Alpha Tate’s POV“Jody, walk with me.”Jody glances over his shoulder at me with a frown, not removing his arm from around Cami’s shoulders.“Can this not wait until the morning?”“No.”Jody leans even closer to whisper in his mate’s ear, kisses her on the forehead, then watches as she continues down the hall to their room without him.“She’s safe here, Jody. Don’t worry. Step in here with me.”Gesturing towards the library, I move inside and wait for Jody to join.“Hey, are you okay? Did something happen between you and Kit while we were away?”Jody’s astute observation surprises me, but I wave it off.“It’s fine. She’s just worried about her sister, understandably.”“Yeah.” Jody mutters, rubbing the back of his neck.“Jody, I need to know…are you sure they were rogues? Are you positive it wasn’t a set up?”Now that Cami isn’t with him, I need to see if his answers are the same or if he was just trying not to frighten her.Jody meets my gaze and nods.“It wasn’t anything like last ti
Kit’s POVWell.Clearly, I didn’t think this through.Once again, my irrational behavior has gotten me into an uncomfortable situation.I just wanted to get away for a moment.To let out some frustration.Scream without being heard.To put distance between me and Alpha Tate, who has me feelings things I shouldn’t be and acting like I don’t have a lick of sense.Right now, I feel like a complete idiot.Sitting by the lake, my knees pulled up to my chest, completely nude, and unable to even think about my next move.Because if I think about my next move, I have to shift to my wolf form to go back through the forest for training, which I don’t want to do, because as my wolf, it hurts even worse that I am near my mate, yet I’m not with him.The alternative is to walk around, naked, until I find clothes hidden somewhere, and risk running into everyone from training starting wolf combat somewhere out here.Not ideal. I am still not comfortable with being full on nude around everyone. I’m al
Kit's POVI don’t recall having any conscious thought that I should do it, but my hands seem to act on their own and are now splayed against Tate's sexy torso, greedily moving upward as I meet him the rest of the way to press our lips together.My fingers clutch his shoulders, and his strong hands catch my hips as my body goes weak, hanging onto his as he deepens the kiss, his touch, his scent, everything about him is creating a fire inside of me that I desperately need him to quench.Tate lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist, pushing my back against the wall, his manhood poking my thigh.I know I shouldn’t…I know it…but there is no rational thought in my head right now. Just mad, uncontrollable desire.Reaching down, I wrap my hand around his thick rod, letting out a moan against his lips as I stroke it’s very impressive girth.“Kit…”Gasping, I pull back, meeting his gaze as I line him up between my legs, giving my hips a wiggle of invitation.I don’t know what has gotten ove
Alpha Tate’s POVDo something…the entire fucking pack is here, watching me, watching how I react to my ex-girlfriend showing up on my doorstep out of the blue.With luggage.The girl that they all think wrecked me.Tore my heart out when she left.Now here she is.Right here in her element, the center of attention.She’s probably hoping I make a scene, to prove that she got under my skin, that just her presence affects me.Wouldn't she just love that.Striding casually towards her, I stop a few feet away and look purposefully at her luggage, then raise my eyebrows at her.“Coming for a visit?”She does that thing where she lowers her head and looks up at me, blinking her heavily painted eyelashes and sticking out her lower lip, her voice a soft whine.“You haven’t seen me in ages, and that’s how you greet me? Don’t I at least get a hug? Or do you hate me that much?”My jaw twitches as I force a tight smile.“No, I don’t hate you. Come here.”Her smile is triumphant as she gives a litt
Kit’s POVIt’s hard for me to know exactly what it is that I am feeling, as I watch Alpha Tate waltz inside, leaving a fuming Sarah on the front porch with all her luggage.Jealousy, for sure, it would be impossible not to.But he didn’t seem too excited to see her…and she wan't welcome to stay in the packhouse with him.Which makes me feel a little relief…maybe a little triumph of my own as she scrunches up her face while Jody walks up to her.“Kit, are you okay?”Cami has made her way to my side, looking at me with concern as she grabs my arm.“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”Shrugging, I try to act as casual as possible, while smoothing my hair at the same time.Sarah really does have phenomenal hair.That bitch.“Oh, well, I just thought…”“So, Kit, shall we go get ready for tonight? I could use a shower. Care to join me?”Colin’s cheery voice sounds a bit forced and I catch him exchanging glances with Jody.And so does Sarah.Her eyes fall on me and I can tell it takes her a second to
Kit's POVMy head jerks around to look at the open office door, Sarah leaning against the frame with her arms crossed over her chest, grinning.“Never knew you to be one who goes back on his decisions, Tate, but here you are, secretly hooking up with your rejected mate. Tsk tsk. Not a good look for an Alpha. And poor Colin…”My stomach sinks to the floor as I watch her push off the doorframe and stride confidently towards us.“Guess now that you aren’t so dumpy, Tate wants a taste. Still don’t think you are truly Luna material, must be why Tate keeps you as a side piece only, and shares you with Colin.”“That’s enough, Sarah.”Her eyebrows raise.“Really? You’re defending her? When we used to make fun of her so much? Remember how we would laugh at how pathetic she looked after you rejected her, as if she didn’t expect it, when you didn’t even know her name!”She cackles and Tate thrusts the glass he is holding into my hand, which I take automatically, even though my hands are shaking.
