Page 32 of Brutal Mate

He lifted his coffee to his lips and started to drain it.

“Careful, sir, that'll be hot!” Cindy warned, but Kane continued to drink.

For a human, the coffee was likely boiling hot. To a werewolf, it was nothing but a tingle.

“Thanks for the warning, kid,” Kane said, winking. He cringed the second he had done it. The old Kane might have flirted with Cindy. Hell, he might have even tried to add her to his conquest list and see if he could one-up the other fellas. But not this new Kane, the Kane who was determined to find Miley and see her safe, no matter what safe actually looked like.

He rushed from the diner, shoved his half-empty coffee into the cup holder he had installed on his bike, and clipped on his helmet.

After a quick check to make sure Quinn was still in roadworthy condition, he was on his way again, his stomach churning at the thought of what he might find when he made it to the grandma’s farm.

Luckily for him, he had a somewhat photographic memory, and as a wolf, a good sense of direction. He barely needed to look at a map to know his way, and his time in black ops had only helped matters further. He practically had an internal navigation system by now, and before long, he was on the dirt track that headed up to the farmhouse.

Arriving at the yard gate to find it closed, Kane halted Quinn and killed the engine.

Sniffing the air, he smelled hay, garden herbs, orchard trees, a multitude of other things. But one thing he was weary of—a dog.

The scent was faint, and he scanned the yard before hopping over the gate in one leap.

It was only as he crossed the yard, still sniffing, that he heard the barking coming from around the back of the house. Kane stiffened. Dogs and wolves weren’t exactly the best of friends.

He kept his cool even when the border collie came shooting around the side of the house as he put his foot on the first step of the porch.

Determined to show his dominance as the dog came at him, teeth bared and snarling, Kane did the same.

He turned on the animal, fangs bared and hands tightened to fists at his sides. It wouldn't be the first time a dog had tried to take him on since he was turned.

“Try it and see how well it goes for you,” Kane growled through gritted fangs.

It was only when the front door opened behind him that Kane quickly retracted them.

“Can I help you, young man?”

It had been a long time since anyone had called him anything like that, but when he turned to meet the elderly lady's gaze, he saw why.

She had to be in at least her seventies, and though her face spoke of an age-old beauty, she was wrinkled and withered, and her eyes were tired.

“Mrs. Peters?” Kane said, his chest tightening. He prayed his instinct had led him to the right place.

Movement behind the woman told him he had; when he breathed in, he smelled her scent all too well. Miley was in that house. The mere scent of her made his entire body spark alive.

“Kane?” Miley’s voice was little more than a gasp as she appeared in the doorway behind her grandmother.

As if even his name bugged the collie, the dog started to growl again.

“Oh, Mo! Stop it this instant or I shall fetch the dish towel!” the feisty old woman hissed at the dog, wafting him away. “Off with you!”

At that, the dog bared his teeth at Kane one final time before he darted off back in the direction he came from.

Then, the elderly woman turned to Miley and said, “You know this man?”

Kane held his breath. If she denied knowing him and Mrs. Peters denied him entrance into her house, what could he do? He was a man of honor. He would not go barging in and throw Miley over his shoulder like a caveman, no matter how much he felt the urge to do so.

He was surprised when Miley nodded. “I do.”

The grandma looked between the two of them for a moment. Then she huffed, “Well then, don't just stand there in the burning hot sun. Come on in and I'll pour another iced tea.”

The moment Grandma turned away, Miley scowled at Kane. Clearly, she wasn't as pleased to see him, as he'd only now realized he hoped she would be.

---