Alpha Ember (ALPHA KANE BOOK 2)

2. May Wilder's Kidnapping Part Two

I blew out a breath. "I was avoiding everyone- including Kane- because I was still sad about Aster and was tired of pretending I wasn't. I wanted some time to get myself together."

"Oh."

The shock on his face was almost comical since I've almost never seen Ian bewildered before, he was the one who always had the answers even before the question was considered.

"Self-doubt is humanity's undoing," Arius said.

"Whatever," Ian said, grabbing me by the hand. "Now that I'm certain I'm not being cast aside for Wilder, it's time to explore fairyland."

He had started pulling me towards the door, ignoring my protesting- the door hadn't burnt Arius but it might not be the same for us- when it was flung open and a familiar figure popped in.

"Too late to back out of my plan now, Ian," she said.

May Wilder.

"Don't tell me this is another kidnapping?" I asked her dryly.

"Fairyland is better than Paris," Ian said. "One of the maids told me there's a lake with water that tastes like cake in the backyard."

Fairyland? They'd brought me to Faerie? The place no werewolf had visited and returned alive to tell tales of? I cringed, the last time we'd ventured where we didn't belong it had ended with a rampaging troll, Russians shooting all over the place and a hospitalized Ian. I didn't want a repeat of that.

"Don't drink the water from that lake if you still want to have kids in the future," Arius told Ian, both of them apparently unaware of my inner turmoil.

Ian grinned. "Ghastly. Now I definitely have to see that lake."

I groaned. "Mrs. Wilder-"

"May," she corrected, trying to pry Ian's fingers from mine. He was holding on tight but I'm certain if she really pushed it'd be easy. She was just too nice of a person to manhandle Ian. "Please call me May."

"May," I said cautiously. "I thought you said you wouldn't take me away again?"

"That was before I heard the rumors going around about Kane proposing. I wanted to get you away from the pack before you made any rash decisions."

"You wanted to get me away from him? Didn't you hear the story about what happened?" I asked her.

She nodded, finally giving up on trying to untie our hands. "Kane wasn't strong enough to handle the enemy so he did what Alpha wanted instead of getting help from any of us."

"Could you have stopped Alpha?" I asked quietly.

"Maybe not without casualties, but Aster wouldn't have had to die. He wouldn't have had to bully you like a petulant child. Kane may be my son and I love him but I don't think he's matured enough. I think you should get the chance to meet other men before you choose eternity with him."

Ian held up a hand. "I think we should go find that magical lake."

May scowled at him. "Last time I checked you were on board for this."

"That was when I thought Kane was stealing my best friend from me," Ian shrugged.

"You didn't think to ask me about this before dragging me all the way here?" I asked stiffly.

Dismay clouded May's features, instantly melting some of the frost in mine. "The mate bond is formed based on a werewolf's instincts," she said. "We're unaware of it but our sixth sense is what picks our soul mates. The choice is made based on who our wolf believes will protect and love us the most, it's one of the most primal instincts a werewolf has. But it doesn't mean we can't have another mate of our soul."

"That sounds like a great plot twist," Ian said.

"Call it whatever," May said with a dismissive wave. "All I want is for you to have a chance at dating other people before shackling yourself to one man. I may not be your alpha female anymore but I still love you."

I coughed, awkward again.

"So go out there and party, meet a few guys. And tell me all about it when you get back." She reached around Ian, pressed a kiss to my cheek and walked out.

***

It seemed I was constantly being kidnapped by one person or the other. This time might have been because May Wilder had meant well but there was still something I couldn't put my finger on about all of this...

Ian pulled at one of my braids. "Ember, magical lake? Like right now, please?"

I put a finger to Ian's lips, eyeing Arius warily.

May Wilder claimed she brought me here so I could be free and hang out with other guys instead of rushing into a relationship with Kane, but if she wanted to get me away from her son wouldn't Paris have been a more easier choice? I mean, why would she go to all the trouble of asking Arius for favors when he might ask for something in return? Aside from Kane and Aster, I wasn't aware of any ties our pack had to any of the fae. Not to mention the whole exclusive nature of this place, it was like the supernatural version of Fight Club.

"What did Mrs.Wild- what did May give you in exchange for bringing me here?" I asked Arius.

"Nothing," he replied. "I was already planning on bringing you here but Ian suggested we let May in on the plan."

"What plan?" I asked, slowly lowering my finger.

Ian started fidgeting, rubbing the back of his neck nervously but Arius was as cool as a cucumber. Or rather he was as expressive as a statue, that was a more accurate description. "I'm calling in the favor I earned by saving your dying mate. That's why I brought you here."

I took in a deep breath, ignoring the urge to run out the door- flaming or not. "And what do you want me to do?"

He walked over to the wardrobe I hadn't noticed in my earlier horror-filled inspection of the room, pulling it open. Inside were dresses every color of the rainbow, different lengths and designs. Likewise, a row of shoes were lined up on the shelf besides the clothes. Some of the clothes and shoes had gems on them, glittering so brightly I almost brought my hand up to shade my eyes from them.

"What I want is for you to be my loyal companion for two months," Arius said. "Now pick out a dress, we have a party to attend. Oh, and you won't be dancing with anyone but me."

A/N

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