Chapter 4
Benedict entered the hotel bar with Kane at his heels, only to find that it was closed this early in the morning. He sighed, wondering where his wayward sibling had gotten to. “Maybe he’s in the restaurant,” Kane commented from slightly behind him. “The one on top of the hotel.”
“Yes, of course,” he replied distractedly. “I’ll try there next. You don’t have to come too,” he said in exasperation when the Alpha moved to follow him toward the elevators.
“I don’t have to come, no,” Kane agreed cheerfully. “But I am going to.”
Benedict blew out an irritated breath, but continued toward the bank of elevators. He tried hard not to pay any attention to the big man pacing along beside him, but it wasn’t easy. At all. Bastard was simply too sexy and large and he roiled with power and energy. It practically came off of him in waves. Benedict gritted his teeth and strode into the elevator, remembering vividly what had happened a few moments ago in the LAST elevator that he’d been in! But fortunately Kane seemed to have decided to behave himself for now, because he positioned himself on the far side of the elevator from Benedict(which still didn’t put much room between them, but it was better than nothing…) and folded his arms over his massive chest. He didn’t say anything on the ride up to the top floor, seemingly content to just be with Benedict for the moment.
Benedict glanced sideways at his silent companion, taking him in. A somewhat craggy, handsome profile with a decidedly bold nose and a sensual mouth. He drew in a sharp breath as the memory of that mouth scouring his flashed through his head. He looked away hurriedly, the muscles in his abdomen tightening treacherously. He squirmed like a misbehaving schoolboy, cursing the American in his head.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Benedict exited it swiftly, thankful to be able to put some distance between himself and Kane. His eyes took in the restaurant, which was glassed in on all sides and offered a magnificent view of the city and the Bay. It was a revolving restaurant, so the scenery changed every few minutes. His eyes found one of the few diners, and he felt relief when he glimpsed Theo sitting at a table eating breakfast by himself. A pretty young waitress approached him with a plate of toast, and Benedict felt his lips tighten when his brother caught at the girl’s arm as he spoke to her. The waitress looked uncomfortable as she tried to pull away.
He walked swiftly over to save her from Theo’s ‘attentions’, thinking in disgust that he couldn’t leave his brother alone for any length of time without him getting into trouble of some sort.
“Theo,” he said sharply as he approached the table. His brother released the waitress’s arm and gave him a black look.
The girl scurried away, looking relieved, as Theo said crossly: “What do you want, Benny?”
“I want you to behave yourself, Theo, but that appears to be too much to ask,” Benedict replied dryly.
Theo’s brows drew down, and he gave his brother a sullen look. “Why don’t you bugger off, Benny? Go find a knob to polish and leave me alone,” he snarled.
He felt his shoulders tense, but before he could say anything else a low, dangerous voice growled: “You should learn some manners, pup,” Kane said as he leaned over to set one hand on the white linen tablecloth and thrust his face close to Theo’s. The younger man scooted backward, his eyes wide. Kane’s narrowed eyes bore into his, as the American went on coldly, “I don’t think that I like you. Do you know what happens to people that I don’t like? I’d suggest that you start to treat your brother better and that you speak nicely to him - or you and I will have to have a little ‘talk’. And you don’t want that, believe me,” he added, his voice so full of cold menace that Benedict took a step backward as Theo strained away from Kane’s gaze.
“Kane!” Benedict cried. The Alpha’s hot eyes swiveled to meet his.
“Leave him alone, Kane! Stop scaring him!” Benedict said sharply.
The American straightened up. “I can see that you want to protect him, and I get that,” he said in a much milder tone of voice. “But he’s a nasty little punk. I’ll leave it alone for now, because of you,” he went on simply. “But he’d better learn some manners before I see him next.” he strode away without a backward glance at either of them, heading toward the elevators.
Benedict stood and watched him walk away. His breathing was erratic, not just from anger but also from arousal. Damn it! Kane in a rage was an even more magnificent animal than normal. He took in a shuddering breath and turned toward his brother, who hadn’t moved an inch. He stepped forward and sank into the chair across from his brother. “It’s all right, Theo,” he said reassuringly.
“Who is that bastard?” Theo asked thinly, finally straightening up a little in his seat.
“That is the Host Alpha of the Gathering, Kane Haley,” Benedict told him. “And I’d suggest that you do as he says, Theo. He’s a dangerous man. You know what an angry Alpha is like. I can’t guarantee that I could save you next time, if you anger him again.”
His brother stared at him. “Ah, I see,” he remarked. “You’ve already found a bloke to shag, haven’t you? That was quick, Benny.”
He set his teeth and spoke through the clench. “That’s hardly any of your business, Theo,” he replied. “Except for the fact that what you’re suggesting would make an Alpha even more protective towards the person he was shagging. Which would make him even more dangerous. Do you really wish to poke the beast with a stick and see what happens?”
Theo glared at him, but finally shrugged. “Fine, I’ll play nice around the Alpha,” he spat. “Just for you, Benny.”
He sighed. “That’s all I can ask, Theo,” he said in resignation.
*****
Angie looked up when her boss came charging into his office, his eyes agleam and his whole body full of suppressed energy. Her eyebrows shot up at the expression of glee on his face. “What’s going on, Kane?” she asked.
He grinned at her, throwing himself down into his chair behind the big carved oak desk. “Oh, I’m just happy,” he remarked, stretching out and folding his arms behind his neck. He met her eyes, still grinning.
“Why?” Angie asked cautiously.
He unfolded his arms and leaned forward over his desk, nearly quivering with joyous energy. “I found him, Angie,” he said excitedly, “I finally found him.”
“Found who?” she asked, baffled.
His grin widened. “My mate,” he said triumphantly.
Her mouth dropped open. “You…you found…seriously?!” she nearly shrieked.
He nodded, looking satisfied and victorious. “Who is he? Where did you meet him? Is he a wolf?” Angie cried, needing to know every detail.
“He’s a wolf, and I met him at the hotel,” Kane explained. “He’s not of our clan, Angie. He’s a part of Black Cairn, the English clan. He came as a chaperone for his brother, who’s attending the Gathering. Although I doubt he’ll find anybody,” he added scornfully, getting off track a bit, “He’s a nasty piece of work.”
“But this guy, your mate,” Angie said urgently, trying to get him back on track again. “Who is he? What’s his name?”
“Benedict Cavanaugh,” he said, rolling the name off of his tongue as though savoring a fine wine.
“Tell me all about it. Where did you meet? What did you say? Come on, spill it, Kane!” she cried, making grabbing motions with her hands at him.
He chuckled. But then he sobered a bit, looking rather sheepish. “Actually, we met in an elevator. And I…” he scratched at the top of his head like a guilty little boy, “I kind of attacked him.”
