James pushed Avery’s hands away. “Enough mama. Both you and Aunt Maya have covered me with your scents.”
She gave him a shaky smile as Martine’s voice, hesitant and low, spoke timidly from behind him.
“James?”
“What is it?” He asked gruffly without turning around.
“I am sorry that Bree has been taken from you. I – I know you love her. I’ll come with you, and help you save her if you’d like.”
He turned to the young woman. “Thank you Martine, but there are more than enough of us.”
She nodded as Avery approached Sophia. She went to gather the young woman into her arms and Sophia backed away.
“No mama. I can’t. I don’t want to give Nicky an excuse to hit me again.” She said with a small smile.
Avery gave her a solemn look. “I love you my Sophia. You know that right?”
“I know mama. I love you too.”
Vivian had approached them as they were talking, and Sophia gave her grandmother a warm smile. “I love you grandmamma.”
“I will see you soon sweet Sophia.” Vivian replied before kissing her forehead.
“It’s time to go.” Tristan spoke softly. He handed the reins of the horse to Sophia and kissed the top of her head roughly. “Are you ready my sweet?”
Sophia nodded as Avery wrapped her arms around Tristan. They stood that way for long moments, his face buried in her neck as she whispered quietly into his ear.
Sophia led the horse to where Kaden was standing apart from the others. “Let’s go.”
Without replying, he followed her to the edge of the woods where Draken and his pack had stood. He watched as she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She handed him the reins and walked further into the woods, inhaling repeatedly. She circled slowly and then pointed to the left. “We go this way.”
“Are you sure?”
She gave him a pained look. “Yes. I’m sure. Do you know how to ride a horse?”
“Yes.”
She nodded as Nicky boosted her into the saddle. He squeezed her leg and gave her a brief smile before stepping back.
Kaden swung into the saddle behind her. He grunted and wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her and pushing her forward a bit so he could wedge his large body into the seat of the saddle. He pulled her back against him, resting his hand against her flat stomach, and she stiffened at the feel of his pelvis against her ass.
Nicholas gave him a hard look. “Keep your hands off my sister human.”
“Stop it Nicky.” Sophia replied.
“The rope.” Kaden grunted.
Nicky handed it to him with a scowl, and Kaden wrapped it around Sophia’s wrists before securing it to the saddle horn. Nicky pulled a dagger from his boot but didn’t hand it to Kaden.
“Nicky, give it to him.” Sophia said sharply.
“Sophia, it’s silver. Are you sure you – “
“Yes.” She interrupted. “He would not be able to take me hostage without it. We need Draken to believe his story.”
Nicholas hesitated a moment longer before handing the knife to Kaden. He took it and held it loosely in one large fist.
“The gods help you if you harm my sister.” Nicky said in a low, angry voice.
“He won’t. He needs me to find Bree.” Sophia replied. “Besides, you will not be far behind us. Stop worrying Nicky.”
* * *
“Are you cold?”
Sophia shook her head. “No. Why?”
“You’re shivering.”
Sophia straightened her back. She was trembling but it had nothing to do with the cold, and everything to do with the human behind her. She cursed herself for her weakness. Draken and the other’s scents were strong and she was having no problem following them, but her mind was constantly wandering back to Kaden.
She squirmed a little but instead of easing away from her, Kaden pulled her more firmly against him. She was attracted to the large, sullen human, and it was driving her crazy. Now was not the time to let her hormones get the best of her. She should be concentrating on finding Bree, and all she could think about was how warm his hand felt through the material of her shirt.
She was being ridiculous. He hated Lycans. She wasn’t even sure that he wouldn’t try and kill her at some point. Instead of being frightened by the thought, she thought about that moment in the bed. Thought about how he had looked when he was pinning her to the bed, and staring at her breasts. She closed her eyes at the tremor of lust she felt. She had never mated with a human before. She had never found one that she was attracted to and even if she had, it would be doubtful that they could handle her in bed. She did not approach mating in a shy or demure way like so many human women seemed to, and she suspected that a human male would find her demanding and rough. Although the Lycans she had mated with were more than capable of handling her demands, she did not believe a human would fare so well.