A Mate's Revenge(29)
Besh felt the blood drain from her face. No. It couldn’t be.
She jolted up, finding Cael’s careful gaze.
“I just remembered something the Elder said. That Avan would return with a mate. That… that…” She narrowed her gaze at him. “She called you mate. When you were fighting Jax in the lodge.”
Cael sat up, his face registering a hint of panic. “It’s not what you think—”
“Is she yours?”
“Yes and no. Let me exp—”
“Avan is your intended.” Besh scrambled backward off the bed, holding her belly where their young grew. This couldn’t be happening now, when everything was finally right, when she realized it was possible to be happy.
“Isa, please. It’s not important—”
“It damn well is!”
“Listen to me!” he boomed.
Tears pricked her eyes. Cael jumped from the bed, scooping her into his arms before she’d even had a chance to blink the wetness away. “No.” His voice threatened to break. “No, no, no. Just hear me out, baby. Please.”
She let her forehead drop to his chest as she shook her head hopelessly.
“I scented her when I snuck into the Ozarka camp last fall.”
Last fall. He was there? Had he been trying to free her all this time?
“I was going to take him out, even then, I was going to have revenge for what he did to us. But I didn’t know why you stayed. I didn’t know you needed help. Not until Vesh came to me.” He drew her closer and she let him. “I recognized her scent right away, and she of course recognized mine. But I didn’t care, Isa, and my wolf was hardly even riled. I’d given my heart to you all those years earlier. And I never thought I’d have you back. I never imagined we’d have this.”
This. He said it like it was the answer to a prayer.
He kissed the top of her head. “I left the camp that night, and never looked back except to figure a way to get you out. That’s the truth, Isa. But Avan tracked me down and offered me a deal.”
Besh’s mouth dried. A deal. This couldn’t be good.
“She’s dominant. An alpha female. She could never be a first mate, and she knew this. When I didn’t come to claim her, she found a way to make our mating work to her advantage. She’d help me get to Jax if I turned the pack over to her in the aftermath… and as long as I left her alone.”
He pulled back to look straight into her eyes.
“And you know what I like to say.”
Besh swallowed. Relief mixing with uncertainty. “Done fucking deal?”
She saw the humor in his eyes, but he didn’t smile. He nodded solemnly. “Done fucking deal.”
Besh gnawed her lip. The whole thing made her nervous. “How will this ever work? With her in such close proximity? Won’t you two… be drawn to each other? This isn’t going to work, Cael.”
His brows dipped low, his expression troubled and sad. He gripped her face with both hands, his fingers threading into her hair. “Baby,” he breathed. “How can you wonder after what we just shared? Our bond is strong. Can’t you feel it? It’s steel cable. Iron chains. There’s no breaking it. Feel it, Isa.”
She did feel it. She had to trust it. Her wolf felt secure. It was the rest of her that kept waiting for the axe to fall.
She nodded, covering his hand on her cheek. “I feel it.”
He kissed her softly, and she melted against him. His teeth gently tugged at her lower lip as he pulled back. “Don’t ever doubt me,” he rumbled. His hands slid to her backside, squeezing hard enough to make her yelp. “Ever. Or I’ll have to find new ways to prove my loyalty.”
He walked backwards with her until they fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and desire.
***
Cael jerked awake to the sound of incessant banging. Isabesh was asleep in his arms. Safe. Where she’d stay. Forever. It was set in fucking stone. And when they got home, he’d have her set it in his skin. A proper branding to make it official.
He turned his head listening. This time, the banging was accompanied by a voice.
“Cael! Open up, you bastard.”
Vesh.
“Come on. I know you’re in there. Damn,” he muttered angrily. “And I know what you’ve been doing. Get your ass out here and talk to me.”
A growl rumbled in Cael’s throat. It was dark out, but apparently, this was happening now. Vesh had better have a damn good reason for letting Jax live.
Isabesh sat up. “Is that…?”
“It fucking is. And he better be ready to do some explaining.” He went to the closet and pulled on a pair of Magic’s jeans before turning for the door.