Goddamn it! He should have watched that stupid son of a bitch when he left the fucking station. But, no. He had to fucking think about Caden and what finding out about his potential mate’s pregnancy status might do to his twin. As the Alpha of his pack, he had to consider everyone, including his brothers, even if the asshole hid how he felt. Kal wasn’t sure how the guy would take the news. Which left him sitting at his desk, staring out into space.

The mere thought of Danielle being pregnant by another man would cause his brother to push her aside, mate or not, and allow the next nine months to eat away at his soul. Shit. He had to bring his brother back to town. He had to sit them both down and force Dani to explain it all—even if it meant hurting both Caden and her.

“She’s not pregnant,” Keeley said again, this time with a bit more steel in her voice. “Don’t you think with everything going on, I’d know? Or she would? Hello, she’s an empath!”

Yeah, he figured it out, too. “Keeley, I’m warning you. Sit there and be quiet so I can think.”

She shook her head. “So you can think? Are you serious?” She stood then crossed the room, getting into his face—which made the raging erection pushing at his slacks even harder. “Simon will kill us. He will rip Danielle apart mentally then open her up to experiment on her. She is that damn powerful. They want to learn how we work. How we think. What makes us special, only there isn’t a damn thing special about us, except our brains are wired differently.” She smacked her hand against his chest.

The anger and arousal rolling off her smacked him in the face, and he lost his damn mind. The beast he had a tight leash on the majority of the time rose to the surface. A snarl curled his upper lip as his canines elongated. “Do you think I don’t already understand what he is looking for? That I’m some dumb, hick sheriff at his first rodeo?” He grabbed her wrists. “I should arrest you for hitting a sworn officer.” He flipped their positions so she faced the wall, her arms above her head. “Don’t move them.”

“What are you doing?” She glanced over her shoulder. Arousal and a bit of fear reflected back at him.

Simon got too close today. The man was pissing in Kalkin’s territory and he’d be damned if he let the man dominate his mate’s thoughts. “You’re under arrest.”

She spun to face him. “You ca—”

“I am and I can.” He repositioned her. “Hmm…this won’t do.” He closed down the link between them. He didn’t need to hear his little mate right now. Her body vibrated with anger. Her nipples were hard and fuck all, if her pussy got any sweeter, he’d come in his pants. “This…this won’t do. I believe we need to perform a strip search.” He palmed her breasts and squeezed. “You could be packing.”

He rubbed his groin against her ass and she mewled. “Like you are?”

He pinned her to the wall and ground against her. “It’s a deadly weapon, sweet cheeks.” A rough chuckle passed his lips. “It’s already cocked and loaded.”

“You’re a pig,” she snapped. The half-hearted attempt to sound disgusted made him grin.

“Oink, oink.” He stripped her shirt off. “Mmm…” He ran his fingertips over the marks he left the night before. “So fucking sexy. Makes me want to mark you all over again.”

“You’re a crude man who needs to learn some manners.”

Kalkin ran his palms over the hard tips of her breasts. “You going to teach me, Keeley?”

A disgruntled sound passed her lips as she rolled her eyes. “Haven’t you heard? You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

The door opened seconds later. “Bro, I tracked Simon back to the ho—” Jace came to a halt at the threshold of his office. His mouth hung open and his eyes were wide, shocked by the scene. “Shit.”

“Go away.” He didn’t take his eyes off Keeley. Her scent faltered as she tried to pull away. “Lock the fucking door on the way out.” When his brother didn’t move, he yelled, “Get the fuck out!”

The door closed behind him, leaving Keeley and him alone. “I can’t do this. We shouldn’t be doing this. I need to get home to Dani. She has to hear the truth from me.”

“And I said you’re under arrest. Don’t move.” He pressed her hands to the wall before skimming her sides. He teased the soft flesh of her curvy belly while reaching for the tab of her jeans. “Now, where were we?” With a flick of his wrist, Kal opened her pants.

“Kal,” Keeley’s whispered plea only revved him up. “We shouldn’t.”

They were totally going to. “These need to come off, too. Kick out of your shoes.”

“No.”

The delicate hint of her arousal wrapped around him, strangling his dick. He traced the curve of her hip, then dipped his fingers between her thighs. The creamy slickness of her excitement coated his intrusion. “What’s this?” He ran his middle digit along her slit. “Is this all for me, pet?”

