Northwood

For a long moment Kane stared in through the door at Adline and her two brothers. It bothered him greatly that she’d just barged in without a warning but he understood and couldn’t be mad at her. Not when she looked so happy, so relieved.

After discussing the lead up to Adline finding out about her brothers he had three new people on his hit list and he would make sure they were punished. Especially Tracey.

Both Kane and Babel entered the office and watched silently as the three of them cried tears of joy over each other. Though almost thirty minutes had passed they had barely moved from their collective embrace. Part of Kane felt bad for interrupting but he still needed to chat things over with Nathaniel and Ethan, they would have plenty of time to catch up later.

Clearing his throat slightly Kane caught their attention and as Adline turned his heart sank a little. She wore a look of disappointment and hatred on her face as she stared at him but it seemed like the longer she looked at Kane the more those feelings dissipated. Sooner rather than later she was smiling like a giddy fool and all he could do was wonder why.

“What? I suppose you want a thank you trophy huh?” Questioned Nathaniel, the bigger of the two. The look in his eye was of complete annoyance as he stared with narrowed eyes at Kane. Ethan wasn’t too far off either.

Kane barely heard what the two said as his mood darkened quickly. He didn’t know what gave them the right to speak to him so but he didn’t like it. Before he could say anything however another voice spoke up for him.

“Hey!” She growled as she stood from her seat, “don’t you speak to him like that!” Adline had her index finger pointed at both her brothers who were more than a little bewildered.

“What!” Argued both quickly. “We are your family and we need to get to Carriere. We need to know what they have planned.” Her two brothers then tried to hush their words, “have you forgotten dads promise to them?” Questioned one of her brothers to which Adline scoffed.

“What can they do for me there that can’t be done here?” Adline fired back quickly. Part of her didn’t like how her brothers were speaking to her or how they were treating Kane. “Besides!” She turned to look at Kane who was by now thoroughly annoyed, “he’s my true mate.”

Adline didn’t know what she was expecting but her brothers responses were more than disappointing and as they looked at each other then back at her both her brothers sighed quite heavily before Ethan stood awkwardly from his seat, “I suppose forcing you to go with us will only turn a potential ally in to an enemy,” Ethan reasoned as he spoke his thoughts out loud. “But I don’t know whether Carriere will help us in any way.” Mussed Ethan loudly, he did not expect anyone to respond.

“They will take you if you find staying her unsatisfactory,” replied Kane quickly. He had long grown tired of their awkward conversation but Adline standing up for him didn’t go by unnoticed.

Ethan and Nathaniel looked at their sister questioningly, “are you sure you’ll be alright here?” They seemed more worried than brothers should have been and she didn’t know if it was because she’d found her mate before them or if it was because it was Kane Northwood and the notion of their little sister being with someone with such a ruthless reputation repulsed them quietly.

“I have settled in here and like I said,” she turned to Kane and flashed him a bright smile, “I found where I’m supposed to be.”

Babel stood behind Kane and all she wanted to do was gag and throw up, the sudden endearing terms seemed more than a little off putting but part of her put it down to her pregnancy hormones. Though she stood behind Kane she could only imagine the look on his face as Adline stood against her brothers and sort of with Kane. His pride must have blinded him.

“Yeah okay gag,” blurted Frosty quickly as she stepped up to Kane’s side and caught Adline and her brother’s attention. “Okay pregnant lady here and I want to go home before I have an absolute mental break down at you all.” She stated loud and clearly. “Addle is happy to see you guys but she isn’t going anywhere! I’ve adopted her as my sister and aunt for my kid who is right now kicking me in the ovaries so if you don’t want me to be an absolute ass right now I suggest we move this little shindig back to the house.” She then turned and looked at Kane with a questioning look, “don’t you agree Alpha?!” She demanded quickly. It left him very little chance to disagree with her.

The brothers both look taken aback and all Adline could do was smile and shake her head. She didn’t know what it was like to be pregnant but she judged that she didn’t want to be if Frosty was anything to go by.

Kane turned his head and grumbled at Frosty, “Anyone would think you and Adline shared the role of Alpha.” Though he didn’t mind while there was no one around he didn’t know how Adline would act and react when in front of his pack. He had a reputation to uphold and he’d yet to have a word with her about that but he knew it would have to be sometime soon lest she run circles around him all the time. “Would you like to go with your brothers Adline?” Asked Kane quickly as he offered quietly to drive Frosty back up to the house.

