Page 23 of Wild Games
My location deep in the forest suddenly feels very isolated, the silence between the massive trees absolute, except for our voices.
“I’m thorough by nature.” I meet his dark gaze directly, still keeping my tone light and non-confrontational. “And I’m not above copying people’s ideas, if they’re good ones.”
My attempt at a self-deprecating joke falls flat as Kain’s features remain stony. He breathes in, nostrils flaring, as he examines my scent.
“I like to be thorough myself, make sure I have all the facts. But you already know that. And while we haven’t crossed paths directly, I do know who and what you are.” His gaze falls to the bulge in my jacket, where my knife sits tucked away in its sheath. “Just not why you’re here.”
Should I be concerned about Kain? He wasn’t on my radar previously, given he’s a favourite to win anyway, but he’d have the connections to source stolen goods.
“Ditto,” I say with a wry smile. “Is managing a pack not a littletamefor a man like you?”
My blade is within easy grasp, but I suspect that while my reflexes might be good, his are better.
“Maybe a normal pack. Not this one.” He shrugs. “And even if I don’t win, I can still do some good here.”
He takes another step closer, and I have to consciously force myself not to retreat. This close, I can see he’s younger than his unflappable presence suggests.
“Such as?”
Kain shrugs, refusing to give me any information easily, but he leans forward and takes another sniff of the air around me.
“You tell me. Know anyone who could use my help?”
He means Jax. He’s here to assess Jax.
My heart pounds in my chest. Whether official or unofficial, he’s keeping an eye on my mate’s wolf, trying to decide whether he can be helped or not, whether he’s a danger to the shifter community or not.
“Not off the top of my head.”
Kain tilts his head slightly, studying me like a particularly interesting puzzle. “I can help him.”
Does he expect me to give him information about Jax’s volatile behaviour, that he might use against him?
Hell no.
My wolf bristles at his intense scrutiny, but I hold my tongue, forcing myself to stay calm. This doesn’t mean the council is checking up on him, but it does mean he needs to be on his best behaviour.
Not traipsing through the woods, darkness hanging over him like a storm cloud.
Kain opens his mouth to speak, but before he can try to convince me once more that his intentions are good, his entire demeanour shifts. The casual stance disappears as his head turns sharply toward the trees to our left. Every line of his body becomes taut with sudden alertness.
“We have company,” he murmurs, and there’s something almost amused in his tone. “And he seemsupset.”
Shit.
Even before he appears, his thunderous mood rolls through the forest. The barely controlled fury radiating from him makes my wolf whine, torn between excitement at his proximity and concern at his obvious state of mind being put on display before Kain.
“This should be enlightening,” Kain whispers as he settles back into that deceptive casualness and leans closer, still not touching me, but closer than mere acquaintances would stand.
Jax bursts from the undergrowth like jealousy personified, face flushed, and the tendons in his neck bulging. He takes in the scene in an instant, Kain standing close to me in this isolated location, his body blocking Jax’s view of me, where I’m backed against the tree.
His eyes flash from brown to gold and back again so fast, it’s like a switch being flipped.
The snarl that rips from his throat raises every hair on my body. It’s the sound of an alpha wolf whose mate is being threatened, and my traitorous body responds with a flood of heat despite everything.
“Kain.” Jax spits out the name as he circles to the left.
“Jax.” Kain nods pleasantly, apparently unbothered by the waves of barely contained fury rolling off Jax as he prowls closer. “We were just discussing how important Camille’s presence is.”