The KinKaid Wolf Pack Trilogy (37 page)

Kaleb swallowed a groan.
Christ
, he had to think about something else. Anything else.

He glanced at the rearview mirror. Beads of sweat covered his friend’s forehead in a damp sheen. “You doing okay up there, Landry?” The wound to his partner’s side hadn’t been a scratch. He’d lost a shitload of blood.

“Never better,” he bit out.

“Yeah, and I’m the damn Prince of Wales.”

“How’s Rosa?” That was his partner, always deflecting when the topic of conversation had anything to do with him.

“Still sleeping for the moment. She looks at peace, though. Thank God. I can’t imagine how much agony she’s been in locked inside that cell for the last several hours while her body... Yeah.” Kaleb brushed her hair away from her face. “You know what I mean. After finally seeing Evin, her mind and body must have needed to reboot.”

“Probably so.”

“How much longer do you think?” Kaleb repositioned, trying to relieve some of the pressure off his stiff shaft.

“About another thirty to forty-five minutes. The cabin isn’t too far on the other side of the territory’s boundary.” The SUV dipped hard into a pothole, jarring the vehicle. Landry grunted, then hissed a curse under his breath as one hand dropped from the steering wheel to his side.

Fuck
. Landry wasn’t nearly as okay as he wanted Kaleb to believe.

“Let me drive, man. You need to take it easy.”

“No,” Landry snapped. “I’m fine. What I
need
is for you to watch over Rosa and take care of her. She’s going to require all your attention when she wakes up.”

“What do mean by that?” Kaleb knew damn well Landry had feelings for Rosa. Having her choose him over Landry was one thing, but Kaleb wasn’t going to stand for the masochistic bastard to be a martyr and just step aside. Fuck that. Kaleb wanted Rosa’s heart only if she wanted to give it to him, not because she wasn’t allowed to have Landry’s.

Before Landry had a chance to respond, Rosa moaned. “Evin...?”

“Shh...” Kaleb stroked her arm. “No. It’s me, Kaleb, and Landry. We’re taking you somewhere safe.”

She blinked. “What?” She shook her head and shoved at his chest, pushing herself off his lap. “No!”

Panic seized Kaleb’s chest.
Shit
. He hadn’t meant to scare her to death. “It’s okay.” He reached for her, but Rosa launched herself to the other side of the backseat before he made contact.

“Rosa, you’re okay,” Landry called out to her from the front. “Your brother asked us to take you to the hunting cabin.”

Eyes wide, she stared at the enforcer in the mirror. “Why would he do that?” She wrapped her arms around her midriff, curling herself into a tight ball against the door, her breath coming in short bursts.

“Things aren’t good between the packs, and he wanted you safe,” Kaleb added, keeping his voice quiet and calm. “I promise you.” He held up his hands, palms wide. “Nothing will happen to you that you don’t want.”

Rosa’s gaze darted between Kaleb and Landry.

“You know us better than anyone, sweetheart,” Landry chimed in. “We would never hurt you.”

“This is different,” Rosa said, her voice shaky. “I don’t even know myself right now.”

“Then you’re in luck,” Kaleb interjected and Rosa glanced his way. “You have us here to remind you precisely how special you are.”

A single tear fell from her lashes and trailed down her cheek, but she quickly swiped it away.

And Kaleb nearly lost it. “Everything’s going to be okay,” he managed to choke out. “We’re going to make sure of it. Whatever you want or decide.”

Lips drawn in a thin line, she nodded, then turned toward the window.

Minutes and miles passed by in nerve-shattering silence. God, Kaleb had never felt so damn helpless in his life. She was suffering. And he couldn’t fix it unless she allowed him. He pressed his spine into the leather as heat from Landry’s gaze in the mirror bore like a laser into his forehead. The tension had the air so fucking thick Kaleb swore he was about to strangle in the soup.

“How much longer?” Whatever the number, it wasn’t soon enough.

“We’re here,” Landry stated, and the car veered off the road onto a dirt path.

He’d heard the KinKaids possessed a hunting cabin off the grounds, but unlike Landry, Kaleb had never seen the place. The SUV bounced and vibrated off the washboard road for another five bone-jarring minutes before coming to a stop in front of a small wooden house.

The sun’s rays were rising over the trees, spreading its red, yellow, and gold fingers across the horizon as Kaleb popped his door. Turning, he reached for Rosa’s hand, but she pulled away and grabbed her own door handle.

