Rane's Mate (10 page)

Rane picked her up, plastering his mouth to hers before she
could say any more. He traced her lips before his tongue entered her mouth,
meeting hers. Her hands snaked around his neck and he groaned out. “I don’t
believe for a minute that your life was boring, and you are extremely strong,
all you have to do is look at what you’ve gone through over the last forty-eight
hours.” He gently kissed her lips again. “You haven’t gone crazy yet. I wonder
if Faith knew how it was going to be with your brother.”

Kirby laughed. “It makes a lot more sense now as to why she
wanted me to come here with you.” Sighing, she gave him a quick kiss. “I’m
ready to go back now. Would it be okay if I have a private talk with my
brother?”

Rane frowned. He knew deep down that her brother would never
hurt her, but he didn’t like leaving her alone with Logan when he felt the way
he did. Rane was about to say no, put off work until later and go home, when a
bruised Devlin called to him. Devlin escorted Major Samuel Black and General
Peter Beal.

Fuck, it looked like the shit was going to hit the fan
sooner than he thought. He stood to full attention, saluting his commanding
officer. General Beal saluted back saying, “At ease.”

“I would like to introduce you to my wife, Kirby Wolfen.”

The general nodded at Kirby and then turned to Rane. “We
need to talk in private.”

Rane turned to Devlin. “Take Kirby to her brother, don’t go
far.” Devlin raised his eyebrow and Rane made the slightest tilt to Kirby.

Devlin nodded. “Sure, come on, Kirby, you can tell me all
about your super powers.”

Kirby smiled at Rane and followed Devlin, laughing.

* * * *

They found her brother in the gym, sparing with a guy.

“That’s one of the new guys we were sent,” Devlin said. “It
looks like your brother is giving him a real workout.”

Kirby grimaced as she glanced at the bloody and bruised mess
of the man who was now limping out of the boxing ring.

“Yo, Dev, who is the hot redhead?”

Devlin gave them a wolfish grin.

Her brother knocked out the guy who had just spoken, then
turned to everybody else. “Everyone shut the fuck up. That’s my baby sister.”
The blond he had just punched sat up and Logan went after him again.

Devlin intervened. “Kirby wants to talk to you, Logan, but I
don’t know if I should let her.”

Logan changed directions, lunging at Devlin. “She’s my
sister! I would never hurt her. You need to keep your opinions to yourself.”

Devlin laughed as he dodged her brother’s reach. “It’s not
my opinions you need to worry about, it’s hers and her husband’s, your
commanding officer. You need to calm down. If you make her cry or hurt her
again, I don’t think the fact that you’re her brother will keep you alive. You
will really learn what the exterminator can do.”

Kirby had heard enough. Knowing neither of them would ever
hurt her, she intervened, standing between them. “Come on, Logs, just give me
ten minutes, please.”

Her brother sighed and walked away without saying anything, heading
to the changing room.

Kirby looked to Devlin for help. “Do I follow him or wait?
Is that a no or a yes?”

Devlin laughed. “Yeah, follow him.”

Kirby walked into the changing room, making lots of noise so
her brother knew she was there. She found him sitting on a stool.

“So, sis, how long have you known they exist? They are
classified info. I only found out a couple of months ago.”

Sighing, she ran her fingers through her hair as she replied,
“Well, you found out before me. I had felt them before, only a few, one or two
werewolves, maybe a different were, here or there, but I thought I was crazy.
Friday was when I found out they’re not only real but so are demons. Later that
night I found out I can control minions. Do you want to know the kicker out of
all this? I find out these beings, werewolves and were creatures, save the
world, and I’m a mate to one of them.” Kirby was getting pretty worked up.

“So, you’re not married?” Logan asked with a smile coming to
his face.

Kirby gave a frustrated scream. “You have got to be joking.
Out of all of that I just told you, all you got was that I’m not really
married.” She couldn’t help herself, she knew it was childish, but she stomped
her feet several times and punched her brother.

She smiled when he winced and replied, “No. I got the other
stuff. I’m focusing on one problem at a time.”

