Afflicted (9 page)

“I miss that beard,” she drawled out.

“Don’t worry. I’m willing to let it grow back just for you.”

“Do you do this often?”

“What?”

“Kiss women all the time like you do with me,” she said breathlessly.

“No just with you,” Kaden mumbled. He leaned in for another kiss. Victoria didn’t move away from him. “Mmm yeah, that cake is delicious.”

He wanted to stay but he couldn’t ignore any of his obligations to the pack. Not right now. Slowly Kaden forced himself to back away from Victoria and the temptation to draw their kiss out longer.

“Make sure you are completely sober when you get ready to leave. If you aren’t call me!”

Victoria laughed.

“That sounded like a command more than anything.”

“I’m being serious.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure I will be sober by the time I leave. Besides I am not letting that go to waste.” Victoria nodded over to the untouched cheesecake. “It has to be a crime somewhere.”

Kaden finally put some distance between him and Victoria. He made sure the bill was paid before stepping out of the Redbird. By the time Kaden made to his mother’s home she was standing outside beside a bonfire tossing items into a raging fire.

Adam jogged over to Kaden.

“She was at Rick’s earlier screaming and hollering at everybody. I managed to get her home but I couldn’t cool her down.”

“I got this. Thanks man.”

“I’ll catch up with you tomorrow,” Adam said as he patted Kaden on the back before proceeding to his own vehicle.

What the fuck is her problem now?

Kaden walked over to his mother. She didn’t even notice Adam had left or that Kaden was standing there watching. It wasn’t until he’d yelled at her several times before she stopped what she was doing and turned around to face him.

“What,” she snarled.

“Why are you out here burning shit?”

“Because I can that’s why considering you have stepped into this damned role as leader and messed up my plans.”

“Oh, I messed up your plan,” Kaden said as he stuffed his hands into the back pocket of his jeans.

Good thing I did.

He knew he wasn’t capable of diminishing the hatred she had towards the pack but he wasn’t going to allow her to harm them in anyway. Kaden didn’t care if she was his mother, he’d ban her from the pack if he had to, and that’s what he had in mind at the moment. He was going to move her to Alaska. Collins held too many bad memories for her and she needed change.

“Yes, you did Kaden. I want to destroy them all. And you aren’t letting me,” Kellie cried as she threw more stuff into the bonfire. “I want them to suffer twenty times what I have suffered.”

Kaden frowned.
Yeah, but they weren’t the one beating your ass. It was all Morgan!

“Come on ma. You are hate is a bit misplaced. You can’t blame no one in this pack for the shit Morgan did.”

“No my hate is not misplaced Kaden.”

“Go inside and sleep off whatever you been drinking on.”

“Don’t Kaden. You sound like your father. He always told me what the hell to do and now that he is dead I am not going to do what you or anyone says anymore. My chains are gone.”

“I’m not trying to tell you what to do or control you either.”

“Why did you leave me Kaden? You left me here alone with that man.”

Kaden sighed. He stuffed his hands into the pocket of his jeans and walked slowly over to stand beside his mother.

“I didn’t mean to. I should have made you go with me. Don’t think I hadn’t thought about it. You needed it more than me to be away from here, away from him.”

“I didn’t want to leave. I wouldn’t have. It wasn’t all bad Kaden. Your father loved me and I loved him. He was just lost.”

“Make up your mind. You can’t love someone and damn them the next minute,” Kaden stated with clenched teeth.  “Besides hurting someone does not equal love.”

Mom you need help. You’ve been abused for too long. Shit I need to get her help. She needs it bad.

“He did love us. He did. He apologized and I mean really apologized. It was weeks before he died. I was standing by the stove making breakfast when he did it. He even said he was sorry about Joanne.”

“So he was with another woman again?”

Kaden rolled his eyes.

“Joanne is his daughter from that bitch wanderer he slept with.”

“What daughter?”

What the fuck?

“She is probably dead by now just like her mother. It’s a hard life for a wanderer that is a female. No protection. No family. No values.”

“Are you saying what I think you are? So Morgan has another kid out there.”

“Who cares,” Kellie said as she picked up the bundle of clothing at her feet and tossed a few shirts into the fire. “Like I said she is probably dead. So don’t bother with it.”

He wasn’t surprised Morgan had fathered another child. Kaden wondered how his mother even knew. She knew the name of the child and that the mother was a wander. There must have been some type of communication going on for Kellie to know what she did. Kaden wasn’t going to leave until he pried every piece of information his mother had on this child. He was going to find Joanne. Make sure she was safe and not being bouncing around from place to place with her mom being a wanderer. Kaden to make sure she was safe if the child’s mother was dead like his mother said.

Chapter Nine

K
nocking forced Victoria to awake, then to roll lazily from the middle of the bed until she came to the edge, and checked the clock on her nightstand. Victoria groaned as she tossed the cover off of her and got up. She slid her feet into the fluffy pink slippers and shuffled towards the door.

“I’m coming,” she bellowed.

This is what I get for drinking and then staying up trying to get myself off last night.

