Page 33 of Protecting His Treasure

His cousin growled. “This time the outcome won’t be the same.”

“You don’t think so? Okay. Challenge me. But do it the right way. Go to my father and tell him you want to do an alpha challenge.”

“And you’ll accept?”

“Just as quickly as I accepted your unofficial alpha challenge.” Kaede could tell his willingness to accept his cousin challenge angered Onaku. His cousin didn’t really want to challenge him. One on one, Onaku didn’t stand a chance against him. His cousin simply wanted Kaede to turn down the challenge or ignore it.

That way, he could go around the village, spreading lies, saying that the alpha wasn’t fit to be alpha because he wouldn’t accept a challenge. Kaede knew how his cousin’s mind worked. Onaku was always plotting something. You’d think marriage would mellow him. It hadn’t. It seemed to have made him worse.

But that was what his cousin got for taking in a concubine. Hanami was not his cousin’s true mate. Hanami’s mate had been killed a few years ago. His cousin met her and fell in love with her. Though Kaede’s father warned against it, his cousin had still taken the woman in as a concubine.

Despite knowing she wasn’t his fated one, Onaku still referred to the witch as mate. That angered others in the den. But they kept quiet about it. None of them wanted to anger Onaku. They knew how foul the male’s temper was. When Kaede brought the issue to his father, his father told him to leave it alone.

He said that Onaku would settle down and get rid of the witch once he found his true mate. That had yet to happen. And his cousin’s temper seemed to be worsening. Kaede was sure it had something to do with the witch. Onaku folded his arms over his chest and glared at Kaede.

“Instead of challenging, I’ll just wait for you to fail as alpha. Since you have no heirs and there isn’t anyone else with the alpha gene, as your eldest cousin, the title will then come to me.”

“Until someone is born with the alpha gene.”

“If I get the title, I will get rid of the whole alpha gene notion.”

“I guess it’s a good thing you will never be alpha.”

His cousin smirked but said nothing.

“If that’s all,” Kaede told him. “I’m going to go to the temple.”

“By all means, go to the temple. Go pray to your alphas of old. Go be the good little dragon the den thinks you are.”

Ignoring his cousin’s words, Kaede turned and headed for the temple. He could feel his cousin’s eyes burning a hole in his back. He wanted to look back, but forced himself to continue forward. In a few hours, Kaede would officially hold the title of den alpha. Once he did, his cousin would no longer be allowed to speak to him in such a manner.

To do so would be treason. And Kaede wouldn’t hesitate to punish him. While his father thought Onaku’s actions were mildly tiresome, Kaede thought they were something more. If they didn’t put a stop to Onaku’s nonsense, Kaede feared his cousin would one day do something that could put the entire pack in danger.

As soon as Kaede entered the temple, the scent of flowers assaulted him. Hanami. He looked right. Indeed, Onaku’s was at the altar, making an offering of fruit to the gods. Not wanting to be in her presence, Kaede turned to leave the temple.

“Why do you always run from me,” Hanami’s soft voice filled the temple. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you was afraid of me.”

Kaede turned around. Hanami was still kneeling in front of the altar, back to him.

“Your husband is outside,” Kaede called her. “If you want someone with it, I can go get him.”

“I don’t want my husband,” she said.

Kaede didn’t know how to reply to that.

“You know who I want, Kaede Oshiro. You know who I’ve always wanted.”

He didn’t have time for her games. Kaede turned to leave. He came up short. Hanami now stood directly in front of him. He hated it when she did that. Kaede took a step back.

“Move, Hanami.”

“When you’re around, I feel like ‘Move Hanami,” is my name. Is what you always say to me.”

“Because you’re always in my way.”

“Do you truly hate my company that much?” Her ruby red lips formed a pout. She lowered her eyes, attempting to look sad.

“If you’re looking to be around someone who enjoys your company, seek out your mate.”