Chapter 12

12

Kane

The Next Morning—Mackinac Island

I don't think I'll be able to get my dick to soften until my wolf is sure she’s been properly bred. Last night keeps replaying in my mind: the taste of her, the way she rode my face, her ass bouncing against my chin. I wanted her to stay there until I suffocated.

I don’t drive. I know how, but as a wolf shifter, I prefer to travel on foot. It’s just a preference, but now that I have Tami, maybe I should think about getting a vehicle. I doubt she’ll enjoy this old-fashioned way of traveling.

For now, I set her on the bed of the trailer and pull it up the small hill to the road that leads to the docks. It takes us about fifteen minutes to get there at my pace.

Once we reach the docks, I lift her off the bed and we wait for the ferry to Mackinac Island. It’s the only way to get there. I have a small trailer, just big enough for her to fill with supplies to last us the month.

She fidgets with her messy hair, looking uncomfortable in her thick coat, boots, one of my oversized flannel shirts that fits her like a dress, and a pair of leggings. At least she’s warm. She can restock her closet with fresh clothes and underwear while we're in town.

“I’m a Michigan native and I’ve never been this far up north, not even before your people settled here,” she murmurs, staring at the water as the ferry comes into view.

There are two ferries that cross this area: one for shifters and the other for human tourists. Tami looks nervous, but she has nothing to fear. She’s home now, with me.

“You’re just twenty-five, Tami. You were only fifteen when supernaturals first revealed themselves.” She smiles at me, but I can see the memories of her past surfacing in her eyes. It frustrates me. I can't stand seeing her unhappy.

“You’re home now, Tami, with me. Let’s focus on our future,” I tell her. She nods and leans into me.

No other shifters seem to need to travel on the ferry today, which is typical. On Wintermoon, we have our own shops and recreation facilities, but I’m taking her to the island to avoid my brother, Levi. If I see him, he’ll command me to take Tami out of the cabin and into the village with the rest of the pack. It’s where she belongs, but I need this seclusion with her for a little longer.

The ferry finally arrives. I help her board, grab the trailer, pull it onto the ferry, and then help the shifters running the docks prepare to sail. Tami watches from a bench, her eyes following the two shifters chatting with me. I know them well.

One is Tika, a bear shifter from the Ridge Clan, and the other is a lion shifter from the Lorra pride. I smile when she gets offended that they refuse to meet her eyes as they greet her. It’s a sign of respect. Both of them are mated and work the ferry to keep busy while their human mates work on the island.

I dread even thinking about my mate working. It’s not necessary for our mates, but we allow it to give them some autonomy. Judging by Tami’s strong-willed stance, I have a feeling we’ll discuss her working on the island, which I don’t want to think about right now.

After a thousand years of waiting for her, the only thing that would make me happy is her lying on her back with her legs spread wide, waiting for me to breed her over and over.

Goddamn, Tami better pray my dick calms down once I breed her for the first time tonight. My wolf is getting anxious, tired of waiting. He’s ready to claim her. Having a taste of her last night did not help matters.

Once the ferry sets sail and I’m sure the trailer is secure, I sit beside her on the bench. The warmth of my body keeps her warm during the twenty-minute ride to the island. She rests her head on my shoulder and takes a quick nap during the journey.

During the ride, I focus my thoughts on providing for Tami, not just my desires. What does she need? I know she enjoys books, music, and movies. I’ll need to get a television and mount for the living room, plus a couple of bookshelves.

When we arrive, Tami watches in awe as I pull the trailer effortlessly off the ferry. I take her hand and walk with her into town. Her eyes widen at the sight of the shopping center, a full block of various shops.

Tourists pull out their phones, treating me like a zoo exhibit, while Tami decides which shop to enter. She chooses a women's boutique first. I follow her inside, feeling proud as she browses through the clothing racks. She looks back at me, biting her lip.

“Some of this stuff is expensive,” she says.

I stop her. “I want you to fill the trailer with whatever you want, baby.” I gently run my hands through her curly hair, noting it needs moisture. I make a mental note to wash it for her tonight. “Don’t worry about money. I’ve got it.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you rich or something?”

I chuckle and shrug. “Human currency is nothing to me. But I’ve made a small fortune selling my handcrafted furniture to humans over the years. There’s a small furniture shop here in town that I help keep stocked. I prefer the money to go into my village.”