“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you focusing on
that? Who I marry has nothing to do with you, Logan. You are not my father. Dad
is going to be bad enough as it is. What’s wrong with Rane anyway? He’s
military, just like you and Hayden. You work with him and he’s teaching you how
to kill demons. I never put you down as being racist.”

His head snapped up, and he looked her in the eyes. “I’m not
racist. They’re not even human. My working with them wasn’t my choice. I was
chosen because I’m the best. Kirby, you’re my baby sister and he’s a killing
machine, not to mention the fact that he turns into a massive wolf, and when he’s
in half-shift he’s a frigging monster. So yes, of course I have some issues
with my baby sister, who is probably one of the most sheltered people I know,
taking up with a werewolf.”

Kirby stared at her brother and sat down on the seat next to
him. “Well, it’s nice to know how you feel, and you are right, I’m pretty much
all of what you just said, but I have to grow up sometime. That was one of the
reasons I moved out here, so you all couldn’t be so overprotective and I could
learn for myself what’s going on in the world. Yes, he is a werewolf, but really
don’t you think it’s kinda funny that I’m falling for one when I have an affinity
for animals? And just so you know, if he wasn’t a killing machine we probably
wouldn’t be here, because those demons and minions cause a lot of destruction
and chaos. I, for one, am extremely grateful to them. I even intend to help.”

“What! No way.”

She held up her hand to stop him. “Let me finish. Look, if
you really feel that way, why don’t I see if I can convince him to get you
reassigned, but I’m staying here. I am going to help and do what I can. I’m not
giving Rane up. I’m going to give him a chance.” A sad chuckle escaped her as
she continued. “My friend said something to me the other night, which I think
you need to hear. All werewolves and were creatures do what they do so you, me,
and everyone else is safe. Just remember that they deserve love, fun,
friendship, and a life too. Give them a chance.” Getting up, she walked out to
let him think everything over.

* * * *

Rane looked at the major and general. “With all due respect,
we’re not set up for that many men. I don’t have the man power to spare to even
think about training that many.”

The general stood up and in a booming voice told Rane, “You
don’t have a choice. Last night was a major statement to us all, and another
attack that took place in another very public venue. I’ve called back eight
werewolves from other missions, and they’ll be joining you on this force. The
epidemic is getting worse. I’ve spoken to other packs and we will have one
other training facility in Western Australia, as these seem to be the best
location. From what I was told you’ve rescued the most supernaturals. You have
a soothsayer, and your land is near water. We’re donating all of our
surrounding land to you for your help.”

Rane frowned. “Fifty more is a lot to take on and train. The
ones you sent three months ago still aren’t halfway ready. We lost one last
night.” He turned to Major Samuel Black. “You saw what was involved when you
came out that night. At a minimum, it takes two werewolves to take down a
demon.”

Major Black cleared his throat. “Well, it did only take
Faith and I to kill one.”

Rane growled, fighting his wolf. “For starters, Faith has
been training with us since she was five, and secondly, she is supernatural and
she’s also mated to one of us. Lastly, she almost fucking died thanks to that
stunt.” He held up his hand before the major or the general had a chance to say
anything. “Before you even start to think about giving your men some enhancers
I have to tell you they don’t help, there’s always some kind of drawback. I
know you think we don’t know about you working with our blood and your secret
tests. What we are can’t be explained by science. Dumping these new recruits to
train is a lot to ask given that I haven’t had the time to train the others
yet.”

The general’s brows creased. “You still don’t have a choice.
They’ll arrive by the end of the week. You’ll be receiving the new facility,
and any help you need is at your disposal. We’re also making it a priority to
find the demons’ underground operations. I have spoken to your alphas. We are
also giving you an extra facility for the paranormal people and they will be
given a choice to live close to you safely and help. As I said, you will have
those eight other werewolves under your command tomorrow. Major Cullen will be
your CO to work on this. I’ll be back in a week to check on the progress and
the new recruits. Send me a report if you recruit more werewolves, I will add
them on and it can add to time if they owe us. Women are welcome.”

