She winced. The worry settled deep and uncomfortable inside her. Isaac seemed like a decent guy. Hopefully he’d saved himself somehow. “I don’t know where Bulwark came from. He must have climbed down that rock wall.” The image of the drop flashed through her, and her stomach tightened in response.
Caidrik shook his head. “The rock wall extends around to regular mountain terrain. I’ve hunted in that area before.”
“Oh.” She sat back slightly, careful not to lose the warmth of him. “So apparently Bulwark has hunted there as well.”
“I suppose,” Caidrik said. “We haven’t been in touch for decades, but it wouldn’t surprise me.” He leaned down, his lips wandering against hers, warming her mouth instantly. The kiss was steady and unhurried, grounding her in the present and in him. Heat spread through her, chasing away the last of the cold.
“Wh-what are you doing?” she asked softly.
“Stealing a kiss,” he said.
She grinned against his mouth. Honesty was a nice thing from him. “Why do you want to be the Alpha?” she whispered, the question brushing his lips.
Caidrik pulled back just enough for her to see his expression. “I really didn’t. Though it would be nice to have a place to belong. It’s just when I looked at the alternatives, I couldn’t see anybody else keeping the pack safe. Or you safe. At least not in the contenders.”
She thought about it, letting the truth of it settle. “I agree. I think you’d make a great Alpha.”
He snorted. “I definitely don’t have the bloodline for that. The McGregors are killers and thieves and have been for millennia. There was a reason we were kicked out.”
“Yeah,” she said uneasily, “but you’re back in now.” She hesitated, then asked, “How did your date with Taryn go?” From what she could tell, Taryn would make a fine Alpha female lead, just like Isaac had said.
“It was okay,” Caidrik said. “She’s a little ambitious, but that might be good for her future. I’m not interested in her.”
Yeah, right. The guy was just being nice considering they were cuddled together naked. “How can you not be?” Nadia asked. “She’s gorgeous.”
“So are you,” he said.
“Yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes, “but she’s gorgeous in ‘an Amazon I could take on the world and still look good way.’ I’m cute.”
Perhaps the best thing for the pack would be for her to bow out. The thought came quietly, unwelcome but persistent, settling into her chest where doubt had already taken root. She hated how reasonable it sounded.
“I’m not doing this without you,” he said softly.
That didn’t make any sense. “I’m not the girl males go to war over.” Yeah, she was pretty great sometimes, but come on. There wasn’t anything legendary about her. “You have to think of the pack.”
“I am. You love the pack and will take care of it.” He nuzzled her mouth, apparently just fine with being naked and alone. “But I’m no hero, sweetheart. Stop talking like I should be the Alpha.”
The guy had saved her twice, almost dying himself. “You’re a hero.”
“No. Not even close. My hands are stained with plenty of blood. See what’s here, and not what you want to see.”
“You’re wrong. I do think you’d make an excellent Alpha,” Nadia said, choosing her words carefully. “The packs are always being attacked, and you were made to protect others. I can see that in you. Easily.”
Caidrik sighed, the sound warm against her skin. “From what I can tell, I’m the only guy to do it. We don’t want Bulwark. Dax is dead, and there’s a good chance Isaac is as well. There’s something about Luca I don’t like. The guy’s too charming.”
She swallowed, hating that she agreed. “Though he could be stronger than we think. He has survived this far where two haven’t.”
It was too bad Bulwark had lived through the tunnels collapsing. It was a terrible thing to think, ugly and sharp, but she couldn’t help it. The pack would have been safer without him in the running, without his shadow hanging over all of them.
“If it comes down to it,” she asked quietly, “could you really kill your brother?”
“I don’t want to kill Bulwark,” Caidrik said. “Especially because it would cause our mother pain.” His jaw tightened before he went on. “But to save the pack, to save you, I would.”
She tilted her head all the way back to stare at him. “Why?”
He studied her for a moment, his gaze running over her face like he was committing it to memory, and then he kissed her. The kiss stole the question right out of her mouth. Heat erupted through her from head to toe, finally complete, even her toes tingling as if they had just woken up. The wolf could kiss.
He went deeper, his hands sweeping from her back down over the curve of her ass to her thigh, sure and unapologetic. Her breath caught, her thoughts scattering.
