Rane's Mate (9 page)

Kirby glanced behind her to see Rane standing in the doorway.
When his eyes met hers she could tell that he was troubled.

Faith seemed to change her mind and stood up. She grabbed Kirby’s
hand, dragged her over to Rane, and placed her hand in Rane’s, then Faith sat
back down next to her brother.

Kane turned to them. “Mates are on lockdown, everyone is
going to have to buckle down. We can’t lose any more mates to the demons. We’re
going to up our ante and find our mates before they do.”

Faith kissed Kane’s cheek as she said, “I know they’re
holding women that are mates to our werewolves. I don’t know whose mates yet,
but I think moving up our raid of the demons’ hideout would be a good idea. I
also think we have to train all of the supernaturals starting tomorrow,
especially the mates as the men can’t live long without them.”

Rane spoke up behind her. “I already was hoping to have
something like this organized. Devlin and Jamie will be perfect for that job.”

Kane and Faith both nodded.

Kirby shivered as Faith went into one of her trances and
came out of it with an evil smile on her face. “Ah, before you go, Rane, you
will be getting ten more recruits from England and America. They’ll be arriving
in a couple of days, so make sure you add that when the Australian Army gives
you the new amount.” Rane raised his eyebrow and groaned as Faith continued.
“Grab Kirby’s stuff from her flat, she shares her flat. Pay the rest of her
lease out.”

Kirby stared open-mouth and dumbfounded. She seemed to be
doing that a lot this weekend at everything that came out of Faith’s mouth.

Faith paused and looked at her. The wicked grin never left
her face, it just got bigger as she said, “Make sure Kirby goes with you to the
military compound today. Go now, shoo.”

Rane groaned again, tightened his hold on her hand, and
walked as fast as he could with her running to keep up with him.

“What the hell just happened?” Kirby asked.

Rane shook his head. “Yeah, she does that to all of us. She’s
freaking amazing like that.”

Kane followed them and tapped on Rane’s back to get his
attention. “All your recruits will be here by Thursday. You’ll need to prepare
them as best as possible for the take down of the demons’ stronghold.”

Rane gave the slightest of nods before they left the house.

Rane looked at Kirby seated in the SUV he had parked across
from the entrance to the human military compound. He glanced out the window to
see the work he had instructed to be done was being completed. More barracks
were being erected. Kirby was the first woman to go into the human military
base, and Rane didn’t know how he felt about that. He was excited to show her
what he did, but also hesitant for her to see this side of him. It was silly,
he knew, especially as she had already seen him in tough guy mode with demons. But
this was different. Here he was the big boss, the highest military ranking
officer, and what he said was law. He knew his training schedule was brutal. He
was a hard taskmaster. Rane didn’t have any weaknesses here usually, but today,
his only and biggest weakness would be there for them all to see.

Rane moved and turned his body so he could look into her big
brown eyes. “In here, little red, I’m Major Rane, hard arse.” Gently touching
her face, he tucked a red curl behind her ear. “I will introduce you as my wife.
Since they’re human they won’t understand the significance of the word
mate
.”

He slipped a square cut diamond and ruby ring on her left
wedding finger. She gasped, staring at her finger. Chuckling, he pulled her
face to his to give her a kiss. She melted into his embrace, her arms sneaking
around his neck. He pulled away, sighing, knowing they couldn’t do anything
when he was there to work.

“I’ve been training six military men, and there are supposed
to be another six arriving today. After what Faith just told us, I’m sure there
will be more. I am so sorry, but now that they’re going to send more I’m not
going to have time with just you and me like I wanted.”

She nodded and smiled. “I’m from Singleton, you’re either a
miner or in the military. Actually, both my brothers are in the military. It
was kind of a shock that they didn’t follow my dad into the mine. But thanks to
my brothers, I understand how it works. Well, kind of.”

Rane smiled. Of course his mate would know the situation,
she was perfect for him.

They got out of the car and he walked them straight through
the gates and into the compound. She turned not far from his office and started
to say something. He couldn’t hold back his groan, because as she had walked
ahead of him he had noticed how smoking hot she looked in just a simple pair of
fitted jeans and a black singlet top. Her black lacy bra strap was sticking out
of the top of her singlet, and her hair had fallen out of her ponytail. The
fire engine red curls were falling everywhere.

