Wild Heat (Wilding Pack Wolves 3) - New Adult Paranormal Romance (16 page)

“Yeah, I can kind of see that in Terra.” And he worried about that—her own father had somehow dropped the ball, leaving her to fend for herself as a little girl. Which made Kaden want to go pound him to the ground… except that he was still Terra’s father, and that wasn’t cool. But the protective side of him wanted to make up for that sad upbringing—it was way too much like his own, and he knew all the ways that could hurt. He wanted nothing more than to shower her with all the love and safety he could give. And that meant one thing—
mating.

He still couldn’t quite wrap his head around the fact that they were going to do that. Soon, if Terra had her way. And he wasn’t much inclined not to let her have her way, at least in that regard.

Noah was watching him. “Hey, Terra’s as wild as they come, but she’s good people. And she’s my cousin. I fully expect her to kick your ass if you’re not treating her right, but in case that doesn’t convince you…” He focused his attention on his hand and flicked his wrist a couple of times. The blue crackling energy skittered along his skin and coalesced into his palm.

Noah held it up like he might throw it in Kaden’s face.

He whipped up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. No need to get all witchy on me.”

Noah smirked and flicked the energy away. It scorched a long burn mark along the grass.

Jesus,
he was going to set the damn forest on fire.

Kaden sighed. “I’m not ever going to hurt her, Noah. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve just got to sort out my own mess so I can take proper care of her.”

“Now you’re talking,” Noah said, shaking out his hand. “But I can tell you this—I’ve never seen her look at a man like she looks at you. That was clear as day the moment you two walked in the door. For what that’s worth. Just be worthy of her, Kaden, and you’ll do fine.”

Kaden sucked in a breath. It was a relief to have someone else on board with this whole idea—especially someone in Terra’s family, even if it was just her cousin.

“If we do end up mated,” Kaden said, “I might need a new job. I don’t think the police force will take too kindly to having a shifter in its midst.”

Noah went back to grinning. “We can probably work something out. Hell, with all the threats we’ve had from the Wolf Hunter and the hate group people, everybody’s working overtime to try to keep the pack safe—both packs, River and Wilding. Like I said, they’re good people. I’m sure there’d be a place for someone like you.”

Kaden reached out a hand to shake Noah’s. “That’s a tremendous load off my mind. Thanks.”

Noah shook his hand and nodded. Then he lifted his chin to gesture over Kaden’s shoulder. Kaden twisted to see Terra skittering out from the house and coming toward them at a half run. Her black hair was flying behind her, and her eyes were lit up. Even with her cousin standing right next to them, Kaden still wanted to haul her off into the woods and make love to her up against a tree or some damn thing.

Good God, would that burning need for her ever slow down in the slightest?

Terra reached them, all flushed and slightly breathless. “I’ve got a question for you,” she said to Kaden. Then she looked to her cousin. “Are you done?”

Noah had a barely restrained smirk, and Kaden had a feeling he knew exactly what was going through Kaden’s mind. Or maybe it was the tightening in his pants that seemed to happen every time Terra came within reach.

“Yeah, we’re done for now.” Noah gave Kaden a nod. “Anytime you have questions, my friend, you know where to find me.”

Noah headed off back to the main house.

“What’s up, baby?” Kaden asked her.

Terra’s dark eyes were on fire. “I have a way to find out more about white wolves.”

Terra didn’t like the tension rolling off Kaden’s body in the driver’s seat next to her. They were headed to the north side of Seattle to meet Julius.

“You know, I really don’t like that guy,” Kaden said, giving her a sideways look.

“I know.” She’d already told him about Julius having new information about white wolves. “I just want to see if he knows anything, you know,
relevant
to us.” Terra was partially concerned he had somehow figured out Kaden’s secret, but mostly she wanted any and all information that might help him sort things out about himself.

“Fair enough.” His expression softened. “I’m glad it’s not in public. And I
love
that you told me this time, instead of sneaking out.”

She pretended to pout. “I’ll have to think of something
else
you’ll need to punish me for.”

“Jesus,
Terra,” he said, subtly adjusting himself. “I’d be more than happy to do whatever you’d like…
at the safehouse.”

She grinned and reached across the barrier to squeeze his thigh—it was so strong and muscular, and her hand was so relatively small, she could barely get a grip on it. And there were definitely other parts she’d rather wrap her hand around. She slid her hand closer to the prize, but Kaden snatched her wrist off his leg.

“Oh no, none of that.” He scowled at her. “We need to have a few rules about the level of teasing permissible when I’m operating a motor vehicle.”

She laughed—and she loved the dangerous smile that brought out on his face—but she knew exactly how he felt. She would be just as happy to pull over and make love to him again. The sexual tension between them was
off the charts—
like she was in a constant state of heat around him. And that endless horniness was insanely distracting.

She really shouldn’t make it worse, so she pulled her hand back to her own side of the car. Besides, they were arriving at their destination.

It was like no storage facility Terra had ever seen. She double-checked the GPS coordinates Julius had given them, but this was the place. Kaden tapped in the security code at the gate, which was twelve feet high and topped with barbed wire all around. Inside the fence, the facility was all stately brick-and-stone buildings, like a gentrified part of downtown hidden away in an industrial area.

