Chapter 13
Kaden
Kaden spent a good deal of time lying flat on his back with his feet on the floor, his eyes on the ceiling fan above his bed, and his mind running through everything that had just happened. How was any of this reality!
At first, when he’d started smelling those weird scents, it hadn’t even occurred to hum what that might signal. After all, he’d spent years telling himself and anyone who would listen that he didn’t believe in fated matches. So, how could he expect to suddenly have the symptoms of a person who’d caught a bad case of host–itis, or whatever one wanted to call it? It definitely wasn’t love. Whether or not the magical Moon Goddess floated around picking out people to hit with her arrows and cause them to fall in love was true, he was never going to believe in love at first sight.
And that definitely hadn’t been his affliction tonight either.
He’d thought it was the Alpha’s daughter he’d been drawn to when he first came down the stairs and saw her standing there. She was beautiful, with pretty blonde hair and a nice figure. But there was something about her look that made him think she was stuck–up and probably spoiled rotten. She reminded him a lot of Sylvia, and he wasn’t in a hurry to hitch his wagon to that star or one that seemed like a foreign version of her.
Then, he’d seen the other girl. The feelings that stirred inside of him were unlike anything he’d ever felt before, and it had totally thrown him off his game. The idea of him being with a servant was hard to accept. Not that she wasn’t pretty. Maybe she was. He couldn’t tell because she was hiding behind Jenna and her hair. It was just that. The way he felt when he saw her, when she entered the room, it was impossible to deny what was happening to him. That was the part that made him nervous more than anything else. Even if the girl had been gorgeous, the daughter of a powerful Alpha, he would’ve been off–kilter to see her because he just didn’t want to deal with all this Exte mumbo jumbo.
There was something about her, though, despite her station, that made him curious. Perhaps it was the fact that he could never quite look her in the eyes that made him want to know more. Or maybe it was the feelings he was having that he’d never had before. He was going to have to find a way to get her off of his mind because there was just no way he was even considering accepting anyone as his Luna–not now anyway.
Sitting up. Kaden thought about what had happened upstairs right after he’d met her. He’d come up, heard Jenna shouting and acting like a baby, and decided to go back downstairs, maybe even outside, to get some fresh air. Then, he heard a commotion and what sounded like someone falling. He’d been about to go check it out when he realized his grandmother had it under control. There was no use interjecting himself into the sinuation when she had it. When he’d almost run into the girl on the stairs a little while after that, she hadn’t said anything to him or looked like she wanted his help, so he’d let her go. Something told him she’d be happier away from Jenna anyway.
“What a messed–up situation,” he muttered. He couldn’t believe anyone would treat another human being the way they treated that girl. Her hair was always over her face, but he had seen the bruises and scratches on her arms. While his bond to her made him smell all the wonderful things he loved when she was around, it didn’t completely mask the fact that the girl hadn’t showered in a while. She was filthy and sad–looking
It made him angry at Alpha Kent for treating anyone that way Interfering with the way another Alpha treated his people wasn’t really acceptable unless he was ready to go to war. Still, he knew that he wouldn’t allow anyone to be mistreated under his roof, and he was sure Grandma Hannah would make sure of that. If she didn’t, Kaden would have to step in.
Deciding he’d lain on his back bewildered long enough for one afternoon, he decided to go have a walk around and see how everything was going. Not only were some of the other guests scheduled to arrive soon but there was also the regular work of running a pack to complete as well. Treaties, border security, supplies, and training didn’t stop because his pack was hosting a party.
He walked past the room Jenna was staying in and heard her talking to someone. Her voice was loud and excited, and she didn’t stop to breathe much at all as she jabbered on. He had to imagine she was on the phone since he di
he didn’t hear another voice, but then, what were the chances that anyone else would have a chance to talk with her going on like that!
talk to Grandma Hannah about
Taking the steps quickly, Kaden was relieved that he didn’t see anyone else, not even a servant. He didn’t want to the poor pathetic soul at the moment, and he certainly didn’t want to have to be polite to the Burks. He shot out the door and headed toward his office thinking he should get some work done before he checked in on the hall. Walking into the event center ended up sucking a great deal of his life away.