“I can get inside on my own,” she stated and exited the vehicle.

By the time Kaleb and Rosa climbed the steps to the wide porch, Landry had confiscated the key and was unlocking the door. As soon as the door opened, Rosa breezed past Landry, and Kaleb followed her across the threshold.

Inside, the cabin consisted of an open hallway that ran the center of the main house with bedrooms off to the left, kitchen and den off to the right. Rosa darted inside the first room with windows facing the front porch. Kaleb watched from the doorway as Rosa paced around the bed, her arms crossed. She’d only been within the small bedroom for mere minutes, but already her scent filled the air. The beckoning aroma was thick and heady, driving Kaleb’s pulse like a steady jungle beat. He gripped the door jam, biting down hard on his molars.

“Rosa...” he chewed out. “Please...I can’t bear to watch you suffer.”

On a low groan, Rosa charged toward him, her hair wild around her face. She yanked the door and slammed it shut between them.

“This was a mistake,” she cried out through the wood. “Evin, what were you thinking?” Something hard thumped against the panel.

Kaleb leaned in, placing his palms against the cool surface, his heart heavy. “I’m so sorry, angel,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I’m not the one you want.”
Fuck.
He wanted to ram his fist through the wood and force her to see he was the male she needed.

“Oh, God,” she groaned. “You don’t understand.”

“Help me then. Tell me what you want. Is it Landry?” Kaleb glanced over his shoulder. From the other end of the hall, Landry jerked his head around, panic written in his expression. The sound of a sob rippled through the door, the waves chewing away at his resolve.
Shit
. How was he supposed to just sit back and allow this to go on?

“Go away, Kaleb!” she begged. “Please... Just give me some peace so I can get through this with a little of my dignity left.”

Pushing away, Kaleb’s hands slid down the wood and dropped to his sides. What other choice did he have? She didn’t want him. And no matter how strong the pull of her heat, he wasn’t about to force himself on a female when her answer was no.

Kaleb turned toward Landry. “How long do you think she’ll be like this?”

Landry shrugged and pivoted, heading in the direction of the kitchen when his gait faltered. He stumbled, but managed to grab for a table near the doorway.

“Landry!” Damn. Kaleb rushed for his friend as the small oak side table pitched over, hitting the floor with a
clatter
that echoed in the hollow space. Catching him by the arm, Kaleb managed to steady him.

“I’m good,” he muttered. “I’m good.”

“Really?” Kaleb glanced down at the shifter’s side, taking in the dark stains that appeared wet. “You’re still bleeding.”

“It’ll stop. It’s not that bad,” Landry added.

Shaking his head, Kaleb swore under his breath. He’d never met a more frustrating male in his life. “You need to shift and start healing.”

“I’d rather keep my clothes on at the moment, if you don’t mind,” Landry gritted out.

Now that, Kaleb could understand and relate to. Freeing his own cock from behind his zipper would not make matters any better. He was too worked up. They both were. “Then you need to let me help.”

Landry yanked his arm free. “That won’t be necessary.”

“I think it is,” Kaleb stated, his voice rumbling. “And you have two choices: shift or let me care for your wound so the bleeding will stop and you start to heal.”

“Dalton...” Landry growled. “You come near me and—”

Shoving his chest against Landry’s, Kaleb flashed his canines. “You’ll what?” Fucking hell, this close the male’s sandalwood and musk scent temporarily overrode the heat in the air and had him salivating. Kaleb’s already rock hard cock punched the denim, straining for release. “Rosa needs you at full strength and able to protect her. You wobbling around like this because of your damn pride isn’t helping her or me.”

A slight twitch in his friend’s expression told Kaleb his words had hit home. Landry’s gaze narrowed.

“Fine,” he spat, then turned and faced the wall, his palms flattening on the surface. Air soughed from his lungs. “Help me,” he added in a whisper.

Kaleb’s eyelids lowered from the sound of submission in Landry’s voice. Admitting he needed someone had cost the fierce male. Needed him. A tremor raced over Kaleb’s body.

“Hold still,” Kaleb breathed. He grasped the damp material of Landry’s shirt. Gently he tugged it free from the waistband of his partner’s pants and pushed it up, exposing the angry punctures along his flank.

