The Alpha's Temporary Mate (Fated Match) (17 page)

Chapter Seventeen

C
hloe dragged herself back toward the main hall. Her day had been filled with more physical activity than she usually got in a month. After breakfast she’d volunteered to help watch the cubs. Little did she know just how much of a disaster-waiting-to-happen a group of weres under the age of ten could be. Though she’d spent exhausting hours running after toddlers trying to chew everything they could find, or to climb the tallest trees with their baby claws, at least the experience had allowed her to meet a number of the cub’s parents. Some were reserved in their judgment as to whether a witch could integrate with their group, but none seemed morally opposed to her presence. She counted that as progress.

Once free of the children, she’d found herself in a kayak on the lake. The invitation had sounded fun in theory, except she’d forgotten to account for weres’ endless energy. The group of kayakers circled the lake three times at top speed before they’d burned off enough steam. Chloe wanted nothing more than a nap by the time she returned to dry land. She’d never tell, but by the third lap, her magic had been doing more of the work than her muscles.

“Need to sign up for the gym,” she muttered to herself as she went in search of a snack in the main hall. “ASAP.”

“Chloe, over here.”

Looking up, she saw the soccer group from the city perched on the benches outside the main hall.

“Hey guys,” she said, adjusting her course to bring her to them. “Nice to see you all again.”

“We’re glad you made it,” Sasha said. “The boys want a rematch.”

Please let them say tomorrow.
If she had to play soccer right now she’d probably face plant on the field before the first goal was scored.

“Out here I’m sure we’ll be more than a match for your mojo,” Trevor put in. “No prying eyes to limit us.”

“I’ll beat you any time,” she replied, joining them on the benches. “As long as it’s not in the next ten hours.”

Eight sympathetic sets of eyes focused on her. “Wolf life a little tougher than you’re used to?” Rachel asked.

“Let’s just say if you guys could bottle your energy you’d all make millions.”

Chad laughed, slinging his arm around Sasha. “It’s just because everyone is in such good spirits. We haven’t felt this fantastic in ages.”

“Tell me about it,” Trevor agreed. “I heard my parents wondering if you were good for the alpha but from what I can see, you’re brilliant. This past month it’s been like a knot in my shoulders has just vanished.”

The other wolves nodded in agreement.

“What?” Chloe asked, blinking in surprise.

“It’s a pack thing,” Kate said, looking to the others as if to seek help explaining. “Weres are pretty connected to each other.”

“And the alpha is at the head of everything,” Sasha put in. “When he is anxious, we all feel it. When he’s happy, we feel that, too.”

“You mentioned a month,” she said to Trevor.

“Yeah. I know you guys have been dating for longer but it was a few weeks ago when it really clicked for all of us. Like a weight was just…gone.”

Shock spiraled through her. Their relationship was having a direct effect on Kieran’s people? That sounded…

Like something that happened between mates.

“I’ve slept better this past month than I have in years,” Kate said, carrying on the conversation.

“That’s why most of the pack is on board with the two of you,” Chad said. “We haven’t seen the alpha so happy in”—he looked at the group—“ever? Definitely not in our lifetimes.”

“What about Lisette?” Chloe asked.

The group shrugged. “The way I hear it, she helped a bit but she didn’t provide the same support to the pack that you have. You guys are made for each other,” Trevor said.

“Are you going to declare your relationship at the moon?” Kate asked. “I know Kieran said you wouldn’t, but why not? Surely you know by now whether you’re meant to be.”

“I…” Chloe didn’t know what to say. Part of her wanted to argue it was too early. No one could know in a month if they were mated. But another part of her argued that mates always knew. It was instinctive, uncontrollable. If she and Kieran really were meant to stay together, they would know by now. Wouldn’t they?

“Leave her alone, Kate,” Rachel cut in. “You’re so pushy.”

“Like you weren’t wondering the same thing,” the other wolf replied. “It’s the question on everyone’s mind.”

It was? Had anyone mentioned it to Kieran? The thought made her a little queasy. He was just getting used to the idea of a real relationship again. If someone mentioned eternity, who knew how he’d react.