Looking between her brothers and Kane he noted the hesitation in Adline but for some reason he didn’t mind. For as long as she had been in is territory she thought she would be all alone in the world but now that her brothers were safe and mostly well he wholly expected her to want very little to do with him before her brothers left for Carriere pack.

“Actually I was hoping I could catch a ride back with you,” to say her answer surprised everyone was an understatement and the chokes of shock were audible from both Kane and Babel. “True I thought my brothers were dead and gone but I’m sure they will be around for some time yet. I can catch up with them over dinner,” she finished the sentence in her head but there wasn’t much that had gone on in her life that she hadn’t just said to them out loud. Being in Northwood was completely and utterly mundane for her but she hoped that would change. At the curious stares from her brothers she couldn’t help but smile and shrug her shoulders, “what? I just have a few things to say to him that’s all.”

In an instant Kane turned to look at Frosty, “Tyler will drive you home in your car and Adline and I will take the S.U.V” though it was a request it sure didn’t sound like one. He had a way of wording things to make it sound like he was demanding. “Ethan and Nathaniel I will have Harvey drive you up and another will destroy the truck you arrived in.” He then turned his attention to Adline who smirked at him knowingly, “I think you and I should leave now?”

Much to his surprise he’d barely gotten the sentence out before he found Adline at his side slipping her fingers through his and clasping his hand tightly. Kane couldn’t help but wonder what she was playing at but that was only because he had been hurt so badly in the past.

The pair walked from the office, out the front door and to his vehicle. Harvey pulled open the back door for him to slip in to but Kane shook his head, “take the vehicle the two boys arrived in, Adline and I ride alone.” He received a questioning look from Harvey. “If you are worried about anyone attacking us make sure there are wolves following us.” Kane didn’t know why his cousin was pedantic, there was no risk of an attack, not in his pack.

Kane walked to the passenger’s side door and pulled it open for Adline who just looked back at him with an odd look while climbing in, to say Kane as confused was more than an understatement. Closing the door gently he noted that Adline watched him as he walked around the front of the vehicle and climbed in to the driver’s side. Starting the vehicle and kicking it in to gear he noted that feeling did not dissipate one bit.

“If you have a question you can ask me,” he blurted out as they reversed out of the car park and down the street. “Or if you’d like to scold me for not telling you about your brothers you are more than welcome to.”

To his surprise Adline smiled and shook her head, “no questions.” She answered him quickly as she turned to look out the window, his reflection in the glass clear for her to see. As she stared at the scenery they passed by she couldn’t help but smile and want to giggle at his confusion. She wasn’t intentionally playing games with him but it seemed far too amusing to her until she remembered his past with women. That pulled her out of the stupidly giddy mood she was in. Turning to Kane with a more serious expression on her face she fiddled with her fingers, “I just wanted to say thank you,” she admitted freely as Kane slowed the vehicle significantly.

“For what?” He questioned her curiously.

“Well,” began Adline carefully. She wasn’t too sure how she wanted to answer his question. Taking a deep breath he turned her body towards him completely. “Even though you were mean to me when I first got here you have made it easier for me to feel like home lately.” Though she barely saw him she noted a drastic drop off in the amount of security assigned to look after her. “It feels like you trust me a little bit.” She admitted to him again. She didn’t know what I was when it came to Kane Northwood but she wanted to be nothing but truthful to him.

To say he was a little chuffed was a complete understatement as a brilliant smile appeared on Kane’s lips as he drove the vehicle through a thicket of trees. Kane turned his attention back to the road as he heard Adline shift her weight in her seat. He’d assumed she’d turned her attention back to the scenery they passed through but soon he felt her breath against his neck.

“I mean really,” she breathed heavily. Her words made Kane turn towards her slightly but all he could see at the awkward angle was the top of her head, “thank you,” she mumbled and pressed her warm lips to his cheek.

It was almost enough to make him blush. Almost. Still the sentiment was not lost on him as he felt a warmth invade his body. A warmth that led to a deep seeded desire to pull the vehicle over and have her then and there. Fortunately for Adline, Kane was content with a sweet kiss on the cheek and he took it for what it was but it gave him hope.