Pack Enforcer Page 5

  Tony walked in and nodded politely. “You got a minute?”

  Nodding, Lamont gestured to the chair in front of him.

  Tony rubbed his hands on his pants and took a deep breath. “What are you going to do about Cain?”

  Lifting his eyebrow at his middle son, Lamont did not answer.

  “I mean. If you see fit to punish him, well, I’d understand, but…”

  “Just say it, Tony.”

  “I should probably be punished too,” Tony finished quietly.

  Lamont sat back in his chair. This he hadn’t been expecting. “Want to tell me why?”

  Tony sighed heavily. “I knew about the first time they…were together. I was eating in the kitchen when they came up from the gym. I also knew how Cain would react to her friendship with Kyle. I didn’t warn Kyle. I thought… I just wanted to give him a nudge. You know, to make a move. I don’t know two more perfect…”

  “Mates?” Lamont finished and Tony nodded.

  “So should I punish Toby?”

  Tony’s eyes widened. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

  “Well, if I punish you for knowing Cain would be jealous of Kyle, then shouldn’t I punish Toby for telling Cain about it?”

  Tony would know where his father was going with this. “No.”

  Lamont nodded at him. “Honourable for you to feel guilty, but unnecessary. Cain is responsible for his own actions.”

  Tony nodded again. “He wouldn’t have hurt her. Not like that. He doesn’t have it in him. He loves her. I can feel it when he’s with her.”

  “Yes.”

  “I just don’t understand what happened.”

  Lamont reached over and tried to give his son the only help he could. “I believe that Cain and Emily mated.”

  Tony jumped up to come to his brother’s rescue. His mouth opened and closed as he sputtered out an argument. It was a crime to mate or bond without the Alpha’s permission. Lamont gestured him back down.

  “I don’t believe they knew.”

  It took a moment, but the realisation at what Lamont was saying came through.

  “You think they were fated?”

  Lamont only nodded.

  Tony digested that information for a minute. “It would make sense.”

  They sat there for a moment.

  “So what else is bothering you?” Tony asked him.

  Lamont smiled. Tony could read people even without his enhanced features.

  “There was another attack. A special meeting has been called. I have to send Cain.”

  Tony nodded. “And he just got back today, and this happened.”

  Lamont nodded. “I’ll give him tonight with her. He’ll have to be back in Colorado the day after tomorrow.”

  Chapter Eight

  Emily was wrapped around him, her head cushioned on his shoulder and her arm around him with her hand resting on his chest, one long slim leg thrown between his.

  Cain realised then that he had never actually slept all night with a female before.

  He stroked a hand down her arm to her waist. He had an overwhelming feeling to take Emily to his bed. To prove to himself that she was different. She would not leave him.

  His cell phone rang, and she shifted, rubbing her face against his chest with a moan. It was six in the morning, and she really wasn’t a morning person. Cain knew who it would be before he reached to the floor where his pants had fallen.

  Taking his cell phone out of his pocket, he opened it and answered his father’s call.

  “Hello?”

  He started rubbing his fingers through Emily’s hair absently as he listened to his dad talk. She moved her head slightly and placed a row of small kisses on his chest. His hand tightened in her hair, and she laughed softly.

  He finished talking to his dad then turned to her as he closed his phone.

  “There was another attack?” she asked him.

  He reached over for her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Yes, in Montana.” He watched her eyes widen. “A meeting has been set up for all of us in Colorado. I have to go, Emily.”

  “I know.”

  “Emily.” He held her hand tight. “I want…” He shook his head. He couldn’t give her orders. “Would you please stay in the main house? In my room.”

  She looked down at the sheets that were tangled around her legs. “Because of the attacks?”

  “Partly. The attack happened on Pack territory this time. She was in one of the houses, and he got her there. I don’t want you here alone. That’s why I want you in the main house. I want you in my bedroom because it’s my bedroom. I’ve never had a woman stay in my room, ever. I want you in it. I want you to be different. And not just while I’m gone.” He rubbed his thumb on her wrist. He felt her pulse quicken.

  She smiled at him. “Good answer.”

  He leaned over and kissed her. “And your answer?”

  She pretended to think about it until he laughed and pulled her on top of him. He kissed her, his hands caressing down her back to her bottom.

  “Mmm, when do you leave?” she asked, straddling his waist.

  He pushed up, moving his hand in circles until he cupped her breast, then bent to take her nipple in his mouth. She moaned, and he flipped her on her back.

  “Oh, we have a little bit of time.”

  An hour later, they were arguing in her living room.

  “But I don’t need all my stuff now. I can come back and get what I need.”

  He shook his head. “You’re not returning alone.”

  She sighed. “Okay, I’ll bring Tony with me.”

  It was logical, but he wanted to see her stuff mixed in with his before he left. He wanted that reminder that she would be there when he returned. “It will make me feel better if I knew you had everything you need.”

  She looked at him suspiciously. “Cain, you’re not thinking about doing something stupid like locking me inside the main house, are you?”

  He’d thought about it. He knew it would never work, but honestly, he had thought about it. “No, not locking you in the house. The main yard is fine, and if you want to go for a run, take Tony with you. Just don’t leave the main house alone.”

