Chapter 596 - THE STRONG PULL

Bree raised her head when she heard the feeble meow from the little kitten, which was hanging helplessly by its scruff. 

A bright smile appeared on her lips as she approached Kace, jumping in happiness, stretching her arms to receive the kitten. 

"Careful," Kace grumbled as he put the yellow little kitten in Bree's arms gently. 

Ethan and Ian who witnessed this were exchanging a look, it surprised them that the beast would even bother to find the kitten inside the forest around this clearing. Moreover, they didn't know this beast had a soft spot for a little girl, as he always appeared snarling or growling to everyone except his mate. 

Bree wiped her tears from her face and received the kitten as she cradled the little yellow fur creature in her arms. The little kitten seemed too scared of Kace as it snuggled to Bree's embrace. 

"Up!" Bree raised her free hand towards Kace. She wanted to be carried while holding her new pet. "Up!" she said it again when Kace just frowned and did nothing. 

Hope approached them and elbowed her mate. "Why don't you carry her, so she could stop screaming?" she giggled when Kace gave her a look. 

"Do you think I am a babysitter?" he grumbled, yet he still bent his body and picked up the girl, cradled her in his right hand while his other hand entwined his fingers with Hope's. 

Hope chuckled, but she was pleased with the beast's behavior towards Bree. At first she thought that Kace would treat Bree like the other creatures around them, with harsh words or eyes that filled with disdain. 

"I didn't know that you have a soft spot for children," Hope teased him as she caressed the kitten's soft fur. 

"She reminds me of you," Kace said casually. 

Ian and Ethan were following behind them, yet far enough to give the couple some privacy.They couldn't help but think that they were looking to a family of three. 

It looked sweet, but at the same time they grimaced when remembered that Kace was currently controlled by his beast, they didn't know how long he would be in the right mood to respond to the little girl's babbling. 

"Me?" Hope widened her eyes and grinned. "Why? Because she is cute like me?"

"No," Kace shook his head and said straightforwardly. "A crybaby."

A slap landed on Kace's back when he finished what he was saying. 

"What was that for?" He looked down at Hope. The slap was not even close to being considered painful, but he enjoyed the sight of how his mate sullen after hearing his tease. 

"I am not a crybaby," Hope said irritatedly. 

"Said someone who cried through the night because she lost her doll," Kace pointed out the truth. 

At the age of eight, Hope lost her white wolf doll that Kace bought for her, it was her favorite after all. She was crying until the next day Kace came and brought the same doll for her. 

"You were very stubborn even as a child," Kace spoke lightly. 

"I was not!" Hope objected, puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms in front of her chest. 

Kace chuckled lightly and his voice pleased Hope's ears, just like a beautiful melody in this starry night, especially when he bent down his body and whispered. "Don't worry, you are cuter than her."

Hope was surprised and whipped her head only to be kissed on her cheek by him. 

"Kace!" Hope's cheeks blushed, he kissed her in front of Bree, and fortunately the little girl was too busy with the kitten to notice that. 

Ignoring Hope's protest, Kace sighed deeply. "I should have just marked you when you ask me to. My human's side is too polite."

"You said that it is dangerous and complicated." Hope picked a red flower and played with it. 

"Right," Kace mumbled, "It is indeed dangerous, especially when it is unheard of—it never ever once was the case—that someone of my kind has a mate from the human or guardian angel race."

Hope rolled her eyes. "You are talking about one thing, and contradicting it in the next second."

Kace shrugged his shoulder. "What am I supposed to do? I really wanted to mark you, since you have come to age. The pull is getting stronger."

Hope didn't know how strong it was since she didn't feel it, but her feelings for him were genuine. She loved him, even before she loved him as a man.She had loved him as a guardian, a brother, a friend, a protector, and whatever roles that Kace had taken throughout her seventeen years of life. 

"I think I will ask the witch once we finish our business here." He was referring to Serefina. 

Hope didn't answer that, and they continued to walk in silence. Occasionally, Bree would ask one or two things when she played with her kitten that she named Kitty. 

"What kind of name is that?" Kace scrunched his brows in protest. 

"She wanted to be named Kitty," Bree said gleefully, as she talked to Kitty. "Don't be afraid, Kace is a kind person, his heart is as soft as a tofu."

The corner of Kace's lips twitched while beside her, Hope was laughing heartily, even Ian and Ethan, who heard that behind them, were trying their best to suppress their laugh. 

"I should just leave this girl inside the forest," Kace said grimly, but Hope slapped his back in return. 

But, Kace didn't react to that as his eyes glued to the forest, this strange sudden behavior made Hope stop laughing, and followed his line of sight. 

Not long after, Hope could hear hooves pounding the ground before them, from the lushes of trees, Chiron appeared, basking his presence under the light of the moon. 

"I hope I don't disturb the two of you," Chiron said politely.

"You do." And with that, Kace received the third slaps from Hope. 

"What happened Chiron?" Hope asked, she wished this wasn't another bad news.

Apparently, he didn't take the beast's words as something rude. Then he replied to Hope. "I want to talk about our journey to Mount Uzu with you two."