Chapter Eleven

Cain poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Emily. They strolled over to the kitchen table to enjoy their drinks before they joined the others outside. It seemed they’d missed breakfast, but there was a plate of fresh muffins and Danishes on the table, so at least they had something to snack on.

He wasn’t too upset about not getting food, since he’d spent the time mating and loving on Emily.

The back door slid open as Lamont and Tony sauntered in.

“Well, good morning, love birds,” Tony greeted.

“Morning,” Cain said. “Sorry we missed breakfast,” he lied, giving them a huge grin.

“Yeah right,” Tony replied with a snort.

“It’s okay,” Lamont told him as he joined them at table while Tony continued to the coffee pot. “We do have a few things to talk about, though.”

Cain reached over and gripped Emily’s hand. “Yes, we do.”

“So you two finally made up your minds?” Lamont questioned.

“Yes,” Cain answered his dad. “I’m returning to school with Emily. I’ll do what I can from there, but I thought we might promote Antonio. We’ll come home on the weekends for training and to spend time with you and the Pack but we need to do this.”

“I agree,” Lamont said. “I’ve already spoken to Antonio. He’s excited for the opportunity.”

Of course his Alpha already knew what Cain wanted to do. He was extremely lucky, not only in finding Emily, but also in having the support of his family.

Tony returned to the table and handed Lamont a mug, then took the seat across from Cain. “I’m leaving for California this morning. I still want to go to the Council compound but I’ll be available if needed. I think Antonio is the right choice.”

“Good.” Cain nodded at his brother. It was a great chance for Tony.

“Being in the city, you’re going to be closer to Adam and his Pack, and he’s going to need you,” Lamont changed the subject.

“You know about what’s going on with Christian?” Cain questioned.

“Christian called me this morning. I asked him to wait but he decided to pass the Pack over to Adam,” Lamont confirmed. “I have complete faith in Adam, but it won’t be easy. Especially since they’re still trying to recover the feelings of safety and comfort inside the territory from Mindy’s attack.”

“I’ll do whatever I can,” Cain promised.

“I also want you to check in with Riker’s Enforcer, Larry,” Lamont said. “I don’t think he’s happy or even safe. This Pack owes him and I plan on doing whatever I can to help that young man. He didn’t have to step in to protect Emily but he did.”

“You don’t plan to ask him to join the Pack, do you?” Cain asked. His Alpha was right, they did owe him, but that didn’t mean Cain wanted a daily reminder of what had happened to Emily.

She squeezed his hand and he smiled at her.

“Not right now,” Lamont said. “I don’t think he’d be happy here, since he would come in without a job or any position. But there are opportunities he might like to take advantage of. There are Packs that are in dire need of a strong second or third.”

“But you’re still not sure about him,” Cain guessed.

Lamont nodded but didn’t verbally respond. Cain was actually reassured that he wasn’t the only one who still wasn’t sure about Larry. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you,” Lamont told him.

“So when are you going to leave?” Tony asked, after a few minutes of silence.

“In the morning, I think.” Cain glanced at Emily who nodded. “We need to get to the city so Emily will be ready to start classes next week and I can make sure I have everything I’ll need there. If anything comes up here I can be back in just a couple of hours.”

“Sounds good,” Lamont said. “It’ll seem empty having both of you gone.”

Cain frowned. Did his father not want him to go?

“Don’t look like that.” Lamont pointed a finger at him. “I still have Toby here with me, and the Pack. I won’t be alone.”

“I know,” Cain agreed. He started to run his thumb over Emily’s fingers and he knew that he had to keep his promise anyway. She wanted to return to campus and he had to support her.

“We’ll be back on the weekends,” she said. “I swore to Toby I’d come back more.”

Cain smiled. His little brother was determined not to lose Emily again.

“Maybe he can even come up for some visits when he isn’t in school,” he suggested.

Emily beamed, and Lamont nodded. “I think he’d like that,” Lamont said. “But what do you think about taking over the house that Emily usually stays in? When you’re here it’ll give the two of you more privacy.”

Cain hadn’t considered moving out of the main house. He could have had any of the cabins at any time, but he’d been comfortable with his family. Still, they would need privacy.

He turned to Emily but she was only looking back at him. “I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “What about you?”

