Page 62 of His Reluctant Omega Mate

Instead of taking a longer route to enjoy the feeling of the open road, I drove directly to The Spell Shop and one of my few allies in this prison. Poppy was a decent witch, but the council had put her in a difficult position. She knew who I was in relation to Kade and had to hide the fact I was living near him to protect him. We were friends, of a sort. I knew her genuine affection and loyalty lay with Kade, though. Could hardly blame her. Growing up, until his father had squeezed it out of him, Kade had been sunshine in living form and had this ability to draw people to him.

Falling in love with Ryder had been easy. Letting go of him was not. I knew the first time that I saw Blake and Kade together that they were fated mates, and that meant my place in Kade’s life would always be as the first love. The man that he hopefully eventually forgave. Maybe we could be friends when I got over him.

For two years, while I lived down the street from my ex and watched over him, I’d had him to myself. I hadn’t had to see him with other guys like in the previous places I’d followed him to. During that time, I’d seen him fold into himself. Losing most of his light. Blake’s arrival had Kade shining again and even while it killed my heart, the part of me that would always love the sweet boy I’d once met was happy for him.

I found a place to park up my bike and strolled into The Spell Shop, the ding of the bell heralding my arrival. I pulled off my helmet, thankful that I’d found time to get a haircut, my tight curls were once again buzzed short. No helmet hair to deal with.

A new witch, or at least one I hadn’t seen before, was filling the shelves as I stalked to the counter and gave me an appraising look. I knew I was a decent-looking guy, with rich deep brown skin and, in my human guise, deep brown eyes. I kept in decent shape with martial arts training, though I hadn’t sparred in so long since I now trained in the spare room of the house the council had acquired for me.

I ignored the witch’s looks, not overly fond of witches in general. Before, when I had access to my wolf, the magic would tease my nose. Making me sneeze more often than not.

My wolf was just out of reach, and I couldn’t wait for us to be reunited.

“She’s out back,” I’ll just get her, the new witch said, with a wiggle of his ass when he turned to go through the curtain.

“No need, Jacob,” Poppy said, pulling the curtain aside and moving into the main part of the shop.

“I’ve got what we need. Do you want privacy to do this?”

I shook my head. Nerves prickled up and down my body the longer that Kade was out of my sight. I knew logically that I couldn’t get to him while he was on pack territory and he should be safe from Rincoln or anyone else poised to take him. Deep down, I knew Rincoln was charming when he wanted to be, and I had no idea how far he’d reached into the Sweetwater pack. He could have allies everywhere.

What I’d seen of Blake had shown me a level-headed alpha. Younger than me by a few years, I was the same age as Kade, and far more mature than me.

Poppy had me swallow down a foul tasting potion, rubbed some weird poultice on me, smearing the gunk under the cuffs, and then chanted as she circled me. The other people in the shop stopped to stare, and I second guessed not asking for privacy. Moon help me. I had to pull my shit together or Kade could end up seriously hurt or worse, bonded to someone he hated to keep Blake safe.

Once she had stopped her chanting, Poppy gave me an expectant look before giving an exasperated sigh and whispering her activation word.

Blinding pain ripped through me and the world spun as the barrier between me and my wolf exploded. The magic Poppy had used like dynamite and concrete meeting. Falling to my knees, the sensation wrenched a cry from me. The cuffs cracked apart, the metal splitting and falling off to the floor with a dull thud.

Immediately, people surrounded me. “Get back! He’s fine. Just give him some space!” Poppy yelled, throwing out her arms.

Heaving in deep breaths, the pain soon ebbed, and it reunited me with my wolf. He yipped around in circles, dancing with joy and rubbing up against me as he assaulted me with images of his time during our separation. He’d seen it all but had been cut off.

Tears streamed down my face. Three years was a long time. The council had repressed my wolf in punishment for my perceived mistake in the last town I’d watched over Kade. He’d been Duncan then, and I’d slipped up and his ex had sold him out. I still hated myself for that mistake. The council had to step in to not blow my cover, the pieces not quite in place to nail Rincoln properly.

Remembering my reason for being there, I straightened and pulled myself together. Everything was so overwhelming. All the scents and sounds of the shop assaulting my senses after so long trapped in human skin. I caught my reflection in a mirror on the counter, my eyes back to their normal emerald green that marked me as a shifter. “Thanks Poppy. I wasn’t here.” I looked at the couple of people in the store and the other employee. “Council business. You never saw me.” Then I left.

Muscle memory and automatic driving had me back at my little home. When this was over, I could think about what I wanted to do next. I’d saved some cash so I could go anywhere I wanted once free. Except, I was sure both of us, my wolf and me, wanted to stay near Kade and continue to guard him. This time for his alpha, maybe my alpha. I wanted to be on the inside of the family that Kade was building as his friend, now that all hope for anything else was gone. There was just a sense that I was supposed to be near Sweetwater, something that my wolf agreed with.

I’d made my peace with losing Kade for good. I was pretty sure that Kade hated me and blamed me for a lot of what had happened. That was okay. There was plenty I hated myself for and a chunk of blame to come my way.

The alarms pinged for Kade’s house, signaling that he’d returned with three other people. Blake for sure, but I didn’t know who else. Switching into some darker clothes, I ran on silent feet, thanking The Luna for the return of my wolf, and approached the bushes at the back of his house.

Blake’s brother, Axel, was in the kitchen looking through the pantry and Blake paced the floor. A light was on in Kade’s room, so I assumed that’s where he was. I rounded the side of the house, thankful for my scent suppressant charm, and peeked through the window. There, on the couch, was another enforcer. Judging by his size and attitude, another alpha shifter. I edged my phone out of the pocket of my tight black jeans and carefully snapped a quick photo. Sending it to my contact, I made sure my phone was on silent, and waited.

A few minutes later, my phone lit up with a reply. I’d ducked around the side of the house so no one could see me and I pulled up the file that I’d been sent.

C: Kaine Jennings, thirty-two. Enforcer for the Sweetwater pack for the last eighteen months. Promoted through the ranks just before Alpha Blake took control. Father deceased. Mother, no longer a Sweetwater pack member. Uncle was an enforcer under the former disgraced alpha.

Well, none of that was helpful. I couldn’t help but think. A smile hit my face when my wolf chuffed in agreement. Moon help me, I’d missed that fluff ball. A brief caress suggested the feeling had been mutual.

My phone received another message.

C: Proceed with caution. Surveillance suggests unfriendly.

Right, that was better. I dashed back to my house and hastily put together some sandwiches, made a flask of hot tea, picked up a couple of weapons and spells before making my way to my lookout point.

There was no way to explain that I had a lookout spot that covered Kade’s bedroom without sounding like a creep.

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