In love with a Lycan ON HOLD FOR NOW

Chapter 17

ADRIAN

I didn't want her to move.

Rafe broke through the block I had placed on him and wanted to rip me a new hole until he noticed Kenna was on my lap. He pushed through, wanting to see her, but I held him back as much as possible, only letting him see her slightly. We couldn't risk her knowing him yet until we sorted out what was happening with that other wolf.

A growl rippled through my head. "He won't have her," Rafe grunted. "He will have to fight me, and I will tear him limp from limp. She is ours. The tingles are running through us. Our bond is forming, and being like this, she will soon feel effects too."

When I remembered the first time, we felt the tingles when I touched her moments ago. Part of me wondered if she could feel them, too, especially when she ripped her hand away from me.

Shaking my thoughts, I heard what she said about the flashlights and candles. We needed to do that, but I couldn't move her off my lap. I could sense the shift in her the moment the lights went out. Something told me this was her first ever big storm. We were used to them here since they happen every year.

Keeping my eyes on her, I cleared my throat. "Lead the way."

Kenna nodded and moved from my lap. I moved with her, and we searched for everything we needed. After locating them, Kenna looked at me and smiled. "Let's put some of them around the lounge for now."

I nodded.

Rafe was close by but said nothing. He wanted to keep his eyes on her. He was acting like a puppy. "I am not," he muttered, hearing my thoughts. "A puppy is innocent. I am not. What I want to do to our mate is—"

"Don't tell me," I grit, cutting him off. "I am barely holding on by a thread."

Rafe chuckled.

"Okay, lover boy. Why is mate scared?"

My eyes darted to Kenna as we were putting candles on the bookcase. Kenna looked toward the window again, and her eyes widened when another crash of thunder came.

Placing the last candle down, I walked over, wrapped my hand around her, and turned her to face me. Her eyes were wide. "The storm won't hurt you, I promise."

Kenna stared at me for a while before looking over her shoulder. "I know you're right. At least there aren't wolves outside my room like last night."

I tensed. She heard all of that.

Fuck.

Rafe growled and wanted us to comfort her more.

"Wolves?" I said, clearing my throat. "They're common around here, too."

I couldn't lie. There were wolves, but I wasn't going to tell her it was us, now was I?

"What?" she murmured, her eyes bulging from her sockets. She threw up her arms in surrender. "Well, that was never on the brochure when I came here. No one told me that."

I chuckled. I liked her comebacks.

Kenna looked at me with a faint smile. "I'm sorry. I can be overdramatic when I want."

I shrugged, not even bothered by it.

"Mate funny," Rafe chuckled. "I like her already."

Get in line, buddy. I am already there and even feel more toward her whenever I am in her presence.

"They should, though," she said, making Rafe and me look back at her. "Whatever was going out there last night was terrifying. I thought I heard—"

Kenna shook her head. "Sorry, I should stop." Her eyes went to me again. "I'm not usually this uptight or scared. I can always manage myself."

My heart sank slightly at her words. Since she was alone most of the time, she must have experienced fear when living somewhere.

"To be honest, this place is different, unlike a few I lived in," she said casually. "Instead of wolves and storms, mainly people would scare me. There was always violence or something happening. I would never leave my home unless I were meeting someone or for what I needed."

I frowned. "That was no way to live."

Kenna shrugged. "It was what it was, Adrian."

The way she said my name sent something through me. It wasn't harsh, but it wasn't even comforting. She didn't want to poke or hide whatever she was trying to get at. When she learns about us, I vow never to let her feel like that again. I would be there for her no matter what, even if she didn't accept us.

Rafe growled at the last part of my thinking, but I didn't care. She was human, and it all depended on how she would react to us. We aren't werewolves. We are Lycan, which will take longer to get used to since we differ from werewolves.

Keeping my eyes on her, I moved away and stopped before her. Her eyes never left mine. She nibbled her bottom lip until I touched her hip and pulled her closer until she hit my side. I leaned closer until I was close to her ear. "You won't be alone anymore, sweetheart," I whispered. "You have me, and I will protect you from the storms, even the wolves."

A shiver rippled through her over my claim for her, which excited Rafe and me. She seemed to like it. Pulling back slowly, I moved close to her face. My eyes dropped to her mouth as her teeth pulled her bottom lip. "Don't do that, or I will put your mouth to good use."

Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. She looked like a gapping fish, but I moved my finger under her chin to close her mouth.

"I think you broke, mate," Rafe said, amused.

Ignoring him, I kept my eyes on her. I moved my finger as she gulped.

"I need—" she said, pulling away slightly. I let my arm drop to the side and watched her closely.

She stepped away until she moved closer to the window. Her eyes never left mine. Goddess, I wish I was a mind reader. I wanted to know what was going on in her pretty head. She looked away and headed to leave.

Fuck this.

Taking two long strides, I stopped her and grabbed her wrist. She came to a stop. Her back was to me. "Adrain, I don't think it's a good idea," she murmured, looking over her shoulder at me. "This is—"

She stops what she is saying and watches me closely.

Rafe is close, but I know he is not too close for her to notice him, so I wonder why she is acting like this.

"I have to go," she whispered and turned back around.

Like fuck am I going to let her go, knowing the mate bond is in effect now? I knew I was screwed, and without even thinking, I release her wrist. I can't let her go.

Moving fast, I placed my hand in her hair and turned her around, slamming my mouth on her. An explosion rippled through me while Rafe howled.

Fuck, this was everything I wanted and more.