Free Say You're Mine by Aliyah Burke

lone light snuffed out and he rested his hands on the railing of his porch. Was she in bed? Was she naked? Were her fingers plunging between those powerful thighs, becoming coated in her cream?
    A sharp crack snapped his wanderings and he swore. “I just splintered my damn railing.”
    He entered his house, slamming the door behind him and striding to his bedroom. After he showered he pulled on a pair of sweats and headed to get some food. As he heated a large plate of food he realized she’d only had a salad. If she were here I could make sure she ate.
    He was at the front door ready to head down there when Kraven stepped to the door and knocked.
    Yanking open the door, he faced his second in command. “What, Kraven?”
    “We need to discuss your protection,” he said, pushing into the house.
    “Kraven,” he rumbled. “I’m not in the mood.”
    “You never are but that’s why you have me. I’ve assigned Irina and Traver to your wife. I don’t want Jetje on you because I think she’ll be distracted. I’m on you as well as Jensen, Dylan, and Tora.”
    He narrowed his eyes. Kraven shook his head.
    “Don’t start, Alpha. I am dead serious about keeping you safe.”
    For that reason alone, Casimir didn’t continue to argue. “Why Tora and not Jetje?”
    “I told you. Jetje may be distracted and I’d never put her on your mate.”
    “But you put Traver there.” His voice had gone wolf.
    “I put him there because he’s mated and is steadfast in his devotion to you. He’ll keep her safe.”
    Or die trying were the unspoken words.
    Casimir sat down in the living room, food before him, and ate. Kraven declined any but sat with him.
    “Jetje will have to be spoken with.” Kraven hooked his ankles. “I know you want her as your mate, however, until that time arrives she needs to stop being so hard on everyone. She’s not Alpha yet.”
    He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’ll have a chat with her. How are talks going with Silva clan? It would do us good to have the leopards as allies.”
    “Things are coming along. I’m optimistic. Let’s face it and call a spade a spade. Relations between us have been stressful. The misbehaving pups or Jetje’s attitude toward them haven’t made any of it go easier. Then there is your reputation and the fact that the leopards are just so damn secretive.”
    “We need the alliance. I also want you to find a way to contact the Eagle clan. Humans know about us and for the most part there aren’t issues. But they are weak to us and that knowledge can create fear. We may need the other shifters as our allies also.”
    Kraven sat forward. “Eagle? How do you propose I do that? Hell, they may not even exist anymore.”
    He swallowed. “They exist. My mate is friends with one.”
    His black brow rose with a quirk of his lips. Casimir scowled. “Mate now? I see she’s moved up.” Kraven held out his hands. “I’ll ask her. See if she will give me some help.”
    “I’ll ask,” he growled.
    “No offense, man, but she doesn’t seem to like you in the slightest. Perhaps I can get somewhere.”
    He trusted Kraven more than anyone in the world. The man was resolute, yet even so he didn’t want him around his wife. It rankled him to the point near anger to think she may like Kraven better.
    “Leave her alone.”
    Kraven didn’t push it and their talk turned to the cubs and how they were coming along. When Kraven headed to his home, Casimir shifted and headed out to patrol his land. He missed the fertile soil beneath his paws. As he neared one border he slowed as a familiar scent penetrated his nostrils the smell around him—and his wife—since he arrived in Georgia. The one which lingered after the bombings.
    His ears flattened back as he kicked into protective mode. Fully alert he tracked the scent to a small clearing where it disappeared.
    He retraced his steps twice more only to end up with the same result. How the hell did he vanish? More importantly who was