“YOU WHAT?!” she shrieked, her eyes wide.
He made waving motions with his hands. “It’s not as bad as you think. Let me tell you the story,” and he gave her a rundown on his encounter with Benedict, up until the point where he’d left the restaurant.
She listened mostly in silence, and when he was done she slapped a hand over her eyes and groaned. “God, Kane, for a smart man you are the biggest idiot ever,” she told him in a pained voice.
“What? What’s the matter?” he asked in bewilderment.
She lowered her hand to give him a gimlet stare. “So you’ve basically told the guy that you want to spend the rest of your life with that you’re going to stalk him relentlessly. And this AFTER you attacked him in an elevator! Jesus, Kane, why don’t you just tell him that you’ve dug a grave in your backyard that would be perfect for his body after you do him in? Besides, it sounds to me like this guy isn’t that thrilled with the idea of being your mate. If you’re going to court him, you have to use some gentleness and romance, not just throw yourself on him and promise to follow him around wherever he goes. That’s not going to make him fall in love with you. And please remember - even if his wolf is happy about this whole thing, if the rest of him isn’t then he may never agree to be your mate no matter what you do. You’ve got to change your game plan, or this guy could slip through your fingers.”
He looked alarmed. “Are you sure?” he asked.
She snorted. “Of course I’m sure! If some guy threw himself on ME, I’d be more inclined to kick him in the balls than to rejoice and accept him as my mate. He doesn’t know a thing about you, doesn’t have any reason to even like you, let alone love you - you’ve got to give him some good reasons, Kane. You’ve got to let him see the great guy that you are, not an obsessive, deranged stalker intent on taking him no matter whether he wants you to or not.”
He wilted visibly. “So what should I do?” he asked in a worried voice.
She sighed. “How about this? Make him a deal. Tell him that if he allows you to court him for the next two weeks while the Gathering is going on, if at the end of that time he still doesn’t want you you’ll let him go back to England unmolested and you won’t bother him again. You need to give him some breathing room and some control over his own fate here, Kane. It’s the only way.”
“But what if he doesn’t want me after the two weeks are over?” Kane asked miserably. “What would I do then?”
She gave him an incredulous look. “Are you serious? You really don’t think that you can sweep someone off their feet in the space of two weeks? Come on, Kane. You could charm water from the rocks if you want to. Believe me, this Benedict Cavanaugh won’t stand a chance against you. And at least this way, he won’t be fighting you every step of the way for the next two weeks. He’ll have to let you charm him, or all bets are off. Besides, if he’s in a more cooperative frame of mind, you can introduce him to our clan without worrying that he’ll reject them just because he doesn’t like YOU. And that’s important, if he’s to be your mate. He needs to accept the rest of the clan, not just you. Don’t you think that this would be better all around?”
He nodded, resting his chin on his hand. “You’re right, as usual. I’ll talk to him about it tonight at the first Gathering. And then I have to do everything that I can to convince Benedict Cavanaugh that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me.”
“Somehow I don’t see that as being the world’s hardest task,” Angie remarked dryly. “Because I’m convinced that you could talk a chaste saint into committing lewd acts with you if you put your mind to it.”
“That wouldn’t be hard,” Kane replied drolly, “Since chaste saints tend to be very deprived so it’s easy to seduce them. Now a jaded whore, that might be a more difficult proposition…”
She laughed. “But still doable. And next to that jaded whore, Benedict Cavanaugh should be a piece of cake.”
*****
Benedict stepped out of the van that had been used to transport the members of his clan to the Gathering. Theodore slid around him, a petulant scowl on his face. He wasn’t in a good mood, since none of the females who had shared the van would have anything to do with him. They WERE from his clan, after all. They all knew what Theodore was like, and he would probably have a bruise on his left arm after the girl he’d tried to pinch had punched him quite briskly in return. She’d also threatened to rip his throat out if he didn’t behave himself for the rest of the drive to the farm, so he’d been sulking in silence ever since.
Benedict took a deep breath, tasting the air. He smelled cows and grass and flowers, not to mention the not-so-nice aroma of dung. It was good to get out of the city for awhile, even if he was only here as a chaperone for Theodore. His kind weren’t meant to be mewed up in concrete wastelands. He knew that many of the people now emerging from the other vans felt the same as he, as he could clearly see many of them sniffing the air appreciatively and stretching their limbs in celebration of their freedom.
His nerves were on edge. He’d pretty much locked himself in his hotel room all day to avoid Kane Haley, but he’d been aware that if the Alpha wanted to see him he’d find a way. He’d jumped at every knock on the door, but hadn’t seen hide nor hair off Kane since this morning in the restaurant. He wasn’t sure what to make of this, and he felt tense as he readied himself for whatever Kane would try tonight at the Gathering. As host Alpha, he was sure to be here.
“Hey!” a voice called over the murmurs of speech. Everyone turned to see a woman standing beside an open gate that led into a huge field. She waved a hand at them all. “This way!” she called. “Everybody over here!”
She stepped aside as the unmated members of the various clans began to file past her into the field. They found a large crowd waiting for them, with the various Alphas standing in front. Benedict felt his heart lurch and his stomach knot when he saw Kane Haley standing at the very forefront of the group, and wished that he were shorter so that he could disappear among the crowd of people around him. He felt as though Kane’s eyes were boring through him, stripping him naked and leaving him vulnerable and apprehensive. It was probably just his imagination that made him feel this way, since Kane’s eyes were scanning the crowd and hadn’t focused on him yet. He really needed to pull himself together…
Kane spoke, his powerful voice carrying to everyone in the crowd(not that this was difficult; they all had very acute hearing) “Welcome. I’m Kane Haley, Alpha of the Tall Hills Clan and your host Alpha for the first of what we hope to be many successful Gatherings,” he said pleasantly with a smile for all of them. “You all recognizes your own Alphas, of course; the rest of the people behind me are members of my clan, here to make sure that the evening goes well. If any of you have any questions or concerns as the evening proceeds, please approach either your own Alpha or one of them. You’ll know my clan members by the buttons they’re wearing on their shirts,” he added, and Benedict clearly saw that one of the taller of the men in the small crowd had a large red button with two big letters in white, ‘TH’ written on the front of it, pinned to the front of his shirt.
“I want to say, I’m really hoping that many of you find potential mates during this Gathering. As most of you know, the clans are stuck in something of a quandary. If we inbreed too much within our own clans, we see an increase in birth defects among our children. But if we mate with too many normal humans instead, many of the children produced lack a wolf nature,” Kane said soberly. “That’s not to say that you’re being pressured into anything - you will not be forced to mate outside of your own clan. We simply hope that by bringing you all here together, you’ll find someone you like the look of who just happens to be from another clan. This is a social mixer, nothing more. And we want you to enjoy yourselves whether you find a potential mate or not,” he went on. “As you can see, we’ve made a lot of preparations for tonight,” he indicated the huge field behind him with one hand.
