(SHILOH)
So Kelly Auden wanted to be Mira’s savior. Wanted to save her. From .
Fuck that.
Knowing damn well the offer that Kelly had just made to Mira, I waited for the asshole to have the guts to say it again to my face. He had paled several shades, but he stood and nodded his head. "You have to know that I don’t an any disrespect," he said evenly. "My father was concerned that your pack would never accept her. On so level, you must feel that too. If she can’t stay here, she should have so place to go. I can protect her."
"Your father has been dead for months. What took you so damn long to get here?" I demanded as I walked up behind Mira and put a hand on her shoulder. She didn’t jump, and for that, I was grateful. My wolf, furious that soone else was thinking of taking her away from , was lashing out. My power reached to every wolf within the vicinity, but she wasn’t shying away.
Progress.
"I only just learned about it right before I left for here," Kelly admitted. "I’d been gone longer than usual."
"And if she needs help, will it take you months to co to her? I just want her to know all the details."
"No, sir. I’ll check in more often." Finally eting my eyes, Kelly frowned. "You want what’s best for her, don’t you?"
Kelly had changed since I’d released him from my pack. Then, he’d been low in the pack, hurt that he hadn’t lived up to his father’s expectation, and angry.
The wolf before wasn’t angry. He’d found his power and grown a little harder in the world. The man before was more like his father than he probably wanted to admit.
"You were told not to approach her. I could revoke your access to my land for this," I reminded him softly.
"You could. I do apologize. It was a risk, but I saw a female entering the bar and recognized her. I didn’t know that Mira would have a bodyguard. I was worried."
"A female?"
"Kenzi," Finn said quietly. "She ca to drop off an application."
Kenzi? Waiting tables? That was laughable. "I would not leave my mate without protection. Mira, a word? Finn, don’t let him leave."
Even with her back turned to , I knew Mira was rolling her eyes, but she rose and followed into the restaurant. "You claid , so you’re not going to go all crazy on just because I was talking to him, are you? I’m not alone, and I’m not even inside."
No. She’d done exactly what she needed to do to make sure I didn’t lose it. I was not proud that she even had to consider that.
"Do you feel safe and comfortable around him?"
Her face registered surprise at my question. "He’s not threatening or propositioning . If you’re asking if I’m ready to pack my bags and leave with him, the answer is no."
"But if he wants to approach you again and speak with you? Do you want to allow that?"
"Allow?" She repeated and sighed. "Normally, I’d tell you that you shouldn’t let anyone onto your lands who you think might hurt , but then again, everyone here wants to hurt .
Look, he’s fine. I like talking to soone about Phineas. I miss him, and he doesn’t bla for Phineas’s death, like you do."
"I told you that Phineas’s death is on ."
"For making him take care of . Sure. That really shifts the bla." Tears filled her eyes, but she wiped them away before they could fall. My heart broke for her, but now was not the ti to comfort her. "I like talking to him."
"Fine." I walked out of the restaurant and back to the patio. Kelly and Finn were facing each other but not talking. Finn was doing nothing to hide the strength of his wolf, but if Kelly was intimidated, he wasn’t showing it.
"What’s the verdict?" Kelly said with a small smile. "I promise, I’m not here to cause trouble."
"You are welco to continue to stay through our original agreent, but if you disobey another direct order from , you will be imdiately escorted out of my territory."
"And Mira?"
"She will be busy the next few days with the alpha eting, but you may speak to her with Finn’s permission when she has a chance," I said curtly. It shouldn’t have irked that he wanted to spend ti with Mira. It was only natural considering how close she and his father were. Plus, I wanted the whole pack to be friendly with her.
But it did bother , and not in the sa way that her friendship with Finn bothered . I didn’t know Finn all that well, but I did know Kelly. At least, I knew Kelly before he left, and there was no reason to distrust him.
The mating bond was a real bitch. At least it was when the mate didn’t feel the sa way.
"Thank you," Kelly said softly. "You’re about to whisk her away, aren’t you?"
"I am." There was a reason that I’d co to the restaurant to retrieve Mira, but I didn’t need to tell Kelly that.
He nodded his head in respect and left. Finn glanced at with a frown. "Anything I should be worried about?"
"You’re relieved of duty for now. Mira will be with for the rest of the day. You should either go ho and stay there or head to the guard station. No roaming today."
"Any particular reason why?"
"I need to confirm sothing, and then I’ll give you a call."
He had a puzzled look on his face, but he didn’t ask any more questions. I could tell that it was against his nature. He’d spent most of his life as a rogue, but he’d accepted as his alpha, and his pack bond comforted him.
Opening the door to the restaurant, I cocked my head. "We’re going ho. What do you need to do to close up the office?"
"Ho? I still have so much work to get done before tomorrow. Is this about Kelly?"
There it was. The questioning that I would have expected from Finn but instead got from my mate. Because even though she’d sworn fealty, she didn’t feel her pack bond. I could order her back from the ledge with all the power in as her alpha, and she’d still jump just because she didn’t want to obey.
No pack bond. No mate bond. She was never going to be mine.
"No," I said crossly. "This isn’t about Kelly. An alpha has arrived early."
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