Miles’s Redemption

Chapter 8

Miles stood against the wall in the now empty room as a number of emotions whirled inside him. He felt angry and shocked, as if someone had just ripped a carpet out from under him. But he mostly felt betrayed. How could Jaden have lied to him all this time?

She wasn’t the foretold one. She didn’t bear the mark around her left wrist that he thought she hid under her leather bracelet. The absence of it meant she wasn’t what she said she was.

The old Miles wouldn’t have cared who Jaden was to him, or that she was in labor.

He would have forced her to tell him who the true foretold one was, whom it was she protected with her lie. Miles hated to admit it, but very deep down inside, the old him wasn’t entirely gone.

Kareena came back into the room carrying their bags. Seeing him, she said, “Leif and Jaden are going to be down in a minute. Pull your head out of your ass and get the car unlocked. We have time, but if we delay any longer, there is still a slim chance I’ll be delivering your grandchild at the side of the road. So move it.”

His mate’s words dragged him out of the downward spiral Miles had been stuck in.

Kareena was right. He had to pull it together. Jaden had lied to him, but that didn’t mean he wanted to put her or the baby in any risk. He tamped down his anger and headed outside to his car. Kareena followed behind him.

He’d just put their bags in the trunk when Leif appeared, carrying Jaden in his arms.

She appeared to be having another contraction. Miles took the suitcase Leif carried as well and put it with his and Kareena’s.

No one said a word as they got into the car. Miles started it and drove out of the drive. The trip back to Marin County seemed to take longer than it should have. With each moan of pain Jaden made, it set Miles’s nerves on edge. He hated to see his daughter suffering, but there was nothing he could do for her. Kareena kept telling Jaden how well she was doing and to remember to breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth. Catching sight of Leif in the rearview mirror, Miles saw the other man suffered right along with Jaden when each contraction hit.

They arrived at the Protectors’ mansion to Saskia, Jager, and Roan waiting outside at the front door. Obviously, Leif must have called them before they’d left the cottage. Leif confirmed it when he simply said, “They know.”

Miles brought the car to a stop and shut off the engine. Leif carried Jaden out and into the house. Saskia, Jager, and Roan didn’t follow. Miles knew they were waiting for him. Kareena got out, and he did the same. He walked around to confront his sister.

“Saskia,” he said.

“Bring your mate inside, Miles. The midwife is already here.” She gave him a sharp look.

He nodded at the other two Protectors who stood on either side of her. “Are Jager and Roan here to make sure I cooperate?”

“Take it any way you want, but you are coming inside.”

Miles saw Kareena look at him and then at Saskia and back again. There was no mistaking the tension between him and his sister. And Kareena being his mate, he’d dropped her right in the middle of things.

He gave a nod, walked past Saskia, and into the house. Kareena silently followed. He should be reassuring her, but he couldn’t find the words to do it. His emotions were still in turmoil. For too many years he’d walked the dark side, as Leif had said, compared to the new path he’d chosen after finding Jaden. The pull was still there. The only thing stopping him from going over was Kareena. He never wanted her to see what he’d been like. He wanted her to see him as a good man. She deserved him to be one.

They filed into the living room. With his acute werewolf hearing, Miles could hear everything that happened upstairs. Kareena took a seat on the couch, but he couldn’t sit.

He paced the room, hoping Jaden’s labor would be quick.

Saskia’s, Jager’s, and Roan’s mates joined them. Everyone introduced themselves to Kareena, but they basically ignored him. Miles knew that didn’t mean the Protectors weren’t keeping a close eye on him though. As he paced, he felt Kareena’s gaze on him from time to time. She made no move to come to him, which in a way was good. He didn’t know if he’d end up snapping at her. Since they really hadn’t had time for her to accept everything, he probably would end up doing more damage than good.

Two hours later, Miles heard the wails of a newborn coming from the upper level.

He stopped pacing as the others in the room fell silent. They all turned their gazes to the entrance to the living room. After twenty minutes had gone by, Leif appeared in it, holding a blanket-wrapped baby.

Leif walked straight to Miles. He placed the infant in his arms. “Say hello to your grandson. We’re calling him Cole.”

Miles looked down at the newborn’s face. Cole had his eyes open and looked up at him. Miles’s heart melted. He pulled the blanket aside and touched the tiny hand with the tip of his finger. The baby gripped it. Miles instantly fell in love. He now had a third person he’d do anything to protect.

“She wants to see you,” Leif said.

“How do you feel about that?”

“I’m not happy about it, but I would never try to keep you two apart. Even though I don’t trust you, you’re still my mate’s father.”

