Chapter 1
Rane was so sick of babysitting duty. Fine, he had fucked up, but it had been almost three months and Kane was still punishing him even though it had all worked out. Today’s babysitting job was just plain cruel. Playing protector to four women at a place called The Big Day Out was going to be torture, especially with Faith, three and a half months pregnant. Kane wasn’t happy about Faith going, but she had called it one of her ‘normal person’ days and argued that pregnant women went to concerts all the time. Kane had argued that if she had a vision and fell, she could hurt the baby. But Faith was having none of it; she was going, so Rane had been dragged into it.
Rane looked at Kane’s house in front of him, remembering how he’d gotten talked into this new babysitting job.
“It’s in the day, for most of the event, and my favorite bands are going to be there. Plus, I invited this woman from work who just moved here and hasn’t got a lot of friends yet. For the last month and a half, she’s been coming to my girls’ day or nights out. We’ve started to become really good friends. She’s such a sweetie, but do you want to know the kicker? She’s special, I just can’t figure out what her ability is. I don’t think she has visions, because I had a five minute one the other day and she showed no sign of knowing it.” Faith didn’t even pause when she turned to him and added, “Rane will come with me, won’t you?”
She had blindsided him, changed the conversation so many times he got lost, so his answer became, “Err, sure, Faith. Argh, what am I saying sure to?”
His brother had laughed at him. “She’s good, isn’t she? Now that she’s said it, I think it would set my mind at ease if you were there, and you do owe me and Faith.”
Rane sighed and walked into the house. He found Kane and Bengie sitting on the lounge playing Mario Kart together.
Watching Kane as he cheered at Bengie for winning, then started a new game, Rane frowned, wondering why his brother wasn’t going instead of him. “Why can’t you take them, Kane?”
Kane didn’t even look away from the game. “Because in an hour or so, I’m leaving to do rounds at the hospital. Plus, it’s girls’ day out.” Kane laughed. “Sorry, brother, but her friends…don’t get me wrong, I like them, but they’re not fans of me. Well, I haven’t met the new woman.” He lowered his voice to barely a whisper. “I always thought they were a bad influence on her.”
Rane stared at his brother, there was no way he was the only one going. Kane would never let his pregnant wife go to a major event without a whole heap of protection, even if that event was held partly in the day.
“You’re way too calm. How many of us are going?”
“Only six, although Jamie, Devlin, and two others were already going to the concert, so really only two are going as back up.” Rane turned his eyes heavenward, praying for patience.
“Shit! She doesn’t know, does she? I hate you, Kane.”
“She probably does, Faith’s quick now with the psychic stuff.”
“Fuck you, Kane. If she knew, you wouldn’t still be whispering.”
Kane laughed as Faith came in. “What’s so funny, honey?” she asked.
Kane looked over at his mate. “I thought you were going to get ready. Where is the rest of your outfit?”
Faith rolled her eyes.
Rane had to admit, if only to himself, that she did look hot. Faith’s hair was in a messy bun, and a pink lacy bra was peeking out of the top of her sparkling pink singlet. You would never know she was three and a half months pregnant with a werewolf baby. Faith had a tiny, miniscule bump for a baby tummy. He looked further down to see skintight short shorts, toned tanned legs, and gladiator sandals.
“You’re game to let her go out looking like that, Kane? I would never let my mate out of the house looking like that. Ha! You said this would be an easy job. I’m going to be fighting off advances all day and night.”
Kane growled and grabbed his mate around the waist, fastening his mouth on hers. Rane tried not to laugh, but it was so funny to rile Kane. Four months ago he wouldn’t have growled at him or anyone. Kane had always been the calm, cool, collected brother.
Bengie groaned. “They’re at it again. They’re so gross.” The doorbell rang and Bengie jumped up, running to the door. “Remy’s here!”
Faith giggled. “Please tell me I wasn’t that pathetic when I had a crush on you.”
Rane laughed, remembering a time when Kane had come home from University and Faith had been helping his mum and sisters bake cookies. She had dropped her mixing spoon and ran to the door yelling, “My prince is here, my prince is here.”