  “Cain. When you come back?”

  He was throwing her books in a bag and looked up. “What?”

  She shrugged. “I was just wondering how long I was going to stay in your room.”

  He frowned, not understanding what she was asking. Hadn’t they already discussed this? “It’s your room now, too.”

  “But what about when I go back to school?”

  He straightened slowly from where he was trying to get her stuff together. “You’re not going back.”

  He watched her back go up and her eyes narrow. He hadn’t really thought about it. He’d just guessed now that they were together she wouldn’t want to go back.

  “Cain.”

  He slung the bag over his shoulder and picked up the two bags of clothes and bathroom products. “Let’s go.”

  She didn’t move. “Cain, I only have one semester to go. I need to finish school.”

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Emily. I really am, but it’s just not possible.” With that, he walked out of the room.

  It only took her a minute to follow and be on his heels. “We need to talk about this.” She followed him through the house and out the door.

  He didn’t speak until he threw her bags in the back of the truck. “If there was any way to have you finish, baby, I would. But it’s just not logical. I can’t leave here. This is my place. I have to be here to take care of Pack business and protect Lamont. I can’t do that hours away.”

  “Yes, but I could go—”

  He interrupted her. “Baby, stop and think about what you were going to say. What? You’ll go and finish? I wouldn’t be able to let you out of my sight for that long. And you would be a walking target as an Enforcer’s mate alone. No, that’s not going to happen. And you need to think about our future. Toge
ther.”

  “Our future?”

  He cupped her chin, lifting her face up. “Emily, I am going to want to do the mating ritual soon, and after that the bonding ceremony. I want you officially mine.”

  “Cain, I am yours. But if we just waited…”

  “No, Emily. I know it’s not fair, but this is what you’re getting. I’m an Enforcer. I am second-in-command of our Pack. This is me. And it will have to be you too.” He leant down and kissed her gently. “Now, you have enough to think about, and I have to go pack my bag. Come on, let’s go.”

  Cain could feel Emily fighting her emotions as he got in the truck to take her home. It would be her home, and he knew she would have to adjust to it. To the people and the noise. But it’s what she had wanted. It was the only way they would be able to be together.

  He wanted her to finish school and knew it was important to her. But he couldn’t see how she would be able to.

  Toby was playing outside in the front lawn when they pulled up. He started to run to the truck and stopped as if he’d remembered the scene yesterday.

  God, had it only been yesterday? Everything was changing so fast.

  Seeing Toby, Cain turned to Emily. “Emily, he didn’t mean… What I mean is, if you could take it easy on Toby…”

  She sent him a sidewise look and rolled her eyes. “I’m not heartless, Cain. I know Toby didn’t mean any harm.”

  Cain took her hand. “He was scared you were going to leave again. This time with Kyle.”

  She looked back at the young boy who was kicking rocks, his hands in his pockets, and her heartstrings tugged. “Let me talk to him.”

  Cain grinned at her and jerked her forward for a kiss. “I’ll put your things in my…our room.”

  Emily approached Toby slowly. Looking over her shoulder, judging the hearing distance from Cain, she asked softly, “Got a minute?”

  Toby nodded but didn’t look at her. She sat cross-legged on the grass and took off her flip-flops. “I love this time of year. When the grass is so thick you can run your feet through it,” Emily told him.

  “Are you leaving? Is that why Cain has your bags?” Toby blurted out.

  She held a hand out to him. “Come here please, Toby.”

  He came to her reluctantly. She pulled him to sit on her lap and adjusted him so she could see his face. ” I guess you’re pretty upset about what happened yesterday, huh?”

  Toby just shrugged.

  Emily continued. “Yeah, me and your brother had a pretty big fight. I bet that scared you.”

  Another shrug.

  Emily sighed. “Toby, Cain and I have a complicated relationship. I don’t really understand it myself.”

  What was there to understand? Cain asked himself as he eavesdropped on Emily and Toby from the porch. She was his. There, easy! Tony opened the door and started to ask him what he was doing, but Cain hushed him quickly. Tony rolled his eyes and was going to shut the door when Emily spoke again.

  “Sometimes when we don’t know how to say what we want, we yell.”

  Cain couldn’t see them, but he could picture Emily with Toby on her lap.

  “But Cain did more than yell.”

  Cain sighed and turned to head towards the two of them when Tony caught his arm. Tony shook his head at him.

  “Let her take care of this,” he said quietly.

  Emily did. “And you think that’s your fault.”

  “Did you get hurt because of me?”

  Cain knew she would be hugging him now.

  “I’m not hurt. Cain didn’t really hurt me. He scared me. That’s all. But I understand why and you need to too.”

  Toby nodded. “Because I told him Kyle kissed you.”

  Emily surprised them all with her next statement. “Toby, you did the right thing.”

  “I did?” Toby asked, and Cain and Tony exchanged confused looks.

  “Who do you trust more than anyone you know to help you and protect you?” she asked him.

  “Lamont.”

  “And then?”

  “Cain and Tony.”

  “Good. You see? You had a worry. You thought maybe I would leave. So you told one of the people you trust the most so they could fix it, right?”