Looking where he pointed, Benedict saw that dozens of lights on tall metal poles lined the edges of the field, producing a soft glow. There was a long table covered with a white cloth, and loaded down with various kinds of food and drink. A massive stereo system had been set up at one side, and a man wearing a button that indicated that he was from Kane’s clan was setting up a turntable and some microphones. “You’ll be able to eat, drink, talk, and dance,” Kane said, bringing his attention back to the Alpha. “And later on, as the moon rises, your Alphas will be taking you on a Hunt together. There are deer in these hills, and no close neighbors to wonder about why there are so many large ‘dogs’ running around,” Kane said with a wry smile. “Anyway, enjoy your evening and welcome to San Francisco,” he finished, stepping back into the crowd of Alphas.
The group that had gathered to welcome them dissipated, and they were able to move forward into the field. As of yet, they were all still gathered together with their clan members, warily eyeing the other clans. Benedict heard Theodore mutter: “Sodding Alpha. Thinks he’s God’s gift to everything, doesn’t he? Why are you shagging that bastard, Benny?”
“Maybe because he actually IS God’s gift to everything, Theo - or at least in the sack, anyway,” Benedict replied equitably, not bothering to explain to his sibling that he wasn’t sleeping with Kane at all. He wouldn’t believe it, and he didn’t care for the headache of beating his head against the brick wall that was his brother.
Theo snorted, but wandered off without saying another word. He, at least, knew the value of approaching females who weren’t from his clan and so didn’t know about him. Strangers worked for Theo, since all of the eligible unmated females in HIS clan despised him. He set his eyes on a pretty dark-haired girl chatting with some other girls, practically licking his lips as he walked toward her.
Behind him, Benedict sighed but didn’t pursue him. He was sure that the girl could fend for herself - since there was no disparity in strength among males and females in the clans, she could beat the living daylights out of Theo if he went too far. And he’d deserve it, the idiot. Theo simply had no idea whatsoever how to talk to or act around women. He was more versed in male/female relations, and he was gay!
A hand touched his arm, and he whirled around to face Kane Haley. His insides did some more knotting as the host Alpha said quietly: “Can I talk to you in private, Mr. Cavanaugh?”
Benedict stared warily at him, but Kane had called him by his last name and wasn’t making any moves to grab or fondle him. “Talk? About what?” he asked suspiciously.
The Alpha gave him a lidded look. “About the weather, of course,” he said impatiently. “Don’t be deliberately obtuse. I promise not to manhandle you if you talk to me, and besides I have a proposition for you that I think you’ll want to hear.”
Benedict studied his face, but Kane looked sincere. “Very well ,then,” he said tightly. “Let’s talk.”
Looking satisfied, Kane waved for him to follow him to the far end of the field. There were no lights here, but his wolf’s eyes had no problem being able to still see Kane’s face as the Alpha turned to look at him. “What is this about?” he asked again, all of his muscles tense.
Kane sighed softly. “It’s about this morning in the elevator,” he replied simply. “I haven’t changed my mind - I’m still convinced that you’re my mate. But my assistant, bless her heart, pointed out that I was being an idiot where you’re concerned. That it wouldn’t be a good idea to scare or threaten you if I want you to be my mate. So with that in mind, she came up with a proposition that I think we can both live with. It’s just this…if you allow me to court you for the next two weeks while the Gathering is going on, at the end of that time if you still don’t want to be my mate I’ll let you go back to England and won’t bother you again. What do you think?”
Benedict was stunned. Here he’d feared that the relentless Alpha would pursue him to the ends of the Earth(or at least to the end of his sanity), and now Kane was making a rational proposal like this? “How do I know…that you’ll keep up your end of the bargain?” he asked after a moment’s silence.
Kane said firmly: “You have my word as an Alpha. If you go home, I won’t come after you. I swear.”
Benedict knew that his word was good. Alphas never made promises that they couldn’t keep. This seemed the best way all around; all he had to do was let Kane court him for two weeks. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it? But… “How far will you be allowed to go during this courting?” he asked warily.
Kane lifted a brow. “As far as you’ll let me,” he replied. “I won’t try to have sex with you unless you tell me that you want me to, although you’ll have to let me kiss you at least. That’s only fair.”
Thinking of Kane’s kisses in the elevator, Benedict wasn’t sure that it was fair at all! But still, this was his only chance to have any control over this situation. If he said no, then Kane would pursue him relentlessly rather than just courting him. He lifted his head and met Kane’s gaze. “I agree to your proposal, Mr. Haley,” he said.
He wasn’t sure that he liked how satisfied Kane looked with his reply. The Alpha nodded in acceptance. “But you have to start calling me Kane,” he told Benedict. “And I’ll call you Ben, at least until the two weeks are up. Okay?”
Again, not very okay at all. But it would be rude to insist that Kane call him by his last name when they were courting. “As you say,” he replied.
A white grin. “Ben. It’s a deal. Do you want to dance, or get something to eat?”
Benedict stared at him, realizing that the courting had begun already. He supposed that he didn’t blame Kane; the man only had two weeks in which to convince Benedict that he should be his mate. “I’d like something to eat,” he replied, which was the truth since he hadn’t eaten very much today because his stomach had been twisted into knots out of anxiety.
Kane stepped toward him, and Benedict stiffened. But the Alpha merely took a hold of his arm at the elbow and said softly: “Let me escort you to the buffet table, Ben,” before steering him away toward the white-linen covered table further up the field.
He tried to ignore the shiver that went through him when Kane’s hot breath wafted into his ear, but it was impossible to do so entirely. Benedict realized that he was probably going to regret making this deal over the course of the next two weeks, but what else could he have done? This was still his best chance to get away from Kane Haley for good - so why did he feel as though he’d just made a deal with the Devil?
Benedict was having a hard time eating, despite the fact that the beef on his plate looked and smelled wonderful and he hadn’t eaten much today. He was far too aware of Kane’s hungry eyes, and the burning flame flickering in their depths. It aroused him and left him feeling uneasy and anxious in almost equal parts. He took a bite from his plate and forced himself to chew and swallow, his own eyes fastened on his plate as though he could divine the wisdom of the universe in the pattern.
He heard Kane’s voice speak above his bent head. “Do I make you nervous, Ben? I thought that you had more spine than that,” he sounded teasing and wryly amused.
