“You don’t say…” Oli was chattering on the phone as Dean finished up with the mess. Someone forged the signature of their Alpha on the order or scavenger hunt document. He’d sent a copy of his signature and the two weren’t anything alike. Now Dean finished arranging a trip for the twelve fool pups to his border, where their Alpha’s people would pick them up and take them home for punishment. “Dean. Dean.” Oli put his hands over his phone. “What? I need to finish this.” “Go make sure Kiera is in her apartment. I think this is important.” “What? Now? Of course she’s there. Where would she be?” “Uh… Don’t shoot the messenger. The Jasper Spring’s Beta, Keith, is on the line. He says you both have trouble. Kiera and two other packs are in a vehicle right now and they aren’t in our territory. Trisha’s been talking to them.” “What? That can’t be true. I just left her upstairs.” “Dean, that was five hours ago.” “Really? Crap, she’s not had

Dean watched the second last group of enforcers head out looking for the vehicle. He’d have to thank the Gamma who headed the territory and general pack security. He’d insisted on putting GPS tracking into all their vehicles. From ATV to SUV, they were all tagged. He didn’t trust her not to be smart enough to ditch the tracking device, but right now, he’d make use of it all. He’d hoped not to need to rely on it. But James called again with the outcome and it included Kiera ditching her friends and disappearing alone. He’d be in the last group. Oli would hold down the fort while he dealt with this. Why she thought she was better off alone, he didn’t understand. This was her home, and it always was. Dean knew enough to lay the blame on the feet of Elder Evans. He’d done most of this damage. The rest was Dean’s fault for blindly believing that an elder would be honourable and loyal to him and the pack. That the elder would not use his position to further a twist a

Kiera felt weak and cornered by Dean and his enforcers. She felt thwarted by him while feeling relief and a sliver of hope. Hope, she feared, would end up being misplaced. She thought he’d lose patience and cut his losses by ending whatever game he was playing by now. He hadn’t; he doubled down on his beliefs and his story. Kiera tried to ignore and later resist his presence. But she felt an attraction she’d failed to pick up on before and she couldn’t understand why. To Kiera, this was as confusing as tasting chocolate and bacon for the first time. Disturbing described her feelings. While her thoughts took her full attention, Dean eased closer and closer to her. “Were you really running away to search for answers?” Dean thought this was something he least expected. He’d assumed she was running away from him out of fear, or maybe hatred. He thought James made that up to mess with his head. “Clearly something is going on and if I want some peace o

Kiera wasn’t expecting any of this, though she knew she should. Dean was determined to have things his way, though Kiera wasn’t sure what his way really looked like. She’d planned to find the answers and prove that the changes in Dean and James were false and this was all wrong. Now, as he kissed her and pulled her close, she wasn’t certain anymore. He’d brought up so many things from their past that brought a new light to this. Someone, possibly his father, their father, might have made what it has not happened? This was fated for them? Her thoughts became muddled as his kiss and hands became more insistent. Kiera felt her body respond to him. They were in a car with others. Kiera pushed back away from Dean just enough to say. “Dean, we aren’t alone in here now’s not the time.” He grumbled and went back to kissing her. “My car, my pack, my mate, and my rules.” “Your mate, as you insisted on telling everyone I am, isn’t comfortable ma

“Listen to me Dean. Please. Make me feel okay about this. I need to know you are aware of all the complications.”Kiera wanted him to know all the gory details. He’d have to back down for the pack’s comfort and continue. “Kiera, I know. I’ve read all there is and then some. Before they returned you here, they sent files, reports, and videos of you. I’ve seen you at your worst and I accept it.” Dean was trying to reassure her, but she was having none of it. Kiera shook her head and turned from him. “You don’t get it. There’s no information on if we can have pups, mates, or anything. You’re alpha line would end with you. Do you think the pack would want that? How about being led by a Lycan alpha pair? Seriously, Dean, that’s not considering the chances of you dying. This is part of the reason I left here on top of everything else. I’m trying to keep the pack safe from me and who knows who else. Right now, I look like a threat or a losing bet. Fated Mates or not. I’ll s