Page 105 of Jake

“But your blood…” Kai brought her fingers to her lips; the taste of their essence burned into her mind.

“Do you worry you’ve been turned? I promised Jake…you won’t be under my control. He is and always will be your master,” he assured her.

“I’m not worried. Honestly, I don’t feel any different. Jake is every bit my Alpha.” She laughed. “Sorry, it’s just odd. He’s my mate now. When I’m with him…I don’t know how to explain it. He’s part of me. Of my soul.”

“Ah, love is a splendid thing.” Quintus winked and pulled out a chair, gesturing for her to sit.

Kai blushed at his knowing statement, and sat, inwardly laughing that she could be read so easily. She bit her lip as Jake opened the door, Hunter following, his arms full with supplies. Kai stood, her eyes on the Wyoming Alpha.

“Hey,” Hunter said, depositing the bags onto the kitchen counter. He stared at the vampire, whose expression remained impassive. “Quintus?”

“Alpha,” he said in acknowledgement. Quintus pressed to his feet and gave a slight bow of his head.

“You’re sure he’s safe?” Hunter asked Jake.

“He’s a friend. Saved Kai’s life,” Jake told him.

“Dr. Beckett, so lovely to meet you again,” Hunter said, extending his hand to her.

“Alpha.” She placed her hand in his, giving a firm shake. “Please call me Kai.”

“Hunter,” he corrected. “You have only one Alpha now.” He smiled at Jake and set his attention back onto Kai. “I’m very sorry to hear about your sister’s disappearance. Come, let’s eat. I grabbed some sticky buns from the bakery but they’re not going to hold a candle to yours.”

Kai laughed. She’d known the locals at the firehouse had enjoyed her cooking but she’d never interacted with them, fearing she’d be discovered. Jake pulled out a seat next to her and sat down, opening a bottle of water.

“Last night, Kai split up the triad but Kasdeya got away, as did a wolf. It’s brown. Not sure on the sex but it doesn’t matter. I’m thinking that even though Kasdeya drove the demon train, the wolf had a hand in whatever’s going down in Anzober,” Jake theorized. “Alex was found dead by hikers. Somewhere near Pfeiffer Beach. He could have been on his way up to see Kasdeya. Or maybe he was dragged up. Either way, Logan hasn’t heard from anyone from the pack in two days.”

“I hope they have Shilan. I always thought Kasdeya kidnapped her but think about it…she had Cassandra and used her as bait. She could have used Shilan if she had her in San Francisco. It doesn’t make sense.” Kai said, her thoughts focused on her sister.

“It’s possible the wolf took her. Maybe they’ve got her stored down in San Diego,” Jake suggested.

“Is it possible she’s lupine?” Hunter asked as he retrieved a white box from one of the bags. He tore open the plastic cutlery and began to serve the rolls onto napkins.

“I didn’t think so but we have different fathers. I guess anything is possible at this point. If Kasdeya wanted the Kris because she knew it would split the triad, she succeeded in getting me to find it. I’m sure though, that she wanted me. I believe they took her because of me. My power.” Kai glanced to Jake, drawing on her Alpha’s strength as she revealed her secret to Hunter. “You see, I am pixiu. I spent years trying to suppress my nature. Shilan and I have hidden.”

“Not anymore, sweetheart.” Jake nodded at Hunter. “Wait until you see her. She’s awesome.”

“I’ve made a deliberate decision to leave my pack out of this fight. This is not their concern. But you’re my brother,” Hunter told Jake. “And so is Logan. Acadian blood runs in our veins. This shit in San Diego is going to end today.”

“The pack is mine,” Jake said, claiming his role.

“About damn time you realized what the hell is happening. Now look,” he held up his hand and then continued serving breakfast, “I know more than anyone what it’s like to leave New Orleans. It’s home. But you have a destiny, man. And this is it.”

“It worries me that we haven’t heard anything from pack members. If the wolves were down by the sea, they’d be in their own homes, we’d have news. To be fair, the pack’s small but to hear absolutely nothing is a bad sign. There’s a pack house in the desert. Out toward Ranchita. My guess is whoever killed Alex called a pack meeting and has them held up in there.”

“What’s the terrain?” Hunter asked.

“The surrounding area is rocky, but it flattens out once you get into the desert. The house itself, though, it’s more like a compound. Twenty-plus cabins. The main building’s big enough to hold events. But the thing is,” Jake shook his head, his mouth tensing as he spoke, “Chaz Baldwin. The asshole who attacked Gillian, he built holding rooms there.”

“You mean like a jail?” Quintus asked, placing a mug onto the table.

“Yeah, a few are silvered. He was a piece of work. Into torture and shit like that. It wasn’t enough to force a wolf into submission the old-fashioned way. He also took other kinds of beings, not just wolves. But I’m telling you guys, when I left Alex in charge, there wasn’t a tie left to Chaz. I still feel like it’s my fault…”

“Hey, you did as you were told,” Hunter said.

“Logan didn’t ask me to go there and stay. It was a temporary thing. In and out. I loved the pack, but New Orleans is home.”

“Hey, I get it brother. It’s not like I ever thought I’d be leaving the bayou either.”