The Kitten Has Claws

The Kitten Has Claws [Chapter 14]

"Look at me." She turned slowly to look at him, bracing herself for his words. "Noelle, you are my mate," Raine said fiercely, standing up.

"Look," Noelle said firmly, "You're like, King of the Cat Men, right? What if I don't want to be Queen, huh? Did you ever think about that?"

Raine scowled, Cat Men indeed. But he softened his expression when she realized that she was scared. "Why wouldn't you want to be Queen?" he asked softly, "You'd make a great Queen and my men already love you."

She rolled her eyes, "It doesn't matter what they think of me, what if I simply don't want to be Queen? What then?"

"Does it really bother you that much? Or are you just testing me?" Raine asked knowingly. She was testing him to see how much he was willing to give up. "If it truly bothers you, I'll consider stepping down and giving Finn reign, but right now, my people need me." He took a step towards her, gaging her reaction.

Noelle allowed Raine to embrace her, ashamed that she had thought to ask him to abandon his men. She knew how important all of this was to him. As alpha, it was his duty to protect everyone, she couldn't expect him to give it all up; but he had considered it, for her.

"I'll never let anything bad happen to you," he vowed against her hair. She pulled back slightly from him, looking up into his eyes, wanting his lips on hers more than anything else in the world.

Raine's eyes roved over her face hungrily as he took in her desire and acceptance. He leaned forward slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. Right before their lips connected a loud buzzing noise erupted throughout the room, "Damn it," Raine cursed, pulling back from Noelle.

She nearly moaned at the loss of his body warmth. He had almost kissed her again. She craved his touch, but it seemed she was destined to never get it.

"Got it!" they heard a reluctant Fletcher yell.

"What is that sound?" she asked Raine.

"The doorbell," he muttered darkly. "I'm going to kill whoever it is," she thought she heard him add in a low voice.

Seconds later Ryder, Paxton and Finn walked through the doorway, entering the common room again. They looked expectantly at Raine.

"I'll be right back," he told them. "I'm going to put Noelle with the rest of the women."

"Movie room," Finn informed him. Raine nodded and led Noelle out of the room. They passed Dmitri and Eamon along the way.

"What's going on? Why are you treating me like a child?" she asked angrily.

Raine sighed and laced his fingers in hers, "I'm only trying to protect you," he said. "I don't know who is at our gate and if he's a threat or not. I can never be too careful." When they reached the movie room he kissed her softly on the forehead and smiled at the other women.

"Hello ladies." They returned the greeting and smiled secretively at Noelle. She glared at them and sat dejectedly on the couch. "I'll be back for you in a little bit," he promised, shutting the door soundly behind him.

Raine rested his hand on the closed door for a second longer than necessary, and then headed up to Theo's room. He knocked before entering. "Theo, are you strong enough to move?" he asked.

"Yes sir," Theo replied immediately, ignoring Delilah's protests.

"Good. I need you to stay with the women in the movie room until we have determined if our visitor is a threat or not."

Theo started to scowl, but he nodded, "Yes, sir."

"He's not strong enough to move!" Delilah blurted out. She scoffed when Theo glared at her, "Well you're not."

"Yes I am, Delilah. I will protect you and the other women."

"I still don't think it's wise."

"You're obvious lack of confidence in my abilities is wounding," he said. "Stop worrying about me, woman. I'll be fine."

"Fine!" she said shortly, "but if you get hurt, I'm not nursing you back to health. You can die for all I care." The men shared a look that made Delilah even angrier, but before she could storm out of the room, Theo had a hand wrapped around her arm.

"Not so fast," he stated, tugging her along with him, towards the movie room.

Raine watched them leave and then headed back to the common room. When he entered he stifled a curse.

"Greetings," Jed said with a feral grin, showing off his pointy incisors.

"Let me guess," Raine growled, "King Kristoff sends some message about protecting the Vessel."

"Bingo," Jed said, plopping down in a chair. "We support you and offer our protection, blah blah blah," he said in a bored tone.

"Who do you think the Vessel is?" Raine asked casually.

Jed sat up abruptly, his eyebrows shooting up high, "You mean you don't know?"

"I never said that," Raine scowled, "I asked if 'you' knew who it was."

"Meaning," Jed said slowly, "that you don't have a clue. Shit. Well I can't help you there, dude. Not my place to tell you."

Most of the men in the room let out curses and glared at Jed. Raine rubbed the bridge of his nose angrily. This was the last straw. He and a few men would leave tomorrow morning for the Elders. Then they would finally have the answers.

"Uh...excuse me?" Tamsin asked timidly. The men all stared at her in surprise. Everyone had forgotten that she was still there. She grinned sheepishly when their expressions changed from shock to anger.

"Why are you here? Why is she here?" Raine snarled. Shit, if she was the Vessel they just put her in danger. Even if Jed was a friend, no one could be trusted.

"Fletcher answered the door and after Jed made his announcement we came straight into here. I wasn't told to leave or anything, so don't go getting all prissy at me," she defended.

"Fine," Raine bit out. "Fletcher, take her out of here and put her with the other women while I talk to the men and Jed."

Fletcher grabbed Tamsin's arm and placed a hand over her mouth before she could argue, "Yes, sir."

Raine turned to the rest of his men and started pacing. "Tomorrow I'm going to take a few of you with me to visit the Elders. It's time that we figure out who the Vessel is. Ryder, Finn and Paxton, I want you to come with me. That'll leave Dmitri, Fletcher, Eamon and Theo to guard the women."

"And me," Jed added in casually.

Raine turned to look at him, "Excuse me?"

"Oh I didn't tell you?" he said in a mock surprised voice, "Per our contract I'm required to stay and help protect the Vessel. It's all a part of the whole 'supporting you' thing. If you don't mind."

"Not that I have much of a choice," Raine muttered.

Jed grinned, "Not really."

"Lucky for you, I trust you and your King. However, if any harm comes to any of the women I will tear you limb from limb."

"I shiver in fear," Jed remarked in a monotone voice.

Raine chose to ignore him and instead walked towards the door. He had a lot to do before the morning. "Be ready to leave at nine," he told his men before leaving the room.

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