Jacob escorted Shallana home and she promised to return next morning to further discuss Kasey coming face-to-face with her guardian.  By the time he returned to the hotel both Braedon and Kasey had settled for the night.  Braedon was on the outside of the bedcovers with his arm around her holding her close and Kasey looked relaxed and at peace in his arms.

Jacob had to smile, he’d known Braedon all of his life and had never seen him so up and down emotionally.  He knew it was finding his mate that was doing it and although he was determined never to have to go through the same thing, he secretly longed for someone of his own.  Someone he could love and shower his affection on, someone who would love him unconditionally. 

He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts and sat down on the couch.  He leaned back trying to make sense of the past few days and closed his eyes for a moment… just a moment, then sleep took him.

Kasey woke to the sounds of someone grumbling, “God damned couch… pain in the neck… I need a drink… no make that a coffee…. a double shot coffee.” 

She tried not to laugh when she realised it was Jacob and that he’d probably spent the night on the couch.  The couch was comfortable, but not really built for hulking a great Were like him to sleep on.

Kasey thought about last night for a moment then decided to try something, she figured if she could speak to Braedon through her mind, then maybe she could do the same with Jacob.  “Jacob, can you hear me?” she waited for a moment to see if he’d react, when she heard him gasp in the other room she continued, “Jacob, Braedon is still asleep and I need to get up, do you think you could give me a hand?” 

Jacob suddenly appeared in the doorway looking in awe at her.  “How… I can’t believe… here let me help you.”  He sent a message to Braedon letting him know what he was doing.  Braedon sighed and loosened his grip on Kasey so she could get up.  She turned to her newly discovered mate and tucked a pillow under his arm.

Jacob looked at her curiously and she blushed, “Umm, it’s got my scent all over it so I thought…” she lowered her head and turned away from him.

“Kasey that was very thoughtful of you, it should keep him calm until he wakes and finds you have turned into a pillow,” he said then chuckled lightly.  “I need a shower and food and you probably need the same. 

Why don’t you get yourself ready and I’ll do the same.  I’d like to leave Braedon to sleep for a while longer, but if he’s still out when I get back I’ll get him up.  He will want to see that you are taken care of and,” he grinned, “he’ll be way pissed if I take you out for breakfast and leave him here.”  At that he left the room and Kasey stood surveying the room for a moment before she quietly gathered fresh clothing and headed for the bathroom.

By the time she came out Braedon was up and moving about.  Kasey figured she’d taken longer in the shower than the thought because he was all cleaned up and his hair was still wet from his own shower.  She’d just finished tying her hair in a pony tail as she entered the living room and Braedon’s face lit up immediately.  She couldn’t help but smile too and before she knew it he had her in his arms giving her a warm hug.

“Good morning Kasey, I trust you slept well?”  She nodded suddenly unable to find her voice.  Braedon tilted her face up so he could see it, “talk to me kitten, tell me what is concerning you.”  He saw confusion in her mind and sighed, “You have a great deal of information to digest Kasey and we will go slowly, I want you to be happy and safe. 

You are my mate, but that being said you need time and perhaps a little space to sort out what you are feeling.” Then he grinned, “Hopefully not too much time or space, I enjoy the feel of you in my arms.” Then he stepped back from her giving her the space he believed she needed at the moment.

Kasey was surprised not that he’d stepped back from her, but from her reaction to it.  She could physically feel the loss of his arms, his warmth and the comfort she had felt there.  She hugged her arms around herself unsure of what the hell her world… her life was going to be now and Braedon brushed his hand over her cheek and kissed her forehead.  “We should go; I can hear Jacob’s stomach growling with hunger from here.”

As they left the suite Jacob joined them and Daniel came up behind him.  She smiled at Daniel and he nodded in return, it took her a minute then, “Nate!  Where’s Nate?  I thought he’d be here too?”  She turned to Braedon and waited for him to answer her.

