Read Online Roaring Up the Wrong Tree by Celia Kyle - Free Book Online

settled and then I’ll see you two in the morning.”
    Keen wasn’t sure it was a good idea for the two women to be alone. In fact, if Ty found Trista’s scent on his mate, it might send him over the edge.
    “I can—”
    Mia cut in. “Go to bed and we’ll see you in the morning.”
    Trista’s expression pleaded with him, begged him not to allow Mia to pull her away, but Mia was the Itana. And while his inner-bear had problems with Ty, it had nothing but respect for their Itana.
    Mia reached for the door on the left and turned the knob, allowing the panel to swing wide and grant the women entrance. He knew what they’d find. The room was decorated much like his own. Solid dark wood furniture with deep colors that weren’t overly masculine, but weren’t feminine either. Dear God, it was unisex. Plain. Interchangeable with any other guestroom in the world.
    No hint of his personality lingered in the two bedrooms and it made him realize even more about himself. He was a guest in his own home. His mother had decorated the rooms when he was younger and it was as if his parents knew he was only passing through. He wouldn’t settle in the clan den.
    They knew he’d leave someday and they hadn’t bothered trying to suit his tastes.
    “Keen?” Trista’s soft voice tugged him from the sudden realization that he’d never been meant to stay in the clan den—hell, maybe even Grayslake—for the rest of his life.
    “Sorry,” he cleared his throat. “Right. I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
    His hand shook as he reached for his bedroom door, arm trembling as the truth sunk into his bones.
    Keen’s home wasn’t in Grayslake, maybe not even in Georgia. Catching one last glimpse of Trista as the door swung shut made him realize one other truth. He might not be meant for Georgia, but maybe, just maybe, he was meant for Trista.
    *
    Trista was gonna die. Plain and simple. Dead and gone and buried before she had a chance to finish her horrible, hand-to-mouth existence.
    Was this how her mother felt?
    She didn’t have time to follow that line of thought because suddenly she found herself following a waddling Itana into a bedroom. The space was filled with solid furniture. Nothing fancy, but obviously high quality with shining dark wood polished to a smooth shine. The bedspread sported a deep red. Not one of passion, but of comfort and warmth.
    “Well, this is it.” Mia made her way through the room. “There are extra clothes in the dressers. Just sweats and stuff. Nothing fancy.” The woman turned and pointed at a closed door nearby. “That’s the bathroom. It’s got a shower and all that. It’s a Jack and Jill which means Keen uses it as well. I’m sure he won’t just come barging in or anything.” The Itana blushed. “You can trust him. More than anyone else here, you can trust him.”
    Trista stared at the closed door. The white, carved panel taunted her. It scared her and intrigued her in equal measure. Would he come in while she slept? And if he did, what would happen?
    “Why?” She refocused on Mia. “Why can I trust him?”
    Mia frowned and turned her attention to the ground as if gathering her thoughts. She finally sighed and waddled toward a chair near the large bay window. “Keen is…” She leaned back, hands resting atop her protruding stomach. “Sit down for a minute.”
    Trista did as asked, climbing onto the bed and settling on the soft mattress. As soon as she was situated, Mia spoke again.
    “I know he seems like a ladies’ man and all that. He pretends to be so lighthearted and uncaring, but that’s not…” Mia paused, seeming to gather her thoughts. “Keen is the brother they don’t think about.” Trista furrowed her brow and opened her mouth to comment, but the Itana kept going. “He’s much younger than Ty, Van, and Isaac. And he doesn’t have an official purpose in the clan. Well, he did, but he stepped down this morning.”
    Mia shook her head. “Anyway. Ty was