Miles kissed the baby’s forehead before he passed Cole to Leif. “Tell Jaden I can’t right now. I need some time to come to terms with what she did.”

“You really are a cold-hearted bastard,” Leif snarled in a quiet tone. “So she lied to you about her being the foretold one. She wouldn’t have if you hadn’t taken me captive, beaten the shit out of me, and threatened to kill me if we didn’t hand the foretold one over to you. It was Jaden’s idea to take on that role. Once Saskia realized what Jaden was to you, Jaden volunteered. Not once did she think she would be playing that part for months to come. None of us expected you to try to redeem yourself. And if it weren’t for Jaden, you would be kept on the outside even today. She wanted you in her life.”

Miles brushed past Leif and headed for the entrance to the living room. He was fighting an internal battle as the good and bad inside him vied for dominance. It would be so much easier to let the bad win and walk away, slip back into his old ways. Being good took a lot more work.

“Where are you going?” Saskia called.

He slowed his steps. “Outside to the backyard. I need to be alone for a while.”

“Don’t go too far. Remember you’re mated now.”

Miles walked out of the room. He hadn’t forgotten about Kareena. It was best that he put as much space as the mating bond would allow between them for now.

After Miles left the room, Jager asked, “Should I go watch him?”

Saskia shook her head. “Leave him be for now. Miles isn’t going anywhere as long as Kareena is here.”

“I’m going back up to Jaden,” Leif said. “I’m not going to relish telling her that her father doesn’t want to see her.” He left, cuddling his newborn son close.

Kareena still was a little lost as to what was going on. All she knew was that Jaden had pretended to be this foretold one to stop Miles from killing Leif. Miles had told her he’d done some pretty bad things in his past, but she hadn’t realized he’d been capable of murdering someone to get something he wanted. The idea sent a chill through her and sent home that she really didn’t know him. If he ever went back to being that type of person, she couldn’t stay mated to him. Somehow she’d have to find a way out.

She lifted her head and found everyone in the room watching her. She looked at each couple—Saskia and Eli, Jager and Daylen, Roan and Ansley. Kareena could see pity in their eyes.

After swallowing, Kareena said, “All right. Give it to me straight. Don’t hold anything back. Tell me what is going on between all of you and Miles. I might as well have this all out on the table today. A few hours ago, I found out werewolves exist and that I’m a mate to one. Now this.”

Saskia sighed. “You have no idea how I wish I didn’t have to tell you this, but you do need to understand since you’re Miles’s mate. My grandmother had the sight and foresaw that a werewolf would be born who would have more magic than the rest of us.

This werewolf would rule over all the packs, and a special mark on his or her left wrist would proclaim him or her as the foretold one. My grandmother saw that this special werewolf would need protection so she formed the Protectors. Originally it was me, Roan, Jager, Skylar, Leif, Kye, Dirk, and Miles. Hundreds of years ago, Miles decided he’d rather find the foretold one himself, keep this werewolf under his control, and rule the packs through him or her. I’m not going to sugarcoat it; he turned bad. And I’m not going to list all the things he did, but killing was acceptable to him.”

“Then he found out about Jaden,” Kareena added.

“Yes, then he found out he had a daughter. We had no idea who she was, and neither did she since she’d never met her father. When she was turned into a werewolf, her scent changed, and that was enough for me to realize who she was.”

Kareena interrupted. “Wait a minute. Miles told me a mortal can’t be turned, that to be a werewolf you have to be born one.”

“Well, before we found the true foretold one, that was true. Roxie, the foretold one, learned of a spell that turned her. Now it only works if she’s the one using it. She turned Eli, Daylen, and Ansley.”

“What about me?”

“We planned to tell Miles that Roxie had the spell and nothing else. We’d hoped he’d accept she just had a little something extra when it came to magic. Our grandmother did since she had the sight, as do I.”

“So I don’t have to worry about growing old and dying and leaving him behind?”

Saskia smiled. “No. Roxie already said she’d turn you, if that’s what you want.” She looked Kareena right in the eyes. “I can’t tell you to do it, but I strongly urge you to.

Miles loves you. Having a mate can be life changing. I think you’re the only one who’ll be able to keep him from going to the dark side again. Do you love my brother?”

Kareena didn’t even think about it. “Yes, but if he goes back to being bad, I can’t be with him.” A sudden feeling that something had happened to Miles swept through her.

She ignored it as Saskia spoke once more.

“I’m hoping the mating bond will stop that from ever happening. It’s instinct for a male werewolf to protect his mate. If he goes to the dark side, he’ll be putting you in jeopardy.”

