Wolf Pack (17 page)

He chuckled. “Yep. Especially with trying to figure out who is responsible for what and get the innocent shifters back home or relocated. Even if they’re lone wolves they had lives that they were ripped away from. I want to make sure that each one gets reunited with any family or friends they have.”

“This is why you’ll make a good Alpha,” Kendra commented.

Cole snapped his head to the side then had to correct his steering since his he’d jerked the wheel. “What?”

“The compassion you have,” she told him. “You’re strong and tough enough to protect the pack but you also care about those around you. That’s how an Alpha should be.”

“I don’t know,” he hedged. “The more I think about the position the bigger the complications are.”

“Name one.”

He peeked over at her. “One?”

“A complication. Pick one and tell me.”

Since housing was the freshest on his mind he went with that. “The Alpha house is awfully big and I’m not used to being around a lot of people. To share a space with anyone will be weird. I don’t even know if I can do it.”

“You’ve stayed with me,” she pointed out.

“That’s completely different and you know it.”

“No, hear me out,” she requested. “You are comfortable at my place right?”

Cole nodded.

“So while you do need to be there so you can train with Taylor and learn about your new pack, no one ever said you had to live in Taylor’s house. Which is Taylor’s since his family owns it. I’m sure he’d let you live there if you wanted but that doesn’t have to be the Alpha residence.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” he admitted. Cole slowed the truck down to make the turn toward Kendra’s cabin.

“Don’t move into the Alpha house. After Taylor leaves, the place can still be used for guests and pack who need a place to stay but that doesn’t mean you have to live there.”

It couldn’t be that easy, could it? “And that’ll work?”

She shrugged. “You get to make decisions. You can even change things up if you want.”

Cole slowed to a stop in Kendra’s driveway. He turned off the truck then shifted in his seat to face her. “How about I make you some dinner and we talk out some more of my concerns?”

“I’d like that,” she told him.

“Thanks.” He grabbed the door handle and pulled it open to climb out of the truck. He let the dogs out of the back and they both immediately started sniffing around.

“They’ll be fine,” Kendra said as she watched them.

The light from the porch was shining on her and she was gorgeous standing there doing nothing. He grabbed his bags from the truck bed then walked over to her. Kendra glanced over her shoulder, her smile warm and inviting. “Finally home.”

He nodded. “Let’s go in. You can relax while I start dinner.”

“Wait! I thought you didn’t cook,” she accused. “I didn’t catch it earlier when you said you’d make dinner but when we were at the diner you told me you only eat out.”

“I don’t really but I’m going to take care of you tonight.”

As she started toward the door she dug in her pocket for her keys. “Hmm,” she murmured. “I believe I’m going to enjoy that.”

“You’d better,” he told her. Cole whistled for the dogs and they trotted over.

“Come in.” Kendra waved the three of them forward.

“Why don’t you take a shower and get some comfortable clothes on,” he suggested. “I’ll get the dogs settled.”

She grabbed his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Cole tilted his head to get a better angle and opened to her questing tongue. Oh, he’d be taking care of Kendra in a lot of ways tonight.

Chapter Eleven

Kendra followed Taylor from the meeting room in his house to the study. Anytime they had private conversations, Taylor always led her to his favorite room.

“I was worried about you yesterday. You looked so tired but I can see you finally got some rest last night,” Taylor told her as he closed the door.

She flopped down on the old brown leather couch. “I did. Cole grilled burgers for us and then we vegged out in front of the TV for a few hours.” She left out the sensual massage and incredible lovemaking since Taylor really didn’t need to know those activities.

“He called me this morning and asked if we could talk after dinner,” Taylor told her.

Kendra nodded. She’d been in the kitchen drinking her morning coffee when Cole had called her Alpha. “He had to go into the office this morning, then we’re attending a cookout with some of his friends. We should be back by six, though.”

“You’re spending a lot of time with him,” Taylor commented.

“Yes.” She stretched out her legs. There was something so comfortable about the study’s furniture that always made her sleepy. It was probably because that was where she’d felt the safest as a teenager and she’d lain there while Taylor had worked well into the night.

