Chapter 6

6

Kane

M y wolf snorts as we watch the car tumble into the forest, flipping until it finally stops. So, Kade was right. A stupid human is born every day. I want to roll my eyes when we hear a faint heartbeat. We should let the idiot die for trying to sneak into our territory.

My wolf steps onto the road but pauses when he sees an SUV drive around the trap, knowing it’s there. He inhales the air, catching a shifter scent. The truck stops right in front of him, and a man jumps out, stripping off his clothes. It’s Tristian, a bear shifter from the Axel Clan. He’s on patrol duty on the other side of the bridge but usually stays in human form.

“This woman is running from something. I followed her until she hit the spike strip. I planned to stop her, but she thought I was someone else. I could smell the fear all over her scent.” A woman? My wolf takes in the air, and the scent of her blood hits me like a tidal wave. But there’s something else.

My wolf panics, and I lose control. He leaps into action, running into the forest to the car, leaving Tristian behind. My wolf arrives at the car, now upside down with its torn wheels quickly covered in snow. He slams his paw into the window, trying to reach the unconscious woman, but he can’t. I try to reason with him, to shift back into human form, but he’s a maniac, his mind clouded with worry. What the hell is going on?

Tristian leaps into the air, landing just a few feet from the car. He pushes my wolf aside, and my wolf starts to whimper. The woman’s scent clouds my thoughts, making it hard to focus.

Tristian drops to his knees and rips the door off, tossing it into the forest. He reaches inside, tears off the seatbelt, and pulls her unconscious body out of the vehicle. Her faint breathing and slow heartbeat finally allow me to shift back into human form.

“She’s alive, but barely,” Tristian says, holding her close against his chest, using his body heat to keep her warm. “I spoke with her briefly in mid-Michigan. I was coasting the area, sniffing around for radicals. I picked up on her scent immediately. She’s fated to someone here.” Tristian’s words hit me like a wave, mixed with the woman’s scent, almost paralyzing me as my mind and wolf start to piece it together.

She’s my mate. This woman is my fated mate.

I reach for her, but stop when Kade appears in the forest, standing before us. She inhales my mate’s scent and smiles, then looks at me. Her smile quickly fades at the sound of my mate’s faint breathing. She’s covered in blood.

“What the fuck, Fate?” Kade grumbles, looking up at the blizzard-filled night sky. “This is not how you deliver a mate to Wintermoon.” She huffs, then pulls her sleeve up and bites down on her wrist. I know what she’s going to do—feed my mate her blood to heal her quickly.

The thought of Kade’s blood in my mate’s veins fills my wolf with jealousy. He shifts into wolf form, letting out a venomous growl. Kade pauses, raising an eyebrow.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me right now,” Kade mutters, piecing it together.

“Kane, it’s good you’ve found your mate, but she won’t make it if we don’t help her. Her breathing is shallow, and she’s losing too much blood. Either let Kade assist or say your goodbyes. Even with Kade’s teleportation, it won’t be fast enough to save her.” Tristian presses, and my wolf growls again before letting out a loud whimpering howl and sitting down in submission.

What choice do I have? My mate needs help. Kade bites into her wrist, breaking the skin. Snow from the blizzard nearly covers the car, but Tristian ensures his body heat keeps the snow melted around her, stabilizing her temperature. The melting snow washes away the blood, soaking her skin.

Kade presses her bloodied wrist to my mate’s mouth, gently parting her lips so the blood can flow down her throat.

“I won’t give her too much, just enough to help her heal. I’m not in the mood to fight your wolf. And I’m not separating another mate again. It hurt too much with Tora. Never again.” Kade mutters, then pulls her wrist away. My wolf growls venomously in response. He just wants to get her home and take care of her.

My wolf winces as Kade’s blood mixes with hers, but the remedy works immediately. Her breathing normalizes, and she starts to moan from the pain .

“It will take a couple of days for her to fully heal, but you have to—“ I don’t let Kade finish. I shift back to human form and snatch my mate from Tristian's arms, cradling her against my chest. I want her to feel my warmth, not his.

Tristian and Kade exchange a look but stay silent. I turn away, leap into the air, and land hard on the street. I take off running through the forest, heading for my cabin. If I had stayed any longer, Kade would have tried to teleport her to the town hospital, which would drive me insane. No, she stays with me.

Within minutes, I reach my cabin, where Kade is already on the porch, waiting. I carry her up the steps and kick open the door, rushing her to the fireplace. I gently lay her down and start removing her clothes. Kade, holding a suitcase and a purse, glares at me.

“Kane, put on some clothes. If she wakes up to a naked shifter over her, how do you think she'll react? And Tristian said she was running from something.” She sets the suitcase down and rummages through the purse, pulling out a wallet.

“Tamera Lovington,” Kade announces. Her name sends a warmth through my body.

Tamera... I repeat her name in my mind, eager to hear her voice.

“Kane!” Kade's shout snaps me back.

“Alright!” I reply, standing and reluctantly stepping away. I head upstairs, grab a t-shirt and sweatpants, and quickly dress. I gather clean towels and hurry back downstairs. Kade has removed her sheriff’s jacket and is starting to undress Tamera. My wolf growls, not wanting Kade to touch her, and I throw the towels to the floor.

“Get a pitcher of hot water. I'll clean her up, check her wounds, and then I'll leave. Not before.” I stride into the kitchen, fill a bowl with hot water, and return to Kade, who starts washing Tamera's skin.

My mate lies before me, her skin a deep mocha, smooth and radiant. Her full lips are set in a straight line, slightly glossy. She has a strong facial structure with high cheekbones and a firm jawline. Her long, wavy hair falls in dark waves around her shoulders, framing her face. Each feature blends seamlessly, creating a look that is both powerful and beautiful.

My eyes trail down to her full breasts, curvy frame, wide hips, thick thighs, and long legs. An urge surges through me to run my tongue over her body, but I haven't looked into her eyes yet. Kade looks back at me with a glare, sensing my arousal.

It's hard to ignore the fact that my dick is at full attention, pre-cum already leaking from the tip. My wolf screams for me to breed her, to claim her, to make sure no one else can take her from us. I turn my body away from her, open the front door to my cabin, and step out onto the front porch, letting Kade finish cleaning the blood from her body.

As I wait, it hits me—I haven't prepared for my mate's arrival. There's no food or proper clothing for her. I thought Fate had abandoned me, but she was positioning everything for the right moment. I look up at the cloudy morning sky as heavy snow continues to fall, silently thanking Fate for ending my purgatory.