Kit’s POV“Here.”Tate tosses me a thick throw blanket.“It’s all I could find.”Dabbing the expensive-feeling material over my soaked chest, I sigh.Just when I was starting to relax and enjoy the evening.“You might want to change, that looks a bit like a lost cause. Shame. I didn’t mind you in that dress.”His words send a jolt of excitement through me that I ignore.But I do agree with him, the dress is a lost cause.“Ugh!”My hand holding the blanket falls to my side in defeat.“I’m having Teresa retrieve a new one for you.”“Thanks.”Chewing on my lower lip, I look around the room, anywhere but at him.My eyes fall on the chaise lounger in the center of the small room, then quickly dart away.I wonder if Tate ever hooked up with Sarah on that before.The thought makes me cringe.Why would I even think of that?“Do you want to sit?”“No, I’m fine.”“Do you want me to leave you alone?”Yes. No? I don’t even know anymore.Trying to buy some time to think, I undo the apron from arou
Alpha Tate’s POV“I told you not to say anything!”“I didn’t! I didn’t say one word about the two of you. I just told him someone was requesting drinks in here, but I guess I led him to the wrong room…” She bares her teeth in a fake grimace. “Whoopsie!”“You need to get the hell out of my sight!”Sarah puts her hands on her hips.“I don’t know what you’re all mad at me for. I didn’t do anything wrong. You were the one hooking up with that loser Colin is dating-”“She is not a loser and don’t you ever speak about her in that way!”My words come through gritted teeth, anger at the nerve of this terrible woman I can't believe I ever thought I was in love with is coursing through my body.She holds her palms up, her eyes glinting.“Damn. Never thought you would be a weak Alpha. Here I came back because I missed having a strong, sexy man who never backs down. But look at you. Getting all knotted up over a reject.”Closing the space between us in three strides, I put my face close to hers.
Kit’s POV“This was a great idea! It’s so much fun! I’m glad that we are doing this.”Cami smiles at me over her shoulder as she jogs along the path winding through the woods, her high pony swinging behind her.“Yeah…so fun!”Two steps behind her, I frown as thoughts of Tate pop into my head, again. This time it’s how hot his grin was as he looked down at me just after he got me to climax for the second time this morning.My foot catches on a root and I trip, nearly face planting before clumsily righting myself again.Cami glances back.“What happened?”“Tripped. I’m fine.”Actually…“Cami, can we stop?”I slow to a walk and wipe the sweat off my forehead.Cami jogs in place as she spins around to look at me, clearly wanting to protest, but then nods and throws her arms into a stretch over her head.“Okay, so we will take a stretch break, then keep going? If we head back now, that’s only ten miles total.”Only ten miles?Sighing, I flop onto the grass and prop my back against a thick
Alpha Tate’s POV“Be safe out there and good luck. Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”Jody frowns at me as he shakes my hand.“No, you stay. Keep the pack alert and ready for another attack, just in case.”Jody nods solemnly.Turning to go, I hesitate and turn back toward him, glancing around to make sure no one is listening.“Kit is excused from training today. Cami as well. Perhaps she can keep Kit distracted while I am away?”Jody looks confused, but nods his consent.“Sure…” He tilts his head to study me curiously, opening his mouth to ask about something that I really don’t want to go into right now, so I cut him off.“Thanks. I’ll keep in contact.”Noticing the dismissal for what it is, Jody steps back and holds out his hand for Cami, who is standing a few feet away on the porch, and she hurries to attach herself to his side.With a final glance at the packhouse where I just left my mate, who finally seems to be open to giving me a true chance, I can’t help but to f
Kit’s POV“I don’t want to, I really don’t want to leave you, but I have to go…”Tate kisses my neck and gives me a squeeze as he rolls away from my side with a heavy sigh.Nodding silently, I admire how the muscles from his shoulders all the way down to his calves seem to flex tantalizingly as he strolls to his dresser to pull out clothes.Even after nearly an hour of nonstop, magical bliss, I feel like if he crawled back into bed, I’d already be down for another round…The mate bond is quite insatiable. His arms already inside his shirt, Tate turns to grin at me before he tugs it over his head and, much to my disappointment, covers his perfect torso with it.“Hopefully I won’t be gone long. Feel free to stay right there and wait for me if you want.”Sitting into an upright position, tucking the blanket around my chest, I start to grin back at him, then frown, the full reality of what he is leaving to do hits me.Rescue his kidnapped ex…because they thought she was my mate’s Luna.“
