Pack Rogue by Crissy Smith (5)

Chapter Five

Austin nuzzled Kiley’s neck as he carried her bags to her vehicle. “Drive back with me,” he asked softly. He didn’t want her to think he was demanding it, he just wanted her close. The mating bond was strong now and he didn’t want her out of arm’s reach.

What he had experienced with her had been wonderful. They’d only had a short time alone together but it had been enough for now. She was his. His claim on her had been made and they were tied together forever.

She stopped walking but didn’t pull away. “I can’t,” she whispered. “Please understand, Austin. I can’t be without a way to leave. I’m not saying I will leave again but I have to have a way.”

He cupped her cheek. Their eyes locked and Austin could see the emotions there, see how important this one thing was to her. “Okay, no problem.”

Her relief was so noticeable she actually shook with it. Austin could understand some of how she felt after learning more about her old Pack, but he wanted…no needed her to trust him. He knew trust would take time, but the wolf inside him was restless.

The animal part of him didn’t want to give her time. He wanted to claim, to conquer, and to have Kiley admit she was his.

In his heart he knew he would have to fight that part of him. His mate was special. He wouldn’t do anything to cause her unnecessary worry or heartache.

He still had questions, though. When they had more time together he would ask but for now he knew enough. Home. When he took her home, they could talk and learn each other’s pasts. Now was for securing their future.

“Thank you,” she told him with a smile and pushed up against him.

Austin bent his head, unable to resist his mate’s luscious lips, and sealed his mouth over hers. Kiley responded quickly, wrapping her arms around his neck and opening to him.

He held back a groan as he pulled her body flush with his. It felt so wonderful to hold her. The sudden squeal of tires broke the moment and he pulled away in time to see a big, dark SUV racing towards them.

Instincts kicked in. He threw her bags between two cars, pushed her after them, and jumped to cover her body with his.

Metal hit metal as the SUV hit one of the parked cars. Kiley screamed and his wolf howled inside at her fear. Austin leapt to his feet as the SUV reversed. He couldn’t see inside the dark interior but he could smell shifter. He grabbed hold of Kiley’s arms and yanked her up.

“Go around the front and get in your car!” he ordered.

Without hesitation she scrambled to comply. She grabbed the bags at her feet and darted in front of the car that had shielded them. Austin stepped back out into the parking lot just as the SUV lurched forwards, as if taunting him.

Austin smiled grimly. He was a pretty easygoing guy but threaten his mate, and he felt like ripping someone’s balls off and feeding them to them. He narrowed his eyes and waited. The vehicle was only about fifteen yards from him. Whoever was inside would clearly see his challenge.

As fast as the attack had started, it was done. The SUV sped backwards and was out of sight in seconds. His first instinct was to follow but he needed to check on his mate.

He hurried over to her vehicle. Kiley was scrunched down in the driver’s seat, wide eyed, hair dishevelled. He knocked on the window and she jumped.

He offered her a smile, hoping to convey that everything was all right. She fumbled for the lock and opened the door, then launched herself into his arms.

Austin held his trembling mate, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. When she had stopped shaking, he pulled back enough to look at her face.

Tears had streaked down her dirty face but she had never looked better to him. Just the fact that she’d allowed him to comfort her calmed both him and his wolf.

“They tried to kill you already,” she whispered so quietly he barely heard.

Austin knew what she was talking about. She thought the attack was because of their mating. “Remember the threats, honey? That’s more likely what this was about,” he murmured against her cheek as she buried her face in his chest.

She continued to hold onto him, so he eased forwards until she was back in the front seat. He kept one arm around her as he dug in his pocket for his phone.

He punched the first speed dial with his thumb. As soon as Colt answered, he started to bark out orders.

“Get to Kiley’s apartment ASAP! Make sure you bring plenty of help. Leave Tyler at the house and make sure Jesse is guarded.”

Colt’s calm voice assured him he was already on his way and everything would be handled. He didn’t ask any questions and Austin was glad. He didn’t know if he could explain what had happened and how close his mate had come to being hurt without breaking down.

