2

Kit’s POV

“Can I get you a refill?”

Pouring water into the glasses of the young couple holding hands across from each other, I resist the urge to roll my eyes and force my face into a very practiced fake smile.

The instant I turn away from them, the smile slides off and I do roll my eyes toward the ceiling.

Making my way to the booth all the way in the back, I plop the water pitcher onto it and stretch my arms over my head.

“How’s the essay going?”

Cami pulls the pencil that she had been chewing on from her mouth and taps the notebook in front of her with a soft, dramatic sigh.

“It just feels so cliché, you know? Using the fact that I was a poor orphan to appeal to schools to accept me. Are you sure that is what I should be writing about?”

Reaching down, I turn her notebook towards me and scan the short paragraph.

“That’s what I’ve heard. And why not use it to your advantage? It’s the only advantage that you have.”

“It’s such a sad advantage to have.”

She sounds forlorn as she stares at the paper.

“Stop being so dramatic, Cami. You are going to need scholarships to get into college, so get to writing.”

“But Kit…I don’t even know what I want to go for…or if I want to go…maybe I could take a year off, work and save some money…”

“Stop it. You need to go to college now, or you will never go. One of us needs to get a real job one day.”

She eyes me under her thick, heavily painted eyelashes and I already know what she will be saying next.

Grabbing the water pitcher, I try to make my escape, but she grabs my wrist.

“Kit, maybe…maybe we should try and find a new pack. I’m eighteen now…I want to find my mate. And who knows, maybe you could find someone…”

“There is no one for me. And I don’t need a mate. Neither do you. I don’t want to talk about it.”

I can’t take her big, pitying eyes looking at me like that anymore, so I make my way to the diner’s kitchen to check on an order.

Sighing, I place the pitcher down harder than I meant to, causing it to sloosh water onto the counter.

Howard, the manager, narrows his eyes at me and I quickly grab a towel to wipe it up.

As I do, I look out of the large wall cutout to peer into the dining room when I hear the familiar ping that goes off when someone opens the entrance door.

My hand stops, my heart thudding hard against my chest as I stare at the two men walking into the diner.

No…why are they here?

It has been seven years since I walked out of the pack with nothing but a backpack and my little sister.

I never thought I would see anyone from that wretched place ever again.

Nor did I want to.

An older, larger Colin walks through the door first, scanning the dingy diner with a hesitant frown.

Hmm. He aged nicely. Very nice.

Probably still a complete jerk though.

When Colin steps aside, Jody enters.

Oh my gosh.

He is gorgeous.

His sandy-colored hair is slightly longer, with some wave to it. Even from this distance, I can make out those gorgeous blue eyes.

Look how broad his chest is now…and he is even taller…

Why is he making that odd expression?

He looks so tense…

Wait…I know that look…

Shit!

Throwing my towel onto the counter, I hurl myself around the wall towards Cami’s private booth.

No!

Cami is standing, her eyes locked onto Jody’s, mirroring his lustful, comletely transfixed gaze.

Oh no, not you too Cami!

My heart feels the same crippling pain from seven years ago.

I never wanted her to feel this.

Wringing my hands together nervously, I debate whether I should go to her, put my arm around her comfortingly for when her rejection comes, or just to yank her away from him before he can do it.

Before I can make up my mind, Jody is at her table.

I want to yell at him, tell him not to hurt her, to just go away and leave us alone!

But…he’s putting his arms around her…oh my god, he is…kissing her!

Feeling dumbstruck, I stare as they wrap their bodies around each other in a way that seems like they will never be able to untangle themselves.

It’s just like I imagined it would be when I found my mate…so that must mean…

He’s not rejecting her.

Why would he reject Cami?

She is stunning, inside and out.

Men want her.

My shoulders sagging, I glance over to see Colin grinning at his friend, pulling his phone out of his pocket and snapping a picture of them before looking down at his phone and typing away.

“Kit! What are you doing just standing there? Take table threes food out!”

Jumping at the harsh tone of my manager behind me, I glance at Cami and Jody one more time before walking past my manager who is now leaning against the wall, frowning at the pair.

“What is this? I didn’t know Cami had a boyfriend.”

It’s not hard to hear the disappointment in his voice.

Sometimes I think the only reason I was hired was because Howard liked the fact that my gorgeous sister comes every day and sits in her booth to do her homework.

Ignoring this, I grab the hot plates of food, barely noticing the burning on my fingertips, and move to the table to plop them down in a dreamlike state.

I always knew that Cami would have a gorgeous mate. I always knew that no one would dare reject her.

But did it have to be Jody?

Did he have to be from our old pack?

And why can’t anything ever go in my favor?

She got all the good looks, and all the luck.

“Howard, I am taking off.”

“What?” He finally looks away from Cami and Jody. “Your shift isn’t over.”

“I don’t feel well.”

“You look fine to me.”

“Well, I’m not.”

Untying my apron, I toss it at him and grab my purse off the hook before leaving out the back exit, digging my car keys out of my it with trembling hands, and diving inside my car.

I can still see Cami and Jody from my current position.