“Nate is doing his job kitten and in case you are wondering he is fine, he slept well last evening thanks to you.” Then he put his arm around her waist and led her to the elevator and to the dining area for breakfast.

Kasey hadn’t realised how hungry she was and grinned when Braedon looked at her in surprise when she asked for a double serve of pancakes.  She shrugged at him and let her eyes wonder around the room. 

Now that she knew what Braedon and his people were, they weren’t difficult to spot at all.  There were several of them scattered around the room and she wondered what they’d do if she suddenly decided to just take off, run out of the room and away from them. 

She smiled inwardly, knowing there wasn’t a chance in hell she’d make it out of the room without the majority of them surrounding her and keeping her where she was until Braedon was by her side.  Part of her liked the idea that he would always be there, that he and his people would do anything to protect her, but there was another part too that wanted to pull back from that. 

Kasey had always been independent, she’d never had a choice in that respect, but even if she did, she knew that she’d still want to be her own person; she’d need to be able to make her own decisions and do what she wanted to do without having to ask permission or have an entourage of protectors surrounding her.

After breakfast they headed back to their suite and Kasey stopped dead in her tracks, “Shit!” she exclaimed, “I’m supposed to be at work,” then she bolted into the room grabbed her bag and made for the door.  She didn’t get very far though as she suddenly found herself surrounded by Were’s.

Braedon was shaking his head, “You are not going to work today kitten, you will be staying right here with me and…” he was cut off by the expression she had on her face.

“My life!  My job!  My choice!  Don’t push it Braedon cause right now I’m not in a happy place and I need to be doing something normal.”  Then she turned away from him and pushed passed the Were’s who were standing somewhat stunned at what she’d said to their Alpha.

A few moments later everyone moved.  Braedon was beside her on one side and Jacob was soon on the other.  She didn’t have to turn her head to know that the others were bringing up the rear.  She huffed loudly, “If you wish to go about your normal day Kasey then you will do so with adequate protection.”  Braedon paused for effect, “Or we can go back to our suite and relax.”

Kasey didn’t even hesitate, she just kept walking and when they’d gone down to the ground floor she stepped out of the elevator and headed for the hotel entrance.  As they hit the street most of the men disappeared into the crowd of people moving up and down the street and Kasey felt better about what she’d decided to do.  Braedon let her take the lead, but he and Jacob stayed close as she made her way to the café to start work.

Henry was surprised to see her as she walked in the door and Chrissy came running up to her giving her a hug.  A couple of her protectors unfortunately didn’t look too kindly on Chrissy pouncing on Kasey stepped between them both scaring the hell out of Chrissy who yelped!

“What the hell are you doing, geez, she’s my friend!” And Kasey tried pushing the hulking great man out of her way, try being the operative word, as she couldn’t budge him an inch. 

In frustration she turned to Braedon and he nodded at the man standing between Kasey and Chrissy, “Eli step down, she will not harm Kasey,” Eli complied and stepped aside then Chrissy looked at Braedon and he smiled at her. “I apologise Chrissy, Eli was just trying to protect Kasey.”

“Chrissy!” Kasey called out and her friend threw her arms around her and burst into tears.  Kasey held her friend and whispered into her ear that it was alright, that everything was going to be okay.  Then she tugged Chrissy to the back room where they could have a bit of privacy.

“Chrissy, I’m so sorry if Eli scared you; he’s probably feeling really bad about it now that he knows your one of the good guys.” Then she rolled her eyes and made Chrissy laugh.  “Sweetie if you like I’ll get Braedon to punch him in the nose, or…” she whispered, “I could threaten to prevent him ever being able to sire any children.”

Chrissy stared at Kasey not sure if she was serious or not, then she caught the wicked look in her eye and started to giggle.  “You’d really do that wouldn’t you… threaten him I mean.  Kase, we’ve all been so worried, you’re like my sister and I don’t want anything to happen to you.  None of us do!”