“I love that house,” Emily agreed.

“Okay,” Cain said to his dad. “We’ll take it.”

“We might want to find a new apartment in the city, though. Mine’s only a one bedroom and if we got something bigger then you could have an office, and we need a spare room in case Toby or anyone from the Pack visits,” Emily suggested.

“Are you sure?” Cain questioned.

She nodded. “I’ve lived there since I moved to the city but I don’t have any attachment to it. At the time it was all I needed. Now we should get something bigger.”

“Sure,” Cain said. “We’ll look before the semester starts and even if I have to move us while you’re in class it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Then it’s settled,” Lamont said, standing. “I have a few calls to make but I’ll see you at dinner.”

“I hate leaving him,” Tony said after Lamont had left the kitchen.

“I know, but he wants us to live our lives too,” Cain told him.

“I want to go to California,” Tony said. “There are talks about the Council considering shifters going public and announcing our existence.”

“No way!” Emily exclaimed.

“Wow,” Cain agreed. “I can’t even imagine. What would we do?”

Tony shook his head. “I don’t know. There was an entire Pack in Washington slaughtered by poachers when they were out for a run as a Pack. The hunting laws all over the country are different and we need to find a way to protect our species. All shifters, actually. It’s completely legal to kill many species in certain parts and since we stay in animal form if we die while shifted, no one knows how many people have been killed.”

“I can see why it needs to be done,” Cain said. “But why can’t we just have stiffer penalties and laws for hunting instead of exposing our secret?”

His brother shrugged. “It just isn’t working. And this is only an idea. If it does happen then I want to be involved. This isn’t something that can be decided quickly and it scares me that the Council is considering it.”

“Now I’m even happier you’re going,” Cain told him.

“Me too,” Emily agreed. “It’s hard to keep a secret like being a shifter but the alternative is terrifying. I’ve spent time in a cage and couldn’t ever do that again.”

She shivered and Cain shifted his chair closer to her so he could wrap his arm around her shoulder. “I would never let that happen again. If there is a threat against us because the Council does decide to go public we would disappear and no one will ever hurt you.”

“I know,” she said, cuddling into him. “Just the thought of anyone going through even a fraction of what I did is heartbreaking.”

“That’s why the Council is discussing the announcement. Protection of all shifters is the number one goal. They won’t allow anyone to be experimented on or put in danger,” Tony said.

“If you don’t mind keeping me informed, I would appreciate it,” Cain told him.

“Of course,” Tony agreed. He pushed back from the table and stood. “I do need to get on the road, though. I’m following behind the two Council representatives that arrived earlier. They’re taking Brent back to the Council to stand trial.”

“I hope they put him down like a rabid dog,” Cain spat.

“I’ll make sure of it,” Tony promised.

Cain rose and hugged his brother tight. It would be weird not to see Tony every day, but they did need to live their lives, and Tony had so much potential to truly become the best Alpha or a member of the Council. Cain believed that Tony would do great things.

Tony slapped his back several times before stepping away from Cain. “Come give me a hug, little sister,” he said to Emily.

She jumped to her feet before wrapping her arms around his back. Their embrace was a lot shorter than his had been, and Cain appreciated it. He didn’t even want his brother to touch his mate.

Cain turned to Emily as Tony made his way out of the room. “What do you say we head over to the cabin and see what we need to make it more comfortable? It’s definitely going to need a better coffee pot, since that one only makes four cups at a time.”

She laughed, like he wanted, before nodding. “Sure.”

He took her hand in his then led her from the kitchen to the back door. He let her pass through first, but quickly followed after. There was a nice breeze and he considered taking the long way to the cabin, but they would have to go through the woods if they went that way, and Cain wasn’t ready to face that yet. Soon he would go back to the spot of the unsuccessful attack on Emily but not today.

Without him saying anything, Emily grabbed his arm and led him away from the woods to the path toward the cabins.

Two teenagers were running around passing a football. They stopped long enough to wave at Cain and Emily. Toby was playing on one of the swing sets with a couple of other kids. Cain could picture their own kids out there one day. Toby would be a good uncle and Emily was going to make an amazing mom. He hadn’t realized they’d stopped to watch the children until Emily leaned into his side.

“One day,” she whispered.

