Page 21

Heaven. It was the only word I could think of to describe being with Kienna.

I was on top of the world having not only knot her but claimed her. Hot jealousy had seared through me when I first noticed Kane’s mark on her, but once I cooled off, the bite became a sign of hope. If she let him claim her, that meant she might stay. Now two of us had claimed her and there was no way we would ever let her go.

When my knot softened, I kept myself inside of her and fast got hard again. Kienna rode me like a crazy cowgirl and we ended up locked together again with a second knot. We fed each other snacks and chatted about random stuff. Well, she mostly talked. I could listen to her forever.

I got up when my second knot eased out of her and fetched a towel to clean her up.

“Thank you.” Kienna kissed me and took the towel to wipe herself down. “I should probably jump into the shower. What time do you have to be at the arena?”

I had to be there an hour ago, but I wasn’t going to make her feel guilty. This time alone with her was the best moment of my entire life. “As long as I’m there in time for the game, it’s good.”

“Okay, good. Maybe you could help wash my back then.” She winked and stood, stretching her arms above her head. Every perfect curve was highlighted by the light of the lantern. She turned to get her bottle of water and I smiled seeing her cherry ass. Then I grinned at the sight of my mark on her shoulder. Mine .

“Oh! I almost forgot about the flowers.” Kienna straightened with the small card in hand. I swallowed back a growl. Fucking Casimir sent her flowers.

Screw him. I claimed her. Not him. Me.

Kienna opened the wee envelope and removed the small card. Her smile vanished and her hand shook. The card fell to the floor. She covered her open mouth with one hand, backing away from the paper. “No…”

Every overprotective instinct in me was suddenly cranked to extreme alert. My Omega was scared. What the fuck had frightened her so badly?

“Kienna?” I darted toward her and pulled her against me. She shook like an overworked snowmobile.

“It can’t be. It can’t.” Silent tears wet her cheeks as she clung to me.

I glared at the card. What the hell did it say?

“Let me see it.” Trying not to dislodge her all the way, I moved and bent to pick up the note. It was a single piece of thick card stock with a gold border. Handwritten in smooth, curly cursive was: Everything will be alright, sweet girl .

My first thought was that it was her father and, thank fucking God, not Casimir. If it was Birk, this was good. I didn’t know how he found where she was or knew what was happening, but it sounded reassuring.

Yet then why was Kienna behaving as if her worst nightmare had come to life?

“Who sent you this?”

She whimpered and threw herself down to start rapidly collecting her clothes. “I’ve got to go. I can’t stay here. I have to get on a plane—”

No way was that happening. “Kienna,” I said her name more firmly and crouched down to take her hands in mine. “Look at me. Who sent you this?”

“I need to go,” she repeated and tried to pull her hands free from mine. Of course I didn’t let her.

“You know you’re safe here with me, with the pack, right?”

“You don’t understand.” Kienna tried to break free again, but I only drew closer.

“Then tell me.” My chest was heaving. There was a threat to my Omega and I was going to obliterate it.

She collapsed onto the bed and wiped at her tears. Even upset, she was the most beautiful thing on this planet. “You’ll just get mad at me.”

“Kienna,” I barked. I needed to know. I had to know.

Kienna swallowed and stared down at our linked hands. She blew out a long breath. “I had thought maybe… it was just a random thing…” She shook her head. “I was stupid. So stupid. I shouldn’t have been out on my own. I should have been paying more attention to everything around me.”

“You are not stupid,” I said softly. Something had happened and she was taking blame. I refused to let her place the guilt on herself.

“When I left the restaurant the other night, I didn’t get a rideshare. I walked and cut through an alley.” Fuck. No one would ever guess that Winnipeg was a dangerous place, but we had one of the highest murder rates in all of Canada. A lone pretty Omega with no escort would be a prime target. “The guy grabbed me from behind. I fought and got away, but… But he called me sweet girl. Told me everything was going to be okay. And I fucking knew that it would not if I didn’t get away.”

Some asshole attacked my Omega. I was going to kill him. Rage boiled deep in my gut.

“Where? What did he look like?”

“I don’t know where exactly. Somewhere between the hotel and the restaurant. I never saw his face.” She curled her legs to herself as she leaned against me. My head was above hers, but I could hear her heart pounding in her chest. That guy was fucking dead. I’d rip his head off.

“Did you go to the police?” I stroked my mark on her and the tension in her shoulders eased a little.

“What? No.” Kienna tilted her head to look up at me. “I was an unescorted Omega in the middle of a strange city. If I went to the cops, they’d call my dad. He’d lock me in the hotel room for the rest of the month. I would go insane. All I’ve wanted to do is escape this city and be free!”

“This psycho knows who you are and where to find you. The hotel would be the safest place for you.” Stash her away some place safe so I can hunt the fucker down and kill him.

Kienna scowled and stood. “I’m not locking myself in the hotel room.”

I rose and towered above her. She needed to be protected. She had to understand I was doing what was best for her. “It’s the safest place. We’ll tell your father—”

“No fucking way!” She shook a finger at me and bent to retrieve her clothing, hugging it to herself. Her gorgeous dark eyes were bright with fire. She wasn’t afraid anymore, but it would be wise to be scared with a guy stalking her. “Don’t you dare say a word to my dad!”