After getting home last night Victoria spent the night attempting to relieve herself but her body just wanted physical attention from the opposite sex. Her vibrator had lost its luster. She needed a real cock.

Yawning, Victoria did a quick stretch before opening the front door.

“Oh it’s you,” Victoria said as she rubbed her eyes. Kaden chuckled.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You’re fine. So what brings you here unannounced today? More kissing,” Victoria said as a smile formed on her lips.  She unconsciously ran her fingers through her hair to fix it. Victoria noticed his hair was not in a ponytail today.  Black hair framed his face. The wild look she’d come to love was back even with the lack of hair on his face.

Shit I have morning breath!
Victoria was glad there was a good amount of distance between them. She still had to resist the urge to hold a hand over her mouth. For now she just hoped a breeze didn’t come along.

“No, but if you want me to well you don’t even have to ask,” Kaden said as he held up something black. “You left this behind last night.”

I can’t believe I freaking forgot it.

“Thanks,” Victoria said as she reached for her clutch.

“Hmm, I have it on good authority that you left sober.”

“Thanks for returning my clutch. I didn’t even notice I didn’t have it,” Victoria said with a frown on her face.

“You had it sitting on the roof of your car when you drove off from the Redbird last night.”

“And how did you end up with it? Are you keeping tabs on me Kaden?”

“Maybe,” Kaden said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Don’t turn stalker on me. It’s the last thing I need with all the crap I have to deal with.” Victoria tapped the door to indicate what she meant.

“Has someone been bothering you again?” Kaden asked as he took a step forward. Victoria backed away as she heard a sound emit from him that sounded un-human.

“No,” Victoria said with the shake of her head. She brushed the odd sound off and decided it was her imagination running wild.

“Good. I think folks got the message.”

“And what message is that?”

“To leave you alone and anyone who doesn’t will have to answer to me.”

“What kind of muscle are you carrying under your belt that has you pulling that kind of weight? Considering the police could have handled that.”

Victoria folded her arms, leaned on the doorway, as she eyed Kaden with wary eyes. He’d asked so much about her last night but she’d failed to question him with just as much enthusiasm. She began to wish she’d inquired more about him. Kaden let out a low amused laugh as he stuffed his hands into the back pocket of his jeans.

“Get to know me more and I’ll be happy to tell you.”

I wanted to get know you last night in other ways, a more sexual way.

“Is that your way of attempting to get me to go on a date?”

“I don’t want a date.”

What? Then what the hell was last night!

“I told you what I wanted last night Victoria.”

His words floated in her mind as she recalled them. It wasn’t the only thing she started to remember last night. She resisted the urge to look down. How could she forget? It was the cause of her late night activities when she got home.

Don’t smile. Whatever you do Vic, don’t smile, and let the guy know you are enjoying this.

“Yeah you did,” Victoria said as she rubbed the back of her neck nervously.

“I meant it.”

“Hmm, too bad I’m leaving town then.”

“Yeah but we could still hang out. I would like..no I would love to show you the real Collins and what you have been missing while being cooped up in that tiny office at the bank.”

“And what would that be?”

“Trust me on it. Just say sure Kaden I am down for whatever.”

“And what is down for whatever?”

“Fun and you know you need it. I would hate for you to leave without tasting what this town is all about.”

“No I’m good actually.”

“You don’t know what you would be missing out on. Come on, you know you want to Victoria.”

“Well aren’t you the persistent type.”

“That should be obvious.”

She was not sure what to think of Kaden. He was attractive, confident, and he wanted Victoria. She didn’t think Kaden was serious about a relationship and that was something that wasn’t going to happen. Not now when she was putting in her two week notice on Monday. Deep down she desired to give in. As outlandishly as it seemed she wanted to be his and wanted to stay here to see where things might go with Kaden.

Alright I’m going to toss all caution aside. What’s the worst that could happen?

“You know I’ve always wanted to go hiking here in Collins. I kept putting it off but I would like to do that before I leave.”

“I can arrange that. Allow me to take you on the hike of your life.”

“I don’t know you never seem to keep your lips to yourself. “

“I think I can manage this once to do that,” Kaden said as he held up his hands in surrender.

She wanted to say,
“You can
kiss me all you want.”

Hell, she didn’t mind. It seemed every time they’d kissed she felt a strong spiritual connection. She didn’t believe much in true love and wasn’t going to call random smooching love. And she wasn’t going to deny the fact that she enjoyed his company and only wished they’d met sooner. For now she was just going to take him up on his offer of fun. She’d been living here for months and had yet to indulge in the amenities offered here. Victoria knew there was a lake were the town folk of Collins frequented for swimming, fishing, canoeing or kayaking, and camping. She’d done nothing but work, visit the few shops around town, and spend a majority of her time cooped up in the cabin. Hiking was something she’d wanted to do for the longest since arriving here in Collins.

“When do we go?”

“Now, so go change into something comfortable.”

“But I thought you had to make reservations a day in advance to go hiking on the Akko trails.”

“We are not going on that weak dull trail. Trust me Victoria. Now go get dressed. I mean I like what you have on but those pink slippers aren’t going to be worth two cents out there. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

“See you in thirty minutes,” Victoria said as Kaden headed back to his truck.