“I can’t wait,” he told her. “I want time, just me and you, but I can’t wait for us to have kids.”

“A little boy with your dark hair,” she said.

“A little girl with your heart of gold,” he corrected.

She laughed. “I guess we’ll have both.”

Since he didn’t want to scare her away, he decided not to mention that he really wanted at least four kids. There was plenty of time for him to broach the subject. “Come on,” Cain encouraged with a nudge.

As they walked down the street, he could see the porch of the cabin come into view. He knew how much Emily loved that area of the place, and one of the first things he was going to order was some nice furniture that she could sit on outside and enjoy the territory.

One of the older residents stepped out of her porch and smiled at them as they passed.

“Hi, Mrs. Johnson,” Emily called out.

“Hello, children,” she replied.

Cain waved.

The concrete steps were still in good shape and the paint was fairly new so there wasn’t anything he needed to do outside. Emily jogged in front of him to the front door and turned the knob to open it.

“You need to lock it from now on,” he told her as he stepped up behind her.

“Really?” She glanced over her shoulder. “We’re in the middle of the territory.”

He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. From now on, always lock up.”

“Yes, sir.” She gave him a sarcastic salute but was grinning.

Cain headed toward the kitchen to brew more coffee. He hadn’t been kidding about needing a better machine, but he’d take care of that later. The kitchen walls were painted in a light tan color, which looked really good against the wood cabinets. “Is there anything that you want done inside? I can hire some of the guys to remodel whatever we need.”

Emily turned in a circle as she stood in the entry. “Not really. I love everything about this place. The bedroom and bathroom are perfect. We might want to paint the living room though, since it’s white, but I can’t really think of anything I don’t like.”

“Okay,” he agreed. “You can pick the color and I’ll have it done.”

Emily took a seat at the table while Cain went about filling the water reserve.

“Do you want a bigger apartment or should we look for a house while we live away from here?” he asked her. He had plenty of money saved up, plus he would still be getting his income from the Pack, so he could get her a house if that was what she wanted.

“Apartment,” she answered immediately.

“Really? We’d have more room in a house,” Cain said.

“If we bought one we’d just sell it after I finished school. I have no desire to live in the city once I have my degree,” Emily told him.

“We could rent a house close to campus,” he suggested.

“Then we’d have to keep up with home repairs and the lawn. If we’re coming back here every weekend then we already have to do that here. Why make extra work for us? We’ll both be busy,” she said.

Yeah, she had a good point. “We can find a three bedroom then.”

“I’d like that. I do want Toby to visit and if you’d like to set up some training in the city it would be a good idea to have a spare room,” she said.

“Training,” he repeated. All of the guards lived and worked on the property so it might be wise to get them out of their comfort zone. Especially if what Tony said about maybe going public was true. He needed to start thinking outside the box when it came to preparing. “Yeah.”

He began to pace as he worked out what he could set up. Cain would need to get more familiar with the city and whatever neighborhood they moved into, but he had no doubt his father would think it was a good idea too. “I like that. Good idea.”

She smiled and it was obvious to him that she was pleased he’d listened to her suggestion. Cain sauntered across the room and towered over her. He gripped her ponytail and tugged her head back gently.

“You’re going to have to keep sharing your ideas with me. We have to take care of our Pack,” he said.

Emily grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him back down so their mouths slammed together. Cain licked her bottom lip until she opened for him and he could plunge his tongue inside. He bent his knees so he could grip her legs then lifted her.

“That’s better,” he said, once he’d lifted his mouth from hers. He sat her on top of the table with her ass on the edge.

She’d dressed in soft gray pants and a white tank top. He ran his hands from her knees up to her thighs before pressing his middle finger against her covered pussy.

“Mmm,” Emily moaned as she let her head fall back.

Cain dropped into the chair that he’d just taken her from and pulled her to the edge. He hadn’t shaved that morning so he knew she’d be able to feel his stubble through her thin pants as he rubbed all over her crotch.

“Oh God! I want your mouth on me,” she told him.

“Lift up,” he ordered.

Emily flung her flip-flops off before planting her feet on the table so she could raise her hips. He tugged the waistband of her pants down, making sure to collect her panties as well. He flung them to the side then spread her legs with his hands.