His eyes flew up to meet the Alpha’s, and the anger in his stare made Kane grin and wink. “Now see, there’s the spirit that I saw this morning,” he commented in satisfaction. “The guy determined not to let me run all over the top of him. That’s a good trait in an Alpha’s mate. You have to be able to stand up to me, especially if you think I’m being an idiot or something. I’m really looking forward to it, actually,” he added, taking a bite of his own food and chewing it vigorously.
Benedict sighed. “You really are impossible, you know that?” he said in annoyance.
Kane nodded. “Yep. I know. Although from having seen your brother this morning, it seems to me that you’re used to putting up with much worse already. I should be a breeze in comparison.”
“Perhaps, but at least I’m dominant to my brother,” Benedict remarked tartly.
“Too true. But there are so many ways that you can wrap me around your little finger,” Kane told him with a naughty smile that had a bad effect on Benedict’s abdomen(and parts lower down as well), “Without it becoming a dominance contest. I’ll probably end up as your lap dog, you know.”
He snorted genteelly. “I highly doubt that,” he replied in a crisp voice.
Kane smiled widely. “See? Now you’re talking to me. I don’t want you to act all cowed around me, like you’re afraid that I’ll bite you or something. I might actually end up biting you, but that would be with your full cooperation,” he added in a murmur, a wicked light in his eyes.
Benedict felt his stomach muscles tighten treacherously, and his mouth was suddenly very dry. He picked up a glass of water from the table and gulped at it, while Kane watched him with a slight smile on his handsome face. Wanker! Benedict thought to himself in irritation. The Alpha was a devil, plain and simple. Time to change the subject, though Kane seemed good at making everything an innuendo.
“How old are you, Kane?” he asked, making the American look surprised at this personal question.
“Thirty-two,” he replied promptly. “What about you?”
“I’m twenty-four,” Benedict said. “The gap in our ages explains some things. You’re in the age bracket where men really start to think about settling down and having a family. I, however, am just starting out in life. I haven’t even graduated from university yet! I don’t think that I’m ready for a mate, or any of the responsibilities entailed in having one either. Especially when said mate is an Alpha. I’d be responsible for the welfare of your entire clan, just as you are.”
“Yes, you would,” Kane agreed. “But I happen to think that you’d do a marvelous job. You already seem to excel at the thankless task of taking care of your brother, even though he probably drives you nuts. And as for not having finished school - you could transfer to Berkeley, or I could take a vacation and travel to England while you were finishing up your degree. That’s not nearly the road block that you seem to think it is.”
“There ARE no road blocks for you, are there, Kane?” he asked in exasperation.
The Alpha shook his head. “No, not any that matter,” he replied.
Benedict rolled his eyes. “What about my earlier contention about the difference in our ages?”
Kane shrugged. “You’re younger than me, yes,” he said. “But you seem to be at least as mature in your head where it counts as I am. Serious, capable, and a caretaker. NOT your normal twenty-four year old just looking to have fun and get laid. Or do you constantly party instead of going to classes?” he asked curiously, looking at Benedict.
“No, I do not,” he said, annoyed that he couldn’t just say ’yes’.
Kane grinned. “There, see? If you’re already responsible, what would be the harm in tasking on a little more responsibility?”
“A little more?! You’re talking about an entire wolf clan here, Kane!” Benedict said in agitation.
“Ah, they pretty much take care of themselves for the most part,” Kane said with an airy wave of his hand.
Benedict wanted to fling his plate at Kane’s head, but refrained out of good manners(and hunger) from doing so. “Nevertheless,” he began, speaking through his clenched teeth, “The only way that I would take on more responsibility is…”
“If I made it worth your while,” Kane finished for him. “I could do that, believe me,” his eyes raked Benedict’s body, and the heat in them made his body react sharply.
“That wasn’t what I was going to say!” he protested. “Don’t put words into my mouth!”
Kane cocked his head. “Oh, I wouldn’t put…words…in your mouth, Ben,” he said silkily.
He gasped. “Is this what you call courting?!” he hissed angrily. “Trying to seduce me? Because let me tell you, Kane, even if I succumbed to your blandishments, that doesn’t mean that I’d be willing to stay after we fell into bed together! Remember, I have to agree to be your MATE, not just your bedmate!”
Kane looked startled for a moment. Then his expression turned admiring as he looked at Benedict’s flushed face and snapping eyes. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t really mean it,” he said. “I admit that I want to seduce you; that I think you’re the hottest thing ever. Is there anything wrong with that? I mean, really? Shouldn’t I want to be with my mate? To not want anybody else but him? To want to jump on him every second of every day just because he’s so sexy and I want him so much?”
His words gave Benedict pause. Grudgingly he had to admit that Kane was right. But… “Must you turn everything that you say to me into an innuendo?” he asked tightly. “Can’t we just have a real conversation?”
Kane nodded. “Now for that, I WILL apologize,” he said. “Besides, I want to talk to you. I want to know everything about you. Like…what are you studying in school?”
“Sociology, actually,” he replied.
“Sociology?” Now Kane looked amused again. “That’s a little odd, isn’t it?”
“Why? I see nothing wrong with studying human behavior.” Benedict protested.
“Oh, there’s nothing wrong with it at all. But we’re not exactly entirely human, are we? Our reactions are sometimes quite off the beam,” Kane pointed out.
“True. But since I have no intention of publishing a paper on our clans, it’s a moot point,” Benedict remarked calmly.
Kane laughed. “I’d like to see you get a paper like that published,” he commented in amusement.
Benedict had to admit that it would be funny if he tried to publish a paper on the behaviors in a wolf clan. He’d be laughing all the way to the lunatic asylum… “May I ask what you do when you’re not being an Alpha to the Tall Hills clan?” he asked in turn. “You seem to be quite wealthy. Didn’t you pay to book our hotel for the entire two weeks of the Gathering? That must be costing you a fortune.”
Kane shrugged his broad shoulders carelessly. “I’m filthy rich,” he told Benedict. “But since you’re not a gold digger I doubt you care about that. I made my money in my twenties when I formed a software company that I later sold for forty million dollars. One of my clan, who is a genius with money, turned around and quadrupled it on the stock market. So I’m worth roughly a hundred and ten million dollars, although most of that I consider to be the clan’s money more than my own. That way, I can help anybody who needs it at any time. And I don’t have to do any work - I’m a retiree.” he said with a grin. “I’m considering getting a sweater vest any day now.”
Benedict found himself laughing. “You’re not actually retired, though,” he pointed out. “Not so long as you’re Alpha of your clan. That’s a full time job, I’d assume.”
“It is. Especially since I don’t have a mate to share any of my problems and duties with,” Kane said, letting his shoulders slump as he gave Benedict soulful ‘sad, puppy dog eyes’.
Benedict shook his head. “Making me feel sorry for you won’t work either,” he said.
Kane’s eyes were twinkling. “Can’t blame a man for trying.”
