ALPHA CHAOS

Kane's Obsession

Running into Maribel, both of the women eyed each other cautiously.

Maribel's smug look on her face told Josette that something was amiss—had Maribel somehow called in the trolls? Somehow tainted the tea?

"Maribel, get to your station so we can fight these bastards!"Josette commanded, much to Maribel's chagrin, "We're on the same team here!"

Maribel scoffed, but headed in the direction of Keira and Frances. Josette kept one eye on her and one eye on the troll headed straight for her.

"Josette!"

She could hear Kane call out to her, but this was also her battle and one she had to be prepared for at all times.

She chose mind-bending on the troll—something she learned from Queen Esther—which stopped the heathen in his tracks. She was tossing trolls left and right when she stumbled back into something hard, something that wrapped their arms around her.

"Let me go!" She wiggled and fought to be free,but to no avail.

"It's just me, little dove.." Kane's voice soothed as they took on two other trolls who'd come out of the woods.

"Kane...you can't come to my rescue all of the time! You have your pack to keep safe!"

Kane sighed, his hybrid werewolf yearning to break free.

"I have to keep you safe no matter what, Josette, so don't tell me what the fuck to do.."

Josette levitated, jumping on the back of one of the trolls as Kane turned hybrid, tearing a part the other troll who'd tried to grab hold of Josette.

Josette took down the troll she was straddling, but stared at Kane in awe as his hybrid's red eyes met her gaze.

"Kane.."

Before she got the last hit in, the troll tossed her off. Josette stumbled backwards and down the embankment with Kane calling out to her again. She picked herself up and rushed back up the hill to find Kane with open arms.

Trying to bypass him, she dodged to the left,but Josette wasn't fast enough and Kane grabbed her in his hybrid form—damned determined to take her to safety.

"Kane! Put me down! I can fight these trolls!"

All Kane wanted to do was protect her from every evil—every problem that came her way.

She opened her mouth wide and bit Kane's hand, causing him to drop her to the ground with a thud.

"Don't worry about me!" Josette yelled, "Worry about yourself!"

She rushed off, chanting and waving her hands as trolls began to go after their horses and carriages.

"You can't keep doing this!" Cecil said to Kane as they both shifted back into flesh form, "She's capable!"

Kane snarled and took down two more trolls before the rest of them retreated—knowing they'd lost the battle this time.

"Josette!"

Josette was administering healing to some of her sisters and a few of his pack member, including Ned.

"I need your help now," she winked at him, "You're the healer—my herbs are destroyed."

She looked passed at the carriages that had been ripped apart.

"Josette.." Kane sighed, looking her over to make sure she was alright, "I'm sorry. I can't help but look after you."

Josette smiled, "I know."

Maribel, Keira, and Ruth passed them—heading off to the river to clean up.

Frances stopped at Josette's side, "We'll get more herbs. I'm sure there are some leftover anyway. I'll start looking into the carriages."

Josette nodded, "Thank you and take someone with you."

With Frances gone, Kane continued to apologize.

"Kane, I don't need your apology. I need you to know that I am a witch, but I am a warrior," she said, "I know you care for me and I surely care for you, but we need to watch out for everyone—not just each other."

"I can't lose you..." Kane admitted, "Not now.."

Josette caressed his cheek and smiled, "You're not going to lose me today, Kane."

With that, she turned to helped Frances with the cleaning up of the carriages.

"Do we just leave these trolls here?" Cecil asked, waving to the dead trolls scattered about, "Kane?"

"Burn them..." Kane said as he watched Josette walk back to the caravan, "We'll burn them and then we'll get back on the road as soon as we can."

"Ready to get home?"

"I'm ready to make this woman my wife," Kane mused as they both watched the witches gather their herbs, "She's a feisty one."

Cecil laughed, "That she is and she's got you by the balls."

"She's got me by the balls, yes, but she's got a hold of my heart even more. What the hell has she done to me?"

Cecil sighed, "Love is in the air!"

A few hours later, the caravan was off again with Kane and Josette sitting across from each other in their carriage.

"Are you mad at me?" Kane asked.

"For what?"

"For trying to help you."

Josette smiled, "I can't be mad about that, but I am worried. Why do you feel the need to keep me safe?"

Kane shrugged, "You mean a lot to me, little dove. I guess I don't know how to stop my extreme behavior. It was you or them..."

"Kane, never do that...you always go for your pack. They need you—we aren't family, we're friends. Those men are your brothers and they don't need you to go after your lover."

"My lover..." Kane smirked, "Mine.."

He leaned over and scooped her onto his lap.

"Wanna tell me how we can recreate last night?"

Josette blushed, "I don't know if you're up for it, Mr. Dempsey..."

Kane pulled her closer to him as Josette straddled his lap.

"I'm ready when you are, little dove."