Prologue
Kane stood, hands in his pockets, idly listening to the discussion around him. It was Zack’s birthday and they were celebrating the Alpha’s special day with a night out in a city about an hour from home. Having finished dinner at a local restaurant with the requisite cake and song, they were now going to see a movie. Three of Zack’s daughters were present and strongly advocating for seeing a chic flick while their husbands wanted to watch a zombie movie.
“Ryne, which one do you think we should see?” Zoe appealed to Ryne, her father’s other co-Beta.
Ryne shrugged. “Makes no difference to me. What about you, Marla?”
Marla, Ryne's girlfriend, hung on his arm. “It doesn’t matter to me, as long as it’s dark and we get a private corner.”
Chloe, Zack’s youngest daughter made a gagging motion behind Marla’s back and Kane couldn’t help but chuckle.
Helen, the girls’ mother, clapped her hands. “Enough. It’s your father’s birthday. He gets to decide.” She turned and smiled at her mate.
“What? I actually get a say?” His comment was ironic since, as pack Alpha, his word was law.
“Of course, you get to pick, Dad. We all know you have excellent taste when it comes to movies.” Phoebe smiled and tried to lead him towards the chic flick.
Kane tuned out the discussion and began to study his surroundings. It was more crowded than usual likely due to the heatwave that gripped the area. The dark, air-conditioned theatre offered some temporary relief from the mid-summer warmth. Couples, families, groups of teens; they brushed past where he stood, momentarily blocking the view of the movie posters that decorated the walls and causing the smell of popcorn and melted butter to swirl throughout the space.
One particular scent caught his attention and he began to search for the source only pausing when his gaze landed on a gathering of young women. They were Lycans, though their T-shirts and denim, the favoured garb of teens, allowed them to blend in with the crowd.
He cocked his head. The movie theatre was on the edge of the Rock Valley pack’s territory so it wasn’t surprising to run into others of his kind. They certainly presented no threat. Still, there was something about the group that kept his attention riveted to them.
They didn’t seem to notice him which spoke poorly of their skills. He frowned in annoyance. Instead of laughing and giggling about the actor pictured in one of the movie posters, they should be attending to their surroundings. He decided some instruction at the Academy would do them good. While he was a strong proponent of peaceful co-existence with humans, young Lycans needed to remember their heritage.
About to turn away, the group of girls moved and he noticed another member who had, thus far, been hidden from view. For some reason, the sight of her caused him to freeze in place, his breath catching in his throat, his blood heating in his veins. His inner wolf immediately awakened and fixed its attention on the female with an intensity he’d never experienced before.
She was of average height with rich brown hair, deep green eyes and a warm smile. Exactly what attracted him, he wasn’t sure. Pretty but not stunning, her appearance wouldn’t normally garner such a reaction from him. Maybe it was the fact that she was quieter than the others or perhaps it was the composed way she held herself.
He narrowed his eyes and inhaled, trying to sort through the various scents and isolate hers.
Talk to her, his wolf urged.
He actually stepped towards her when someone grabbed his arm.
“Come on, Kane. Dad’s decided on that historical film.” Chloe handed him a container of popcorn and he absently smiled his thanks, his attention still focused on the girl.
Who was she? He watched as she ate a bit of popcorn then licked her lips. Damn but he wanted to taste her, to press his lips to hers. He wished she would look his way. Would she feel the same pull between them that he was experiencing?
“Hey Kane, quit day-dreaming.” Ryne nudged him. “What are you thinking about? Plotting how to get Zack to let you drive his new toy?”
“Er…yeah.” He forced himself to look away from the girl and grasped the excuse his half-brother had provided. “Helen couldn’t have picked a better present than that truck.”
“Yep. But if anyone gets to drive it besides Zack, it will be me.”
“As if that would ever happen.” He couldn’t resist glancing over his shoulder one more time. Of course, Ryne had to notice.
“Found yourself a bit of eye-candy, I see.” Ryne flicked his eyes over the group of girls. “Too young for my taste but pretty.”
“Don’t let Marla hear you say that,” he warned, thankful his brother hadn’t realized it was one particular individual in the group that had captured his attention. The idea of another male looking at the girl made his inner wolf bristle.
“Marla’s in the washroom,” Ryne pointed out. “Besides, I know how to keep her sweet.”
Kane laughed and followed his packmates into the movie but, when the evening was over, he had no recollection what the film was about. The faint lingering scent of a brown-haired female had been much more captivating than the actors on the screen.