The Keeping(132)

“Elise, I’m busy. I don’t have time right now...”

“Then you can damn well make time. We need to discuss this. You can’t just order me to leave!”

It was then that he noticed the piece of paper in her hand. She’d been out when he’d gone to tell her to pack for the dispersal. He tightened his jaw. “You’re pregnant. Of course you’re leaving.”

“And I don’t get any say in this?”

Kane was tired, stressed; he didn’t need an argument. He stared out the window. “I’m Alpha. You’ll do as I say.”

“No. I won’t go.”

A rebuke was ready on his lips when he turned to look at her and noticed the watery shimmer of her eyes. He stepped towards her. “Elise—”

“I won’t go, Kane. I won’t leave you.” She had folded her arms tightly around herself, but her chin was lifted in a sign of defiance.

He walked over to her and gathered her close, resting his chin on top of her head. “Elise, you have to go. Think of our child.”

“Growing up in a strange pack, without a father?”

“At least he’ll still be alive.”

“But what kind of life will it be? Another Alpha’s son won’t be easily accepted. He’ll be viewed as an interloper, a potential threat. The others will be wary of him.”

Kane rubbed his hand over the slight curve of her waist. “As they should be. My son will be an Alpha one day. He’ll lead his own pack... But only if he’s given the chance to grow up.” He leaned back and touched Elise’s chin, forcing her to look at him. “It’s your duty to ensure our child survives.”

Elise bit her lip. “I don’t want to lose you...”

“And you might not. This could turn out to be nothing, but we can’t take the chance.”

She ran her hands over his chest and Kane closed his eyes, taking the moment to revel in the exquisite sensations she could create with just the simplest touch. How he’d miss this.

“Kane, can I at least stay until the final call comes? It will be torture, being away from you, not knowing what’s happening.” Her voice trembled as she spoke and she tightened her fingers on his shirt until they were clutching the material.

Kane groaned as he opened his eyes and saw tears beginning to slowly drip down her cheeks. He cupped her face, trailing his lips over the damp surface. “Shh, don’t cry.” How desperately he wanted to tell her that everything would be all right, that there was no need for tears, but it would be a lie. His heart ached just as hers did; the very idea of being separated from her was eating away at the core of his being. He pressed his mouth to hers, offering his comfort and his love, all the while hoping against hope that Ryne was making progress.

*****

It was a stab in the dark, but something had told Ryne to head to Greyson’s estate if he wanted to find Melody and her boss. The city was too big to search, so following his instincts seemed as good a course of action as any. He informed Bryan of his plans and reaffirmed the protocols to follow should he fail to check back in. Daniel was to continue to search for information on Greyson and Aldrich; the packs needed to know everything they could about the men they were up against.

Satisfied that he’d done all he could, Ryne hailed a taxi and gave the address for Greyson’s estate.

As he sat in the back, Ryne stared unseeingly out the window. The driver wove in and out of traffic, the vehicle swaying slightly from side to side or jerking forward when brakes were suddenly applied; shouts of annoyance and coarsely worded threats were tossed between drivers. Ryne let it all wash over him, lost in thought.

His wolf desperately needed to find Melody; to know that she was safe. The thought of her alone, going through the change with no warning, no one to comfort or explain, ate away at his gut. Would her body and her mind accept what was happening to her or would she fight against the inevitable? What if she refused to accept it? Or if the effects of the full moon forced her body to transform before it was ready? Nadia said not everyone survived. The thought sent icy fear washing over him.

Yet, did it matter? The cold logical part of his brain forced him to examine the idea. If she knew of the secret—if she’d already spread the word—then she was as good as dead anyway. Wasn’t it better to die from the rejected transformation than from his hand? Could he actually look her in the eye and deliver a fatal blow?

He was Alpha. He knew his duty and yet... Images of Melody danced before him. Her big, brown eyes and long lashes, the way she’d lift her chin and narrow her eyes before delivering some acerbic comment. Her quirky humour, her knack for getting into trouble. The wonder in her eyes as he pointed out the intricacies of nature. The way she looked under him, lost in the throes of passion...