Chapter 14: Ada's Mate

Reese

I am bored out of my mind where I sit on the bench and watch Clyde giving orders to the crew. Do they really need supervision or is Theo just keeping him busy? I cannot see the need for Clyde to watch over the people pruning roses and cutting the lawn.

My cell phone vibrates in my pocket and hastily I fish it out.

“Finally,” I mumble after I read Cooper’s text. It is torture being so close to Clyde and not being allowed to beat him into a vegetable. With renewed energy, I stand up and walk to Clyde.

“So,” I fold my arms as I look at him. “Is this what you do every day?”

“No,” he snorts. “I’m also in …”

“Yeah, I don’t really care,” I cut him off brusquely. “You’re just the cousin. Nothing that you can do can be that important.”

Clyde turns red in front of my eyes and I enjoy his anger more than I should.

“One more question,” I look him straight in the eyes. “You do realize that Ada could be my mate?”

“Yes,” he grunts. “I’m not an idi*t.”

“Really?” I pretend to be surprised and make my eyes big at him. “You could’ve fooled me. I mean, only an idi*t will pester my mate while I’m around and not expect retribution.”

“She’s not your mate yet, is she?” He glares at me with flaring nostrils. “And I only checked in on her. I didn’t touch her.”

“Good thing you’re not a doctor,” I snort as I turn around and walk away.

“D*cks aren’t thermometers,” I shout over my shoulder.

Ada

The worst thing about my stupid ankle is that I cannot storm off with dignity. Telling Margo off and then limping away, is comical and it destroys my credibility.

“How much did you hear?” I ask a grinning Cooper that is leaning against the wall.

“At first, nothing,” he smiles. “But then I opened the door just a little and leaned in and I could hear most of it.”

“Scandalous,” I gape pretentiously and press my hand on my heart.

“Come on,” he laughs and picks me up. “Reese and Blake are waiting.”

“Wait,” I protest softly. “Let me walk.”

“You’re too slow,” he grins as he takes long strikes. “And they’re impatient.”

“This was funny in the beginning,” I sigh. “Now, not so much. I have things to do and being carried everywhere is annoying.”

“Fine,” he puts me down by the front door. “Hop then.”

“What are you doing with Tyler’s Jeep?” I frown as I follow him down the stairs to where Blake and Reese are waiting.

“He was kind enough to give us the keys,” Cooper smiles. “We must talk, and the castle has ears.”

Reese opens the passenger door for me and I smile sweetly at him as I climb in next to Blake.

“Are we picking up Zoe?” I ask hopefully. I am surrounded by three beautiful males, and it does not do my hormones any good.

“No,” Blake replies bluntly as he starts the engine.

Why in the world did I kiss this brute and enjoy it? I wonder as he pulls away. He is clearly a difficult individual that does not like me. I do not need his negativity in my life.

“Where are we going?” I ask as I turn in my seat to look at Reese and Cooper in the back. Blake is more than welcome to sit there and stew. I am not going to feed his tantrum.

“The beach,” Reese smiles from ear to ear. “Tyler told us about the caves and we want to check it out.”

“Did he also tell you about the pirate’s gold?” I tease him.

“That is actually a myth,” Cooper smiles at me. “Pirate’s treasure consisted mostly of clothes, wine and spices. Very little gold was involved.”

“Thank you, mister Discovery Channel,” Reese snorts.

“No, seriously,” I laugh softly. “There’s no pirate’s gold but it’s rumoured that there is in fact, gold. Legend has it that our ancestors found gold in the cave walls. They removed enough to buy the land and build the castle, leaving the rest for a rainy day.”

“Let me guess,” Blake smirks. “Nobody has ever found gold after that.”

“That’s why I said it’s a legend, wiseass,” I say mockingly.

“Good thing we didn’t come here to find treasure,” Reese’s voice is stern and steady. “And now that no ears are listening, would you mind telling us what’s happening?”

“You mean besides that I think my cousin bombed us and my almost future husband killed his Delta for unknown reasons?” I ask with raised eyebrows.