Victoria closed the front door did a happy dance and then rushed to the bedroom. She hunted through her dresser for clothing that was suitable for hiking. After settling on a pair of shorts and t-shirt Victoria headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower and brush her teeth.

It’s not a date. No it’s not one at all.

***

L
ess than thirty minutes later Kaden was parked outside the cabin waiting on Victoria. Kaden was leaning against his truck when a beat up older truck parked beside his own truck. He nodded a greeting to Adam who jumped out the passenger side of the pickup.

“Hey man,” Adam said as he walked to Kaden. “Thanks for inviting us along.”

“So this is your mate,” Kaden said as a blonde haired woman grabbed a blue backpack from the cab of the truck.

“It sure is,” Adam said with a smile on his face. The woman jogged over to Adam’s side. He reached out and linked his arm around her waist and pulled her in close.

“So this is my mate. Kaden this lovely little angel is Melody Ashton. And Melody this is Kaden Wright. The one I was telling you about.”

“Hi. It’s nice to see someone else who is just like this guy over here,” Melody said as she pointed up at Adam. “It’s nice to meet another shifter.”

“It’s nice to meet you to Melody. Adam has told me a lot about you and your sworn vow to never blab about our existence.”

“I have not uttered a word about your kind and I understand the risk of exposure.”

“Good.”

“It’s about time I got introduced to more shifters. You have to stop hiding me like I’m some freaking dirty little secret,” Melody whined. She shoved Adam’s shoulder. Adam pulled her closer and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“I told you why. And I’m your dirty little secret,” Adam said huskily close to ear.

“Touché,” Melody said. 

Kaden tried not to laugh at the look that Adam and Melody were exchanging back and forth. It was evident the two cared about one another a lot. Adam seemed content. Kaden felt better. There was someone out there with a human mate besides him but Kaden didn’t have his mate as his yet.  Kaden glanced over the faded mark on Melody’s neck. It was a sign that she was a taken. All shifter males marked their mates this way. A heavy sigh escaped Kaden. He wanted Victoria to have his mark badly.

“Hey man you alright?”

“Yeah I’m good,” Kaden said to Adam, as he ran a hand through his hair.

Damn I gotta have Victoria as mine. I can’t allow her to walk out of my life.

“So are we ready to get started on this hiking trip that you talked me into doing today,” Melody said as she poked Adam.

“Babe, stop it. You know I’m extremely ticklish in that spot.”  Adam tried not to laugh as he tried to capture the finger Melody was poking him with on his side.

“I will be right back,” Kaden said as walked away from the giggling couple.

Kaden knocked once on the door and waited for Victoria to answer it.

“Hi,” Victoria greeted once the door was opened.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah,” Victoria said as she stepped out of the cabin and closed the door behind her.

“Come on.”

Kaden glanced over at Melody and Adam who were in an embrace and whispering to each other. He didn’t ask Adam and Melody to come along for the two of them to be wrapped up in each other’s or to relentlessly show a public display of affection. He asked them to come along because Kaden didn’t want to be alone with Victoria on this hike. Kaden had some self-control left but he didn’t want to risk it. The sooner she was his, the better. 

It’s just a hiking trip. You can keep your hands and lips to yourself for a few hours.

Victoria repeated her question to Kaden who’d completely zoned out.

“Are they coming with us?”

“Yeah they are. Come on.”

Kaden held out his hand to Victoria. She smiled at him as she took his hand. Kaden led Victoria over to Melody and Adam. He made quick work of getting everyone introduced. Kaden grabbed his own backpack from his truck before he started directing everyone to the woods in front of them.

“Where are we going,” Victoria asked. Kaden glanced over at her.

“Hiking like you wanted.”

“Yeah but, why are we walking into the woods up ahead?”

“There’s a hiking trail this way.”

“What? You mean this whole time there has been a hiking trail sitting right in front of me.”

“Yep but only a few know about this one.”

“I’m guessing you have been on this trail on more than one occasion.”

“Not for a very long time.”

The trail Kaden had them on hadn’t been used by the pack in years. Kaden had no doubts Victoria was going to enjoy every bit of it. Adam took over and was in the lead with an arm wrapped around Melody’s shoulder.

“So, what made you come here to the middle of nowhere,” Kaden asked to break the silence between them.

“Nothing I care to talk about at the moment.”

“You aren’t a fugitive or something are you?”

“No,” Victoria squealed as she nudged Kaden.

Kaden chuckled.

“Are you a serial killer?”

“Kaden stop it.”

Victoria laughed and gave him another playful nudge. Kaden chuckled as they walked side by side.

Damn, I can’t even remember the reasons why I was against her being my mate.

“Okay enough. So tell me what do you for a living?”

“Ah, you are going to flip this on me. Okay, nothing fancy,” Kaden said as he shrugged his shoulders. “I work on an oil rig from time to time up in Alaska.”

“What? You aren’t an underwear model,” Victoria said in a feigned surprised tone.

Kaden let out a throaty laugh as he shook his head.

“Come on slow pokes,” Adam said from over his shoulder.