk right onto the KinKaid lands.”

“Go on.” Arick pressed his shoulders into his chair’s backrest.

“What better way to incite a war than to take something their alpha, and apparently their lead enforcer as well, covets. Both males, I’m most certain, would…” Lucas eased back, his empty, obsidian stare unwavering from Arick’s, “kill for her.”

Arick’s pulse stuttered, then raced, making him lightheaded.
Holy fuck.
“Rosa KinKaid.” Seated, Arick lunged forward, bringing them closer. “You’re suggesting we take the alpha’s twin,” he stated, his voice hushed as if the walls might share their secret.

“You tell me you want a war. You want your brother dead. And you want Landry for yourself.”

“Yes!” Arick spat. “All of it!”

Lucas slid to the edge of his seat, the sharp points of his canines glinting beneath his upper lip. “Then you take Rosa KinKaid, and you’ll have everything you ever wanted.”