Go to Next Chapter
Chapter 4
Benedict entered the hotel bar with Kane at his heels, only to find that it was closed this early in the morning. He sighed, wondering where his wayward sibling had gotten to. “Maybe he’s in the restaurant,” Kane commented from slightly behind him. “The one on top of the hotel.”
“Yes, of course,” he replied distractedly. “I’ll try there next. You don’t have to come too,” he said in exasperation when the Alpha moved to follow him toward the elevators.
“I don’t have to come, no,” Kane agreed cheerfully. “But I am going to.”
Benedict blew out an irritated breath, but continued toward the bank of elevators. He tried hard not to pay any attention to the big man pacing along beside him, but it wasn’t easy. At all. Bastard was simply too sexy and large and he roiled with power and energy. It practically came off of him in waves. Benedict gritted his teeth and strode into the elevator, remembering vividly what had happened a few moments ago in the LAST elevator that he’d been in! But fortunately Kane seemed to have decided to behave himself for now, because he positioned himself on the far side of the elevator from Benedict(which still didn’t put much room between them, but it was better than nothing…) and folded his arms over his massive chest. He didn’t say anything on the ride up to the top floor, seemingly content to just be with Benedict for the moment.
Benedict glanced sideways at his silent companion, taking him in. A somewhat craggy, handsome profile with a decidedly bold nose and a sensual mouth. He drew in a sharp breath as the memory of that mouth scouring his flashed through his head. He looked away hurriedly, the muscles in his abdomen tightening treacherously. He squirmed like a misbehaving schoolboy, cursing the American in his head.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Benedict exited it swiftly, thankful to be able to put some distance between himself and Kane. His eyes took in the restaurant, which was glassed in on all sides and offered a magnificent view of the city and the Bay. It was a revolving restaurant, so the scenery changed every few minutes. His eyes found one of the few diners, and he felt relief when he glimpsed Theo sitting at a table eating breakfast by himself. A pretty young waitress approached him with a plate of toast, and Benedict felt his lips tighten when his brother caught at the girl’s arm as he spoke to her. The waitress looked uncomfortable as she tried to pull away.
He walked swiftly over to save her from Theo’s ‘attentions’, thinking in disgust that he couldn’t leave his brother alone for any length of time without him getting into trouble of some sort.
“Theo,” he said sharply as he approached the table. His brother released the waitress’s arm and gave him a black look.
The girl scurried away, looking relieved, as Theo said crossly: “What do you want, Benny?”
“I want you to behave yourself, Theo, but that appears to be too much to ask,” Benedict replied dryly.
Theo’s brows drew down, and he gave his brother a sullen look. “Why don’t you bugger off, Benny? Go find a knob to polish and leave me alone,” he snarled.
He felt his shoulders tense, but before he could say anything else a low, dangerous voice growled: “You should learn some manners, pup,” Kane said as he leaned over to set one hand on the white linen tablecloth and thrust his face close to Theo’s. The younger man scooted backward, his eyes wide. Kane’s narrowed eyes bore into his, as the American went on coldly, “I don’t think that I like you. Do you know what happens to people that I don’t like? I’d suggest that you start to treat your brother better and that you speak nicely to him - or you and I will have to have a little ‘talk’. And you don’t want that, believe me,” he added, his voice so full of cold menace that Benedict took a step backward as Theo strained away from Kane’s gaze.
“Kane!” Benedict cried. The Alpha’s hot eyes swiveled to meet his.
“Leave him alone, Kane! Stop scaring him!” Benedict said sharply.
The American straightened up. “I can see that you want to protect him, and I get that,” he said in a much milder tone of voice. “But he’s a nasty little punk. I’ll leave it alone for now, because of you,” he went on simply. “But he’d better learn some manners before I see him next.” he strode away without a backward glance at either of them, heading toward the elevators.
Benedict stood and watched him walk away. His breathing was erratic, not just from anger but also from arousal. Damn it! Kane in a rage was an even more magnificent animal than normal. He took in a shuddering breath and turned toward his brother, who hadn’t moved an inch. He stepped forward and sank into the chair across from his brother. “It’s all right, Theo,” he said reassuringly.
“Who is that bastard?” Theo asked thinly, finally straightening up a little in his seat.
“That is the Host Alpha of the Gathering, Kane Haley,” Benedict told him. “And I’d suggest that you do as he says, Theo. He’s a dangerous man. You know what an angry Alpha is like. I can’t guarantee that I could save you next time, if you anger him again.”
His brother stared at him. “Ah, I see,” he remarked. “You’ve already found a bloke to shag, haven’t you? That was quick, Benny.”
He set his teeth and spoke through the clench. “That’s hardly any of your business, Theo,” he replied. “Except for the fact that what you’re suggesting would make an Alpha even more protective towards the person he was shagging. Which would make him even more dangerous. Do you really wish to poke the beast with a stick and see what happens?”
Theo glared at him, but finally shrugged. “Fine, I’ll play nice around the Alpha,” he spat. “Just for you, Benny.”
He sighed. “That’s all I can ask, Theo,” he said in resignation.
*****
Angie looked up when her boss came charging into his office, his eyes agleam and his whole body full of suppressed energy. Her eyebrows shot up at the expression of glee on his face. “What’s going on, Kane?” she asked.
He grinned at her, throwing himself down into his chair behind the big carved oak desk. “Oh, I’m just happy,” he remarked, stretching out and folding his arms behind his neck. He met her eyes, still grinning.
“Why?” Angie asked cautiously.
He unfolded his arms and leaned forward over his desk, nearly quivering with joyous energy. “I found him, Angie,” he said excitedly, “I finally found him.”
“Found who?” she asked, baffled.
His grin widened. “My mate,” he said triumphantly.
Her mouth dropped open. “You…you found…seriously?!” she nearly shrieked.
He nodded, looking satisfied and victorious. “Who is he? Where did you meet him? Is he a wolf?” Angie cried, needing to know every detail.
“He’s a wolf, and I met him at the hotel,” Kane explained. “He’s not of our clan, Angie. He’s a part of Black Cairn, the English clan. He came as a chaperone for his brother, who’s attending the Gathering. Although I doubt he’ll find anybody,” he added scornfully, getting off track a bit, “He’s a nasty piece of work.”
“But this guy, your mate,” Angie said urgently, trying to get him back on track again. “Who is he? What’s his name?”
“Benedict Cavanaugh,” he said, rolling the name off of his tongue as though savoring a fine wine.
“Tell me all about it. Where did you meet? What did you say? Come on, spill it, Kane!” she cried, making grabbing motions with her hands at him.
He chuckled. But then he sobered a bit, looking rather sheepish. “Actually, we met in an elevator. And I…” he scratched at the top of his head like a guilty little boy, “I kind of attacked him.”