Moaning, he pulled her to him and kissed her before he could
hear what she was about to say, drinking in her sweet apple and cinnamon taste,
taking deep breaths of her heavenly smell. Fuck! He had never acted like this
before, especially in his military mode. He groaned again as he sensed two
people walking down the hall toward them, two of the humans that he had
trained. He tried to pull away, but Kirby moaned and pulled him closer.

He reluctantly pulled away from her as the two men came up
to him and stood to attention. He turned to see Captain Lance and Lieutenant
Logan standing in front of him. Slowly, he removed Kirby out from behind him,
only to hear her gasp.

Lieutenant Logan grabbed her arm, and Kirby winced as he
pulled her to his side. Shocked, Rane growled and lunged for the lieutenant. He
vaguely heard Kirby yelling, “Stop!” The problem was his wolf had taken over.
Rane picked the lieutenant up and was just about to throw him when he was
startled.

In his head he heard very loudly, “
Rane, you better let
go of my brother Logan, or I will never forgive you. Now!
” His wolf stopped
mid-throw, and Kirby’s voice repeated in his head again. “
Put him down now.
”

He turned to Kirby. “He touched you and hurt you. You
winced.”

Kirby sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. “Rane, he
was shocked. He didn’t mean to hurt me. Did you, Logan?”

He turned to her brother who was still dangling in his arms.

Kirby’s eyes narrowed as she said, “Logan.”

Logan still didn’t say anything. Rane’s wolf was telling him
to throw the man.

Rane smiled, showing his lengthened teeth. He turned back to
Kirby, and she raised her eyebrow at him and said, “Don’t even think about it,
Rane.”

Damn, he wondered if she knew how good she was. Feeling
Sebastian come up next to Kirby, he could tell the other werewolf was biting
his lip, trying not to laugh.

“Rane, put him down. Let’s go sort this out in the gym.”
Sebastian turned to Kirby. “It’s nice to meet Rane’s wife.” Logan made a
choking noise and started to swear. Sebastian then turned to Logan, grinning as
he said, “Lieutenant, I would shut it if I were you.”

* * * *

Kirby sighed as she looked at her stupid brother. The idiot
should have some sense, especially when a six foot four, massive werewolf had a
hold of him and looked like he was ready to kill him. You would think that he
would cooperate, but not her brother. How on earth had he stayed in the army
for so long?

She shook her head and looked at Rane. He did look scary
magnificent. Oh God, she really was a freak, because he looked so hot right
now.

He growled, his free hand coming out to touch her arse. “I
can smell you. God, you smell so good.”

She knew what he was talking about and couldn’t help the
groan that slipped out. It made the situation worse, especially when her
brother moaned out, “Oh, great. Gross!”

He glared at Rane, which was kind of funny, because Rane
hadn’t put him down so he was still dangling in the air while they were
walking.

She bit her lip, but a giggle still escaped. She coughed to
try and cover it up. “Please put him down, Rane. For me, please.” She glared at
her brother. “He’ll be on his best behavior. Won’t you, Logan? Please, Rane, for
me.” She knew she had Rane with the last plea.

Rane sighed, and none too gently he dropped her brother.

Her brother went to grab her again…idiot. Rane stood in
front of her and said, “You don’t touch her, or say anything that she wouldn’t
like. Got it?”

Her brother really was an idiot because he didn’t say anything
as they headed down the hall.

Once in the large gym, the doors were shut and Rane turned
to her brother. “You may speak now, Lieutenant Logan, but keep in mind you will
not offend Kirby. Do you hear me?”

Some sanity must have come back to Logan as he nodded,
saying, “Yes, Major Rane.” Her brother then turned to her. “What the hell are
you doing here with him? I know you know what he is. How the hell are you here?
You live thirty minutes away. I’ve been checking on you, and there is no way my
baby sister is married or marrying him. So you better start talking.” He was
yelling by the end.

Kirby could feel how tense Rane was and the growling was
pretty loud. She glanced at her brother and gulped, she had never seen him so
pissed off. Clenching her fists and starting to get angry herself, she stomped
her foot like a child as she yelled back.