John was coming his way as he briskly walked the main path that led through town. Kaden raised a hand, and he bowed his head in reference. “Everything going as planned?” Kaden asked.
“Yes, Sir. We’ve got a few guests headed up the main road now, so I’m going over to make sure they get settled. Also, the Hurks‘ servants are moved in They’ll be taking their luggage over to your house shortly”
“Luggage?” Kaden echoed. “I thought they already had their luggage at my h
Julan shrugged and ran a hand through his thinning hair. “Just repeating what they said, Sir”
“All right. “Thanks” Kaden walked on, realizing all of those bags Sienna had struggled to get into the house were Jenna’s. How much could one person possibly need for such a short stay!
Thinking about how incredible that was, he almost didn’t see the group of girls in front of him until he collided with them. Instinct told him to pull up, so he lifted his eyes to see Sylvia’s tear–streaked face.
“What happened?” he asked.
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Cimpter 13
“That wrenched girl!” Sylvia replied, holding up her hand. It was wrapped in gauze all the way to her elbow. “I’m going to look so horrible in my
gown at the ball:”
“What girl?” Kaden was confused. It looked like she had been mauled.
“That servant girl! The one from the pack that’s staying at your house!” Sylvia cried.
“She practically ripped her arm off for no reason!” Rose exclaimed from behind Sylvia.
Just then. Kaden saw Sienna coming out of the woods on the other side of the lane with Alec behind her. She froze, seeing him talk to the girls. Sylvia had to mean her. He wondered what in the world had happened. “I’ll talk to her,” he told Sylvia
“You’d better! She’s a monster!” Sylvia continued to cry as the girls all continued on their way, fawning all over their clique leader.
Sienna was standing behind a tree. Alec was talking to her like he didn’t realize she was hiding. Kaden took a deep breath and headed that way. He’d find out what happened and put a stop to any shenanigans before they got out of control. At least he could send Beta Alec to go check in with the trainers since it seemed like he wasn’t going to make it any time soon
All of the fragrant, wonderful scents he could imagine came wafting at him, intermingling and enticing him as he got closer to the girl he was allegedly supposed to spend his life with. A flame lit inside of him as he considered how unfair it was that someone else got to choose his destiny for him. Well, he just didn’t operate that way.
An orange leaf fluttered down from the tree she was standing behind. Her wide blue eyes followed it to the ground, and they didn’t lift to meet his She certainly had the subservient pose down, Fresh blood stained the color of her shirt, and her face was swollen where that blow from Jenna had Landed. She was a miserable, pathetic, tiny little creature, and all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and protect her from the world. Taking a deep breath would certainly not clear his head in this case, so Kaden didn’t do that. Instead, he acknowledged his second and said, “Alec, can you go check in with the trainees? They’re probably expecting me, and I have some issues to handle
“Yeah, sure, Alpha,” Alec said. “But you should know that I saw what Sylvia and those other girls were doing. They started it. Sienna sure finished it though.” He gave a proud chuckle. Kaden nodded, not needing to hear anymore. He got i
“See you later, Sienna, Alec said.
“Goodbye, Beta Alec. She didn’t lift her eyes.
The fact that Alee was acting all flirty like a boy with a crush on the new girl at school was annoying, but Kaden couldn’t say now. The last thing he needed was for Alec to think he was interested in Sienna
say anything about it, not
It took forever for Alec to pull himself away. Once he did, Kaden turned to Sienna. This was going to be difficult, but there was no way “We need to talk.”
no way around it.
A flicker of blue met his eyes before she dropped her gaze again. “Yes, Sir. Alpha Kaden.” Why did she have to be so d’mn obedient! And so d*mn beautiful? This was going to be a lot harder than he thought.
