Dinner that night was a quiet affair, just Kasey and Braedon sat down together in the dining room.  Gilbert brought out their meal and left them to eat in peace.  “So,” Kasey began,” Talea… what exactly is she to Jacob?”

“Not my story to tell kitten, I’m afraid you will need to ask Jacob about that one, but I don’t like your chances of getting an answer.”

Kasey thought about that for a second and decided to leave if for now, she knew she’d discover what the story was there eventually and she was after all a very patient person.  “I have another question, your brother Nicolas he’s your older brother right?”  Braedon nodded, “how come you’re the Alpha and he isn’t, I mean I figured the oldest would be?”

“Age is not the only consideration when choosing an Alpha.  Yes Nicolas was next in line after my father, but he doesn’t have the disposition needed.”  He saw the confused look on Kasey’s face and continued.

“Nicolas is a good leader, but his strengths lay in other areas.  He does not have the patience to deal with the multitude of tasks that come across my desk each day, he does not have a head for business and to be honest he’s not exactly a people person.”

Kasey stifled a grin at the last part, but Braedon saw the corner of her mouth creep up, “Nicolas chose not to be Alpha.  He’s a sensible man kitten and could see that I would be better suited to the position.  Jacob is my second in command, but Nicolas does a great deal for the Pack too. 

He not only trains the young men, he is in charge of security for the entire Pack.  Nicolas is very good at what he does and when he tells any Pack member what to do, they not only listen, they do exactly what they are told.”

“Does he live here in the house with us?  I know Jaz has her own home not far from the surgery, but I have no idea about your brother.”

Braedon sighed, “Yes he lives here with us, but at the moment he chooses to stay in the training centre with the young men.  He needs time to get used to you being here kitten, but don’t worry he will come around and once he gets to know you he will love you almost as much as I do.”

Kasey wasn’t so sure about that, but kept her thoughts to herself and hoped that Braedon couldn’t read them.  After dinner they sat out on the porch for a while and relaxed.  Kasey loved that she could see so many stars and as she leaned against the strength of Braedon’s shoulder she felt a peace she had never thought possible.  “Home!” she thought to herself and Braedon gave her a slight squeeze, “Yes kitten, you are home.”

They sat quietly for sometime taking in the beauty of the night sky, the sounds of the wildlife settling for the evening.  There was a hint of the ocean in the slight breeze that came their way and just as Kasey was starting to doze a little she heard the call of a Wolf. 

The sound fairly took her breath away, it was beautiful but also somehow haunting and she felt loneliness within it.  The sound called to her in a way nothing ever had.  There was pain in that call, a pain so deep she hoped she would never feel it as her own.

She turned to Braedon and he wiped tears from her cheeks.  She saw worry in his eyes and also pain but remained silent.  “You feel it too don’t you, his sadness… his pain?”

As she sat there watching him she saw unshed tears in his eyes.  This strong man, this shifter, this Alpha felt the pain of those he cared for and not just his family, but his Pack.  Kasey wanted, needed to show Braedon he wasn’t alone, but she knew that whatever she said had to be said from heart to heart.

“It takes a man of great strength to show his true feeling Braedon.  You have shown your Pack your strength and they both love and respect you.  But know this my mate; I am the one person you don’t have to be strong with.”

The light in Braedon’s eyes shone bright that night.   He was home again, truly home and even more than that Kasey ‘was’ his home.  He had her with him, in his arms and no matter what came their way, he and the Pack would now fight to the death if needs be to keep her safely with them.

Braedon pulled her to him and kissed her softly on the nose.  She scrunched it up and grinned at him and for a moment it was as if time had stopped.  Their eyes locked and as they moved even closer Kasey could feel her heart picking up several beats.  She pushed the thought away and let herself drown in Braedon’s eyes.

Their lips met in a fleeting touch but it was enough to heat her blood and sent her pulse racing.  She pulled herself into his lap and wrapped her arm around his neck as his came around her.  Kasey didn’t stop to think, if she had she might not have been so bold, she reached up and kissed him ever so gently on the lips pulling back a bare few seconds before doing so again.

Braedon remained still, letting her take the lead.  He wanted Kasey to be comfortable being close with him… what he wanted was for them to be more intimate, but that would come in time, he would not push her, no matter what.

Kasey kissed him again, this time wanting to deepen the kiss.  She had no real idea of what she was doing, but she needn’t have worried because instinct took over.  She opened her mouth slightly and her tongue slid across his lips, he opened his mouth to her and she moved right in.

In moments they were exploring each other’s mouths, their tongues dancing a dance as old as love itself.  She could feel herself falling into him and she wanted more… so much more. But Braedon pulled back to let her catch her breath or maybe to give her a moment to consider what she was doing and just how far she was ready to go.

She looked up at him a little confused.  Her heart was thumping in her chest, her cheeks flushed and in fact her entire body felt slightly flushed.  She wanted to strip off her clothes and get as close as was possible to Braedon. 

Kasey’s bottom lip trembled slightly and he pulled her head to his shoulder kissing the top of it.  He held her to him wanting, needing, but not willing to take from her.  He wanted her to be absolutely positive she was ready and at the moment she was hot and needy, but not really ready to give herself to him completely.