“Kienna.” I tried to calm my tone. She had to see reason. I couldn’t imagine a world without her. There was no way I was going to let something happen to her. “It really is the safest place. They have good security and lots of people are around. We’ll discuss it with the rest of the pack.”

“No.” Kienna marched to the door of the attic and turned, folding her arms. “I’m going to have a shower and then we’re going to the arena. I’m going to watch the game and ask my dad to buy me a plane ticket to go to my friend’s in Alaska. I’ll be faraway and safe and—”

“You’re not leaving.” Couldn’t she see I was trying to protect her?

“You’re not the boss of me!” She stormed out of the attic and I chased her down the hall to the bathroom. I wasn’t angry with her—well, maybe frustrated she wasn’t listening—but the fury I felt over the situation was flying out. I stood in the doorway, not letting her shut it. “Move!”

“I’m your mate.” I had laid claim to her. My mark was on her.

“Don’t you dare try to control me.” Kienna kept trying to push closed the door. She was naked, but it was as if she was a cornered cat, all puffed out. The door wasn’t moving an inch and she shrieked with her temper.

I wanted to bellow back at her with my own chaos of emotions. Instead, I stepped back and let her slam the door shut.

She was safe in the bathroom. Let her be angry with me just as long as she was alright. Once I heard the water run and her steps getting into the shower, I rushed into my room and got my phone before returning to my position by the bathroom door.

My finger hovered over the button to call the police. Kienna was assaulted and the person was stalking her. I wanted to use every resource to find the bastard and keep her protected.

But the police would contact her father. If I had a daughter who was being hounded by a criminal, I would lock her up too. She might hate me for it, but it would be exactly what was needed. Even if Kane and I came forward showing our claim to Kienna, she could deny it and walk away from us. We could fight for her legally, but it would only make her hate us.

We would eventually have to tell Birk she’s our mate, but not in a situation like that. Not until she was ready.

Fuck.

So no police. No Birk.

I texted the pack. They were on high alert for any message from me or Kienna, so even if they were practicing, I hoped the response would come sooner than later.

Two minutes went by and finally Kane wrote back.

Kane: Wtf? What do you mean there’s a stalker after Kienna?

Alderic: Tell us all the details.

I gritted my teeth, willing my anger not to roil again as I fully explained. Those flowers weren’t from Velky. They were from the stalker. Somehow he knows she’s here. She said she walked back to the hotel from the restaurant and he attacked her in an alley. She got away and never called the cops. Doesn’t want the cops as they’ll call Birk .

Tiergan: We’re coming home.

Kane: No. Bring her here where we can watch her. Then we’ll take her to the hotel. It’ll be the safest for her there .

Kane got it. He understood. Kienna wouldn’t be able to say no if the entire pack said this was the best way to protect her.

Alderic: Take her to the VIP lounge. Lots of people there so no one would try anything .

Tiergan: I’ll give security a head’s up that something’s going on and they’ll post more guards in that area.

Yes. This was fucking good. I gave their messages a thumb’s up.

Kane: Come now.

I groaned and typed. Can’t. She’s in the shower. She also says she’s going to ask Birk for a plane ticket to Alaska .

Tiergan: Check the bathroom. You know she’s an escape artist .

Kane: She’s not going anywhere. Bring her here as soon as you can .

Shit. Tiergan had me panicking. I turned and pounded on the door. “Kienna!”

No answer. Just steady running water.

I couldn’t let her go. There was no life I could imagine without her in it.

“Kienna!” This time, I didn’t knock. I rammed the door with my shoulder.

Once, twice, and the third time I busted through. The door slammed against the wall and the frame cracked with a sound like lightning.

Kienna stood gaping at me from within the glass enclosed shower. The smokiness of the bottom half of the glass hid most of her gorgeous body. Her pink hair was slicked back and her hand gripped her chest. “What the fuck?”

She’d stayed. She hadn’t run.

I blew out a long breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Straightening the door as it was sitting askew, I tried to pretend I hadn’t just freaked out and mumbled, “I was worried about you.”

“Worried that I was going to drown, or slip and fall or,” Kienna dipped her chin and gave me a stern yet maybe amused look. “Have a heart attack when a crazy Alpha bursts through the door?”

I ran a hand through my hair and said nothing. There was no way I’d never not be overprotective of her. I wasn’t going to apologize for that, but I didn’t mean to scare her. “Sorry. I just… I’ll…” I patted the broken wood of the frame. “I’m going to get a hammer and nails and fix this.”

“Uh-huh.” Kienna watched as I walked backwards out of the bathroom, and just as the door was closed most of the way, she said, “I wasn’t trying to escape through the window or anything. I would never run from you.”

I leaned against the wall in the hall. Her words wrapped me up and dampened my panic. Yet the fact she still wanted to leave Winnipeg as soon as possible gnawed at my mind. I’d do everything I could to convince her to stay, but I’d never force her.

She wouldn’t run from me and the pack, but she might walk away. I could barely handle the thought of it, never mind it actually happening. If I was a mess right now, then I’d be utterly destroyed if she got that ticket to Alaska.