“We haven’t discussed it,” Chloe said.

“Well, you’ve got time,” Chad said. “That’s the nice thing about immortality. Tons of chances to get things right.”

He had a point.

So why did she feel like her time was quickly running out?

K
ieran stood at the window of the main cabin, looking down at his lover chatting with the younger wolves. As usual, she was a mix of contradictions. One minute she’d stare down pack members hundreds of years older than her, and the next she seemed young and innocent enough to fit in with his weakest packmates.

Crossing his arms, he leaned against the sill, unwilling to take his eyes off her.

The padding of footsteps alerted him to Niall’s presence before his friend appeared at his side. Together they looked down at the small group.

“You’ve got no intention to take a mate this week, hmm?” Niall said, breaking the silence.

“Witches and wolves. You know the complications.”

The man he’d known since he was a cub let out a soft laugh. “I also know they don’t matter if you love her.”

“Of course I do,” he said, the words coming automatically.

“Do you?” Niall asked. “That’s rather fast.”

Tearing his gaze away from Chloe, he examined his friend. “We’ve been together for months.”

“Have you.” It wasn’t a question.

“What are you implying, Niall?”

“After the gallery, I did some digging,” the other man said. “Six months ago you were lip-locked with a woman named Candy, and Chloe was seen dating a griffin.”

A growl built in his chest he had to force back. “We were taking a break. Couples fight. It wasn’t serious.”

“Do you remember what it was like to be a member of the pack instead of the alpha?” Niall asked, shifting gears. “How in touch you used to be with our leader?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t think you do.” Niall ran a hand down his face. “Your parents were happily mated when you were a packmate. Their stability was the bedrock of the group. You’ve never known what it feels like to follow an alpha you can feel slipping away.”

“I’m right here.”

Niall looked back out the window. “Since Lisette you’ve been a wild card. We’ve all inherited your tension. Then suddenly, a month ago, something changed.” Blue eyes flickered back to him. “I think that’s when you met Chloe.”

Claws pressed against his fingertips as his body wavered between preparing for a fight and the love he had for a man who had always been a brother.

“What will you do with your suspicions?”

Niall snorted. “Not a damn thing. I had your back when we were foolish cubs. Nothing has changed.”

“Then what is the point of this conversation?”

“If I noticed, do you really think no one else has?”

He exhaled. “It doesn’t matter. Once this retreat is over things will go back to normal.”

“Will you let her go?”

He didn’t answer. Didn’t have one to give. Let Chloe go? It was an inconceivable thought. He couldn’t imagine going home to an empty apartment or making it through the days without a guarantee that he’d get to see her, touch her.

They might have set out a month ago to fool the world into thinking they were meant to be, but now he rather thought the joke was on him. For better or worse, Chloe had wormed her way into a heart he hadn’t thought he still possessed. He’d survived a catastrophic loss once. He wasn’t sure he could do it again. He’d learned the hard way that love only brought pain. It was to be avoided at all costs. But Chloe didn’t see the world that way. She didn’t understand his damaged heart was the last thing she should ever want.

“The pack benefited from your relationship with Lisette,” Niall said. “But I haven’t felt this level of peace and solidity since your parents ruled.”

“She’s not my mate,” he said, trying to ignore the fact that an outsider had brought the very harmony his pack had been missing.

“Why?”

“I can’t be paired with a witch.”

Niall shrugged. “You’ve proven pretty conclusively over the years that a wolf wouldn’t work for you. You need a woman able to go toe-to-toe with you without challenging your inner animal. No were would be able to meet that need.”

“I barely know her.”

That earned him a chuckle. “You never looked at Lisette the way you’ve looked at Chloe these past days.”

The words brought him up short. Was it true? He tried to picture what he and Lisette had had. It had been consuming, passionate to the point that nothing else had mattered. His world had narrowed to focus only on her. She’d been his darkest obsession. But had she been the love of his life?

“Time doesn’t matter to your wolf,” Niall continued. “Does it want to claim Chloe on the full moon?”