“I don’t know why you’re so pissed off. You work with him.
I’m old enough to date who I want and be married to whoever I choose.”

Logan took a step toward her and halted when Kane growled. “Jeez,
Kirby, I know you love animals, but you’re not marrying one. For fuck sake,
they’re not human, and that’s just for starters. How many goddamn years older
is he than you? Have you seen yourself? You’re frigging five-four, and he’s a
giant at six-four. There is no way Hayden and I worked so hard to scare off any
losers or jerks who looked your way, only for you to end up with him. For
Christ’s sake, he’s known as the exterminator.”

Kirby couldn’t believe her brother; she had never heard him
speak like that about anyone before. She was mad at Logan and mad at
everything. She squared her shoulders, reached over, and grabbed Rane’s hand.

“I can’t believe you, Logan. You of all people know what
they go through to protect us, and yet you don’t think he’s good enough for
me?” She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer as they freely ran down her
face. “I have never been so disappointed in you in all of my life. I’m twenty-two
years old, old enough to make my own decisions. I’m ashamed to call you my
brother right now. I will have you know, I am the one who doesn’t feel worthy
to be married to someone as wonderful as Rane.” She laughed as tears still fell
from her eyes. “As for his animal side, I love that part of him more than you
will ever know.”

Not being able to look at her brother anymore, she let go of
Rane’s hand and ran for the doors. She needed air and to get away from prying
eyes. She needed to cry in peace.

* * * *

Rane let Kirby go. He would find her in a couple of minutes,
but first he needed to sort out her brother. “You will regret what you have
done to my little red. No one makes her cry and lives. Unfortunately, if I
killed you that would probably upset her more, and because I love that woman
more than anything in the world I don’t ever want to do anything that will hurt
her.” He smiled and knew his grin was feral. “You’re moving teams, until I tell
you otherwise you are permanently on my team and my shadow. Have we got it,
Logan?”

Logan looked at him, his eyes now wide.

“If I were you, I would think of a real good apology.” He
let his wolf shine through his eyes. “It better be a bloody good apology for my
wife. I’ll see you at fifteen hundred hours tomorrow, in this gym.” He turned
to Sebastian. “I need to go find my wife. We will be back, unfortunately,
because I have lots to discuss with you. I need a better recap of last night,
as I have been told that we lost one.” He glanced at Kirby’s brother, then
turned back to Sebastian, continuing on, “Start him on the swords at 0400 hours
tomorrow. Don’t let him rest until fifteen minutes before I come. Kirby leaves
for work at around one-fifteen in the afternoon so I’ll be here at about
one-thirty.” He made sure that everything he had just said was loud enough for
Logan to hear, he enjoyed pissing him off.

Leaving the gym, he went in search of his mate. He
eventually found Kirby on the edge of the compound surrounded by rabbits,
koalas, and other animals. “You do know that wolves like to eat rabbits, don’t
you?”

She smiled and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry about my brother.
I am surprised at how prejudice he is since he is here. I didn’t mean to act
the way I did. I hope I didn’t embarrass you.”

Rane pulled her up from the ground, hugging her into him.
“You didn’t embarrass me, and that brother of yours has no choice but to be
here. He goes where the army tells him to go.” He hugged her tighter, and using
one hand, he gently wiped her tears away. “I don’t care what he or anyone else
thinks. The only person who matters is you.”

Kirby smiled into his chest. “It has been an enlightening
forty-eight hours.” She looked up at him. “Is life always this hectic for you?”

Rane didn’t answer at first, because he wasn’t sure how he
should answer. He didn’t want to say anything wrong and lose her. Taking a deep
breath, he let it out, telling her the truth. “Sad to say, something is always
going on. Does that bother you? We are born protectors, it’s all we have ever
known—protect the earth.” Rane looked at Kirby and he wished that he could read
minds. He couldn’t help what he was, and he just hoped that she could live with
it.

She snuggled into his chest. “I’m trying not to let it
bother me, it’s just such a drastic change from my boring, overprotected, quiet
life. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to know we have people looking out for
humanity. I just don’t know if I’m as strong as everyone thinks I am.”