“What makes you think Clyde planted the bomb?” Blake says next to me. “His argument that he forgot, makes sense. You were going to find out eventually, keeping the message deliberately, doesn’t add up.”

“I took a wild guess,” I shrug. “And I hit the target. I could see it in his eyes. There is no doubt in my mind that he has something to do with it.”

“No doubt, but also no proof,” Cooper sighs.

“I’ll get proof,” I lift my chin adamantly. “Just give me time.”

“What’s the situation with the rogues?” Reese asks as Blake parks the Jeep by the beach.

“It’s a mess,” I sigh as we get out. “In the past five years, rogues’ numbers have increased rapidly; we don’t know why. In the beginning, Dad took pity on them. He always reminds us that they are only fighting for survival and we should never forget that they’re part human. So, he put up a shed at the edge of our border. We leave food and clothes there for them. The rogues have never bothered us, but they target Opal Moon frequently. I believe they left us in peace because of what we leave in the shed.”

“But something happened and now the rogues are attacking your pack as well,” Cooper states as we start walking over the sand towards the caves.

“Yes,” I grunt and try to hide my pain and discomfort. Broken ankles and beaches are not complimenting each other. But I complained like two seconds ago about walking by myself so, I will not make a sound. “We didn’t know it, but rogues started to sleep in the shed. I mean, we suspected they would during the winter and we didn’t mind. Anyway, there was a devastating fire one cold night and the shed burned to the ground. By the time we got the flames under control, everything perished. Including the rogues that took shelter there that night. The investigation pointed to arson, but we never got the responsible party. I think the rogues blame us for the death of their loved ones because, after that, the attacks started. They are solely attacking us and no longer Opal Moon. And they attack everybody that comes close to our borders – like you.”

“How is marrying Killian going to solve the problem?” Reese frowns.

“This is where it gets creepy. The rogues are out for revenge,” I explain. “The ones that died in the fire, were all women and children. In the beginning, they would attack, steal what they could and leave. That changed after the fire. They attack, tie up the men and make them watch as they kill their women and children. The men are usually beaten badly, but they don’t kill them. We suspected that the men are revenging their wives and children that died in the fire. But then they changed from killing unmated women and children to young, unmated women and girls. Killian had a mate and they were trying for a baby when she died unexpectedly in her sleep. During the autopsy, they discovered she was pregnant. Killian was devastated. That’s when he came to Dad and asked to marry me. If I marry him and give him an heir, I will be safe from attacks and he will send his warriors over to help us to get the rogues under control.”

“So, you decide to marry him to save yourself?” Blake snorts.

“Please,” I roll my eyes at him. “I’m a warrior. When I’m no longer in the target group, I can fight and protect better.”

“That’s pretty insightful for rogues,” Reese frowns. “They’re basically busy wiping your pack out. Killing all the females that can reproduce. Soon, there will only be men left and the pack dies a slow death. It’s a bitter revenge.”

“That’s disturbing,” I mumble as cold shivers run up and down my spine. I never thought of it in such a way.

For a moment nobody says a word as we overthink Reese’s words. I go sit down on the nearest rock and watch Cooper walk deeper into the caves.

“Have you found the rogues’ hideout?” Cooper asks as he walks back to us. “I mean, they must sleep somewhere.”

“We have looked everywhere,” I sigh. “But they appear out of nowhere, attack and disappear.”

“Have you searched the caves?” Cooper looks at me.

“N … no,” I stutter in astonishment. “It’s cold and wet and …”

“And private property,” Blake finishes my sentence.

“How often do people come here?” Cooper looks at me curiously.

“I don’t know,” I shrug. “Couples sometimes come here for a romantic rendezvous but that’s about it. It’s too dangerous, especially during high tide.”

“So, the fresh footprints here are definitely suspicious,” he grins at me.

“Depends,” I shrug. “If there’s plenty, yes. But only two sets will be a couple.”

“Well,” Cooper gives me a knowing look. “Either the rogues are hiding here or an orgy took place here recently.”