Page 76 of Kidnapping Their Third

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Cora

The last time Cora had felt this overwhelmed was when she’d started Perfection Connection Electrics. Every night she’d fall into bed exhausted both physically and mentally. Today was worse.

Stumbling over her own feet, Pike’s hand on her kept her from a painful fall to her knees. That was the third time it happened. She didn’t normally have such trouble simply putting one foot in front of the other.

“Thanks,” she mumbled, giving Pike’s hand a squeeze once she was steady on her feet again.

“Cora?” Kimble asked from behind her. Before she could say she was fine, Pike picked her up.

“I can walk.” Even to her ears her words lacked any conviction. It felt good to be held by the bear. For some reason, she felt cold even though the night wasn’t that chilly, and she waswearing a jacket. Being cradled against Pike's warm, muscled chest was immensely comforting even if it made her look like a weak human in front of Laske Pack.

“Please let me carry you,” Pike whispered, nuzzling his face against the side of her head. “Suddenly Kimble doesn’t need me anymore, and you never needed me. I need to feel useful.”

Kimble appeared at their side. His vampire speed had been fast before but now he seemed to appear out of thin air like magic.

“Are you well,kochanie?”

“I think Cora needs a break,” Pike said. “All of this is a lot to take in.”

She could feel Pike’s need to be alone also. She let him use her as an excuse, this time.

“Of course,” Annette said. “We’re almost to Maksim’s house, it’s right over there,” she said, pointing past an old-fashioned barn. “Once all of you are inside, we’ll leave you alone until tomorrow night.”

“If you would please call me by my new name,” Kimble requested as he curled an arm around Pike’s lower back and walked with them. “Pike gifted me the name, and I like it. It’s fitting I have a new name for a new era.”

Annette didn’t blink at the request. “Of course. I’ll let everyone know. Will you keep your current last name?”

“I don’t know yet,” Kimble said, putting a hand on Cora’s leg so he was touching both her and Pike. “I might take the name of my flock, but we haven’t decided that yet.”

It was a sweet thing to say, but Cora didn’t have it in her to care at the moment. The three of them were surrounded by about twenty people, all friendly but also loud and noisy. It was like being at one of her family's BBQs but surrounded by strangers.

“Here we are,” Annette announced as they rounded the barn. Cora had expected a grand chateau or at least some kind of large, opulent house. Instead, she was faced with a medium sized, single story Spanish style house. It was nice, but nothing like what she expected.

“Come, my flock,” Kimble said, urging them up the short flight of stairs to the porch. A wolf was already there, opening the door for them and shutting it as soon as they were inside. The change in sound was notable. The house must have amazingsoundproofing because the moment the door shut; she couldn’t hear anyone outside.

“The house has four bedrooms so each of you can have your own personal space,” he explained as he guided them toward the back of the house. “My bed is only a king, but I’m sure Annette is already rushing home to search for a larger, custom-made bed for all of us to share. We’ll probably have something new within a few days.”

Cora could feel the tension in Pike’s body ease now that they were alone. Neither of them talked as Kimble told them the history of the property and why he decided to settle the wolf pack here instead of somewhere else in San Diego county. Honestly, she wasn’t listening to Kimble’s words but focused on the pulses of emotions she was feeling through the bond.

Their vampire was nothing but love and enthusiasm, but Pike felt unsteady, like her.

They followed Kimble into the main bedroom which seemed to take up about a quarter of the house. Like the rest of the place, it was nicely furnished but nothing was as fancy as she expected.

Where were the Persian rugs, esoteric artwork, and bookshelves full of weighty tomes? No, the books wouldn’t be in the bedroom. He should have a library full of dark wood shelves, lit by a large fireplace bracketed by leather wingback chairs.

“There is no place like you’re picturing in your head,” Kimble said with a slight frown. “But I could build it if you desire.”

Cora patted Pike’s arm to indicate she wanted to be set down. She could feel his reluctance, but he gently set her on her feet anyway.

“Can you read my mind?” she asked.

“Only when you project that strongly,” Kimble said with a smile. He stepped close so Cora was the meat in a vampire/shifter sandwich. “I can teach you how to keep your thoughts secure in your head so I don’t pick up anything you don’t want me to. Will that make you feel better?”

She nodded her head, enjoying the warmth of being snuggled between the two of them, their heat seeping into her, chasing away the earlier chill.

“Are we staying here tonight?” Pike asked.

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