Fuck, it’d been years since he allowed his dominant nature out. With Keeley, though, he had a feeling she’d bring it out without even realizing what she did to him. He continued to stroke her, dipping inside every so often. Her hips rolled. Her breath hitched. “Kalkin…”

“Shh, not a peep. Only good girls get the rewards.” He ran his other hand down her spine, then smacked her ass. She rippled around him even as a soft cry fell from her lips. “You liked that, didn’t you?” He smacked her ass once more.

Without having to ask again, she stepped out of her tennis shoes. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“I can.” He pushed the denim from her hips and groaned. “Perfect.” He held her steady as she stepped out of them then tapped the inside of her thighs. “Spread ’em.”

“Why?” She drew her bottom lip between her teeth.

His cock jerked behind its confines. He wondered if she realized what she did to him. How much it took for him not to yank down his zipper, pull out his dick and shove home. For all her bluster, Keeley was soft and shy. He pushed her boundaries, and damn if it didn’t make him proud to know she trusted him. Did she understand the gift she gave him freely? He’d never keep her locked in there with him if she truly didn’t want it, but they both needed this. He craved this basic connection with his mate.

“So I can search your pussy. Can’t have you bringing contraband into my jail.” He stared up at her as a slow grin tugged at his lips. “Don’t worry, mate. You’re going to enjoy this.”

Before she could protest anymore, he dropped to his knees behind her. The heady smell of peaches assailed him. He nuzzled her sex, drawing in the intoxicating blend of her tangy arousal, before running his tongue along her slit. Perfect. The heady mixture of sweet with musk called to him. He needed more. Again, he licked at her entrance, bumping against her hard, engorged clit.

“What’s this?” He swirled his tongue around the pearl then tapped it.

Keeley sucked in a breath. Her knees went weak and a sob passed her lips. “Don’t.”

“No?” He cocked a brow before latching onto the hard bead. “I’m thinking it’s a volatile weapon, capable of bringing down the most cunning man.” He sucked and lapped at her clit, before scoring the sensitive bundle of nerves.

“Oh God.” She trembled above him, rocking her hips.

“One count, hitting a lawman. One count of bringing a dangerous weapon into the station.” He buried his face against her and groaned. She tasted like heaven. He craved every ounce of her cream and he’d make sure she gave it to him, come hell or high water. “One count of enticing an officer of the law with the juiciest of pussies.”

“You’re making this up as you go, aren’t you?”

He smacked her ass, then squeezed the abraded flesh. “Shh. No talking.” Kalkin introduced two of his fingers into her pussy. The slick, hot channel pulsed and rippled around him. “One count of threatening to disarm a lawman.” With his free hand, he reached down and adjusted himself, trying to alleviate some of the building pressure. “Looks like I’m going down on you for a long time.”

“Don’t you mean I’ll be going away for a long time?”

His gaze flashed to hers. Her heavy-lidded stare drew him in. Last night, in the darkness, he didn’t get the chance to study her features. The silvery light muted the soft pink of her cheeks and the way her lips pinked up every time she bit down on the plump flesh. The tops of her breasts were covered in crimson flesh and her nipples were hard points demanding his attention.

“That’s what I said,” he muttered, while she flexed and rippled around his intrusion. “Come on my fingers, mate. Let me watch you shatter.” Kal dragged the pads of his fingers over her sweet spot several times, teasing her.

Her hands curled into fists as her breath grew rapid. The rhythmic pulse of her impending climax enthralled him. He latched onto her clit and sucked the hard bead. A low whine passed her lips as the sweetest of climaxes covered his lips and she rode his mouth, giving him everything she was worth. He drank it down, lapping and sipping at her, not wanting to waste a single drop. Responsive wasn’t a good enough word for her. She gave over, trusting him to care for her and not let her falter. Pride filled his chest as he placed a final kiss to her sex, then stood.

Kalkin released his thick, engorged erection from his slacks and stroked. He ached for her. Full moon cycles made it easy for a wolf to fuck and rut, but with a mate, the grab-you-by-the-balls lust-filled pain made it almost impossible to think straight let alone function at full capacity. Her scent had clung to him all day; add in Simon and his bullshit and he’d been whipped into a frenzy, holding on by the thinnest of strings. Teasing her like he had almost pushed him past the edge of reason. He had to keep his wits about him so he didn’t hurt her.

He bent her forward slightly, pushing her lush ass toward him. “I think I need to add assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill.” Kal grabbed the globes of her ass, squeezing and pulling them apart, giving him a spectacular view of her rosette. “You’ll be the death of me, mate.” He pressed his chest to her back while lining up his cock. “I fucking love it.”