Yes.
It wanted her more than it had ever wanted another. His wolf clawed at the edges of his consciousness communicating one single thought.

Mine.

“Maybe next year,” he temporized, hardly able to believe the words had left his lips. After centuries of avoiding taking a mate, was he truly considering accepting that level of commitment?

Niall clasped a hand on his shoulder. “If I ever found a woman who could calm my wolf the way I suspect she calms yours, I’d claim her the first chance I got. Don’t wait too long, brother, or you might miss your happy ending.”

The hand left his shoulder as the other man turned to leave.

“Keep these thoughts to yourself, Niall,” he cautioned.

“Always.”

The footsteps faded as Kieran focused on Chloe once more.

She tossed her blonde curls over her shoulder, shading her eyes as she looked up at his window.

He raised a hand to wave to her. Her smile faltered for a moment before she waved back.

Mine
, he mused again as she returned her attention to her friends. After centuries without a mate, the thought of taking one now was daunting.

But the thought of losing her was worse.

Do I love her?
He needed her, lusted for her, liked her. But was it love? Could he even feel that emotion again?

But he knew enough of Chloe to know there was only one way she’d accept him as her mate. If he wasn’t head over heels for her, she’d walk away without a backward glance.

Which meant he had to be very, very sure before he made a move that could destroy everything.

C
hloe had meant to stay awake until Kieran finished his hunt. Truly she had. But despite her best intentions, she was asleep by the time her head hit the pillow. She’d pay for her exertions the next day when her tired muscles were forced back to life.

That time came far sooner than she expected, when lips running down her throat roused her to consciousness.

A body pressed down on hers as those clever lips trailed over her skin.

“Kieran,” she breathed.

“You looked so tempting,” he whispered in her ear. “I couldn’t resist.”

“Mmm,” she said, raising her hands to frame his face. “Good.”

His hair was wet against her fingers, signaling a recent shower.

“How was your event?”

“I wanted it over with,” he replied. “My quarry wasn’t in the woods.”

“No, it was trying to recover from a day keeping up with werewolves.”

“You weren’t complaining about my stamina last night.”

She grinned, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “True. Going to try to prove your mettle again?”

“Wolves love a challenge.” He kissed her before she could think of anything else to say.

Closing her eyes, Chloe relaxed into his embrace. Her tongue flicked out to tangle with his as he deepened the kiss. Desire woke within her, obviously not caring that she should be tired. All Kieran had to do was run his lips over hers and she was ready and willing to play any game he devised.

Her hand slipped between their bodies to find he’d come to bed naked.

“Thinking ahead?” she murmured as her hand closed around his already erect cock.

“A wise man is always prepared.”

“Precisely why I’m wearing an easily removable nightie,” she replied before doing exactly that. Tugging the cotton over her head, she dropped the dress to the floor and returned her attention to her lover.

“What do you like?” she asked as she stroked him.

“Everything you do,” he replied.

Chloe pressed her lips to his jaw as she rubbed her thumb over the crown of his cock. The way his body stiffened in pleasure was gratifying to say the least.

“I take it that worked,” she whispered.

“Again.”

Grinning, she complied.

Her focus was broken when his fingers stroked along her slit. Tilting her head back, she tried to concentrate on bringing him pleasure while he did his best to distract her.

His thumb brushed over her clit before one finger delved into her. There was nothing she could do to stop the cry that erupted from her mouth at the sensation. When his free hand moved to play with her breasts, the rhythm of her hand faltered.

“Getting hard to remember what I was doing,” she warned, rocking against his fingers as he pressed into her.

“Good,” he said, running his lips up her throat. “Means I’m doing something right.”

“Mm.” A second finger joined the first to send spikes of pleasure through her.

“More,” she told him. “Please.”

He shifted his position, catching one of her legs and hooking it over his hip. Kieran slid into her without any more urging. Chloe bit her lip at the slow, steady rhythm he took. He rocked into her not with the frenzied passion of the night before, but with a tenderness that flamed her desire higher.