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“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
“Do you smell anything yet?”Looking down at my eager little sister, I give a derisive snort of laughter and roll my eyes.“No. And I doubt that I will mate with anyone at this school anyway. At least I hope not. Everyone here are nothing more than a bunch of self-absorbed losers.”Cami’s large brown eyes go wide as she hugs her books close to her chest and speaks in a hushed whisper.“Why would you say such a thing? Your mate has got to be here, Kit, that way you don’t ever leave me.”“I would never leave you. You’re all I got. You’re stuck with me.”Wrapping my arm around her thin shoulders, I give her a comforting squeeze.She nibbles on her lip and scans the lawn.“Everyone here isn’t all that bad. What if you mated to Jody? He’s so dreamy. Oh…or Colin? He’s handsome and he seems nice.”I follow Cami’s eyes to a group of seniors leaning against the railing of the school steps.“Ha. They’re the worst ones here.”Cami looks scandalized, but I don’t care.Yeah, they are good looking,
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
Kit’s POVIt takes everything in me not to bang my head against the window that my forehead is leaning against in the front seat of the luxury SUV that I have spent the last four miserable hours inside of. Four, painfully awkward hours of Cami and Jody groping each other in the backseat, making gross wet noises while sucking faces.Not helped by Colin, every once in a while, trying to initiate conversation to distract us from the make out session behind us.Unsuccessfully, I might add.Because I have nothing to talk to Colin Anderson about.I have nothing that I want to talk about with anyone from the stupid High Peaks pack.Damn them all.Scrunching up my nose, I resist the urge to cover my ears as I hear Jody murmur, “you’re so hot”, to my sister for the millionth time.This is hell.“Oh, thank god, we’re here.”Colin looks as relieved as I feel as he pulls into a long, circular driveway in front of the same packhouse that I used to spend hours a day cleaning.Fuck. Am I going to ha
Kit’s POV I should move. Right? Or maybe not. Maybe I should just stay right here and never move again. It feels weird to be lying on this plush, over-sized bed that is apparently mine for the unforeseeable future. Inside the very packhouse that I used to scrub the toilets of. Which would have been cool. Would have been a dream come true for me...seven years ago. But now…now as I lay here staring at the revolving ceiling fan above me, all I want is to get the hell out of here. To be magically transported back to my twin-sized bed in my tiny studio apartment. Away from the humiliation of my past. For crying out loud, I am living under the same roof as the man who fate literally wanted me to be with, was destined to be with, was made to be the other half of me, but he rejected me. He didn’t want me. Didn’t think that I was good enough for him. And now he’s single again. Actually, Colin didn’t say that Tate was single, just that Sarah was gone. But with Sarah gone… Oh, fuc
Alpha Tate’s POVLowering my eyes to look at Colin, who looks utterly bemused as he pulls his eyes away from the balcony, I give him a pointed look, then walk past him towards the packhouse.I don’t care what he says about her, she is strange, and always was strange.And there is no way that she turned hot in the seven years since I last saw her. I don’t believe him.She was frumpy. Pale. Greasy hair. Always scowling and looking miserable.I don’t need a frumpy, depressed mate.And I don’t need some freak who rolls around on the balcony…My lips twitch upward at the memory of her feet, toes pointed upward, rolling away, like being rolled up in a carpet.So freaking weird.Even if she does have that amazing scent…I rejected her.But she didn’t reject you.Minor detail.I can easily rectify that whenever I want.I’m an Alpha. I need to be with someone like Sarah…Damn it.The memory makes my hands curl into fists at my side.How could she leave me for a freaking human after I rejected m
Kit’s POVWhere did these clothes come from?Like, whose job is it to run to the mall and pick out clothes for random people?Shuffling through the closet full of brand-new, expensive clothes, tags still on, I can’t help but be impressed.These are so much better than my clothes.They can just throw my stuff in the dumpster after I’ve seen these.Smiling, I pull out a simple black sundress.Not sure there is a reason to dress up, but might as well, right?I’m pulling the straps over my shoulder when there is a knock on the door.I’m halfway across the room to answer it when I notice the towel still wrapped around my head.Yanking it off, I run my fingers through it as I pull open the door.“Hey.”“Hey, Colin.”Colin’s eyes dart down to take in my dress.“That looks nice.”“Thanks.”Still running my fingers through my damp hair, I step further into the room, he follows, closing the door behind him.“So…”I grin and shrug.“Yeah.”He returns the grin.“At least it was entertaining.”I l
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