Rane gritted his teeth, and they left without letting him say
anything else on the matters at hand. Collapsing in his seat, he pulled out his
phone and messaged his father to meet him. Shit! What they wanted was a
miracle.

His father arrived ten minutes later in wolf form. After he changed
to his human form and put the clothes from his backpack on, Rane told him what
had been said and how he thought it would affect them.

His dad sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. “It
sounds like we will have a lot of work. Together, I think we can do it. It
should also help that we’re going to have a larger pack soon. England’s ten or
so should arrive any day now. On an even brighter note, the extra land will be
a huge help. Ava is going to come and organize things, get all the paperwork
done, I think that would be the best job for her.”

Rane nodded. Ava would have everything running smoothly. She
was perfect for the job. “Have Ava start next week. These are the men I want if
you spare them... Sebastian, he has already agreed if you give the okay. Tray,
but he’s in the same boat as me, except with Sara. Blake and Devlin. Alex and
David, and I know they’re young but the general said he would class it as their
military time if they wanted. Jamie just got out of the military. He said he
would come back and help a day or two a week. Lastly, I did want Tristan and
Arden. Thanks to everything going on, Arden will be home earlier and in the
same situation as Tray and I. Griffen is even going to help. So if you give the
okay, with all their help I should be able to pull it off.”

His dad sighed. He looked exhausted. “If they all agree I
think it will work, and the people you named shouldn’t screw up my away teams
too much or the enforcers’ squad. You need to find a woman to train all the females,
but it can’t be Faith as Kane wants her to start taking it easy.”

His father’s mobile rang, and Rane raised his eyebrows in
surprise that he hadn’t turned it off when he came into the room. His dad looked
at the caller ID and put the phone on speaker.

“Don’t listen to Kane,” Faith said,

They could hear Kane talking in the background.

Faith groaned. “Oh okay, if it’s important to everyone I
won’t teach the fighting, but I have the perfect woman who can. Although, I
don’t think Kirby will like it, just tell her to trust me. Sandra, call Sandra.
Oh, and Leaf. Retirement is boring and his mate says he’s driving her nuts.”

Rane grinned. Leaf was one hundred and twenty-five years old
and had come to Australia to retire, although he was always trying to be busy.
He would make a great instructor.

Faith interrupted his musing. “Rane, don’t forget Richard,
he would be perfect with his sword and knife training. It also helps that he
makes all the weapons.”

Rane shook his head. “Faith, you are unreal, I really don’t
know how we got on without you.”

She laughed. “I hope I remembered everything from my vision
of the meeting you’re having now. I’m having so many visions lately it’s easy
to forget something. And I have no idea what you did without me either.” She
laughed again, and it was nice to hear, especially with everything that had
been going on. “Rane, before I go, how are Kirby’s brothers?”

He chuckled. “There was only one and you obviously know how
they are.”

“Oh, well, I have to go now. You know me, busy, busy. Love
you. Bye.” She hung up before he could even respond.

Kane turned to his dad. “I hate it when she does that. Now I
really feel on edge. Let’s go, I need to be with my little red.”

His dad patted him on the back and laughed the whole way to
the gym-workout room.

* * * *

Devlin had taught Kirby some basic fighting moves and they
were now practicing controlling her animal mind control. The werewolves were
shocked and not too happy to learn she could speak into their minds and, as they
had now learnt, control them. This scared them as they thought they were immune
to stuff like she was doing and any other magic bar their own. She did admit it
was a lot harder to control them than the minions. Sebastian had left as two
new recruits had turned up, so while Rane was busy Sebastian took the job of
looking after them.

Her brother still wasn’t happy and stood against the wall,
watching her like a hawk. It didn’t bother her as she was having so much fun.

Devlin turned wolf again and she knelt down so she was face
to face with him. This time they were going to see how far he got to attacking
someone at the other end of the gym before she stopped him. They had also made
it harder by spreading the men out to block her path.