Inch by glorious inch he filled her, not stopping 'til he was fully seated. She rippled around him, milking him for all he was worth. He reveled in it. Craved the sensations of her tight pussy accommodating his girth. Fuck yes, it didn’t get any better than this. He wrapped his arms around her, cupping her breasts as he slowly retreated. She clamped down, trying to keep him inside her, which only heightened the sensation.

“You scared the shit out of me, mate,” he whispered, giving her short thrusts. “Hearing the fear in your voice…” He nipped at her ear. “I didn’t think I’d get to you in time.”

“I was worried about you,” she murmured. “I didn’t want you to get hurt. I don’t want my sister being hurt. You can’t let him take her. You can’t.” She sobbed, shaking in his arms.

“Shh, none of that.” He pressed kisses to the back of her neck and shoulders. “We’ll protect you. Both of you. Trust us, Keeley. Trust me. I’ll always protect you. You’re mine.” His hips faltered when she clenched around him. “Fuck, yes.”

Kalkin angled away from her, changing his position. He dug his fingers into her hips, knowing she’d wear more than one of his marks tomorrow. The sight shoved his wolf forward. The potent arousal shifting around them became a heady high, making it hard for him to keep his baser instincts in check. He wanted to take her to the ground, rut inside her, then knot her to him, keeping him buried deep inside while spilling his seed.

“Please,” she moaned. “So good.”

A harsh pleasure-filled growl rumbled in his chest. “Take it mate. Take it all. I’m going to knot your pussy. Put my pup inside you. Make sure everyone knows who you belong to.” Shit, he was fighting a losing battle. With each thrust of his hips, it pushed him that much closer to the edge.

“Holy shit,” she whimpered, shuddering in his arms.

Kal lowered his hand, finding her distended clit. He circled the hard bead, enjoying the way she flexed around him. He grunted when her cream coated his flesh, searing him. “That’s it, sweet cheeks. Let go. I’ll catch you.” He nibbled and sucked at the mark on her neck, while anticipation coiled within him.

“Oh God, oh God, oh God.” She repeated the mantra several times as she milked him for everything she had. She softened under him, writhing and shaking as she climaxed in his arms. He’d never get enough of her hot little body.

“Fuck,” Kal grunted. His release boiled in his balls before shooting upward. Kal shortened his strokes then latched onto her neck as he came, lodged deep inside her like he promised. He jerked his hips with each throb of his orgasm. It stole his breath. Rattled his senses. He clung to her, making small sounds at the back of his throat as he laved the abused spot on her skin. The mark was now a permanent sign of her being his mate.

Mini-orgasms pulsed from Keeley as she went limp in his arms. His supple mate fit the curve of his body and in those moments, holding her tight to him, he realized he could never nor would ever let her go. Whatever the fuck Simon was up to, they had to nip that shit in the bud and get the guy either out of their town or bury his ass. He preferred the burying option.

Kalkin didn’t know how long they were tied together before he slipped free of her, but it didn’t matter. He carried her over to his chair and sat down with her in his lap. Her eyes fluttered shut, and he took a moment to memorize her features while touching her. The simple action had been done subconsciously. He enjoyed the feel of her skin against his. The way her softness fit his gruffness. He pressed kisses to her temple as a content sigh built in his chest.

“Kalkin?” She glanced up at him, love and sadness in her eyes. Though she still smelled of arousal and love, this contradiction had nothing to do with him and all to do with the situation.

“Keeley?”

“Promise me you’ll never let go.” She cupped his cheek and drew him down to her. “Just don’t let go.” She pressed her lips to his, the simple kiss shattering him. It tasted of hope and grief.

“Never. You’re stuck with me, little mate. I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed her again, this time feeding her everything. The strong determination. His love and gratefulness. The absolute adoration he had for her and sense of never wanting to let her go. “Don’t worry, sweet cheeks. We’re going to end this. You will be free.”

---

A few hours later, he guided her out of the sheriff’s station. Simon had gone back to the hotel and according to Lucas and Sage, hadn’t left. He already called Caden. Though his brother wanted to keep Danielle away from the area, for now, they had to stay in town. She had some questions to answer. Though they knew about her abilities and what she’d been capable of, the whole marriage thing and the pregnancy threw a wrench in their plans.