“Then I’ll become a werewolf.” Kareena’s brows drew together. Talking about Miles made her feel as if she hadn’t seen him in a very long time. She felt as if she should get up and go look for him. She needed to be with him. The sensation was so strong she shifted on the couch.

Saskia eyed her. “Is something wrong, Kareena?”

“I don’t know. All of a sudden, I have this need to be with Miles. I feel as if something bad has happened to him. I miss him.”

“Shit, he wouldn’t have,” Jager said.

“He must have,” Saskia replied. “Roan, go see if Miles is still out back.”

Roan left the room in a run. All the people in the room turned their gazes to Kareena.

The stares of pity they’d given her earlier were now replaced with concern.

“What’s the matter?” Kareena asked.

“Did Miles tell you what happens when mates are separated for long periods of time?

About the separation anxiety that happens with it?”

“Yes. He told me we won’t be able to stand to be apart.”

“Well, what you’re feeling is the separation anxiety. It looks as if my idiot brother is no longer in the backyard. Roan has just gone to confirm that, but from what you’re feeling, I know he isn’t there.”

The thought of Miles leaving her behind had Kareena feeling a tad on the desperate side. He wouldn’t have dumped her, would he? They were mated. He’d told her he loved her. Would this be her ex-fiancé all over again? Only this time it would be much, much worse.

Roan came back into the room. “He’s not out back, but his car is still parked at the front of the house. So he didn’t leave the property.”

“He’s probably gone to the very back of it,” Eli said. “It’s far enough to have both of them feeling it.”

Kareena shifted on the couch cushion again. “Maybe I should go to him.”

“No,” Saskia said. “Let him come to you. I know this won’t be fun for you, but letting Miles go through the separation anxiety will remind him of what he has now. That he has a reason to stay clear of the dark side.”

“How bad will this get?”

Ansley gave her a pained look. “It can get pretty bad the longer he stays away.”

“Have you and Miles been together since he told you what he is?” Saskia asked.

Kareena shook her head. “If you mean have we had sex, no. When Jaden went into labor, I was still feeling freaked and having a hard time accepting what he told me. The only reason why I’m not feeling like that now is because so much has happened since.”

“If Miles stays away long enough, when you two are together again … let’s just say you’ll want to reconnect in the most elemental of ways. You won’t be able to help yourselves.”

Great. So she’d end up having sex with Miles with a houseful of people knowing exactly what they were doing.

But as the need to be with him grew, Kareena found she didn’t care all that much.

She wanted Miles to come back. Eventually, she had to get up and pace. It was beyond her to sit still. He’d been gone a half-hour, but to her, it felt as if she hadn’t seen him in months. She literally felt as if she were going nuts. Another half-hour went by, and Kareena was about ready to climb the walls.

Then she heard it, a long-drawn-out wolf’s howl coming from the back of the house.

Kareena ran out of the room, knowing it had to be Miles. She didn’t stop until she’d reached a pair of French doors. On the other side stood a white wolf—Miles. The sight of him in his wolf form didn’t affect her as it had the first time she’d seem him in it. All she cared about was that he was there. Arousal slammed into her, making it hard to think of anything else.

Kareena opened the door and let the wolf in. Behind her, Saskia said, “You can use Eli’s and my bedroom. Miles knows which one it is. Follow him.”

She should have felt embarrassed by Saskia basically telling her where she could go with Miles to have sex, but Kareena didn’t. Her pussy ached to be filled. The need to have him inside her was a beast that clawed at her. Already, wetness leaked into her panties.

Still in wolf form, Miles gently took her wrist between his jaws and tugged her into motion. Kareena went with him, leaving the others behind. She hurried up the stairs and into the bedroom he led her to. Once he released her, she closed and locked the door behind them.

The wolf’s body blurred and shimmered then there stood Miles. He was completely naked and very aroused. His cock jutted from his body and already a bead of precum had leaked from the tip. Her arousal increased, the ache deep in her pussy intensifying.

Miles was on her a heartbeat later. His lips claimed hers with hunger and desperation as he almost tore her clothes off her. He didn’t stop until he had her as naked as he.

His hands roamed her body while he walked her to the middle of the room. “I can’t wait, Kareena. I need inside you.”

“God, yes,” she moaned into his mouth.

Miles took her down to the floor, used a thigh to spread her legs, then surged into her to the hilt with one stroke. Kareena reached around and grabbed his thrusting ass, urging him to take her faster and harder when he pumped between her thighs. Loud wolf growls rumbled out of him with each thrust of his hips. She squeezed her inner walls around his hard cock. It felt so good to have him inside her pussy. Her moans of pleasure were just about as loud as his growls.