Kasey sighed and shook her head, “Take a look out there Chrissy, do you really think they are gonna let anything happen to me?  I think Braedon would kill anyone who got too close to me, especially if he thought they were a threat.” 

She nudged Chrissy with her elbow, “He knows your family to me Chrissy, so he’ll make sure you are okay too.  Now how about we go back out there and you can check out all those hunky bodies?”  Chrissy giggled and hugged Kasey before they went back out and Henry whistled to let them know that he had coffee ready to be delivered to customers.

The next couple of days went by quietly, Kasey came to work as usual, but there was always a steady stream of very good looking men at the café and both Braedon and Jacob spent most of their day either in the café or at meetings close by.  When they couldn’t be there, Daniel was at hand and kept an ever vigilant watch on her.

Kasey thought she’d eventually get used to having so many people around watching over her, but after a few days she was ready to go hide under a rock just to get away from everyone.  Hell she even started hiding out in the bathroom just to get away from everyone including Braedon.

Braedon was her mate, they had yet to discuss this and what it meant for both of them and at the moment she was feeling far too overwhelmed to think let alone discuss that.  Shallana had come to see them the next day as she’d said, but when she found no one there she left a message for Jacob to call her when she was needed.  That was also something that Kasey didn’t want to face just yet.

It had been almost a week since the incident at the bank, David had been released from jail and no one had spotted him anywhere near places that Kasey would frequent.  She believed she was safe, that David had simply slunk off to hide in a hole somewhere.  Kasey wanted to get on with her life, she wanted her freedom and she wanted… needed to be alone, if only for a while.

She looked at the customers in the café, it was just after lunch, the rush was easing and they would soon have time to sit and catch their breath.  Kasey looked over at Daniel and Eli as they sat quietly and watched people come and go.  Kasey sighed and quietly walked out to the kitchen to see if Marie needed any help.  She smiled and waved her off saying she had everything under control, so she sat in the back room and tried to sort out her thoughts.  She was feeling rattled and on edge, she needed some fresh air, so she opened the back door and stepped outside.

The breeze brushed over her face, so she closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation.  Finally she was alone!  No one hovering over her or telling her she needs to stay close.  She started walking then, just to stretch legs, she wasn’t going to go far, but before she realised it she had walked up the back laneway and was on the main street.

When she realised where she was, she figured, ‘what the hell’ and kept walking.  It was so good to out and about and she wanted to enjoy what little time she had before someone realised she was gone.  She felt calm and almost whole again, she smiled and turned knowing she should go back when she heard a familiar voice.

“You bitch!  Have you got any idea what you did to me!  I’ve lost my job and my wife kicked me out because someone told her what I was supposed to have done to all those whores!”

David glared at her, “You are no better than any of them and you would have given me what I wanted eventually, but now!  Now I’m not supposed to be anywhere near you and because of you, you fucking bitch I’ve lost everything.  Everything!  And you are going to pay.”

Kasey stared at him in shock, she couldn’t believe he was here, couldn’t believe he had the nerve to seek her out.  Then she saw the gun in his hand! Everything happened so quickly, David cocked the gun and aimed it at her, there was a loud noise and she screamed.

At first Kasey thought it was the noise that made her scream, it was so loud it hurt her ears, then she felt something warm on the front of her shirt and when she looked down the pain registered.  “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god… he shot me,” she kept repeating this over and over. 

She held both hands to her left shoulder to stay the blood and as her legs gave out she felt strong arms wrap around her lifting her and resting her against a strong chest.  Kasey turned her head unsure who had hold of her; all she knew was that it wasn’t Braedon. 

When she looked up she saw Daniel looking at her pain and anguish and regret written across his features.  He ran with her to the dress store nearby and placed her on the carpet reaching out for whatever clothing was nearby to hold to her shoulder and soak up the blood.

“Danny,” she said, and he tried to hush her, “Danny I’m sorry, I just… just…” and darkness took her.