  “I thought Cain could make you stay.”

  “I am staying. But Toby, Cain didn’t make me stay. I chose to stay.”

  Toby laughed happily. “I don’t care why as long as you do. I’ve got to tell Lamont and Tony.”

  Emily stood laughing. “Tony already knows. He’s listening from the porch with Cain, but you can tell Lamont.”

  Tony and Cain exchanged an amused look and stepped inside.

  Cain felt his whole body tingle with the awareness that Emily had said she would stay. She had committed herself.

  Chapter Nine

  The drive was long to Colorado, but Cain knew he had something to look forward to getting home to. Emily had been awake to see him leave and kissed him goodbye. The sight of her in her robe standing at the door was one Cain would cherish during his time away.

  Adam had been silent for most of the trip. They had stopped for coffee fifteen miles back, and Cain took over the driving.

  “How’s your dad doing?” Cain asked his friend.

  Cain and Adam had been best friends growing up. When Lamont offered Christian his own Pack and territory, it was the first time the two friends had ever been apart.

  Adam sighed heavily before answering. “Still depressed and blaming himself. It seems the only one who can reach him is Logan.”

  “Logan's been staying at your house?” Cain asked.

  “Yeah.” Adam sighed. “Logan and Dad have been friends for a long time, since before I was even born. Dad doesn’t have a mate, so I'm glad he at least has his friend. I'm not sure what's going to happen.”

  “Not his fault,” Cain commented.

  “I know, but he blames himself. He thinks she should have been in territory, and it wouldn’t have happened.”

  “The last attack happened in territory.”

  “Try telling him that.” Adam's laugh was bitter. “I'm thankful for the help, though. Logan is a good guard. With me being gone so much, I feel better having him around.”

  Cain rubbed his hand over his face. “Can’t be easy being an Alpha. I know Lamont is always the last one to bed and the first one up.”

  Adam stared out the window. “He wants me to take over the Pack.”

  Cain wasn’t surprised. Most Alphas left their Packs to their sons. “You’d be a good Alpha.”

  Adam finally looked at him. “Do you think so?”

  Cain didn’t hesitate with his answer. “Yes, I do. You would be a fair leader. A good leader. One of the reasons Lamont gave Christian a Pack was knowing that someday you would take it.”

  Adam gave him a small smile. “I’m worried when Logan leaves that Dad might want to end his existence.”

  Cain knew Weres who had done that. Not many did but some. Usually after they lost their mate. Both his mother and Kyle’s had died in a car accident when they were children, but luckily their dads had stayed around to raise them.

  “Maybe he won’t,” Cain offered, not knowing what else to say.

  “I guess we’ll find out soon. Logan got word that his Alpha is expecting his first child. He’ll need to return to guard over them.”

  Cain smiled. He had always liked Logan’s Alpha, Gage. Gage’s mate was one of the few Weres who couldn’t shift. He understood she’d had a hard childhood, but when he met her for the first time, the love she had for her mate was obvious.

  Thinking of Gage having a child made him think of Emily. She would be a great mother. The way she was with Toby was proof of that.

  It was something they needed to discuss. He could picture their children running around playing while he held her in his arms.

  * * * *

  Cain knew the minute he walked into the meeting that it wasn’t like the others he had attended. The different Pack’s
representatives were all edgy and looking at each other with suspicion.

  Cain took in the others in the room as he sat in one of the offered chairs.

  Riker sat at the head of a long conference table. He was the only actual Alpha in attendance, so he would be in charge of the meeting.

  Cain had taken the seat next to Sam, who was a guard and third-in-command with Gage. With the new Alpha expecting their first child, Cain knew Gage’s Pack was stretched thin. Extra precautions would be taken with Gage’s mate, and that would require extra guards.

  If he didn’t have Emily at home waiting for him, Cain might have offered to accompany Sam back to his territory.

  Cain watched as the room filled up quickly. There were nine territories being represented today. Riker started the meeting as soon as everyone had taken a seat. It was agreed upon that the attacks most likely had been done by another Were.

  The survivors had all gave the same description. The attacker had only wanted one thing from them. After he attacked the girls, he would beat them with his fists. The beatings had rapidly gotten worse until the last victim hadn’t lived through it.

  In the middle of the meeting, Riker’s second entered and stood behind his Alpha. Cain didn’t know much about Larry. Unlike most Packs, Riker made the males of his Pack fight for position. An Alpha could tell dominance inside a wolf without the need for violence. However, a few Alphas still let Pack rank be held by earning it.

  Cain watched Larry as he watched the room until finally their eyes met.

  Cain took an immediate dislike to the man. There was no compassion in the second’s eyes as Adam spoke about the results of Mindy’s attack.

  Sam shifted beside him, and Cain noticed he was also staring at Larry. Sam tilted his head, and Cain got the impression he was scenting him.

  Larry’s eyes narrowed at Sam as he sneered back.

  Sam sat back in his chair as if nothing was up, but Cain made a mental note to get together with him once the meeting was over.

  Sam was leaning against the car when Cain walked up with Adam. He straightened and nodded towards them as they approached.