Page 50 of Brutal Mate

The others dipped their heads and started to disappear through the trees, back toward the manor.

Kane felt an odd need to follow them. They were headed in Miley's direction. Though he had left her safe and sound in his room, he didn't like the thought of any other wolf near her right now.

“Kane?”

It was only when he heard his name that he realized Jack was staring at him with concern.

“Sorry,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “It's been a long few days.”

Jack clapped him on the back. “I can see that. What I don't see is why you were so shocked when I said we'd help Miley?”

Jack looked at him as if he were trying to reach inside him and pull out the truth with his eyes. It made Kane more than a little uncomfortable.

He averted his gaze and kicked the dusty floor with his boot.

“Most packs frown on the bitten,” he said, shivering as he remembered all the beatings he had received from previous packs when they had learned the truth about him. “I've seen how many werewolves treat mongrels, and I didn’t want that for Miley.”

Jack took hold of both Kane's shoulders then, forcing him to look him in the eye as he said, “Bitten werewolves are still werewolves, and they have it the hardest of all. Why should we make things any harder for them?”

A lump formed in Kane's throat. He had always loved and respected his friend and alpha since the day he had the opportunity to join his pack after their first black ops mission together, but never in a million years had he expected to feel for him what he felt now.

The bond of brotherhood had always been deep, but now it felt bottomless.

With a lump in his throat and a tear in his eye, Kane pulled Jack into a tight, brotherly embrace.

“Thank you, Jack. You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that.”

When he pulled back, Jack’s expression was a mixture of surprise and even a little suspicion.

“Are you alright, brother?” Jack asked, holding Kane's arms.

Kane smiled. “Yes. In fact, I don't think I've ever been better.”

Jack scoffed at that, rolling his eyes. “With everything going on, only you could find happiness in it all.”

Kane laughed at that. It was about time he found some, no matter where it came from.

Jack released him and stepped out of the way. “Go on, off to the manor with you. Go and check on Miley. She shouldn't be left alone too long.”

Kane's stomach twisted. The alpha was right. He dipped his head and started to make his way across the clearing, only stopping when he realized Jack wasn't following.

He paused and looked back over his shoulder. “I thought you said nobody is to be in the woods alone?”

Jack bared his teeth at him, though the gesture wasn't entirely unfriendly.

Kane laughed when the alpha began to follow.

They walked in silence back to the manor and parted with only a dip of their heads before Kane hurried inside to check on Miley.

It was only when he turned the corner in the upstairs hallway and caught sight of his bedroom door that his heart sank. It was open. And inside, Miley's scent was fading.

Chapter 18 - Miley

How was she supposed to just sit around and wait for a bunch of men to decide her fate? They didn't sound any better than her damn parents, heading out into the woods to discuss what they were going to do with the latest inconvenience that had turned up at their door.

And sitting in Kane's room—though it smelled like him, which was comforting—she could hear too much of what was going on around her.

The manor was far too loud. It was such a strange feeling, being able to hear the mayor's wife and her friends drinking lemonade in the garden, hearing their children playing on the lawn. She could even hear the rustling of the grass under the ball as it was kicked from one foot to another. It was loud, abrasive, strange.

---