Page 37 of Kodiak's Heart

Chapter Twelve

Emersyn walked with Ruby toward the cabin Slade had put her friends in. She smelled Laramie and sex on herself and knew they would, as well. Part of her wanted Natalie to smell it, so she understood Laramie was off limits. She also knew she was being entirely too territorial about a man she didn’t plan to mate. She pressed a hand to her belly. It was bad when the mere thought of leaving him made her physically ache.

Ruby skipped beside her, talking a mile a minute about the princess movie and her friend, Matheus. He’d apparently invited her to watch a movie with him on the big screen they had at the main lodge, with popcorn and candy and chocolate milk. The youngest Holloway certainly knew the way to Ruby’s heart.

Rissa was on the porch, watching for them, when they walked up.

“Hey there, baby bear,” Rissa greeted with a wave at Ruby.

Ruby paused, sliding closer to Emersyn and wrapping both arms around her thigh.

“It’s okay,” Emersyn assured her. “Your daddy sent them here to join us.”

“Daddy send you?” Ruby asked.

“He sure did, and he sent something for you, too. A present. Let me go in and grab it for you,” Rissa offered.

Ruby bounced on her feet while they waited.

“Remember your manners,” Emersyn reminded.

“I be good,” Ruby vowed. “I say peas and fank you.”

Rissa came back with a big box wrapped in pink paper with a bow on top. “This is for Ruby. This is for you.” She slipped an envelope to Emersyn. “Why don’t I carry this to your cabin for you? It’s awful big.”

“Yes, peas,” Ruby agreed, eyes shining with excitement. It was good to be reminded of how resilient she was. “I yead the way.” And she was off like a shot, legs pumping as she headed toward the cabin Emersyn had pointed out as theirs.

“We need to talk,” Rissa said. “Adam and Natalie are setting us up in the cabin. They’ll join us later.”

Emersyn tucked the envelope in her back pocket as they walked. “What made you want to come here?”

“You’re here,” Rissa said softly.

Emersyn shrugged. “Titus isn’t. He’s your new alpha. From what I’ve heard, Natalie is all about him.”

“Natalie is about anything she thinks will make her better than anyone else.” Rissa sighed. “We never betrayed you, Emersyn. Your father died. You stepped away, and what choice did we have? Titus proclaimed himself the new alpha, and no one stopped him. You didn’t stop him.”

“You expected me to?” Emersyn paused at she stared at Rissa.

“We expected you to do something,” Rissa exclaimed. “Back him. Back someone else. Hell, take the title of alpha yourself. That’s where it belongs, and we all know it.”

“I’m human, Rissa. I can’t be alpha.”

“Bullshit!” Rissa exclaimed, and Emersyn almost tripped as she jerked around to stare at the other woman. Did they know? How could they? “You’re Emory Langston’s flesh and blood. Human or not, it’s your right to be alpha. We would have all backed you.”

“At what cost?” Emersyn asked softly.

“You think Titus would have challenged you?” Rissa questioned.

“He wanted to be alpha. I don’t think me claiming the title would have stopped him.”

“You could have mated. You know there are plenty of males in our den who would have gladly taken you as their mate. Human or not.”

“No,” Emersyn denied. “I wouldn’t ask that of them.” But not for the reasons Rissa and others thought.

“In the aftermath of the attack, we all looked to you. We watched and waited to see what you were going to do. And you left us,” Rissa stated softly.

“What?” Emersyn stopped as they reached the porch of the cabin where she and Ruby would stay. She and Rissa paused their conversation as Ruby claimed their full attention.

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