Kailani's Pride (The Cassidy Pride Book 1) Read online

  Kailani's Pride

  By: Sage S. Wolf

  Story idea by:

  S. E. Hergert

  ~Agree to disagree~

  Copyright © 2020 Sage S. Wolf

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Cover design by: Sage S. Wolf

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Kailani's Pride

  Copyright

  ~1~

  ~2~

  ~3~

  ~4~

  ~5~

  ~6~

  ~7~

  ~8~

  ~9~

  ~10~

  ~11~

  ~12~

  ~13~

  ~14~

  ~15~

  ~16~

  ~17~

  ~18~

  ~19~

  ~20~

  ~21~

  ~22~

  ~23~

  ~24~

  ~25~

  ~26~

  ~27~

  ~28~

  ~29~

  ~30~

  ~31~

  ~32~

  ~33~

  Books By This Author

  ~1~

  Kailani

  I stood in front of my cracked full-length mirror and studied my appearance. I was wearing a hand me down sweater from my aunt and a pair of dark wash jeans, the bottoms tucked into a pair of hiking boots. My light blonde hair was up in a ponytail, the light coming through my bedroom window catching the almost white natural highlights that streaked through it. They were almost as unusual as my violet-colored eyes.

  Today was my last day of high school and I’d busted my ass the last four years to get to where I was about to be. Graduating with a 4.0 GPA and a full scholarship to the college of my choice. I know a lot of people took the easier route, putting in the minimum amount of work, and then taking their diploma and moving onto whatever they chose to be next. That wasn’t me. I wanted to be better than my circumstances. I’d fought my whole life, well, since my parents were murdered when I was six and I was thrown into the foster system but that was a story for another time.

  I grabbed my coat and backpack and gave myself one last look in the mirror before heading for the front door.

  “Aunt Leandra, I’m heading off to school!” I called out as I opened the front door, a burst of cold morning air hitting me in the face.

  Alaska weather was harsh, especially in the winters. Spring was nothing but cold rain and mud, summer wasn’t much warmer. How anything managed to grow in this place, I had no idea.

  “Don’t forget to undress before you shift,” Auntie called back from her sewing room.

  The woman was always saying things that made no sense. She’d been that way since I was dropped off here by a social worker at age eleven.

  I accepted her crazy rather quickly and learned how to ignore her. I’d also learned how poor she was. She didn’t make a ton of money with her sewing business, but she always made sure I was fed and clothed, and had a roof over my head, so I didn’t complain.

  She ran her own little sewing business out of our spare bedroom which she’d turned into a sewing room. It was full of all kinds of different fabrics. She made everything from warm socks to full-sized quilts and sold them in town.

  We lived in a what could be described as a small three-bedroom shack in a small town called Verine, or as I called it, the middle of nowhere, Alaska.

  The walls and floors of our shack were made of wood and the windows desperately needed replacing. They fogged up so bad sometimes you couldn’t even see out of them. Most of the time our whole house was heated by a large wood-burning stove located at the far end of the living room. It did an okay job with keeping us warm as long as we doubled up our blankets at night. If we wanted to shut our bedroom doors and jack up our electric bill, we could use the baseboard heaters that were only installed in the bedrooms and bathroom. They were super expensive to run so we chose to keep our doors open and be a little cold a lot.

  I’d lived in Anchorage with my parents before their untimely end and then spent five years being bounced around in foster care until my aunt tracked me down. The day my worker brought me here was one of the few good memories of my childhood after my parents. Aunt Leandra might not be affectionate or even good to talk to, but she was family and something about that fact helped comfort my young mind at the time. It could have been much worse for me.

  When I turned sixteen, I started working part-time at the local fishery. I worked there Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and weekends. My aunt refused to let me pay bills, so I saved most of my checks and spent the rest on food for us. I liked feeling like I was pulling my own weight.

  “Babe, you coming?” My boyfriend, Kavik, asked from the bottom of the stairs, startling me from my thoughts.

  “Jesus, Kavik!" I yelped, gripping my chest. "I thought we agreed you wouldn’t sneak up on me like that anymore.”

  Kavik flashed his beautiful smile at me. He was stunning with dark hair and dark eyes, and biceps almost as big around as my head. You could tell he was an Alaska native. “I’m sorry, Kai. Come here.” He held his arms out for me.

  “You’re the best boyfriend ever.” I leaned toward him and placed my hands on his shoulders while he gripped my hips.

  Lifting me to him, he held me tight against him and kissed me. “My best girl shouldn’t have to walk in the mud.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Yea, whatever you say.” I laughed, wrapping my legs around his thick waist and letting him carry me through the sticky mud to his truck.

  Kavik and I met in eighth grade. He was the only kid in my new school who would talk to me. It didn’t take him long to become my best friend.