He stroked her hair and when he heard a sob he shushed her softly.  Kasey buried her face against him and whispered so softly that Braedon wasn’t sure at first that he’d heard her, “I’m sorry.”

He didn’t know what to say, so he just held her and rocked ever so slightly trying to let her know that all was well and that there was no need for her to apologise.  She was with him and for now it was enough.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kasey didn’t sleep well that night, she tossed and turned and finally gave up in the early hours of the morning.  She grabbed a robe and put her slippers on then headed out to the kitchen.  “Coffee!” she thought to herself but as she got closer to the kitchen she wasn’t at all sure she should touch anything, after all it was Gilberts domain.

She took a few more steps and caught the smell of freshly brewed coffee.  She grinned as she entered the kitchen and found Gilbert sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee in front of him.  Sensing her he looked up and immediately got to his feet offering her a seat.

“Hey Gilbert, is there anymore coffee left?” she asked and he nodded and went to get her some.  “Are you always up this early?”

“Yes,” he replied a little flustered.  He enjoyed this time of the morning when everyone was still asleep, he enjoyed the quietness of it as he prepared himself for the day.  He handed the coffee mug to Kasey and returned to his seat.  She thanked him and headed out the back door to sit on the steps and watch the sun rise. 

Gilbert smiled to himself, he liked Kasey and so far she seemed to fit in with everyone, well everyone except Nicolas.  Gilbert sighed and finished off his coffee hoping that Nicolas would see Kasey for who she was, his brother’s true mate.  He shook his head and got up to begin his day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kasey sat quietly sipping her coffee and enjoying the uniqueness of the morning.  Everything felt fresh and new at this time of day, she could hear birds waking in the distance and the rustling sounds of small animals in the bushes close by.

 She looked up to a sky that had become a changing artwork in shades of oranges, pinks and a deep, deep blue that tapered off to lavender. At the edges she watched as a slow growing light came to life.  It looked for all the world as though some angelic being was stretching its wings and ushering the morning in.

People were still at their rest but would soon rise to begin their day.  Kasey wondered what it would be like to settle here for keeps, to become a real part of Braedon’s Pack.  She wanted that, to belong, to be part of something bigger than herself.

As the sky lightened she began to see people moving around heading out to their respective jobs, she looked towards the training centre and wondered if Nicolas was awake yet and why he was so set against her being here.  She knew he was concerned for the Pack, but if what she was told about mates was true, he should have welcomed her.

She put down her coffee mug and stood, eyes still on the training centre.  She took one step then another towards it, half expecting Braedon to stop her.  A small part of her was hoping he would, but she was no coward so she kept walking.

Kasey stopped outside the entryway to centre, she reasoned it was to get her thoughts together, but she knew it was more about her gaining control so she wouldn’t say or do something stupid once faced with her mate’s brother.

Once calm and in control Kasey stepped through the entryway and looked around.  She knew this was a male dominated area, so wasn’t sure if she should go any further.  She was about to turn and leave when she heard growling from behind her, she turned quickly and was faced with none other than Nicolas.

“You’re growling again.” She began. “I know you don’t want me here Nicolas, but Braedon wants me here.  I’m his mate and from what I’ve been told I can’t leave him, it would hurt both of us.  The mating bond is there Nicolas, what would you have me do?”

Nicolas was not happy to see a female in the training centre and when he realised it was Braedon’s human mate he growled to himself knowing he would now have to not only speak with her but deal with her being in his domain.

When she turned to face him he clenched his hands into fists but remained still.  She was feisty, he’d give her that, but she was human and his kind knew better than to mate outside their own kind.  “Why are you here?”

“I thought it was time we got acquainted, I mean… I’m going to be your sister-in-law and I’ve never had siblings before, that is until recently.  Now I have six brothers, it would be nice to make that seven.” 

She looked at him hopefully, but was interrupted by several young men coming in.  They greeted Nicolas and looked curiously at Kasey.  For some reason Nicolas didn’t like them too close to her, “Laps! Go!” and they immediately lowered their heads turned away from Kasey and moved through to the other side of the room and out to the large exercise area.

“You shouldn’t be here.  The rest of the trainees will be coming in and they don’t need the distraction.” Then he turned as if to walk away from her.

“Do you hate me so much that you can’t even have a conversation with me?”  Kasey shook her head; she’d hoped that they could have at least attempted to get past the anger that was generated when they first met.

“I do not hate you.”  Nicolas sighed and ran a hand through his hair.  “You are human, our kind have not mated with humans for centuries.  It will not bode well for you or for the Pack.”

“Why, because you believe humans are too weak?  We are a great deal stronger than you give us credit for Nicolas.”  Then she put her hands on her hips and straightened her spine. “In any case you can’t count me in their numbers, because I’m not quite human!”

Before he had a chance to speak she headed for the door but turned before she left, “I’ll expect to see you for dinner.”

Then she was gone, leaving a somewhat stunned Nicolas staring after her.  He heard the trainees out back and headed that way telling himself there was no way he was going to dinner at the main house, but curiosity had taken hold and he found himself wanting to learn more about this woman.