CHAPTER 4

　　Kane gave Bryan an almost imperceptible nod."I'm glad you had someone to keep you company while you were waiting.However,it would do your‘friend'well to remember that you are now my mate and off limits to all others."

　　Feeling her face burn at his innuendo,she tried to defend her actions."We were just talking,nothing else!"

　　"I don't appreciate other males standing quite so close when...talking...to my mate."The words rumbled from his throat and Bryan retreated,instinctively acknowledging Kane's dominance.

　　"Elise,I'd better go.I...I'll see you around."Regret laced his voice.

　　"Yes,I'll see you around."Sadness filled her,knowing that it was unlikely Bryan would approach her again.Their friendship was over.Anger bubbled up inside her and she kept her eyes fixed on the retreating figure,while addressing Kane."You didn't need to chase him off like that."

　　"I didn't chase him off.I merely let him know that you are my mate now and a proper distance needs to be maintained."

　　"He was just—"

　　"I know what he was just doing,"Kane interrupted sharply."I could scent his desire for you and I do not share my mate with anyone.We are bonded and you are mine.No other male is allowed to sniff around you."

　　"Sniff around me?"She turned to stare at him in outrage.

　　"Yes.That boy needs to remember you are off-limits before he makes a grave mistake."

　　She huffed indignantly."Kane,you—"

　　"Elise,this conversation is over."His tone was firm,implacable."You are my

　　mate.Bryan will stay away.End of topic.Now,are we going for a run or not?"

　　She considered leaving in a snit,but she'd be cutting off her nose to spite her face.She loved to run and Kane was right.As much as she hated to admit it,she couldn't encourage a relationship with Bryan anymore.It wasn't fair to him.With a brief nod to Kane,she shifted into her wolf form and ran into the forest.

　　The leaves crunched beneath her feet,trees and shrubs a mere blur as she raced past.Leaping over logs,skirting around trunks,she ran for the sheer love of it.Her eyes constantly scanned the horizon as she quickly adjusted her path and pace to suit the terrain.At the same time,she was aware of Kane running behind her.He made no attempt to pass her,but she sensed he was holding back.His breathing was slow and steady,no hint of exertion coming from him.

　　She quickened her pace,curious to see the limits of the wolf behind her.Within seconds,he had matched his pace to hers,the distance between them remaining constant.Again and again she tested him,running faster and faster yet he never once fell behind nor attempted to overtake her.

　　He was toying with her.

　　Vexed,she veered off the path heading for rougher terrain.Barrelling over a crest,she headed down a slope,her claws digging into the soil as she sought to gain traction on the slippery,leaf covered ground.At the bottom,a stream meandered along,and she splashed across it,before charging up the bank.Her breathing was ragged now,but she wasn't about to give in.Intent on jumping over a pile of brush ahead of her,she put on a final burst of speed.

　　Without warning,she found herself knocked to the ground and began to fight the assailant.Snapping and rolling,she kept trying to evade her attacker but to no avail.In a flash Kane had pinned her to the ground,his teeth lightly gripping her throat.Instinctively,she froze and whimpered in submission.Kane held on for a second longer then let go and sat back.

　　As one,they phased into human form.Kane was breathing faster than normal,but he didn't appear spent.On the other hand,her own chest was heaving as she pulled oxygen in to nourish her starving lungs and protesting muscles.

　　"Why did you do that?"She panted.

　　"There's a leg trap directly ahead of you.A few more yards and you would have stepped in it."

　　She turned and scanned the area ahead of her.Sure enough,barely visible in the carpet of leaves was a glint of steel.A shudder passed over her as she thought of her mother,shot to death with her leg caught in such a device.

　　"Just this morning,scouts reported more poachers had been seen in the area.We're near the edge of the property so I was on the lookout.Rest here for a minute.I'm going to spring that one and then see what else I can find."

　　"I'm coming with you."She stood,lifting her chin defiantly when it appeared that he'd have her remain where she was.

　　"Fine but stay behind me."Kane gave her a warning look before searching for a sturdy stick and carefully pressing it against the trigger of the trap.It was an older

　　model,with sharp metal teeth designed to dig into the flesh of any creature unfortunate enough to step in it.She jumped as the trap sprang shut,snapping the stick in two.Swallowing hard,she thought of how painful it would have been to have her leg caught in such a device.

　　For another half hour they scoured the edge of the property,discovering four more traps before Kane was satisfied that none remained."We'll report this to your father when we return,and he can send another set of scouts out to check."He had gathered the traps into a pile and marked the location so that they could be collected later.Traps were never sprung and then left behind.The hunters would just reset them.At least this way the humans would be out money and time since they'd have to purchase new ones.

　　"Thank you."She touched Kane's arm as he stood up after hiding the traps under some brush.

　　"For what?"

　　"For stopping me.I could have snapped a bone if I'd stepped in one of those."

　　"I'm your Alpha now.It's my job to watch out for everyone in the pack,but especially you.As my mate,you're the most important member to me."He stared at her intently and she flushed.

　　"Yes,but I should have been more careful.I know these woods.I...I wasn't paying attention."

　　"What were you thinking about instead?"

　　She hesitated before answering."You,or to be more precise,I guess I was testing you to see if you'd keep up."

　　A crooked smile appeared on his face and he reached out,cupping the back of her head and drawing her in for a quick kiss."Rest assured,Elise,no matter what you dish out,I will keep up with you."

　　Somehow,she knew he was speaking the truth.

　　They shifted back into wolf form and this time she followed as Kane led the way to the edge of the woods.When they arrived at the cabin,she headed for the bathroom while he went to the house to tell her father about the traps.

　　The run had left her hot and sweaty and she couldn't wait to be clean.Leaving her clothes on the bedroom floor,she padded into the bathroom and turned on the water,adjusting the flow and temperature.As the water cascaded down on her,she pondered the morning's events.Kane had been polite to her,even kind.He'd saved her from severe injury in a leg trap and while he'd been bossy,telling her to follow behind,she couldn't really fault him.As Alpha,he needed a take charge attitude.

　　His reaction to Bryan had been interesting as well.While he hadn't been outwardly aggressive,he hadn't been encouraging of her relationship with the other male either.Was Kane just being instinctively territorial;she was his mate and no one else was allowed near her?Most likely that was the answer.It was too much to expect that he had any feelings toward her beyond a sense of responsibility and ownership.

　　Would it always be this way;Kane showing polite interest in her but spending most of his time working?Would he ever come to care for her,or was she destined for a lukewarm relationship for the rest of her life?If she'd been mated to Bryan,it would have been so different.

　　A wave of sadness washed over her and she turned off the water and wrapped herself in a terrycloth robe.Returning to the bedroom,she flopped down on the bed and curled up into a ball,sniffling as she contemplated her future.