  On my sixteenth birthday, he came to my house with a tiny box that held a stunning silver ring. It held four sapphires and was inscribed on the inside with the last letter of the Greek alphabet. Kavik explained that the Omega symbol had great meaning for his ancestors and his grandfather had insisted he give me the ring on my sixteenth birthday. Not before or after, but on the exact day. It seemed a bit weird at first but then Kavik asked me to be his girlfriend and the excitement of my best friend admitting he felt as strongly about me as I did for him blocked out any curiosity over the ring and its meaning. It was my most prized possession.

  That was over two years ago.

  We were both eighteen now and about to graduate. After graduation, we were going on a road trip to the lower forty-eight. It would be a great time to get in alone time together before we started the crazy hustle of college life in the fall. I’d started saving up for our trip about six months ago and now had enough money to cover food and gas for about six weeks.

  “What time are we leaving tomorrow?” I asked as we pulled into the school parking lot.

  Kavik parked and shut off the engine before turning to me. “Whenever you want, babe. Just make sure all your stuff is packed tonight.”

  “Okay. I can’t wait to see the States with you.” I couldn’t help the smile that was so big it made my cheeks hurt.

  “That’s why I love you so damn much, Kai. You get ecstatic over the simplest things.”

  I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’m happy as long as I have you, Kavik. That’s all I’ll ever need.”

  Kavik smi
led and pushed his door open. “Good to hear.” He got out and ran around the front of the truck to open my door for me.

  The school parking lot was paved, so Kavik wouldn’t need to carry me again. I wasn’t a small girl and only felt comfortable with him carrying me because he was on the school wrestling team and was used to lifting people heavier than me.

  There was nothing but soft curves on my 5’5 frame. I wasn’t overweight, but I also wasn’t skinny. I was "well-insulated" as my aunt called me in her clearer-headed moments, which was for the best I supposed since I lived in this cold hell hole.

  The cold wind hit me when my door opened, and I shivered as I reached out for Kavik’s hand. “I can’t wait to feel real warm weather for once in my life.”

  “You’re adorable.” He grinned, taking my hand and helping me out of the truck. “Let’s get you inside before it starts to rain again.” Tucking me against his side, he walked me to my locker like he’d done every day since we first met. “I have to head to class, but I’ll see you after school, right?”

  I stood on my tiptoes and pulled him down for a sweet kiss. “Of course. It’s not like I have anyone else to hang out with.”

  I’d been treated like an outcast by everyone in this town since I’d arrived seven years ago. I couldn’t figure out why. Everyone but my aunt and Kavik ignored my existence as much as possible. Even my teachers seemed to struggle with interacting with me but that didn’t stop me from learning and getting good grades. I guess I should be thankful they didn’t try to sabotage my grades.

  Kavik playfully pinched my side and I giggled. “I see how it is, Leona.”

  “Hey! Don’t call me by my middle name, Ayaan!” I kissed him again to stop his response.

  A teacher cleared his throat and we both laughed. “Save that behavior for outside school walls.”

  “I’ll meet you at the truck after school.” Kavik grinned at the teacher and then gave me a quick kiss before hurrying off to his first-class.

  I looked around trying not to notice the stares. I didn’t know why the people of this small town acted like I was carrying some deadly plague. It was strange. Luckily for me, it stopped bothering me years ago. Thank goddess I would be out of here soon. I was graduating tomorrow with the love of my life beside me.

  Kavik and I had been accepted to Washington State University. I had a special love of animals, and the Veterinarian program there was amazing. Kavik was studying business so he could take over the fishery and the other random businesses his dad owned. His family pretty much owned the town. I knew that meant that I’d have to return here after college, but I didn’t mind as long as I had Kavik by my side. He was my person. My forever.

  After my last class of the day, I bounced giddily to Kavik’s truck. I was super excited about this road trip.

  As I got closer, I saw Kavik was on the phone. He was leaning against the closed tailgate of his Ford f150, his back to me.

  “No. That’s not the price we agreed on, dude.” He stopped and looked side to side like he was checking for something before continuing. “My package is worth a lot more than you’re offering. We’ll be there in less than a week, so you better have my money.” He looked a little shocked when he finally saw me behind him. “I have to go.” He said, smiling at me as he ended the call. “How was class, babe?”

  I shrugged. “Ya know, boring last day wrap-ups. Who were you talking to?”

  “Oh, that was my buddy in Montana. I told him we’d stop by and see him on our way through.” He reached out and pulled me against his chest.

  I pulled back a little to look up at him. “And you’re bringing him something?”

  “Yea. He wants a few souvenirs from here. You know people love having stuff from places they’ll probably never go.” Kavik was looking over my head as he spoke.

  His answer made enough sense that I didn’t continue to question him.

  “I get it.” I pulled away and pressed my hands on Kavik’s firm chest. “Take me home so I can finish packing?”

  “Yep.” He opened the passenger door for me and helped me climb in before shutting the door and getting in the driver’s side. “You mind if I crash at your place tonight? My dad is on one of his power kicks again.”

  “You know I don’t mind. I love our cuddle times, even if I’d like them to be more. I respect you wanting to protect your virtue.”