“YOU WHAT?!” she shrieked, her eyes wide.
He made waving motions with his hands. “It’s not as bad as you think. Let me tell you the story,” and he gave her a rundown on his encounter with Benedict, up until the point where he’d left the restaurant.
She listened mostly in silence, and when he was done she slapped a hand over her eyes and groaned. “God, Kane, for a smart man you are the biggest idiot ever,” she told him in a pained voice.
“What? What’s the matter?” he asked in bewilderment.
She lowered her hand to give him a gimlet stare. “So you’ve basically told the guy that you want to spend the rest of your life with that you’re going to stalk him relentlessly. And this AFTER you attacked him in an elevator! Jesus, Kane, why don’t you just tell him that you’ve dug a grave in your backyard that would be perfect for his body after you do him in? Besides, it sounds to me like this guy isn’t that thrilled with the idea of being your mate. If you’re going to court him, you have to use some gentleness and romance, not just throw yourself on him and promise to follow him around wherever he goes. That’s not going to make him fall in love with you. And please remember - even if his wolf is happy about this whole thing, if the rest of him isn’t then he may never agree to be your mate no matter what you do. You’ve got to change your game plan, or this guy could slip through your fingers.”
He looked alarmed. “Are you sure?” he asked.
She snorted. “Of course I’m sure! If some guy threw himself on ME, I’d be more inclined to kick him in the balls than to rejoice and accept him as my mate. He doesn’t know a thing about you, doesn’t have any reason to even like you, let alone love you - you’ve got to give him some good reasons, Kane. You’ve got to let him see the great guy that you are, not an obsessive, deranged stalker intent on taking him no matter whether he wants you to or not.”
He wilted visibly. “So what should I do?” he asked in a worried voice.
She sighed. “How about this? Make him a deal. Tell him that if he allows you to court him for the next two weeks while the Gathering is going on, if at the end of that time he still doesn’t want you you’ll let him go back to England unmolested and you won’t bother him again. You need to give him some breathing room and some control over his own fate here, Kane. It’s the only way.”
“But what if he doesn’t want me after the two weeks are over?” Kane asked miserably. “What would I do then?”
She gave him an incredulous look. “Are you serious? You really don’t think that you can sweep someone off their feet in the space of two weeks? Come on, Kane. You could charm water from the rocks if you want to. Believe me, this Benedict Cavanaugh won’t stand a chance against you. And at least this way, he won’t be fighting you every step of the way for the next two weeks. He’ll have to let you charm him, or all bets are off. Besides, if he’s in a more cooperative frame of mind, you can introduce him to our clan without worrying that he’ll reject them just because he doesn’t like YOU. And that’s important, if he’s to be your mate. He needs to accept the rest of the clan, not just you. Don’t you think that this would be better all around?”
He nodded, resting his chin on his hand. “You’re right, as usual. I’ll talk to him about it tonight at the first Gathering. And then I have to do everything that I can to convince Benedict Cavanaugh that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me.”
“Somehow I don’t see that as being the world’s hardest task,” Angie remarked dryly. “Because I’m convinced that you could talk a chaste saint into committing lewd acts with you if you put your mind to it.”
“That wouldn’t be hard,” Kane replied drolly, “Since chaste saints tend to be very deprived so it’s easy to seduce them. Now a jaded whore, that might be a more difficult proposition…”
She laughed. “But still doable. And next to that jaded whore, Benedict Cavanaugh should be a piece of cake.”
*****
Benedict stepped out of the van that had been used to transport the members of his clan to the Gathering. Theodore slid around him, a petulant scowl on his face. He wasn’t in a good mood, since none of the females who had shared the van would have anything to do with him. They WERE from his clan, after all. They all knew what Theodore was like, and he would probably have a bruise on his left arm after the girl he’d tried to pinch had punched him quite briskly in return. She’d also threatened to rip his throat out if he didn’t behave himself for the rest of the drive to the farm, so he’d been sulking in silence ever since.
Benedict took a deep breath, tasting the air. He smelled cows and grass and flowers, not to mention the not-so-nice aroma of dung. It was good to get out of the city for awhile, even if he was only here as a chaperone for Theodore. His kind weren’t meant to be mewed up in concrete wastelands. He knew that many of the people now emerging from the other vans felt the same as he, as he could clearly see many of them sniffing the air appreciatively and stretching their limbs in celebration of their freedom.
His nerves were on edge. He’d pretty much locked himself in his hotel room all day to avoid Kane Haley, but he’d been aware that if the Alpha wanted to see him he’d find a way. He’d jumped at every knock on the door, but hadn’t seen hide nor hair off Kane since this morning in the restaurant. He wasn’t sure what to make of this, and he felt tense as he readied himself for whatever Kane would try tonight at the Gathering. As host Alpha, he was sure to be here.
“Hey!” a voice called over the murmurs of speech. Everyone turned to see a woman standing beside an open gate that led into a huge field. She waved a hand at them all. “This way!” she called. “Everybody over here!”
She stepped aside as the unmated members of the various clans began to file past her into the field. They found a large crowd waiting for them, with the various Alphas standing in front. Benedict felt his heart lurch and his stomach knot when he saw Kane Haley standing at the very forefront of the group, and wished that he were shorter so that he could disappear among the crowd of people around him. He felt as though Kane’s eyes were boring through him, stripping him naked and leaving him vulnerable and apprehensive. It was probably just his imagination that made him feel this way, since Kane’s eyes were scanning the crowd and hadn’t focused on him yet. He really needed to pull himself together…
Kane spoke, his powerful voice carrying to everyone in the crowd(not that this was difficult; they all had very acute hearing) “Welcome. I’m Kane Haley, Alpha of the Tall Hills Clan and your host Alpha for the first of what we hope to be many successful Gatherings,” he said pleasantly with a smile for all of them. “You all recognizes your own Alphas, of course; the rest of the people behind me are members of my clan, here to make sure that the evening goes well. If any of you have any questions or concerns as the evening proceeds, please approach either your own Alpha or one of them. You’ll know my clan members by the buttons they’re wearing on their shirts,” he added, and Benedict clearly saw that one of the taller of the men in the small crowd had a large red button with two big letters in white, ‘TH’ written on the front of it, pinned to the front of his shirt.
“I want to say, I’m really hoping that many of you find potential mates during this Gathering. As most of you know, the clans are stuck in something of a quandary. If we inbreed too much within our own clans, we see an increase in birth defects among our children. But if we mate with too many normal humans instead, many of the children produced lack a wolf nature,” Kane said soberly. “That’s not to say that you’re being pressured into anything - you will not be forced to mate outside of your own clan. We simply hope that by bringing you all here together, you’ll find someone you like the look of who just happens to be from another clan. This is a social mixer, nothing more. And we want you to enjoy yourselves whether you find a potential mate or not,” he went on. “As you can see, we’ve made a lot of preparations for tonight,” he indicated the huge field behind him with one hand.
