Chapter Five

   Something was off about this place and Rinaldi didn’t like it. The moment they drove into this town, he had been very unsettled and the closer they got to their destination, the more his unease grew. He couldn’t remember a time he was this nervous, but for some reason, his wolf was in frenzy and giving him reason to worry. He had managed to keep his cool though, knowing he was amongst his subordinates and he need not disturb them with his issues. Nervousness wasn’t a trait a leader should have and these men didn’t need to see him all shaken up.

   They got to the house without any incident, it was a quaint, little building situated in a quiet neighborhood. The buildings were sparse here, a reflection of its status as a small town. The house sat in the middle of an equally small, but well-proportioned land, surrounded by flowers and a small garden.

   This was the address Caleb had given them, his mate’s cousins were supposed to live here. All he had gotten were their names and Caleb had said they did look like his mate, he hadn’t asked for any pictures because he didn’t think them necessary. Maybe he should have, what if they weren’t home?

   The door to his side of the car was opened and Rinaldi was hit with a scent that shook him to his core. In the name of Luna, no! This couldn’t be happening to him, not now. His wolf started a raucous in his head, wanting to come out.

   She’s here! She’s here!

    It kept ringing the same words in his head, but the human side of him didn’t want to admit it. It had to be a mistake, she couldn’t be here, she wasn’t even supposed to be born. He remained seated in his car, trying his best to reason with his wolf, even if she really was here, he didn’t need to morph here. He spoke to his wolf, quelling its excitement. The animal snickered when it detected his thoughts of not wanting to meet their mate; he supposed he couldn’t avoid it now.

   “Sir?” Damian, the theta who had opened his door, called tentatively.

   He could only imagine the picture he presented, sitting here all stiff and unmoving. He growled low in his throat and ran his hand through his hair roughly, with one last pep talk and a quick breathing exercise, he steeled himself for what was coming his way, “Let’s go.” He spoke firmly.

   He stepped into the open and looked around, outwardly, he was the definition of cool and calm, but inside, his wolf was stirring up once again as wisps of their mate’s scent wafted in the air, calling out to him in a way he was greatly unfamiliar with.

   Damian and Joel- another theta, walked ahead of him, while they left the others behind to keep watch for any danger. Caleb had hammered on alertness, fearing that enemies could be lurking around. That was all the more reason for Rinaldi to insist on that as well, he was usually very alert and Caleb was well aware of that, so the fact that he repeated such an instruction to him made him determined to miss nothing.

   As they neared the house, the scent grew stronger, further rattling Rinaldi so much that he feared for his self control. A small part of him wished they were at the wrong house. It would be so much easier to walk away if his mate wasn’t in any way related to Cassandra, he would be fine just knowing she existed somewhere while he worked hard to get back his land and his people before returning for her. Claiming her would put her in harm’s way definitely and he didn’t want to have to keep worrying while he was away on important business. A mate was a complication he didn’t need right now, if only Luna would grant his request.

   When they got to the porch Rinaldi had to hold on to the banister to force his wolf down as the smell of lavender seized his entire being. He noticed the dark fur begin to grow out of his skin and his claws scrape the rail. His wolf wanted out. A warning growl left his throat, as much as he didn’t want to find their mate now, he surely didn’t need her running for the hills because this damned animal couldn’t stay in its place.

  I want her! Our mate is in there

The wolf chanted in his head, refusing to be ignored

   If you don’t stay down, you’ll never meet her! You think she’d open the door to a damned wolf!

   Rinaldi’s irritation at his wolf’s unusual stubbornness seeped into his words as he spoke to the beast. The animal seemed to take heed as he felt it hide in the recesses of his mind without any further argument, his last warning was that Rinaldi not ruin their chances with their mate, he didn’t know if he could keep to such an agreement, but better him ruining it than an uncontrollable wolf scaring the crap out of their mate.

   He just barely heard the sharp knock Damian gave the door as he watched the claws and fur recede. There was no initial reply at the first knock, so Damian knocked again, this time harder. Rinaldi knew she was inside that house, there was no way her scent would be this strong if she wasn’t around here somewhere.

   “Step away from the door and state your business.” A sultry female voice coming from inside the house spoke in a commanding tone, brooking no arguments.

   He wished greatly that wasn’t his mate, why did she have such a sexy voice? It was doing things to his psyche he simply didn’t need right now if he was to just walk away after meeting her. Damian and Joel turned to him for further instructions and he nodded at them, so they did as she asked. He was impressed that she was at least security conscious.

   “Miss Howard? We’re not here to cause any trouble, we’re just here for Kennedy and Kylie Howard.” Rinaldi replied in an authoritative voice, he had long realised that women generally responded to authority, especially powerful women and if his mate was truly his, she would be even more responsive to him.

   She didn’t reply for a brief period. The next time she spoke, he could hear the caution in her voice, “What do you need them for?”

   “Well, I’m going to need some incentive on your part to divulge such sensitive information.” He replied, she hadn’t even opened the door and she expected him to sing like a canary? She must not know a lot of how negotiations went.

   “How does a bullet in your head sound for an incentive?” she shot back at him.