“Normally you’re very independent even in your relationships,” Taylor pointed out.

“I thought you liked Cole?” she questioned, unsure where this conversation was going.

“Oh, I do,” Taylor admitted. “And I think he’s a good match for you too.”

“Then what’s it matter how much time I spend with him? Isn’t that a good thing?”

Taylor sighed as he sat in front of her in his favorite chair. “Cole’s not like us. He’s been a loner for most of his life. The transition into the pack won’t be easy for him. He’ll need your help.”

“I already told him that I’ll be there for him. Whatever he needs,” she assured Taylor.

“Which is good if he asks,” Taylor replied.

“I guess.”

“The two of you are very similar but different enough to be compatible. He’s going to want to figure things out on his own and there will be times when you’re going to have to offer him help even if he doesn’t think he needs it. I’m hoping because the two of you seem so close now that will mean he’s willing to listen,” Taylor told her.

She nodded. “I think he is. He brought up some concerns last night and I gave him some alternatives of what he thought he’d have to do.”

“Do you want to share those with me?” Taylor asked.

It probably wouldn’t hurt anything but Cole would fill Taylor in on what he wanted the Alpha to know. “I think I’ll let him talk to you tonight. I was only a sounding board, so not all of his concerns were even issues. I think he just needs to talk things out.”

“I understand,” Taylor said. “I did the same thing but at least I had my dad to help.”

“Cole mentioned talking to Zak, the tiger shifter that’s been here, to get his opinion,” Kendra shared. “Zak seems like he’d be a good influence and I think he’ll help Cole.”

Taylor smiled. “I want Cole to agree but my first instinct will always be to protect you. He’s very dominant.”

She blushed, could feel her cheeks heat, and looked down at her hands. Yes, Cole was, and she loved every minute of it.

“I don’t want to know about that look on your face,” he teased.

Kendra shook her head. She really was not going to share any of the dirty thoughts going through her mind at the moment.

“I worry about you losing some of your spunk because of his influence over you in other areas of your relationship,” Taylor admitted.

Finally she understood what Taylor was getting at. They’d had the same conversation when she’d first started dating, although none of her boyfriends had ever been as dominant as Cole. It was hard to explain to her Alpha that just because she got off on submitting to a powerful man in bed that didn’t mean she’d roll over for him any other time.

“Cole respects my work and really seems to like me the way I am. I don’t think it’ll be an issue. He’s not an asshole,” she defended her lover.

“I never believed he was, or that you would completely lose yourself, but I do worry. You’re my daughter even if not by blood. No matter how much I like Cole I have to ask.” Taylor spoke more calmly than she had.

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

“It’s all right. Your answer was as passionate as always and that’s why I care so much for you,” Taylor said. “Don’t forget who you are.”

While Kendra understood why Taylor was bringing his concerns up she also felt like she was missing something important. “Why are you saying this now?”

“From the look of things, you and Cole are getting close very quickly. I’m pretty sure he’s already in love with you and I know you have strong feelings for him.”

She nodded, agreeing with his statement.

“If he becomes Alpha it’s not easy on a relationship. There will be times he’s called away or out helping a member of the pack and unable to call or come home.”

“I’ve been through all of that with you,” she reminded him.

“It’s different when it’s your mate,” Taylor replied. “I’ve seen good women not able to handle the pressure of life as the Alpha mate.”

Ah, now Kendra got it. “I know it was hard when your mom left and I never met her but I think I’m different than she was. I understand the Alpha responsibilities to the pack as well as my own.”

“No,” he said. “You’re nothing like her and that’s a compliment. I’d hate for you to become as miserable as my mother was.”

“I have my job, which I still like doing. Your mom didn’t work outside the house and while I can respect that decision I won’t quit my job even if I mate Cole one day,” she assured him. “Plus I have no intention of giving up my position in the inner circle. I don’t want to be Beta or any of the other high standards but I will continue to support Cole as I’ve always done for you.”

“Good.” Taylor grinned. “I feel better.”

