Read Online Falke’s Captive by Madison Layle & Anna Leigh Keaton - Free Book Online Page B

detail, too. Why would any grown man with an ounce of pride want to admit a woman felled him, tagged him and put him in a cage? Even if she was sexy in a quirky, scientific way.
    “Last night, when you said scientists,” Reidar continued, “I pictured pale-faced, skinny men with horn-rimmed glasses, receding hairlines and pocket protectors.”
    Kelan decided offense was the best defense. “There were two of them, and one fits that description, a little. Besides, would you admit a woman we’d been ready to bed shot you in the ass with a tranq dart?”
    Reidar opened his mouth to say more, but Axel walked in. With reinforcements. When Axel came to a stop near the bedside, Gunnar, dressed in a Catamount Outfitter uniform, stood behind him.
    “Who’s manning the store?” Reidar asked, his gaze on Gunnar.
    “Torsten’s prowling,” Gunnar answered.
    “Sin can handle the counter by himself for a while,” Axel added, letting Reidar off the hook for now.
    “Dakota?” Kelan asked, surprised to see both of his big brothers here rather than trailing her like hungry kittens.
    “I’m here,” she said, stepping into view through the doorway, although she remained in the hall.
    “Figures,” Kelan mumbled. Reidar cleared his throat.
    Alex frowned. “I see your nap didn’t help your disposition.”
    Kelan adjusted himself, sitting up straighter. He didn’t like being in a position of weakness. “Getting tranq’d by some broad with a quick trigger finger will do that to ya.”
    “You should’ve come to me, told me what happened—”
    “And set you off on another of your alpha speeches? No thanks. I’ve heard them all before.”
    “And not learned a damn thing!” Axel took a step closer, but Gunnar’s hand on his arm stopped his progress.
    Kelan kicked free of the covers but stayed put otherwise, his gaze on Axel. He wasn’t sure he had the strength right now to stand up to, let alone stand against, his eldest brother.
    Axel took a deep breath. “What you do, Kel, affects us all. When are you going to realize that?”
    “You think I did this on purpose? That I asked to get shot and tagged? Or that I wanted any of this to happen? Fuck you, Ax. I didn’t volunteer to be a lab rat. I’m the victim here.”
    “I’m pregnant.” Dakota’s words were like a bucket of ice water thrown over him. She stepped into the room, and Ax and Gunnar immediately flanked her.
    “Honey—”
    She silenced Axel with the touch of a finger to his lips and a smile on her face. “He has to know why you’re being such a bear lately.”
    Axel snorted. “A bear?”
    She grinned. “Okay, a pissy puma.”
    “I’m not sure that’s much better.”
    She caressed his cheek, her love for Axel palpable. “He needs to know, and besides, it’ll be obvious soon enough.”
    All of the anger seeped out of Kelan’s limbs. That explained everything—why Axel wouldn’t leave her side, why he’d been so scarce around work and defensive about it, about everything.
    “But I thought…” Kelan began, letting his words drift off when Dakota looked at him.
    She smiled. “That I wasn’t ready? I know I told everyone that because I really thought I wasn’t ready for kids.” She cast a grin at Axel first and then at Gunnar, touching him on the arm. Color in her cheeks made her look radiant. “But your brothers are rather…persuasive.”
    Axel and Gunnar actually squirmed, making Dakota grin and Kelan chuckle. Dakota was pretty persuasive too, when it came to his older brothers.
    Reidar was the first to move. He got up, went to their sister-in-law and pried her away from her mates. “Congratulations, sis.”
    She giggled and returned his hug. When they pulled apart, she approached the bed where Kelan sat, having draped his legs off the side.
    He smiled, opened his arms. “I’m happy for you.”
    Her eyes were so alive with joy, he felt her gaze like a punch to the gut. “Thanks.” She gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek, then