The gate rattled and slid open, allowing them entrance to the neatly paved streets where rows upon rows of high-end buildings looked like mini apartments for upscale residents. Julius told her these private storage facilities were designed for the perfect climate-controlled archival of works of art and other valuables, and he wanted to show her his private collection while they talked.

Kaden wove through the streets of the miniature city, and eventually they found the address for the storage facility/apartment that belonged to Julius. He was standing outside, dressed in trim gray pants and a casual, long-sleeved black polo. Terra felt underdressed in her t-shirt and jeans. Plus she hadn’t told Julius that Kaden would be along for the ride.

A brief scowl bloomed on Julius’s face as they exited the car, but he was all smiles by the time they reached him.

Julius reached a hand out to shake Kaden’s. “Delightful to see you again, Officer Grant.”

Kaden shook his hand, but just nodded in return.

“Has Ms. Wilding explained the delicate nature of our meeting?” The tension in Julius’s shoulders held them stiff and arched up.

Terra rushed to apologize before this got any worse. “Julius, I’m sorry, but Officer Grant had to come—he
is
my security detail, after all.” It felt strange to refer to Kaden that way, given he was so much more to her, but she needed to reassure Julius, or it felt like he would call the whole thing off. Besides, he didn’t need to know the rest, especially the part about Kaden being a white wolf himself. “I haven’t told Officer Grant the nature of our previous discussion,” she lied. “And he understands that we need to talk privately.”

Julius’s eyes brightened. “Excellent. I greatly appreciate that you’ve respected my privacy, Terra. I do hope you understand, Officer Grant. This way, please.” Julius gestured to the stately wood-carved door that served as an entrance to his storage facility. They all took the three steps up to the landing, then Julius tapped in the security code.

The door opened to a foyer that was more
palatial estate
than
storage facility,
between the granite floors and the chandelier hanging above them, sparkling with crystal. A decorative plant was tucked in a corner, but the foyer was otherwise empty. It opened to a long hallway lined with doors—four on each side.

“If you don’t mind, Officer Grant,” Julius said, “you could wait here while I take Terra back to the far room, unit number four. That’s where my private art collection is housed, and it will be a sufficiently private location for our little discussion as well.” He gave Terra a wink.

Kaden’s eyes narrowed. “How about I escort you to the door? I can wait just outside.”

Julius held his hands out with what looked like a forced smile. “Of course.” He led Terra and Kaden down the hall to the last door at the end, then keyed in the unlock code. The door clicked but remained closed. “If you wouldn’t mind?” Julius waved Kaden back a step or two.

Terra cringed. Apparently, Julius was ridiculously possessive of his collection and didn’t want Kaden to see any part of it, not even a glimpse through the open door. Kaden scowled but stepped back one deliberate pace, just enough that Julius might be able to slip in without Kaden seeing inside.

Julius’s smile grew, then he turned to Terra. “Close your eyes, my dear.” His eyes lit up. “I want to surprise you with the full effect once you’re inside.”

Terra frowned a little and threw a glance to Kaden, whose scowl was growing darker by the second.

“Oh, please do indulge me in this small drama!” Julius said with a pleading smile. “This is a little fantasy of mine, sharing my collection with you. But if it makes you uncomfortable, my dear…”

Terra shook her head. “No, no. It’s fine.” She closed her eyes and reached out with her hands. “Lead the way.”

Julius grasped one of her hands. “You won’t be disappointed, my dear.” He gently tugged her forward. She kept one hand along the wall to feel her way. He pulled the door open and then ushered her through.

“Keep them closed now!” Julius chastised lightly. “Until I tell you to open up.”

She heard the door click closed behind her, and she dutifully kept her eyes closed, but she could sense the change in pressure and temperature and humidity inside the room. It was definitely a climate-controlled facility. The anticipation in her grew as Julius scuffed around behind her for a moment.

“Just one second while I find the lights,” he said, and then he was behind her, his hands resting gently on her shoulders. “Now! Open your eyes, Terra.”

She blinked them open, and it took her second to focus.

What she saw didn’t make any sense.

The room was large—two stories tall—and its walls were plastered with photographs and papers and screens and what looked like string tying them all together. The string connected one image to another. Some radiated out from a central photograph. As she peered closer, she saw one photograph was hers—the wolf pup from the shifter gang that she gave Julius. She glanced at the screens, which were playing videos…
the Wolf Hunter’s videos.

“What is this?” she asked, horrified.

“This is
you,”
Julius whispered in her ear, his hands gripping harder on her shoulders.

He was surprisingly strong.

Panic zoomed through her system—but before she could shift out of his grasp, he grabbed the back of her neck, and something sharp pinched her.

He had injected her with something.

The room swam in front of her eyes, and her knees buckled.

Julius caught her under the arms and kept her from hitting the floor.

“Do you like my collection, Terra?” He turned her toward the nearest wall, but she was so woozy, she could barely focus. When she did, she saw the entire wall was covered with pictures of
her.
“I made it especially for you,” he said in her ear.

Her stomach heaved. She opened her mouth to scream, but Julius’s hand was over it, suffocating her. She tried to shift again, but her wolf was gone…
absent…
banished deep into her mind.

The room started to dim around her.

Julius dragged her limp form across the floor. The last thing she saw was the Wolf Hunter video restarting.

It was the one where he had dismembered a wolf.