Kirsty couldn’t comprehend having someone else talking inside her head. She wasn’t sure if she thought it was cool or creepy. Before she had the opportunity to ask about it, Kade was at her side, a hand on the base of her back guiding her through the forest. His touch was . . . strange.
Her body reacting in ways she’d never experienced before, her skin tingling beneath his fingers as they splayed out over her clothes. Her heart suddenly going into overdrive, and damn, but she felt as if she couldn’t catch a breath. Kade towered over her and she bet he couldn’t get closer if he tried. His thigh rubbing against her every time he took a step.
Oh boy. She was in trouble. Her mind going in directions that were definitely not appropriate.
Luckily, Leia pranced over, distracting her from the hot Alpha at her side. Her dog jumping around excited in front of her, before running off a few feet and spinning in a circle.
“What’s up, Leia?”
Kade crouched down, holding a hand out and Leia ran to him, licking his fingers. “You’re gorgeous.”
Leia raised her head at the praise, looking up at Kirsty before whining and looking over her shoulder. Kade rose, raising an eyebrow. “She wants to go for a run but she doesn’t want to leave you.”
“What?” Kirsty asked shocked. “How do you know that? Please don’t tell me you can talk to my dog ‘cause that’s just weird.”
“No.” Kade’s lips tugged up and holy shit he had a dimple to the left of his mouth! A dang sexy dimple. Kirsty had to concentrate as he carried on. “It’s her body language that’s telling me, her little whine, the way she’s prancing about like that. She’s full of energy and wants to burn some of it off but she’s obviously devoted to you and she won’t go anywhere until you tell her it’s okay.”
She looked between her Shepherd and the Alpha, then the area around them. It was a remote area, one she didn’t know existed, but would Leia be safe? She couldn’t even contemplate losing her beloved pet. It would destroy her if anything happened to Leia after everything else she’d been through.
Kirsty was torn, she wanted Leia to have a run, but she was scared too and Kade seemed to have read her mind as he leaned down, whispering against her ear. His hot breath on her skin causing her to flush scarlet.
“She’ll be fine. I promise she won’t be in danger, and I have enhanced hearing, so if she goes too far I’ll make her come back.”
“How can you do that? I usually whistle but if she’s far away she won’t hear me.”
Kade stepped away, his head falling back, hands cupping the sides of his mouth and a loud howl erupted from him. Kirsty shrank back, the sound both scaring and arousing her in the most mysterious way. More importantly, Leia immediately returned and sat submissively in front of the Alpha. Wow. Leia only ever heeded her commands, seeing her obey Kade like this was . . . powerful.
She also felt something else in her body reacting to him . . . further south. Kirsty clenched her thighs together as she fought to appear unaffected. “That’s amazing, she doesn’t usually obey anyone else.”
“I think you’re forgetting something,” Kade said as he petted Leia’s head.
“I am?”
“Dogs are more than ninety-nine percent Wolf.”
“Holy crap, I did forget that.” Kirsty giggled. “That was one of the reasons I started feeding her raw. I saw something online and started reading up about dogs, their diet and stuff and she was just a wee pup when I changed her over, but she’s done fabulous on it.”
“She’ll learn quickly how to fend for herself. I’ll teach her myself.” Kade gave Leia one last pat then tilted his head. “So, want to give her the go ahead so she can go explore?”
“Sure,” Kirsty replied, waving her arm away from her, giving her pet the command. “Release.”
Leia’s body shivered with excitement for the briefest of moments before she tore away, disappearing in seconds.
Kirsty had a moment of panic at not having her by her side, her pet but also her protector. Then she remembered her escorts, Kade and the massive Wolf that waited just up ahead. Once again, she felt as if Kade had read her mind as his hand landed on her back again.
“You’re safe, Kirsty. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you, or Leia.”
She looked up at him, his face serious as he stared intently down at her. His eyes full of . . . what? She couldn’t figure it out but she did believe what he said. Why? She wasn’t sure but again she heard her nan telling her to trust her instincts, and right now they were screaming at her to go with this man and have faith in his words.
“Thanks,” she simply said.
“Here, let me carry that, it’s heavy and you’ve already got your pack.” Kade held his hand out toward her dad’s shotgun.
She paused, the gun giving her a sense of power even if it wasn’t loaded, but he was right. It was heavy and she was tired. Today had been a hell of a day, one she’d prefer to forget, but knew she never would. She’d never thought she would ever kill a man, well, not exactly a man, but it still bothered her.
Kade waited, his expression neutral as she decided whether to hand it over. Or not.
“Okay,” she said, holding the heavy gun out toward him not quite sure why she trusted this man she barely knew. But for whatever reason she wasn’t fearful of him and something deep inside her was telling her that he wouldn’t hurt her. Strange.
“Thank you,” he inclined his head as he took hold of the gun, hefting it to lie over his shoulder.
“For what?” she asked, confused.
“Trusting me,” he replied simply. “Now why don’t we get on our way.