Kareena lifted her hips to meet each of Miles’s strokes. Her climax built like a runaway freight train, her body coiling tighter with each thrust. His cock grew even harder inside her, stretching her, filling her to capacity.

Her orgasm slammed into her, taking her breath away. Intense pleasure tore through her body, seeming to go on forever. Miles pumped once, twice, then howled. His cock pulsed as he came, hot jets of his cum filling her.

But he wasn’t done with her yet. His cock remained hard. Miles pulled out of her and got her up on her hands and knees. He shifted behind her and pushed into her, taking her in hard thrusts. All Kareena could do was moan and match his strokes. Even though she’d just come, another orgasm gathered steam. She panted his name as it grew and grew.

Miles reached around her and found her clit. He plucked at the bundle of nerves and sent her flying, but he didn’t come with her.

He shifted their positions again. This time he sat on the floor with her straddling his hips. He pushed up into her and had her ride him. His cock hit her G-spot, and she took him deeper. Unbelievably, her body coiled tight, readying itself for another release.

Miles wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and brought her mouth down to his. He pushed his tongue inside, mimicking what his cock did to her pussy. He soon pulled away but kept his hand where it was.

“I want you to bite me, Kareena.”

“I can’t bite you.”

He thrust up into her hard. “Yes, you can. Bite me where my shoulder and neck meet. Mark me as yours. It’s a male werewolf’s biggest turn-on to have his female bite him there, leaving teeth marks to show her male is claimed.”

Exerting slight pressure on the back of her neck, Miles positioned her mouth at the side of his neck where it met his shoulder. He stiffened as she kissed him and licked him there. His cock grew even harder. He put his hands on her hips and had her ride him faster. She dragged her teeth across the spot, and he groaned with a growl mixed into it.

“Kareena,” he begged. “Do it.”

She did it. She bite him has hard as he wanted her to. The effect it had over Miles was instantaneous. He slammed her down onto his cock and bellowed as he came. The movement threw Kareena into climax as well. Once it was over, she collapsed against him. He held her close and lay back on the floor. He was still hard but just continued to hold her in his arms.

When she could breathe without puffing, she rested her chin on her stacked hands and looked at him. “Saskia told me everything. What you used to be like, some of the things you’ve done.”

“I figured she would. That was part of the reason why I went wolf and put more distance than I should have between us.”

“If you ever do that again, I’m going to kick your ass.”

He chuckled. “I promise I won’t.”

“Good. And while I’m laying down the law, you will stay good. The days of you trying to control the foretold one are over. You are going to meet her and do whatever you have to do to show you will stay loyal to her.”

“Bossy, aren’t you?” He grew serious. “There’s still a small part of me that wants me to use her for my own purposes.”

“Well, you tell that asshole part of you it no longer has the control. You’ll always play nice with Roxie from here on out since she’s the one who can turn me into a werewolf so I can have those thousands of years with you.”

Miles jerked up to a sitting position, taking Kareena with him. “She can do that?”

She nodded. “Jaden was born mortal, Miles. Roxie turned her. Apparently, she has a spell that only she can use that turns us mortals into your kind. So you’re not going to do anything to piss her off. I want to stay with my mate for a very, very long time.”

He kissed her, which soon became hot and heavy, but he pulled away before it went too far, even though his cock was still hard and their bodies were joined. “I promise not to do anything to hold back the gift she’ll give us.”

“So you’ll prove to her that you’ll never turn to the dark side again?”

“Yes. I’ll swear fealty to her, whatever she wants.”

“Just what I wanted to hear.” Kareena used her weight to push Miles flat on the floor. “We’ll arrange to meet Roxie later. Right now I want to make love to my mate again.”

Later that night Kareena stood with the Protectors and their mates, except for Jaden and Leif, as Miles swore fealty to Roxie as the foretold one. The Protectors watched Miles with a close eye, but Kareena knew they didn’t have to worry about her mate being a threat any longer. Miles’s dark days were over for good. She was Miles’s redemption, and she’d make sure he never strayed to his dark side.

After Roxie accepted the pledge Miles gave her, Roxie motioned to Kareena to join them. Kareena knew what would come next. The foretold one would use the spell that would make Miles and Kareena true mates.

With no hesitation, Kareena stepped forward. She met Miles’s gaze with her own and saw the love he had for her shining in his eyes. He was her future, one she thought she’d never have. She placed her hand in his when he held it out to her and turned to Roxie, ready to take the next step in her life with Miles.

The End