Kit’s POVOh god.The moment that Tate’s lips connect with mine, I know there’s no stopping this time.No.This time I am going to let myself feel, without any reservations, exactly what this mate bond is made of.Because if I am truly honest with myself, I want this. I want to feel this. To know this. Even if it is for the one time only.Running my palms up Tate’s muscular chest, I tug his shoulders so that he leans closer, gasping as his own hand slips around my waist, palm flat on the bare skin of my back. At the same time, he grabs under my thigh with the other to hook it around his hip and hoist me up onto the cold counter.He exhales my name before he pushes my lips apart with his tongue and pulls me tighter against him.His lips taste so good…they mold perfectly against my own…but now I want more than a goodbye kiss. I need more.Lowering my hands, I hook my fingers into his waistband and tug so that they slip off his hips and fall soundlessly to the floor, his thick rod spring
Kit’s POV“Good morning, beautiful.”Smiling as Colin kisses my cheek, I reach behind me to run my fingers through his hair, giving it an affectionate tug to guide his lips to my neck.His hand slips down my side to grip my hip under the blanket.Rolling onto my back in response, I spread my knees and wiggle against him.Colin chuckles and teases me with his fingers.“You didn’t get enough last night?”“I always want more.”His eyes flash lustfully as he slides on top of me, holding himself, his arm muscles bulging in a tantalizing way.I run my finger down his chest, his abs, and nearly to his morning wood when he says something that makes me pause.“From me, right?”“What?”“You always want more from me, right? Not from…someone else?”“Colin!”His words make me feel self-conscious and a bit hurt, especially after the amazing night we had last night, so I awkwardly cross my arms over my bare breasts.He grimaces and rolls so that he collapses beside me.“Sorry, didn’t mean to kill th
Colin’s POVI start to pull away from Kit, but she doesn’t seem ready to let go since she mumbles breathily, ‘not yet’ against my lips.Lifting higher on her toes, she grabs my hair and tugs me close again.As much as I want to embrace her, carry her upstairs to bed and forget all about tonight while I explore every inch of her body with my tongue, I have to take care of something first.I kiss her back, but after only a few seconds, I grab her hands from my hair, kiss her forehead reassuringly, then pull Kit against my side as I look at Tate.“I’ve done all I can for tonight. We are in need of more supplies, and soon, or we could be in big trouble if we have another attack. There’s about half a dozen staying in the healing center overnight.”Kit must notice the faint smear of blood on my cheek, she tries to wipe it off like I had hastily tried to in the mirror I passed in the hall on the way here, but it’s dried on.Her hand still on my cheek, she tilts my face towards hers and gives
Alpha Tate’s POVEyeing the piece of paper in Lacey’s hand, I finally take it from her, carefully unfolding it while Lacey holds her breath.“You can go, Lacey.”She doesn’t immediately go, and I can tell she is hunting for an invite to spend the night together, but I have other things, more pressing things, to tend to.“Thank you.”Spinning on her heels, she exits.Taking a deep breath, I inhale Kit’s comforting scent and read the note.We have your mate. If you want her back, surrender your pack to us by midnight tomorrow or she dies.Dropping the note onto the desk, I rub my temples.It would be almost laughable if it didn’t make a new worry grip my very soul.This, this right here is just another reason why I couldn’t ever be with Kit.Even though this pack is just a bunch of morons, had they not been, it could be Kit that they have right now instead of Sarah.But they got it wrong. They thought the woman who was acting as my Luna for years was my mate.They have no idea that my r
Thirty minutes later, I tug a blanket around my shoulders as I look out the window, unable to see anything in the dark but a few feet of lawn.“Anything?”Shaking my head, I step away and move to the chair across from Cami, where she has a thick blanket tucked around her and is holding a mug of tea, black lines from mascara on her cheeks.“But that’s bad! We haven’t heard anything! They could be…”“Stop. They are fine. Don’t get all worked up over nothing.”Cami looks uncertainly into the fireplace, and I pick up my own mug, but don’t drink it.It’s one thing to give advice, a totally other thing to follow that advice yourself.How could I not be worried?Obviously, something is wrong.Intrusive thoughts race one by one through my mind.“Kit.”I meet Cami’s eyes, her lips tremble.“What if we finally find happiness only to immediately lose it…just like we lost mom and dad.”“This is nothing like that. It’s fine. Don’t…don’t think like that.”Cami doesn’t look convinced as she turns ba
Alpha Tate’s POVGlancing darkly at the closet door rattling in a rhythmic pattern, I decide it’s time to call it a night.In the morning, I will let Kit reject me back.I was fooling myself to even think that she might ever want to be with me.There is no way to earn her love like she has for Colin, who never damaged her like I did.To hear the way that she explained how she truly feels about me…a resistant attraction that she despises, and how she not only adores, but loves and desires to be with Colin and only him…I cannot put her through that torment anymore.She deserves happiness. Even if it isn’t with me.And I don’t deserve my mate at all after what I have done to her.Slamming my bedroom door shut, I consider working out, getting all the frustration out.But that doesn’t seem enough.Maybe more alcohol?There isn’t enough in this giant house to make me forget how I feel about Kit.My eyes fall on my bed.Perhaps that is the distraction I need, but not Sarah.Never her.Not af