  Kavik’s hand came to rest on my jean covered thigh. “Thanks, babe. You know my family is super anal about the whole no sex before marriage thing.”

  “But how would they know? Are you going to tell them?” I slide my hand into his and laced out fingers together.

  “I can't lie to my dad, Kai. He has a special gift of knowing when people lie to him."

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “You are so damn cute. How you chose to be with an orphaned girl like me, I will never know.”

  “Because I love you, Kailani. Love doesn’t judge.” He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles without taking his eyes off the road.

  I wanted to cry. “I love you too.”

  Kavik was the first person to say those words to me after my parents died. I knew my aunt cared for me, but I didn’t know if it was out of obligation or if she genuinely cared. She rarely said anything but nonsensical ramblings when she did speak to me.

  ~2~

  Kailani

  Graduation Day

  “You ready to head out yet, Kai?” Kavik called out from the living room as I stared at myself in my cap and gown.

  I had done it. I had survived losing my parents, five years in foster care, and seven years of my odd aunt to get to this moment. I was proud of myself and I knew my parents would be proud of me too.

  “Be right there.” I grabbed my purse and headed to the living room.

  My aunt was there sitting in her rocking chair, crocheting a blue baby blanket. It was for the married couple that lived down the street. They had just found out they were expecting a baby boy.

  Kavik was standing by the front door wearing his cap and gown. His face said he was more than ready to leave.

  “He’s not your mate. Not your mate, not your mate…” My aunt mumbled, trailing off into words I couldn’t make out.

  Kavik glared at her and then looked at me, shaking his head. “Let’s get going. We don’t want to be late for graduation.”

  I nodded. “Okay. I’ll be back tonight, Aunt Leandra.” I went over and kissed her on her cheek. She was still quietly mumbling while she worked her crochet needles. “Don’t wait up for me.”

  Giving her one last look, I pulled the door shut and headed to graduation.

  “I can’t believe we did it!” Kavik cheered, picking me up and spinning me around after the ceremony.

  This was when the families congratulated their kids, but I had no one here except my boyfriend.

  “We did,” I forced a smile, not feeling all that excited all of a sudden.

  “Hey,” Kavik set me on my feet and tipped my chin up to look at him. “Don’t be sad, babe. I know it sucks that you don’t have family here for you, but I’m right here. I love you and am so damn proud of you, ya hear?”

  I smiled a real smile as a single tear slipped from my eye. “I love you too. Thank you for being here for me, Kavik. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  Something flickered in his eyes but was gone too quickly to tell what it was. “You’re easy to love, Kai. Don’t let anyone tell you any differently. Now, let’s go get our stuff and get the hell out of this state.”

  “Really?” I couldn’t hide my excitement.

  Kavik chuckled and kissed me. “Really. Get in.” He pulled me toward his truck, both of us laughing on the way.

  “Kavik!” His dad’s voice stopped us in our tracks. He was standing by Kavik’s truck.

  He was almost spitting image of Kavik only thirty years older.

  “Not now, dad.”

  “You leaving tonight?” A look passed between them.

&nbs
p; I tugged Kavik’s coat sleeve, and whispered, “You told him we were leaving? I thought you said your parents wouldn’t let you leave so we had to keep quiet.” I was confused.

  His dad didn’t look angry that he was leaving, he looked pleased.

  “It’s fine, Kai. You know I don’t like keeping things from my parents, and remember my dad knows when people lie.”

  “That’s right, Kailani.” Mr. Haywood said, glaring at me. “Kavik doesn’t keep things from me or his mother. That’s called respect, something I’m sure you were never taught since you’re an orphan.”

  Kavik grabbed my arm when I lunged for his dad. “Don’t you fucking call me that! It’s not my fault my parents are dead!” I screamed.

  Kavik held me tight against his chest while I fought to get free. I didn’t know if I would actually hit his asshole dad, but I sure as shit wanted to.

  “Dad, please don’t say things like that to Kailani.” Kavik’s voice was a little shaky, his eyes on the ground.

  I had yet to figure out why he was so damn scared of his family.

  “She’s only proved my point with that mouth of hers, Kav. It’ll be better around here once she’s gone.”

  “Oh, you mother-”

  “You mean once we’re gone?” Kavik corrected, cutting me off.

  I was half tempted to knee him in the balls so he’d let me go but decided to try and calm myself. I could be the bigger person.

  Mr. Haywood gave a fake smile that looked almost like a grimace. “Of course, that’s what I meant. Don’t forget to say goodbye to your mother before you leave. You know she’ll be upset if you don’t.”

  “I will, Dad.” Kavik relaxed his hold on me and I stepped away, still debating if I wanted to throat punch his dad.

  “I’ll let you two be on your way then.” With that said, Mr. Haywood turned and headed toward his SUV that was parked a few spots down from Kavik’s truck.

  “I can’t fucking believe that guy,” I said once we were inside the truck and headed to my aunts.