“Please,” she said, arching her back.

He swiped his tongue through her folds, tasting her sweet pussy.

“Cain!” she cried out.

He added a finger with his tongue until she was pushing against him. She ran her hands over the back of his head, holding him down as she bucked and began to plead.

Cain thrust a second finger inside her while covering her clit with his mouth and sucking. Emily shouted and came, clutching his head so hard she might’ve pulled out some of his hair.

“Good, so good,” she mumbled as she started to calm down.

He jumped to his feet, trying to get his jeans undone with his hands shaking.

“Get up here,” she demanded. “I want you to fuck my mouth.”

“Shit!” He seized the base of his cock and squeezed to keep from coming. Emily had him so worked up that he just about lost it.

“I mean it, Cain,” she said. “Come here.”

“Damn,” he muttered. “Hang on.” He had to hop around and to get his boots and socks off before he shoved his jeans down his legs. He climbed up onto the table with her. He sure the hell hoped that it would hold both their weights. This probably wasn’t the best idea but he wasn’t about to try to get her into the bedroom. If he didn’t get release soon he felt like he’d die.

As soon as he was in reach, Emily captured his cock in a light hold and directed him to straddle her head. He placed his hands on either side of her as he lowered himself.

She opened her mouth and sucked on the tip a little before he rocked his hips, letting more of his shaft go in. As much as he wanted to ram and drive his cock deep and have her swallow around him, he didn’t. It wasn’t going to take much to get him to come and he had to maintain control.

Emily hummed then lifted her neck and forced him deeper. He tried to pull back, but she gripped his ass hard and he thrust deeper than he meant to.

“Fuck!” She didn’t choke, just patted his ass while tonguing his cock. It felt like she was tracing the veins of his shaft.

He withdrew until only the tip remained, then slid back in over and over. Every time a little faster and deeper, until he had to tear himself away.

She whimpered and reached out, but he shook his head. “I want to mark you,” he told her. “Please, please let me.”

“Yes,” she told him and lay back down flat.

Cain stroked his cock until he climaxed, pointing his shaft at Emily’s breasts and stomach.

He about passed out when she reached down and started to rub her clit while he painted her with his seed. “Jesus! Yes! Get off again!”

Emily spread her legs even wider then screamed, reaching orgasm. He moved so his cum landed on her fingers and she was rubbing his fluid into her clit until they were both spent. He was barely able to avoid crushing her as he fell to the side.

What a sight they probably made, both naked and covered in semen while lying on the kitchen table.

“Remind me to buy Lysol wipes,” he mumbled.

She giggled, and snorted, then laughed louder. He couldn’t even try not to laugh right along with her. “Just think, we’ll have a whole apartment to christen.”

“I think you might just kill me,” he said, throwing an arm over his eyes. “Wake me in an hour.”

* * * *

“You sure you didn’t forget anything?” Cain asked Emily as he opened the driver door and climbed out.

“Yep,” she said laughing. “And it’s not like we won’t be back there in a few days if I did.”

“Okay.” He strolled around to the back of the silver Cadillac Escalade ESV that his father had gifted him and Emily with earlier that morning. Both he and Emily had tried to tell him that they didn’t need such an expensive vehicle, but Lamont had called it a mating gift and had said they needed a reliable SUV for driving back and forth from the city to the Pack.

Cain could admit that the interior was pure luxury and he really liked the heated leather seats. Emily had spent the first twenty minutes playing with all the buttons. It would have been even longer, but he’d threatened to tie her hands if she didn’t stop. The gleam in her eyes had had him hardening fast and he’d almost pulled over to the side of the road and taken her, but he’d resisted.

He glanced up at her apartment building, much like he’d done when he’d come to pick her up so recently.

The last time he’d stared up into the entry of her apartment he’d been preparing himself to see her again. Now he was returning with her and he felt complete.

“You okay?” she asked, coming to his side with her bags.

Cain turned his head so he could kiss her. “Yeah, just thinking.”

“Well, stop that,” she said. “Let’s get inside and order some food. I’m too tired to cook and there are some really good restaurants around here that deliver.”

“Sounds like a plan,” he agreed. Cain strolled back to the SUV and picked up his two bags before slamming the back closed.

She was waiting for him at the stairs, so he hurried over to her.