Looking where he pointed, Benedict saw that dozens of lights on tall metal poles lined the edges of the field, producing a soft glow. There was a long table covered with a white cloth, and loaded down with various kinds of food and drink. A massive stereo system had been set up at one side, and a man wearing a button that indicated that he was from Kane’s clan was setting up a turntable and some microphones. “You’ll be able to eat, drink, talk, and dance,” Kane said, bringing his attention back to the Alpha. “And later on, as the moon rises, your Alphas will be taking you on a Hunt together. There are deer in these hills, and no close neighbors to wonder about why there are so many large ‘dogs’ running around,” Kane said with a wry smile. “Anyway, enjoy your evening and welcome to San Francisco,” he finished, stepping back into the crowd of Alphas.
The group that had gathered to welcome them dissipated, and they were able to move forward into the field. As of yet, they were all still gathered together with their clan members, warily eyeing the other clans. Benedict heard Theodore mutter: “Sodding Alpha. Thinks he’s God’s gift to everything, doesn’t he? Why are you shagging that bastard, Benny?”
“Maybe because he actually IS God’s gift to everything, Theo - or at least in the sack, anyway,” Benedict replied equitably, not bothering to explain to his sibling that he wasn’t sleeping with Kane at all. He wouldn’t believe it, and he didn’t care for the headache of beating his head against the brick wall that was his brother.
Theo snorted, but wandered off without saying another word. He, at least, knew the value of approaching females who weren’t from his clan and so didn’t know about him. Strangers worked for Theo, since all of the eligible unmated females in HIS clan despised him. He set his eyes on a pretty dark-haired girl chatting with some other girls, practically licking his lips as he walked toward her.
Behind him, Benedict sighed but didn’t pursue him. He was sure that the girl could fend for herself - since there was no disparity in strength among males and females in the clans, she could beat the living daylights out of Theo if he went too far. And he’d deserve it, the idiot. Theo simply had no idea whatsoever how to talk to or act around women. He was more versed in male/female relations, and he was gay!
A hand touched his arm, and he whirled around to face Kane Haley. His insides did some more knotting as the host Alpha said quietly: “Can I talk to you in private, Mr. Cavanaugh?”
Benedict stared warily at him, but Kane had called him by his last name and wasn’t making any moves to grab or fondle him. “Talk? About what?” he asked suspiciously.
The Alpha gave him a lidded look. “About the weather, of course,” he said impatiently. “Don’t be deliberately obtuse. I promise not to manhandle you if you talk to me, and besides I have a proposition for you that I think you’ll want to hear.”
Benedict studied his face, but Kane looked sincere. “Very well ,then,” he said tightly. “Let’s talk.”
Looking satisfied, Kane waved for him to follow him to the far end of the field. There were no lights here, but his wolf’s eyes had no problem being able to still see Kane’s face as the Alpha turned to look at him. “What is this about?” he asked again, all of his muscles tense.
Kane sighed softly. “It’s about this morning in the elevator,” he replied simply. “I haven’t changed my mind - I’m still convinced that you’re my mate. But my assistant, bless her heart, pointed out that I was being an idiot where you’re concerned. That it wouldn’t be a good idea to scare or threaten you if I want you to be my mate. So with that in mind, she came up with a proposition that I think we can both live with. It’s just this…if you allow me to court you for the next two weeks while the Gathering is going on, at the end of that time if you still don’t want to be my mate I’ll let you go back to England and won’t bother you again. What do you think?”
Benedict was stunned. Here he’d feared that the relentless Alpha would pursue him to the ends of the Earth(or at least to the end of his sanity), and now Kane was making a rational proposal like this? “How do I know…that you’ll keep up your end of the bargain?” he asked after a moment’s silence.
Kane said firmly: “You have my word as an Alpha. If you go home, I won’t come after you. I swear.”
Benedict knew that his word was good. Alphas never made promises that they couldn’t keep. This seemed the best way all around; all he had to do was let Kane court him for two weeks. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it? But… “How far will you be allowed to go during this courting?” he asked warily.
Kane lifted a brow. “As far as you’ll let me,” he replied. “I won’t try to have sex with you unless you tell me that you want me to, although you’ll have to let me kiss you at least. That’s only fair.”
Thinking of Kane’s kisses in the elevator, Benedict wasn’t sure that it was fair at all! But still, this was his only chance to have any control over this situation. If he said no, then Kane would pursue him relentlessly rather than just courting him. He lifted his head and met Kane’s gaze. “I agree to your proposal, Mr. Haley,” he said.
He wasn’t sure that he liked how satisfied Kane looked with his reply. The Alpha nodded in acceptance. “But you have to start calling me Kane,” he told Benedict. “And I’ll call you Ben, at least until the two weeks are up. Okay?”
Again, not very okay at all. But it would be rude to insist that Kane call him by his last name when they were courting. “As you say,” he replied.
A white grin. “Ben. It’s a deal. Do you want to dance, or get something to eat?”
Benedict stared at him, realizing that the courting had begun already. He supposed that he didn’t blame Kane; the man only had two weeks in which to convince Benedict that he should be his mate. “I’d like something to eat,” he replied, which was the truth since he hadn’t eaten very much today because his stomach had been twisted into knots out of anxiety.
Kane stepped toward him, and Benedict stiffened. But the Alpha merely took a hold of his arm at the elbow and said softly: “Let me escort you to the buffet table, Ben,” before steering him away toward the white-linen covered table further up the field.
He tried to ignore the shiver that went through him when Kane’s hot breath wafted into his ear, but it was impossible to do so entirely. Benedict realized that he was probably going to regret making this deal over the course of the next two weeks, but what else could he have done? This was still his best chance to get away from Kane Haley for good - so why did he feel as though he’d just made a deal with the Devil?
Benedict was having a hard time eating, despite the fact that the beef on his plate looked and smelled wonderful and he hadn’t eaten much today. He was far too aware of Kane’s hungry eyes, and the burning flame flickering in their depths. It aroused him and left him feeling uneasy and anxious in almost equal parts. He took a bite from his plate and forced himself to chew and swallow, his own eyes fastened on his plate as though he could divine the wisdom of the universe in the pattern.
He heard Kane’s voice speak above his bent head. “Do I make you nervous, Ben? I thought that you had more spine than that,” he sounded teasing and wryly amused.