Dropping into a crouch, Kaleb moved in closer, doing his best to gather enough moisture in his mouth. He’d heard about the special enzyme generated in the male or female’s saliva when a person a shifter cared for was hurt or wounded, though Kaleb personally had never tested out the theory. Never had a reason to, until now. The chemical released was said to numb the affected area and speed the healing process. Damn, he hoped whatever gland was suppose to kick into action worked.

Leaning in, Kaleb brushed his flattened tongue over the damaged flesh. Landry hissed and shuddered. Again, Kaleb moved over his partner’s side, making sure he didn’t miss a single puncture. The salty taste of Landry’s flesh tinged with a hint of coopery flavor exploded over his taste buds. Kaleb’s pulse jackhammered inside his head. He closed his eyes, savoring the hot feel of his friend’s skin inside his mouth.

“Shit,” Landry groaned and squirmed under Kaleb’s ministrations. The sound of nails scratching wood came from above. Then the whisper of unfurling metal filled Kaleb’s ears—Landry was opening his zipper. “
Fuck
,” his partner gritted out, his tone hushed, pained. “Too much.”

Holy hell.
Landry was about to blow, and Kaleb was the one stoking the flame—crumbling the powerful male’s control. What a fucking head rush. His own balls released a hard throb at the thought.

Kaleb squeezed his eyelids tight and dug his fingers into the material at Landry’s hips for a better hold. No way in hell was Kaleb going to stop. Not until Landry came undone. Like a man possessed, unable to get enough, Kaleb worked his tongue over and over each of Landry’s injuries.

“Kaleb...” Landry’s hips jerked. “Fuck. I have to—”

Opening his eyes, Kaleb caught sight of the first wave of cum as it erupted from the end of Landry’s cock, wringing a moan from his friend’s throat. In a fevered pitch, Landry pumped his shaft, milking his orgasm from his balls. The jets painted the logs in front of him in lines of white.

And it was the hottest damn thing Kaleb had ever witnessed.

Unable to drag his gaze away, Kaleb watched, enthralled by every stroke. His palm itched to be the one holding Landry’s thick erection, forcing Kaleb to tighten his grip on the other man’s denim.

Kaleb groaned. How would it feel to hold on while Landry’s blood pulsed through his rod, pounding inside Kaleb’s fist with the rapid beat of his heart? To feel the male’s cock swell within his hand right before Landry’s cum exploded out the slit?

His friend’s breath hitched. “Shit,” he mumbled.

Drawing back, Kaleb looked up, and their gazes locked.

“I-I didn’t mean...” Landry began, then closed his eyes, repositioning his still hard flesh behind his zipper.

“No worries.” Kaleb stood. “Lot of pheromones in the air, you know.”

Landry’s eyelids lifted, and the longing that remained in his hazel gaze held Kaleb captive. “Yeah.” Landry nodded. “That’s what it was. A lot of built up tension.” But the expression on the other male’s face said,
there is a hell of a lot more going on here than Rosa’s heat, and you fucking know it
.

A scream followed by a loud crash that sounded like glass shattering came from Rosa’s room.

“Rosa!” Kaleb scrambled toward her door with Landry on his heels. He twisted the knob, but the latch didn’t budge.

Pounding on the door with his fist, Landry called out. “Rosa? Answer me.”

Nothing.

“Fuck this,” Landry growled. “Stand back.”

Kaleb retreated a few steps as Landry reared back and then slammed his boot into the door. The wood splintered away from the jam, and the door swung inward, banging off the wall. Both males charged inside, scanning the interior for the female.

But Rosa was nowhere to be found.

“Dammit!” Kaleb swore. The window was smashed, and the busted remains of a chair lay sprawled across the front porch on the other side. There’d been no break in—just the opposite. Rosa had broken out.

“What the hell is she thinking?” Landry rushed over to the frame.

“I don’t know,” Kaleb mumbled and launched himself over the sill. “But we have to get her back before something happens to her.”

Landry’s boots hit the boards beside him. Breathing deep, Kaleb searched for a trail in the air. Within seconds, her molecules flooded his nostrils. Her scent rode heavy on the wind and should prove easy to track. Glancing over to Landry, the other male nodded, confirming he’d picked up her path as well. Both males leaped over the rail and onto the grass, racing in her direction.

“She’s heading for the river,” Landry called out, taking the lead.

Chapter Fifteen

––––––––

R
osa had to get out of there.

There had been no other option. She darted through the tall grass, her feet bare, hair wild and blowing in the cool morning breeze. And the run felt amazing.