   This time, he couldn’t stop the grin that arose from her retort, oh, she was a feisty one. Even better, there was nothing he found sexier than a woman threatening him with violence, now he was doubly eager to set his eyes upon this little tigress who thought she could take on three giants.

   He took a couple of steps forward, walking past Damian and Joel, he could feel her right behind that door, her aura was strong, hitting him like a tsunami, how he hadn’t ripped the door off its hinges to get to her, he didn’t understand.

   “Stay the hell away from my door!” she ordered

   He paid no mind to her. She wouldn’t shoot, she didn’t have it in her. If she was serious, the nozzle of a gun would have been stuck to his head already, “If you shoot me, you’ll never find out where Cassandra is.” He said softly.

   Rinaldi swore he had never witnessed a door open so fast as he watched it finally being flung open, “You know where Cassie is?”

    As soon as the door was opened, Rinaldi lost all sense of his surroundings as his gaze finally fell upon his mate. Heaven help him, she was a sight! Large brown eyes framed by thick lashes and set upon an oval face stared up at him, captivating his attention at first, before the rest of her make-up free face registered upon his sub-conscious; a small, upturned nose gave her an air of arrogance, leading down to full, succulent lips that seized a good portion of his appraisal. Imageries of sucking on those lips flooded his thoughts so that he had to shove his hands into his pockets to stop himself from grabbing her. Her body was sin personified; soft and curvy, the outfit she had on barely hid her delectable silhouette, it was a tiny tank top that strained against her full bust and a pair of gym shorts that clung to full hips and exposed even more of those hips and legs that told of long jogs. All of this barely restrained sexiness covered in beautiful, dark skin that reminded him of just how he loved his coffee; strong and dark.

    Suddenly, thoughts of leaving her for any reason whatsoever escaped his mind. All he could think of was claiming her and doing all sorts of dirty things to this beautiful body.

   Kennedy had gotten more than her share of lustful stares from men, but the carnal way this stranger looked at her did things to her body no one else had been able to do. She tried to ignore his stare, but she couldn’t even look away long enough to do that. It was so much easier to look at him through the protective lens of the small hole in her door, now, standing in his presence, she felt so unprotected, so….naked.

He towered over her, if she were to make a wild guess, she would put him no lower than 6ft.4”, sleek dark hair that just scraped the nape of his neck enticed her to run her hand through them, his face was a work of art, raised straight off the cover of a romance novel; a strong, sharp jaw covered in light stubble formed the base for a firm mouth with a thin upper lip, but a full bottom lip, a roman nose that flared repeatedly  came below dark, deep set eyes that seemed to swallow her ravenously. He was dressed in a pristine white shirt and a navy suit that clung to his form like a second skin, showing off broad shoulders and impressive biceps. He made such a stark contrast, so suave and classy in the midst of this quiet, rural town.

   Something jerked in her thoughts. This man had mentioned Cassie, he knew where her cousin was. Once that registered in her mind, she resumed her cautious stand and raised her shotgun just a little higher, so these men could know she wasn’t in the mood for pranks, “Talk. What do you know of my cousin?” she glared at all three of them until her eyes fell on the one in front of her- the one she assumed to be their boss.

   “Can’t we come in first?” he asked when his roving eyes finally came up to her face.

   She regarded him for a brief moment, a small side of her wanted to acquiesce to his request. She couldn’t understand why she felt this need to please this man, she barely even knew him. Thankfully, her more logical side muscled down that annoying need, “No, I don’t even know you. Why would I let you in my house?”

   The Adonis in the blue suit gave her a charming smile that caught her off guard. His smile was beautiful, “Well then, I suppose you don’t want to know about your cousin.” He replied.

   He turned around as if leaving and Kennedy felt panic rising in her chest, if this man truly knew where Cassandra was, she couldn’t let him leave just like that. Whatever reservations she had about them, they had vital information she couldn’t allow slip away due to her silly pride. “Wait!” she said as she desperately reached out and grabbed the man by his wrist. A sharp current zipped through her at the contact and she let go of him like he burnt her. The man turned to her, but said nothing. For some reason, Kennedy couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye, so she just spoke to the floor, “I’m sorry, please, come in.” she said under her breath.

    She shuffled aside and gave them room to enter the house. For a brief moment, no one made another move, were they mad? Kennedy raised unsure eyes at the men, especially the one who had her so shook up. She found his gaze on her, causing her to once again drop hers. He made her feel funny, for someone who was usually in control of her feelings, it unnerved her that someone whose name she didn’t even know was stirring up such feelings in her. Even worse, she couldn’t explain the origin.

   Finally, he moved. He took steady steps towards the entrance, when he neared her, she held her breath, just waiting for him to pass. He stopped in front of her, his body was just a few inches away so that if she leaned just a little closer, they would be touching. Kennedy molded herself to the door, to avoid any form of contact, but the man wouldn’t move away. Irritated by his lack of movement, she looked up at him, but lost whatever biting words she was set to say.

   They gazed at each other for what felt like forever, until he spoke, “By the way, I’m Rinaldi Salvatore.”