“I guess it’s hard to worry about your pack, who’s taking it over and how they’ll do, but you’re also leaving your home,” Kendra pointed out.

“Yeah,” Taylor said. “I’ll come home for holidays and hopefully throughout the year but other than vacations I’ve never left Lake Worth before. I didn’t really think about how much I would miss it until I started to think Cole was the best candidate to replace me.”

“Do you think you’ll have any problems with bringing in an outsider to lead?” Kendra asked. She’d not considered if anyone else might want the job.

“No,” Taylor assured her. “There’s no one here that is dominant enough. It would be chaos. Anyone who I thought might want to move up into a higher position I’ve already spoken to. They know Cole will be able to choose his own Beta, guards and inner circle.”

“You’re going to help him, though,” she said. Even as part of the inner circle, Kendra wouldn’t want to have to help Cole pick out the people who would be closest to him.

“Alpha training can take six months to a year. The Wolf Council is willing to work with me and give me as much time as I need. There is no hurry so I won’t go until I am sure that Cole and every pack member is comfortable.”

“Good.” She couldn’t help but be relieved.

“Although I really don’t think it’ll take as long as you, or Cole for that matter, think it will. I know what I’m doing and Cole is the most natural Alpha I’ve ever met.”

“Is that why you asked him?” she asked.

“It was one of the reasons,” he answered. “But there were a lot of factors. When he was transferred from Phoenix to Lake Worth he called before he even got to town. He already had lone wolf status so it wasn’t necessary but it is polite when living close to such a large pack. Even though he didn’t want to join us there was still something I liked about him. So we became friends. Shared a few beers out or dinner every once in a while. From the moment that I considered joining the Council, Cole was always my first choice.”

“Maybe you should tell him that,” she suggested. “Because I don’t think he understands all that.”

Taylor laughed. “I’ll bring it up.”

She beamed at him. “Now I have to go find someone who’ll let Cole’s dogs out for a pee break and maybe take them for a walk.” Kendra stood up and strolled over to give Taylor a hug.

“Why don’t I do it?” he offered.

“Walk the dogs?”

“Yes.” He raised an eyebrow. “If I’m capable of running an entire pack I think I can handle two pets.”

“Yeah, but don’t you need to…” She waved her hand around. “I don’t know, rule the world or something?”

Taylor pushed her playfully. “Get out of here and I’ll take good care of Cole’s dogs.”

“Okay,” she agreed, although it felt weird to leave her Alpha with babysitting duty. Surely, as busy as Taylor was, he would much rather spend his time working or something.

But if Taylor said he’d do something he did it, and Kendra really wanted to get on the road and see if she could steal some time with Cole before they had to be at Zak’s house. Maybe they’d even be able to manage a quick trip to Cole’s for some private fun first.

* * * *

“I was about to call you,” Cole said as he answered his cell.

“Yeah?” Kendra asked. “I was calling to tell you that I’m headed in your direction. What were you calling for?”

“Same thing,” Cole replied. “I was going to pick you up since we had some time before we have to be at Zak’s.”

“Where are you now?” she questioned.

“In the parking garage at the office.”

“Good, I’m closer to you so why don’t you meet me at your place.”

The way her voice dropped and grew husky, Cole had a pretty damn good idea of what Kendra wanted to do between now and when they needed to be at Zak’s. “I guess I could. If that’s really what you want.”

“It is,” she assured him.

Damn, he was already hard and Kendra wasn’t even with him. “I’ll probably beat you to my house so this is what I want you to do.”

“What?” she squeaked.

Oh yeah, Cole was going to love every second of this. “The front door will be unlocked. Come in and lock it behind you. Walk to my bedroom door but undress before you go inside. Get on your knees facing the end of the bed and wait for me.”

“Where are you going to be?” she asked, breathless.

“Don’t worry about that. Do you want to do this my way?” he questioned.

“Yes,” she hissed.

“Then don’t ask questions,” he said.

“I’ll be there soon,” she replied.

“Good.” He disconnected the call and tossed his phone on the passenger seat. He started his truck then looked in the rear-view mirror before he carefully backed out of his spot.