His eyes flew up to meet the Alpha’s, and the anger in his stare made Kane grin and wink. “Now see, there’s the spirit that I saw this morning,” he commented in satisfaction. “The guy determined not to let me run all over the top of him. That’s a good trait in an Alpha’s mate. You have to be able to stand up to me, especially if you think I’m being an idiot or something. I’m really looking forward to it, actually,” he added, taking a bite of his own food and chewing it vigorously.
Benedict sighed. “You really are impossible, you know that?” he said in annoyance.
Kane nodded. “Yep. I know. Although from having seen your brother this morning, it seems to me that you’re used to putting up with much worse already. I should be a breeze in comparison.”
“Perhaps, but at least I’m dominant to my brother,” Benedict remarked tartly.
“Too true. But there are so many ways that you can wrap me around your little finger,” Kane told him with a naughty smile that had a bad effect on Benedict’s abdomen(and parts lower down as well), “Without it becoming a dominance contest. I’ll probably end up as your lap dog, you know.”
He snorted genteelly. “I highly doubt that,” he replied in a crisp voice.
Kane smiled widely. “See? Now you’re talking to me. I don’t want you to act all cowed around me, like you’re afraid that I’ll bite you or something. I might actually end up biting you, but that would be with your full cooperation,” he added in a murmur, a wicked light in his eyes.
Benedict felt his stomach muscles tighten treacherously, and his mouth was suddenly very dry. He picked up a glass of water from the table and gulped at it, while Kane watched him with a slight smile on his handsome face. Wanker! Benedict thought to himself in irritation. The Alpha was a devil, plain and simple. Time to change the subject, though Kane seemed good at making everything an innuendo.
“How old are you, Kane?” he asked, making the American look surprised at this personal question.
“Thirty-two,” he replied promptly. “What about you?”
“I’m twenty-four,” Benedict said. “The gap in our ages explains some things. You’re in the age bracket where men really start to think about settling down and having a family. I, however, am just starting out in life. I haven’t even graduated from university yet! I don’t think that I’m ready for a mate, or any of the responsibilities entailed in having one either. Especially when said mate is an Alpha. I’d be responsible for the welfare of your entire clan, just as you are.”
“Yes, you would,” Kane agreed. “But I happen to think that you’d do a marvelous job. You already seem to excel at the thankless task of taking care of your brother, even though he probably drives you nuts. And as for not having finished school - you could transfer to Berkeley, or I could take a vacation and travel to England while you were finishing up your degree. That’s not nearly the road block that you seem to think it is.”
“There ARE no road blocks for you, are there, Kane?” he asked in exasperation.
The Alpha shook his head. “No, not any that matter,” he replied.
Benedict rolled his eyes. “What about my earlier contention about the difference in our ages?”
Kane shrugged. “You’re younger than me, yes,” he said. “But you seem to be at least as mature in your head where it counts as I am. Serious, capable, and a caretaker. NOT your normal twenty-four year old just looking to have fun and get laid. Or do you constantly party instead of going to classes?” he asked curiously, looking at Benedict.
“No, I do not,” he said, annoyed that he couldn’t just say ’yes’.
Kane grinned. “There, see? If you’re already responsible, what would be the harm in tasking on a little more responsibility?”
“A little more?! You’re talking about an entire wolf clan here, Kane!” Benedict said in agitation.
“Ah, they pretty much take care of themselves for the most part,” Kane said with an airy wave of his hand.
Benedict wanted to fling his plate at Kane’s head, but refrained out of good manners(and hunger) from doing so. “Nevertheless,” he began, speaking through his clenched teeth, “The only way that I would take on more responsibility is…”
“If I made it worth your while,” Kane finished for him. “I could do that, believe me,” his eyes raked Benedict’s body, and the heat in them made his body react sharply.
“That wasn’t what I was going to say!” he protested. “Don’t put words into my mouth!”
Kane cocked his head. “Oh, I wouldn’t put…words…in your mouth, Ben,” he said silkily.
He gasped. “Is this what you call courting?!” he hissed angrily. “Trying to seduce me? Because let me tell you, Kane, even if I succumbed to your blandishments, that doesn’t mean that I’d be willing to stay after we fell into bed together! Remember, I have to agree to be your MATE, not just your bedmate!”
Kane looked startled for a moment. Then his expression turned admiring as he looked at Benedict’s flushed face and snapping eyes. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t really mean it,” he said. “I admit that I want to seduce you; that I think you’re the hottest thing ever. Is there anything wrong with that? I mean, really? Shouldn’t I want to be with my mate? To not want anybody else but him? To want to jump on him every second of every day just because he’s so sexy and I want him so much?”
His words gave Benedict pause. Grudgingly he had to admit that Kane was right. But… “Must you turn everything that you say to me into an innuendo?” he asked tightly. “Can’t we just have a real conversation?”
Kane nodded. “Now for that, I WILL apologize,” he said. “Besides, I want to talk to you. I want to know everything about you. Like…what are you studying in school?”
“Sociology, actually,” he replied.
“Sociology?” Now Kane looked amused again. “That’s a little odd, isn’t it?”
“Why? I see nothing wrong with studying human behavior.” Benedict protested.
“Oh, there’s nothing wrong with it at all. But we’re not exactly entirely human, are we? Our reactions are sometimes quite off the beam,” Kane pointed out.
“True. But since I have no intention of publishing a paper on our clans, it’s a moot point,” Benedict remarked calmly.
Kane laughed. “I’d like to see you get a paper like that published,” he commented in amusement.
Benedict had to admit that it would be funny if he tried to publish a paper on the behaviors in a wolf clan. He’d be laughing all the way to the lunatic asylum… “May I ask what you do when you’re not being an Alpha to the Tall Hills clan?” he asked in turn. “You seem to be quite wealthy. Didn’t you pay to book our hotel for the entire two weeks of the Gathering? That must be costing you a fortune.”
Kane shrugged his broad shoulders carelessly. “I’m filthy rich,” he told Benedict. “But since you’re not a gold digger I doubt you care about that. I made my money in my twenties when I formed a software company that I later sold for forty million dollars. One of my clan, who is a genius with money, turned around and quadrupled it on the stock market. So I’m worth roughly a hundred and ten million dollars, although most of that I consider to be the clan’s money more than my own. That way, I can help anybody who needs it at any time. And I don’t have to do any work - I’m a retiree.” he said with a grin. “I’m considering getting a sweater vest any day now.”
Benedict found himself laughing. “You’re not actually retired, though,” he pointed out. “Not so long as you’re Alpha of your clan. That’s a full time job, I’d assume.”
“It is. Especially since I don’t have a mate to share any of my problems and duties with,” Kane said, letting his shoulders slump as he gave Benedict soulful ‘sad, puppy dog eyes’.
Benedict shook his head. “Making me feel sorry for you won’t work either,” he said.
Kane’s eyes were twinkling. “Can’t blame a man for trying.”
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