He’d never force her to spill her guts. She didn’t carry the pregnancy scent on her, but she could also mask herself. He hoped Keeley and Danielle trusted them enough to get them through this without fear. Or worse, running. He placed his hand in Keeley’s. The lunch she made for them lay ruined in the back of her vehicle. As much as he wanted one of his men to go grab it, things were already on edge and he hated being on the defensive.

The idea Simon could have someone spying on his mate and her sister knotted his gut. It made him twitchy and only pushed the urge to kill him harder. He hoped he got through to her. She needed to trust him to protect her. He feared, however, she’d do the exact opposite. She’d been playing this dangerous cat and mouse game with her sister for at least a year, if not more. How much longer could she continue to hide? When did she finally make a stand for herself?

“I meant what I said,” he stated, sliding his gaze toward her. She’d been awfully quiet since their tryst in the office. She made him promise and he’d damn well keep it. Yet, she seemed a million miles away from him at the moment.

“I know,” she replied, not looking at him.

“You’re going to try to leave, aren’t you?” He allowed himself to voice the fear lodged in his chest. He didn’t have the wherewithal to continue to swallow it down.

“I can’t answer you,” she said, the thread of truth in her words mule kicked him. “I have to do whatever it takes to keep us alive.” The mechanical way she said the words disturbed him on a basic level. It meant she didn’t fully trust him enough to protect her—them. Rationally, he understood. Everyone they’d believed would give them some sense of safety failed them. Including the packs and prides they’d gone to for help. “What if I told you, I want to be bait for Simon?”

“What the fuck?” His wolf snarled at the thought of putting her in danger. “No. No fucking way.”

“It’s my life and Dani’s! I’ll do what I have to, to protect us!” The cold edge to her voice had a shiver of dread rolling down his spine. Her scent changed from that of sorrow to determination. Right now, she was devising a plan whether he liked it or not.

His fist tightened on the steering wheel of his SUV. “My word is my honor. It binds our pack. The minute I break it is the minute I destroy us. I can’t let you put yourself in danger, mate. It goes against everything I stand for.”

“You’re not letting me do anything. I’m telling you what I want to do. It’s the best way to draw him out and end this. Either I do it with you or without.”

Finally, she glanced over at him. How did she do it? Any hint of heat or arousal vanished. Instead, her gaze blanked out. No emotion. No resolve. Nothing. It scared him. Someone who could shut themselves down so easily could get hurt by making irrational decisions based on fight or flight. He realized pretty quickly, their flight instincts were strong. He figured it’d been why they’d been found so many times. One slip up, no matter how small, would give Simon the opportunity to find them. “Son of a bitch, Keeley. Why the fuck would you put us in this situation?”

“I’m not doing it to you or for you. I’m doing it for us. I’m tired of running. I’m tired of hiding. Today proved it. I either have to stand up for myself or continue to sulk in some back room because that bastard won’t leave us alone.” The vicious curl of her emotions swirled through the cab of his truck. His wolf sat up with a snarl, demanding she heel to his command. Yeah, Kalkin knew that wouldn’t happen.

“Keeley I—”

“Now or never, right?” she spat. “We fix this now or Dani and I continue to run until we can’t any longer. This is how it has to be.”

As much as it pissed him off, he agreed. “There will be rules.”

She nodded. “Fine.”

He couldn’t believe he agreed to this mess. What the fuck was wrong with him? “We’ll discuss the logistics later.” Much later.

“When were you going to tell me the truth of who you are?”

Kalkin turned onto the dirt road leading to their home. Shit. “Who fucking told you?” He meant to tell her tonight, during the festivities. When they were in bed, whispering the little things he’d never told anyone. Looked like one of his family members would be getting a beat down instead.

“Does it matter?”

No. “Shit.” He let out a breath. “I planned to tell you tonight. Last night had been so…intense. I didn’t have any idea how to lump my being Alpha on top of the knot and mating you. I figured one thing at a time. Obviously, I’d been wrong.” Maybe if he gave her more truth than platitudes, it would convince her to stay and not try something stupid to save herself or her sister.

She snorted, then gave a small chuckle, the sound rankling his nerves. “You think? What if your pack doesn’t like me? What if they don’t think I should your mate? What if there are jealous women who want to scratch my eyes out with their claws?” She pulled her hand away from his and crossed her arms. “This is stupid. Being the mate of an Alpha. Who does that? Who willingly invites a woman to their bed and doesn’t say, oh, by the way, I’m the Alpha?”

