Chapter Fifty-Two

Kerry

Kerry woke to sunlight beaming into his bedroom window, warming his skin. Demetria was wrapped around him, one leg tossed over his, snuggled into his side as if the day ahead wasn't filled with plans to kill a warlock.

His wolf had many ideas on how to spend the morning with her, but Kerry didn't want to miss the meeting at the pack house.

Slipping from underneath Demetria, he dressed and walked into the living room. Cynthia stood in the kitchen, drinking a cup of hot tea while staring at Kitty from across the room.

Kerry chuckled. "I see you saw Demetria's note."

She cringed. "Yeah, how bizarre that he is a werewolf trapped in a cat's body. I mean," she said, clearing her throat, "isn't that ironic? A dog trapped in a cat's body?"

Kitty hissed from across the room and raced out of the doggie door.

"I need to invest in a dog," Kerry mumbled, grabbing a cup of coffee.

Cynthia bit the corner of her thumbnail and turned quickly to face Kerry. "What's it like if someone rejects their mate?"

Kerry stalled with his cup halfway to his mouth. "Are you thinking about rejecting Dan?"

She closed her eyes. "I like him..."

"Of course you do. It's fate, Cynthia."

"But," she said, putting both hands on the counter in front of her, "I love you guys because you saved me from the Lycan King. Dan is a lycan. I don't know if I can trust him or not, Kerry."

Kerry smiled before taking another sip. "Dan is trustworthy. He's Claire's dad, Demetria's brother-in-law. He's a good guy. He just turned down his date for you, hands down, no questions asked."

Cynthia took a deep breath.

"What really has you scared about him?"

Cynthia glanced out of the window in the kitchen as the morning sun looked back at her. "I'm broken, Kerry. I loved my son. He was my world. When he died, when the lycans killed him, I wanted to burn down every lycan I came in contact with. I don't know how to get over that."

Kerry nodded. "I understand. After I lost my first mate, I never felt like I would love another person, and then fate tossed me that stubborn witch sleeping in my bed. It's part of the plan God has for us."

She nodded. "It's going to be hard, and I don't know if it's going to be worth it for him."

Dan's scent hit at the same time he knocked on the front door.

Cynthia's eyes widened. "It's him, isn't it? Oh no, tell him I'm getting dressed. I need a minute."

She raced toward her room and shut the door before Kerry could agree. He let Dan inside and noticed Dan's gaze travel over the room in search of her. Kerry knew that feeling all too well.

"She's hiding from me," he said bluntly.

Kerry shrugged. "She's nervous, Dan. I'll let her tell you. It's not my place."

Dan sighed and ran his palm over his face. "Okay. I'll wait on her to come out. In the meantime, the alpha asked me to come over and make sure we're on the same page for today."

Kerry shut the door behind him. "Aren't we having a meeting about this in a few minutes?"

Dan sat down on the couch next to Kitty, who hissed at him. Dan frowned. "Whose cat?"

I chuckled. "Demetria's. I'm not a cat person."

He shifted his weight away from Kitty and turned to face Kerry. "We're meeting in an hour at the pack house. The alpha wants to make sure that everyone knows that any wolf or shewolf with a pup can sit back. We need to protect our youth."

That was typical Alpha Davers.

"Also," Dan said, "we want to protect the witches at any cost because they are the only ones that can send the warlock to hell."

"Alright," Kerry said, crossing his arms. "What aren't you telling me?"

Dan sighed. "This is his last fight. He is giving Axel the reins after this one. They still have a few years of school left, but he is tired."

Kerry knew that feeling. He hadn't been in a position of authority as long as the alpha, but he felt the weight. "Got it."

"He isn't telling the others just yet. He wants to have a big party for Axel and Claire after this is all over. He's proud of them. I am, too. That's my daughter."

"I understand. You should be—Claire is fierce."

Dan smiled as he stood up and walked over to Kerry. "I understand you fighting for Demetria because I've felt that second chance love now, myself. However, we have to be careful with the warlock and his sister. They dabble in dark stuff, and they are going to try and break any weak links we have. We have to be strong enough for all of them."

Kerry frowned. "I'm prepared as much as I can be for this. From the moment he took my mate into that stupid portal, I've been ready to hurt him."

"Exactly," Dan said. "Don't let your hate blind you. We need to make smart decisions, not ones coated with emotion."

Kerry knew rage would blind a strong wolf. "You're right."

Dan smiled. "Is she going to come out anytime soon? I'm dying to see her."

The door to Cynthia's room opened, and she walked into the living room.

Dan stepped away from Kerry, forgetting he was there and offered his hand to her. "Good morning. There is breakfast ready in the pack house. Want to come? You hungry?"

Cynthia looked like she wanted to barf, but nodded. "Sure."

They left Kerry standing alone in his living room. The weight of the day landed on his shoulders, and he realized he needed to swallow down his hate for the sake of the entire pack.

And his mate's survival.