Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Chapter 0209

Kane POV

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Rolo asked as I looked down at the angel sleeping against my chest, her head tucked into my armpit as she lay motionless with fatigue. Sighing, I tucked a loose hair behind her ear and smiled, hating myself for the words about to leave my lips. "We have to." I whispered, trying to keep my emotions even, in case my little smart ass woke and asked more questions than she had done when she was giving in to slumber. She knew something was going on, and for that, I assumed I had Knox to blame. "We don't have to. You're just too scared to let go of the reins and trust Charlotte to do what needs to be done."

"No, it's not that." I sighed, getting fed up with people telling me that I was a control freak. I seethed for a few seconds before I composed myself.

"Then what is it?" Rolo asked skeptically.

"The only way people would believe that we had given up on each other is if they thought WE had cheated on her... OR she had cheated on us. And if people even suspect for a second that SHE betrayed us with Mike... If there was even a chance of it, that brings the pup's parentage into question. I can't.. I refuse to let them be born with any shadow looming over them. I can't and won't allow them to go through life with people whispering behind their backs. OR worse to their face."

"That might not happen."

"We don't know that, but we DO know that people are dicks and like good gossip! My pups, my mate will not be subjected to that bullshit. I would rather.."

"You would rather be labelled as the dick or dicks that cheated on your pregnant fated mate, then have her face any more scrutiny." Rolo sighed, understanding more than Knox did, apparently. He had shut me out of his head since Astaroth had left and, apart from the pretence he put up for Charlotte, he hadn't looked at me, let alone spoken to me.

Even now, as Knox slept, his body wrapped around our little mate, his knee wrapped around her to the point that even a slight movement meant his body grazed mine, just slightly and not at all inappropriately. Not that you would know that, given the way, he would flinch back and hiss like I had scolded him or some bullshit.

It seemed even in his sleep Knox was pissed.

know what else to do." I emitted honestly to Rolo

feel you need to do this. I think you should loop your brother in, because

How could anyone think I was giving up?

on cue, Knox twisted in his sleep, his eyes drifting open for a moment to glance at Charlotte, as if checking she was still there, before they darted to me. Something painful

her while you

you would do anymore." He growled back, his arms tightening around her. Without thinking, I lowered my hand

to meet my gaze again as he squeezed her tightly to him and then let her roll away so

hissed as quietly as I

like a child pretending I did not exist. Well, the bastard seemed to have forgotten that I had put up with years of him and Lilly playing these games. And I only play to win. Doing the same as my brother, I slipped from the bed, making sure to cocoon our mate in the sheets and our pillows. Pressing a kiss to her head,

to his

elbowed it, a grin splitting my lips seeing it slam

it, wake

and pulled it over his head.

Luckily, the

was still asleep. Not that I was surprised, we had exhausted her

I muttered, walking over to lean

talk." He growled, slamming the top drawer closed with

want you to listen." I started to say my hand pressing my brother's mouth the second he opened his smart-assed gob to reply. "I thought you didn't wanna talk." I