She puts a finger to her lips, staring at me. “Oh,” she says, turning back to the racks. “I’m just a CNA. I was barely making ends meet, but I loved my job.” She grabs a few more dresses in her size. I step in front of her and take them from her hands so she can grab more.

“None of that matters now, Tami. You have me now, there’s no need to worry about money. I will always make sure you are well taken care of.”

She ignores me, walking over to the underwear section. My eyes immediately travel to the sexy lingerie on display. Tami giggles when she catches my gaze, and I see the playful glint in her eye.

“Do you want me to grab one for tonight?” she asks, then her eyes narrow and she points an accusatory finger at me. “Don't even start, Kane. I know we won’t make it through the night without fucking.”

My eyes widen, and for the first time in my life, I blush. I want to point out one for her to wear, but I don’t.

It doesn’t matter; it’s just fabric, and I’m going to shred it from her body to get to her skin. She grabs a black nightdress from the display and hands it to me, giving me a playful wink. Then she loads up on underwear, watching in awe at the counter as I pay for everything.

I gaze at her as she examines the new clothes. “So, I'm mated to a rich shifter. This is great,” she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She reaches for the bags, but I stop her. “Just change into something we bought,” I suggest. “You’ll blend in better with the tourists.”

Our next stop is the pharmacy. It has all the toiletries she needs. As we approach, Leah, Kade’s wife, steps out of the bakery, flour dusting her face and hair. She spots us and immediately throws her arms around Tami, catching her off guard.

“Finally, Kane’s let you out of the cabin for a bit,” Leah says, looking at me. She beams a warm smile at Tami, who stiffens when she notices Leah's fangs.

“Don’t worry, Tamera. I’m a friendly vampire-witch hybrid. I help with the bakery sometimes, but mostly, I assist newly fated mates in adjusting to Wintermoon. You seem to be doing well,” Leah says, her smile genuine.

“Please, call me Tami,” she replies, managing a stiff smile.

Leah is stunning with her big bright brown eyes, tan skin, and long wavy dark brown hair pinned up in a messy bun, streaked with flour.

I appreciate the work she and Kade put into making Wintermoon thrive for supernaturals. We’ve never had a community like this before, but it aligns with the prophecy that one day supernaturals will rule the earth. Another Great War looms, but this time, nothing will stop us.

“We'll chat soon, Tami. Finish your shopping,” Leah says. Tami looks to me for approval. I pull her into a gentle kiss, then hand her some cash and urge her to go ahead.

She walks off, glancing back at me occasionally as I stay behind to talk with Leah. I can see the lecture coming. As soon as Tami enters the pharmacy, Leah turns to me.

“It’s been over a week, and I don’t see a claim mark on either of you. What the hell is going on?” she demands.

I sigh and roll my eyes, stuffing my hands in my pockets. Tourists gawk at us, snapping photos and taking videos, but we ignore them.

“And why is she here with human tourists? She should be on the mainland, getting to know your pack. What are you doing, Kane?”

“My wolf doesn’t want to share her just yet, and neither do I. For the record, I’d like to get to know her a little better before I claim her like some wild animal,” I snap back. Leah smiles at me, understanding.

“I always knew you were a sweetheart. Your poor mate won’t know what hit her when you finally claim her, and you are going to change into a monster when you do.” I groan, not wanting to have this motherly lecture with her, but I continue out of respect.

“It will happen tonight. As for taking her before the Zorah pack, I’d like a little more time,” I tell her. She places her hands on her hips.

“Take Tami to get registered before you leave, and I’m not stopping Levi if he decides to show up on you to find out why you’re hiding your mate away. That’s pack business.” She gives my chest a gentle pat, then walks back into the bakery .

Leah's words hang in my mind as I focus on the pharmacy, blocking out the chatter of the tourists. I can hear my mate's heartbeat as she shops for what she needs. What kind of monster am I destined to become when I finally claim her? My wolf is unruly and restless.

We've been isolated for too long. I don’t want to share her now; will I really be able to share her once the claiming process is complete? I know I can’t keep her locked away in the cabin, even though my wolf yearns to hide her from the world.

I’ve got some growing up to do, otherwise it’s going to destroy my mate.