He growled. The ire in her voice did nothing to settle the wolf within him. If anything, it pissed him off. “I’m sorry. Would you have liked me to tell you while I was lodged inside of you? Or maybe today while you were hiding in Mrs. Martin’s shop.”

“Anytime would have been great,” she snapped. “You could have told me when you were greeting us the first day.”

“Because you were receptive to us when we walked across the bridge.” He took a deep breath and let it out. He had to get some semblance of control back. The more he yelled or they yelled, the farther away he pushed her and with their track record, they’d run. He couldn’t allow it, not this time. Not ever again. “I don’t want to argue. I am sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I should have. Trusting anyone right now is not a luxury for you or your sister. By not telling you, I put a seed of doubt into your mind, and that’s not what I wanted.”

She glanced over at him. Tears brimmed in her eyes. Shit. Females crying wasn’t his area of expertise. He didn’t know how to handle it, let alone soothe her. In this situation, a good fucking wouldn’t fix her state of mind. Dani and Keeley were broken women. He’d kill Simon for what the fucker did to them. “It’s not about the timing of telling me, Kalkin, it’s the fact I’m scared. I’m here, Simon is here, Danielle is in trouble and you think she’s hiding something when she’s not.”

He opened his mouth to dispute what she said, but she cut him off.

“You do. Even if it’s a little bit of you. You’re worried about your brother, I get it, but here I am, thrust into a situation I can’t make heads or tails of and then throw in there how I am now the Alpha’s mate. It’s overwhelming me. It’s too much information. These people here will be depending on me as well as you, and I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I am ready for this kind of responsibility.”

“You know several members of my pack,” he answered. “Do they seem like the kind who will gouge your eyes out or be jealous of you or hate you?” He had to make her see reason. If he could at least get her to be open to the idea, maybe she’d trust all of them a bit more and not run.

She seemed to ponder his questions while drawing her bottom lip between her teeth. He growled. The reaction was due to the lust pounding through his veins still, and not because of the act. Kal knew deep down she had to figure all of this out on her own. “No, but…”

“There are no buts,” he stated. “We all have a mate out there. You’re mine. Nothing will break our bond. Nothing.” He tapped his forehead as he came to a stop outside his home. “Nor will this ever go away. I’m always there for you. My pack…our pack will always be here for you, all you have to do is ask.”

Kalkin glanced up at the house. Jace stood on the porch, sans shirt, flipping burgers on the grill. Royce was nowhere to be found, which if the little shit knew what was good for him, he’d stay away, for now. Eventually, though, they’d have to talk. The night was still young, however, and the newness of having a female member of the family, not to mention mate, would be hard for all of them. He kissed the back of her hand before getting out. Tonight, after everything was settled, he’d reinforce his status with her. The compulsion to keep at her, until he did make her pregnant, grabbed him by the balls. It’d been there since he met her and would only get stronger before the full moon passed its phase.

“Why don’t you go get cleaned up,” he said, meeting her as she got out. “I know how you feel about scents and things. I don’t want you uncomfortable while we wait for my brother and your sister.”

She nodded. Arousal wrapped in sorrow filled his senses. Too much had happened today and everything they’d been building started to fall apart. “Want me to shower with you?” He wiggled his brows.

A faint smile curved the corner of her lips. “As long as you promise to wash my back?”

The hint of humor chased away some of her upset, but he knew it was temporary. The moment his brother arrived with Danielle and little Aiden, shit would hit the fan again. He could only hope when it came down to it, Keeley and Dani were willing to give them a chance after everyone else fucked them over.

What a fucking position to be put in.

“Last one naked gets their ass spanked,” he growled, then leaned in close. “Run, little mate, so I can chase you, and make this all the sweeter.”

She gaped at him. The heady sweet scent of her cream hit his nose before she took off for the bridge between the houses. Jace glanced up at him and smirked. He leaned against the railing of the porch, drinking from the bottle of beer he’d been holding.

“Pussy whipped.” He smirked.

“Damn straight.” Kalkin grinned. “Keep our food warm. We might be a while.”

Jace rolled his eyes. “Whatever, pervert. Hurry up. I have shit to do tonight.”

He shrugged. “When you bring your mates home, then you can tell me how to tend to mine. Until then, I’m going to indulge and give her exactly what she needs.”

One of these days his brothers would learn. Never fuck with him or his mate. He’d hit them where it counts, especially when they needed it most. No one gave a shit about Jace’s orientation, they all wanted him happy. Too bad the fucker still hid. Kind of like your mate and her sister.

Shit. Pot meet kettle. You’re both black.