He needed to get himself together before the others got there. He still had the scent of the shifter who had come after them.

When he found him there would be no mercy for him.

He hadn’t been able to see behind the blackened window but his nose had told him all he needed to know. The scent of the one who would now become the prey.

Kiley watched from the front of her SUV while Austin ordered his men around, making sure they got everything they needed from the scene.

He’d been pissed when Tyler had shown up with Colt and Dominic. Kiley could see it in the way he glared at the other Alpha while he watched his men. She would have been amused by the obvious protectiveness of her mate if she wasn’t so shaken up.

Even when they’d asked her to guard Jesse she hadn’t taken the threat seriously. Who was going to attack two Alphas surrounded by Pack? Kiley’d thought she was just a glorified baby sitter while they held the meetings. That is, if she was to believe the attack was because of the meetings and not her.

She wasn’t sure. Which meant she had to be that much more concerned for her mate.

But just in case, she had to change her entire way of thinking. She wouldn’t let Jesse get hurt. No, there was no way that little girl would be put in any dangerous situation.

Austin walked over to her and she had to look away since her emotions were so close to the surface. She was still deeply shaken from the whole encounter. Especially from her unexpected reaction to it.

She had been so scared for her mate. He’d put himself in danger to protect her. No one had ever done that for her. It had brought up too many feelings for her to easily be able to separate and process. Feelings she had spent a long time trying to bury.

Austin cupped her cheek and lifted her face before placing a soft kiss on her lips. The sweet gesture was too much and she had to pull away and drop her chin to hide the tears that wanted to fall.

“Shh, it’s okay,” he murmured, pulling her back into his embrace.

She nodded but didn’t trust her voice not to crack if she tried to speak.

“Gray and Tony are on their way. They were across town when we called. As soon as they get here, we’ll head back to Tyler’s.”

Kiley started to relax against him as he gently rubbed circles on the small of her back. “Okay,” she managed to whisper.

She allowed him to hold her until Tyler walked over. Then her instinct to show no weakness in front of others kicked in and she pulled away.

Austin let go of her with a heavy sigh. She knew it bothered him but there was nothing she could do about it right then. She would work on it, she promised herself. She was mated to the man and he deserved to have a mate that could handle his affection.

“How are you doing, kid?” Tyler asked.

Kiley rolled her eyes but laughed, which was no doubt the reaction he was trying for. He gave everyone stupid little nicknames. The first time he’d called her kid, she had reminded him he was only about three years older than she was.

He’d responded that it didn’t matter because when she was with Jesse, it was like she was a kid herself again.

She’d thought long and hard about that and had eventually agreed. When she was with Jesse it did feel like she was ten, fifteen years younger, getting to do all the things she had never done as a child.

She enjoyed playing games, swimming, and spending time with the little cub. It had even made her think about having her own kids one day. She had been almost certain she wouldn’t, but now the possibility was there. She wondered if Austin wanted children.

She hadn’t realised she’d gone off on her own thoughts until Austin pressed harder on her back and she looked up to see matching looks of concern on his and Tyler’s faces.

“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I’m fine. Really.”

Tyler nodded while Austin just stared at her. Her mate wasn’t buying it.

“I promise, Austin. I was just thinking…” She let her sentence trail off, not wanting to share exactly what she was thinking. Not just then.

“You’d tell me…” he asked, dropping his voice low so only she could hear. “You’d tell me if you weren’t okay?”

“Yes,” she assured him.

He took a deep breath and she watched the play of his muscles over his stomach. A stomach she wanted to spend hours licking and tasting.

She wanted to have him all around her. Surrounding her, filling her, consuming her. She felt flushed, hot, and needy. She could smell her mate—rich, sweet, and woodsy.

Austin chuckled and she gasped, caught once again lost in her own thoughts. Except this time she’d been busted fantasising about Austin.

But when he turned his body into her, discreetly rubbing his erection against her, she knew she wasn’t the only one longing to reconnect as they had earlier.