Shit, you would think they wouldn’t be able to breath and would have to pull apart at some point.

Dropping my head back against the seat, I drag my palms down my face.

It’s hard not to feal a teensy bit jealous.

But that’s not fair.

Cami would be happy for me.

And I am happy for her.

Seriously.

Kind of.

Ugh.

Banging my head against the steering wheel, I accidently hit the horn.

Fuck!

Lifting my head, I catch Cami’s eyes.

She looks radiant as she smiles, pointing at Jody in disbelief.

Now she grabs his hand and is pulling him toward the exit.

Kill me now…

Forcing what I hope is a convincing smile on my face, I begrudgingly get out of the car and lean against it while I watch Cami drag Jody, who can’t take his eyes off of her, to meet me.

“Kit! Kit, Jody is my mate! Can you believe it? Look how handsome he is.”

She stands on her toes to cradles his face with her hands, and he puts his hands on her waist to pull her against him in response.

Cami giggles as he lowers his lips to hers and they embrace again.

“This isn’t awkward at all.”

Colin is beside me with a sheepish grin as he jerks his head at the two who are now practically rolling around on the hood of my car.

“Not at all. It’s super fun watching your sister get groped on top of your car.”

Colin laughs and holds out his hand.

“I’m Colin.”

Is he for real?

“Yeah, I know.”

I don’t take his hand and he tilts his head questioningly at me.

“Do we know each other?”

I don’t know whether to be embarrassed or pissed off.

Definitely pissed off.

“We do. I was a part of your pack for eighteen years. As was my sister.”

I jerk my thumb at the two of them, Cami now passionately running her hands through Jody’s perfect hair.

Comprehension falls over Colin’s face and I wince.

“Oh! I remember! You were the girl who-”

He grimaces and trails off.

The girl who mated to and was publicly rejected by the Alpha’s son.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

Colin shifts his weight uncomfortably beside me and looks relieved when his phone pings inside of his pocket and he turns away to look at it.

“Jody! Wait a second…” Cami giggles gleefully as she shoves against his chest. He looks at her with so much affection that it makes another wave of pain wash over me, clutching the door to keep me upright.

Cami turns towards me, her lips swollen, but looking blissfully happy.

“Kit, isn’t this wild? Jody and Colin were only passing through on their way back from a Luna ceremony, and he said he sensed me when he drove by…”

Jody twirls her hair around his finger and starts to nibble on her neck.

I feel my world crumbling around me.

My entire life has been taking care of my little sister.

And now that she is grown, and has her mate to take care of her, what do I do?

How do I just let her go?

Because that is what is going to happen. She will go back to our old pack to be with her mate.

And I’ll…just stay here. All alone.

Jody whispers something in Cami’s ear and she swats him playfully in the chest, making him grin.

“That was Alpha Tate. He wants us to come home immediately.”

Jody raises his eyebrows and says something, but I don’t hear it over the loud ringing in my ears.

Alpha Tate.

Alpha Tate.

So, he is the Alpha now.

Good for him.

I guess.

Not that I care.

Throwing a hand onto the roof of my car to steady myself, my sweaty palms instantly make it slip so that I lose my balance and my body thuds painfully into the side of it.

Damn him.

Propping my elbow against the metal, I try to look as natural as possible, as if I just stand like this sometimes.

But judging by the pitying look that Colin is giving me, I don’t think I am fooling anyone.

“We can have your stuff shipped and I will buy you whatever you need. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

“Kit will need her stuff too.”

“Whatever she needs.”

“Um…what are you talking about, Cami?”

“Jody says we don’t have time to go home and pack, so he will send someone to pack our stuff once we get back.”

“Why would I need my stuff?”

Cami raises her eyebrows at me.

“Because we are going back with Jody, of course.”

I shake my head.

“You are. I’m not.”

Cami frowns, gently pushing Jody off so that she can slide off the car and stands in front of me.

I avoid her gaze.

“Can you guys give us a minute?”

“Okay, but just a minute. Alpha Tate doesn’t like us to mess around.”

Colin moves away, but Jody hesitates, clearly not wanting to be away from his mate for any amount of time whatsoever.

Cami reaches behind her to squeeze his hand.

“Just a minute, I promise.”

He begrudgingly follows Colin.

Cami clutches my hands in hers and pulls them close.

I can see myself in her wide, dark eyes that look up at me pleadingly.

“Kit…I know this has got to be hard for you. And I know that the last place that you would ever want to go to would be High Peaks pack…but I can’t not be with Jody…but I also can’t be without you. I need my big sis. Please…please come with me. If it’s too hard for you, we will figure something out, but I need you with me. Please, please, please!”

Fuck me.

The things I do for my little sister.

Shaking my head, I sigh and roll my eyes.

Cami accurately takes this as a reluctant yes and squeals, jumping up and down and kissing my cheek.

“Thank you! You are the best sister ever!”

Then she turns and rushes back to her mate, who gladly takes her in his arms and spins her around.

This should be fun. Returning to the place that was nothing but miserable for me to watch my sister be happy with her hot mate that I used to daydream about being my mate.

Yeah. Totally fun.

Dream come true.