Aye, right. As if a hunk like that would even be remotely interested in a mere human like her. So not happening, but if she could rest up for a few days and Leia could get some good nourishment inside her then she’d take it, and dang the consequences.
“Sorry, but I have to ask, Leia, is she named after . . .”
Kirsty nodded, cutting him off with a laugh. “Yes, that famous Princess. Sorry, I love those films and the originals are still my favorites. When Dad brought her home for me, I couldn’t resist naming her after one of my favorite characters.”
“I think Princess suits you more than her,” Kade said, his voice dropping low, seductive, and she wasn’t sure if he were joking or not.
“Och, I’m no Princess, I’m happier in jeans and boots than a dress and tiara.” She tried to joke away his comment, walking faster but was relieved when he spoke again, his voice returning to normal. Well, normal for him. It still sounded husky and sexy to her ears.
“Leia is coming back. I think she’s tired herself out and just as well because we’re nearly home.”
Kirsty looked around and up, noticing the sun had moved across the sky. They must have been walking for hours, Leia bursting through the trees and rushing toward them. Her tongue hung out the side of her mouth as she stopped in front of them, Kirsty dropped down to wrap her arms around her. It was the longest time they’d been apart since she’d been given her as a pup.
“Hey, girl, did you have fun?”
Leia yipped, her tail wagging furiously as Kade chuckled. “I think she did. This is a great place for her, she has so much land she can run around on, and I’ll instruct the Pack to keep watch over her. She’ll be safe so you don’t need to worry.”
Kirsty couldn’t argue with him, she could see with her own eyes how happy Leia was. Her dog’s eyes were shining as she pounced around playfully, tail wagging nineteen to the dozen, excited yips emphasizing her mood. “Okay. I think she’ll be fine with that but I’ll be the one having a problem. We’ve never been apart since she was a puppy, and lately she’s been by my side twenty-four-seven.”
“Don’t worry,” Kade said, helping her up. “I’ll keep you entertained.”
The look on his face had her blushing, again, and she wondered at the obvious hidden meaning in his words. Had she let herself in for more than she could handle? Hell, Kade MacKenzie was probably more than any girl could handle and she’d agreed to stay with him.
She must be mad.
Kade found the walk back to camp difficult for so many reasons. He wanted to tell Kirsty that his parents had also been killed by rogues, but he thought that would scare her so he kept quiet. Then when he had called her Princess, he’d been deadly serious but saw her shock as if she hadn’t believed a word.
The absolute worst part was his Wolf howling in his head, demanding he mark her and make Kirsty theirs. Aye, like that was happening anytime soon.
She had gone through a horrendous ordeal because of rogues, losing her parents, being hunted down by them and having to shoot them at close range. Damn. Kade wondered just how long it would take to get close to her and if he would be able to control his beast in the meantime.
A soft rumble from Lennox, and Kade eyed his Beta whose Wolf stared intently at him. His expression saying it all as they entered camp, and Fraser rushed to meet them with a group of concerned Wolves at his back.
“Alpha, is it true? Rogues came onto our land?” Fraser asked, his face pinched with worry and his tone sharp and shrill.
“There’s no cause for alarm,” Kade replied calmly. “They’ve been dealt with and we’ll be putting more guards in place to keep everyone safe.”
For once, when he spoke, not all eyes were focused on him, everyone openly staring at Kirsty. She looked around, noticed, and he groaned inwardly. The next few moments could be crucial to her standing within the Pack, and she had no clue. He had been an idiot. He should have warned her, but how could he?
He couldn’t very well blurt out, “By the way you’re my mate so when we get back to camp you need to look strong and capable. Don’t look weak or they’ll never accept you.” Aye, that would have gone down about as well as a freaking lead balloon.
He held his breath, noticing Lennox’s beast sidling up beside her, standing guard as Kirsty snuck a quick glance at him. Kade smiled as he introduced her. He waved the shotgun around dramatically. “This is Kirsty, she was being hunted by the rogues but I have to say she had things pretty much under control by the time we arrived. She’d already killed two of them and looked ready to take on the rest.”
She raised an eyebrow at his version of events but didn’t call him out on it. Instead, she lifted her head, straightened her shoulders and cocked her head to the side as she stared at the crowd. Kirsty’s lips tugged up at the side as she shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I mean, what girl doesn’t want to be rescued by an Alpha and his big strong Wolves?”
Kade watched as the women in the crowd nodded, some giggling like schoolgirls as the men’s chests puffed out. He was taken aback at her words, tone, and body language, each of them portraying a capable and strong woman with a wicked sense of humor.