“You sure you’re not going to miss this place?” he asked as they started to climb up.

“I am,” she replied. “I like it, but any place we live together will be better.”

He nodded even though she was in front of him and couldn’t see. “I want to try to find something fairly quickly. That way I can get a training schedule set up. Lamont loved the idea of bringing the guards down here to expand their experience.”

They’d reached her front door and he had to wait as Emily searched through her bag for her keys.

“Uh ha!” she exclaimed, pulling them out. She unlocked and opened the door before waving him through. “Our home, at least until you find us a new one.”

He grinned as he passed her. “I’m going to drop my stuff in the bedroom.”

“Go ahead,” she called out behind him.

The place wasn’t big, but he could see why she was comfortable there. The building was modernized and well-kept, but it was small and he would need his own space. When she went to campus to pick up her books and do whatever else she needed, he was going to call a realtor. The only stipulation she’d had was that she was still close to campus. He was certain they would find something that would fit their needs.

Cain dropped his bags by the door and turned to find Emily when his cell rang. He dug the device out of his pocket, surprised to see Adam’s name on the display.

“Hey, man,” Cain greeted.

“Hey, did you get to the city all right?” Adam asked.

Cain had texted Adam earlier, telling his friend that Cain would be close by in case Adam needed anything. “Just got in, as matter of fact.”

“Good,” Adam replied. “I’m glad you’re going to be close by.”

“Me too,” Cain said. “Don’t think you have to do everything alone. We’re here to help.”

“I know.” Adam sounded down.

“What’s wrong?” he pressed.

There were several seconds of silence so Cain pulled his phone away to make sure he hadn’t lost connection.

“Adam?”

“My dad’s inner circle would like to retire. They think it would be better if I made my own and had people that I could trust and grow with the Pack,” Adam told him.

“But they’re not leaving, are they?” Cain asked.

“No, and they’re willing to help and stand as advisors, but this gives them the opportunity to spend more time with their families. I understand, but it’s a lot to take in at once.”

“I understand,” Cain said. There were so many changes happening, and while Adam had his family he was taking on a lot of responsibility.

“I know I can care for my Pack,” Adam said. “I don’t have any doubts about that, but I don’t know where to start.”

“All you can do is take everything one step at a time,” Cain suggested. “Make a list of what you want or need to do. Then prioritize the list. It will all work out, and don’t be afraid to depend on your friends. Especially mine and Gage’s. I can even send some of my guards if you need me to. I’m sure Gage would be more than willing to as well.”

“I’ve been approached already by several of the shifters that would like to be trained. There are more than a few that I would like to see move up if they’re willing to work hard.”

“See,” Cain said. “Things are already starting to work out.”

“First, I need to find an Enforcer so I have a second and someone to train the new guards. I asked the Council for recommendations. If you can think of anyone who might be interested let me know,” Adam requested.

“I’ll think on it. We might have someone who wants to move up,” Cain said. He couldn’t think of anyone off the top of his head, but maybe Emily would have an idea as well.

“Thanks, man.”

Cain could hear someone start to talk to Adam and his friend sighed.

“Sorry, I have to run, but maybe I can get up to the city and we can have lunch. I haven’t gotten to see Emily much and would love to hear how you two are doing,” Adam said.

“We’d like that. We’ll talk later,” Cain replied.

“Okay, see you.”

Cain disconnected the call and lifted his head. Emily leaned against the threshold to the bedroom smiling at him.

“Adam doing okay?” she asked, strolling closer.

He held out a hand to her. “I think so. He has a lot of work to do, but he’s ready for this.”

Emily sat on his lap. “And you? Are you ready to live with me full-time?”

“Yes,” Cain assured her. “I’m looking forward to waking up with you in my arms every morning and kissing you goodnight before we sleep.”

“So sweet,” she teased before laying her cheek against his. “But don’t worry I won’t tell anyone.”

He laughed and embraced her tighter. It wasn’t going to be easy learning how to give up some of his control and become a full partner to the woman he loved, but he was going to do his damn best. He’d made so many mistakes with Emily, but she had decided he deserved another chance and he was going to prove to her that he would never let her down again.

They belonged together—whether it was fate or something else didn’t matter. Emily was his and he was hers.