Chapter 9
Nothing was more annoying than people who showed up way too early. Granted, punctuality was important, especially in his line of work. Being a leader who was late just wouldn’t do. But this was ridiculous. The Alpha from Thundering Moon was almost two hours early. When the staff had alerted him that he had guests already, Kaden had thought it was some sort of a joke.
But then. Something odd had happened. Something that had never happened before, and he realized, at least in the back of his mind, that SÕITCODE Was there who hadn’t been until that moment.
At first, he thought perhaps his grandmother was just baking his favorite cookies. He started smelling notes of vanilla and chocolate, all things warm and cory, but then the scent of lilacs, his favorite Bowers, the ones his mam used to decorate with, filled his senses. By the time the servant had alerted him that he had guests, he was overwhelmed by the scent,
Not to mention, he had an odd feeling in his stomach as well. It was sort of like when one went
nt down a rollercoaster or a steep
ep hill on one’s bike. It as an unsenling sensation that put him on edge. Like an itch he couldn’t scratch, be had to figure out the source of this emotion.
kaden spent a few minutes in has room, trying to get himself together, assuming his grandmother was entertaining the Burks. As he came down the stairs and saw them still gathered at the door, he realized he was bring a bad host. Nevertheless, the smell was even stronger coming from down there, and he felt like his stomach was storming with butterflies.
Hoping against hope, he asked his grandmother if she was baking, but he wasn’t surprised when the answer was no. He’d have to put this strange feeling and these scents out of his mind so he could greet his quests, as difficult as it was to concentrate.
Alpha Kent Burk was standing there, looking slightly annoyed with his hands in the pockets of his expensive trousers. His wife had on far too much makeup and looked like she was trying to be his daughter’s age, which brought Kaden’s eyes to the youngest Blurk. Jennat Was that her name!
She was standing in the middle with a fake smile plastered on her face. She was a beautiful woman, that was true. Her blonde hair was perfectly styled, and she had long legs. She reminded him a bit of Sylvia, only this girl was definitely of a higher caliber. Her clothes were nice, and everything about her screamed high maintenance. The fact that he was suddenly smelling his favorite scents wasn’t lost on him, even though Raden was choosing to ignore what it was supposed to mean. He didn’t really believe in all of that fated–mate business, anyway, so it should have bern can to ignore it. Still here he was, standing in front of Jenna Burk, smelling lilacs and vanilla, and wondering why in the world he felt like he was both going to throw up and break into a love song. This wasn’t good.
Jennu was looking at him like he was a piece of meat, and she hadn’t eaten in dayı.
“Hello,” Kaden said to each of them, shaking their hands. “Welcome to Light Sky Pack. I hope you had a nice trip.”
was lovely, thank you,” Rent said, trying not to sound annoyed. “Nice place you have here.”
“Thank you,” Kaden said, both of them looking around the foyer like they’d never seen a house before. “We have plenty of room for the three of you
“Four,” his grandmother said, coming up behind him….
Puzzled, Kaden turned to look at her. His head tipped to the side.
Before Hannah could say more, Jenna spoke up. “Oh, no. Don’t mind her,” she said, shaking her head. “She doesn’t count.”
Karden was just about to ask who she was referring to when he realized another girl was standing behind the Burks. She was petite and hunched down like she didn’t want to be seen. She didn’t fit in with the family, that was for sure. Her clothes were dirty and torn, and her dark hair was stringy. She wouldn’t even look at him. That sweaty mess of brunette blocked her face from anyone.
u mean she doesn’t count?” Hannah asked, laughing nervously. “She might be your servant, but she is still our guest”
-What do you
“No, really” Kent said, shaking his head. “It’s not like that. If you have a basement, she can sleep down there. Or perhaps on the back porch.”
Kaden could see that his grandmother was about to start chewing on heads, so he decided now would be a good time to interrupt. “Why don’t I
the thine of you to your rooms?” he suggested, gesturing at the stairs. “We’ll have the stall take your luggage up.”
son, all of that’s mine, Jena said. “And Sienna can get it. That’s what she’s here for
As Jenna stepped aside, Kazden caught a glimpse of wide blue eyes, but the girl, Sienna, looked away quickly enough. Kaden couldn’t help but feel bad for her. It was pretty clear that the Burks didn’t treat her well, but he didn’t have the full story, and now wasn’t the time to dig into it. Besides, he was perity sure has grandmother would had out for him. “Right this way,” he said, leading the family up the stairs
As they climbed up to the second story, Jenna was right behind him. Kaden fully expected that sensation he’ll been feeling since she arrived to be
overwhelming with her so close. He cautioned a deep breaths, though, and noted that, if anything the scents he’d been noticing were fading away. It seemed quite strange to him. They were still there, but rather than getting stronger with her right beside him, it was as if she were moving away from him. It didn’t make any sense. And she didn’t seem to be noticing anything odd about hún either.
Deciding now wasn’t the time to dwell on it, Kaden stopped at the nicest guest room they had available. “We have this room for you, Alpha Kent
1/2
SAM & D
Chapter 9
and Luna Veronica” he said. “And Jenna, you’ll be right here, across the hull
ina walked inno
another
new of the back gardens, but the nose she
ightly disappointed
“Ii everything all night?” Kaden asked.
round a few times, looking at everything before she faced him. “Oh, yes It’s fine. I mean, I’ll do.”
“We have other rooms if this one isn’t to your liking” he said feeling bad that it wasn’t what she’d expected.
Kent came up behind him and put his hand on Kaden’s shoulder. “It’s a fine room, Alpha Kaden Jenna’s just particular. That’s all”
He cleared his throat, not sure how to respond to that “Well if you need anything at all, please let me know”
“Thank you” Jenna managed anything he could fix though.
smile, but she looked like she was about to cry. Kaden had no idea what was wrong. It didn’t seem like it was
he decided to go back downstairs and make sure Sienna got some help with Jenna’s bags. It did seem a linde ridiculous to make that small walf of a woman carry up such enormous pieces of luggage all by herself. He had the feeling his grandmother was already handling
wanted to check
He hadn’t
nade it to the first landing when he heard Jenna scream at the top of her lungs. “Sienna” You’d better get my luggage up here right
Kaden froze, thinking he also heard Kent telling his daughter not to yell like that in someone else’s house, but that one shout painted a pretty good picture for him of who this Jenna Burk was. Was the his fated match
As Kaden made it back to the foyer, he saw a few of his own servant picking up luggage while the tiny woman protested that she really should get it herself. It was then that he was hit in the face with wave after wave of delightful scents. All of the things he loved to smell, including cookies baking and his mother’s favorite flowers, inundated his senses. It was a heavenly aroma one he could breathe in all day long.
Her blue eyes lifted for a moment to meet his before she dropped them, and that’s when it hit him like a kick in the gut.
“Holy sh*t,” Kaden thought. “It’s not Jenna Burk I’m fated to marry. It’s this girl–this servant–Sienna. But how!”
Kaden had absolutely no answer whatsoever for that question, but what he did know was that he was in a world of hurt. Not only did he not want to marry anyone at all, but it also seemed the Moon Goddess or whoever it was making him feel this way and smell these smells had a pretty dark
The only fortunate part of the situation was that the girl seemed to know that the very thought of him, Alpha Kaden Stone, actually marrying her was ridiculous. She wouldn’t even look him in the face. That was a good thing. Even though he’d hardly seen her at all, one thing had stood out to hum–she had a beautiful face.
It would be a shame if he had to make her cry.
