Six

Parker's P.O.V.

It didn't matter that I had volunteered myself to sleep on the couch. The last thing I wanted was for Kaylee to sleep anywhere but my bed. There was nothing that would make me happier than having her feel safe.

Now that I finally had her here, I would be able to start the blueprints and outline for me to build our future home on the pack land. We would be out of my parent's house as soon as possible, and we could enjoy being together without anyone interrupting us or eavesdropping.

After I showed her my room and gave her some clothes, she immediately climbed beneath my blankets and passed out. I didn't miss the way she seemed to take in a slightly deeper breath as her head hit my pillow. It seemed that she liked the way I smelled almost as much as I liked her scent.

She was intoxicating.

It took everything in me not to crawl into bed with her and hold her. Seeing her between my sheets had made me feel like everything was finally right in the world.

I rolled onto my back on the worn-down couch, not caring about the lack of support. My mate was sleeping on the floor right above me, and with that knowledge, everything felt like it was going to be okay. As my eyelids grew heavy, I let them drop with a smile on my face.

***

My wolf stirred angrily, warning me that I needed to wake. I could feel his unease…his defensiveness. There was a threat nearby, something that he didn't like being so close to me or my mate.

The hair on my arms stood up, and my eyelids shot open just as I regained enough consciousness to be greeted by the smell of coffee covering the low floral scent of our visitor.

"What are you doing here?" I snarled, angered that she had the nerve to watch me sleep from the other couch. She was like a demon, there to suck the life and happiness from me when I was least expecting it. Her fingers fiddled with the handle of the coffee cup as she bit her lip… something that used to drive me crazy.

"Trespassing." The curt response came from behind me, and my head snapped around to the beautiful sight of my mate sitting at the kitchen island with a clear glass of ice water. My t-shirt hung loosely around her small form, exposing the junction of her neck where I would one day place my mark. Mine.

"I've never seen you so unaware of your surroundings." Kate chimed in, ignoring Kaylee's dig at her unwelcome presence. "It's been a long time since you've gotten a good night's sleep like that."

I rolled my eyes as I sat up, sliding my hand down my face as I recovered from the small adrenaline rush of my startling awakening. "Yeah, my wolf and I were both really happy that our mate was here and safe. Don't make me ask a third time. What are you doing here, Kate?"

"I was just upset that I got off on the wrong foot with your mate and wanted to start over since we're family." Kate smiled at me softly, and I narrowed my eyes at her. I knew better than to trust a single word out of her mouth. I was blind to her lies and manipulations when we were kids, but since I came home from training and found her with my brother everything became clear. It seemed Kaylee wasn't.

"Yet, she hasn't said a word to me or even looked in my direction," Kaylee said loudly. Her voice was full of confidence. I smiled broadly as she stood up for herself. She was strong. She was a worthy mate for a warrior. I would make sure that I did everything I could to make her happy so she would stay by my side. "Instead, she came into the house uninvited. Helped herself to a drink and sat there staring at you as if she were trying to read your mind while you slept."

Kate rolled her eyes as she took another sip of her coffee, and I let out a growl at the disrespect she was showing my mate. With a raise of her eyebrow, my wolf quieted to a low rumble. Even if not by merit, she was still higher ranking than me. If I continued on, I would be issuing her a challenge and, in turn, issuing her mate, my brother, Jack, a challenge.

"You heard my mate. You were not invited in, and I'm asking you to leave now." I pushed off from my knees, stretching my back as I stood.

"Or what? You're going to complain to my mate that I entered his parent's home? Or are you planning on telling on me to the Alpha, his best friend?" She scoffed as she crossed her legs. "Don't be ridiculous. You know your father himself said that I was welcome here anytime I wanted."

Kate continued to watch me with a challenging gaze as I rounded the couch and approached Kaylee.

Kaylee's brown hair gently brushed her shoulders as she turned her head to watch me approach.

I heard her heartbeat increase the closer I got until I was standing behind her chair. She did her best to look over her shoulder at me but kept her back straight. With the lack of movement to distance herself, I took that as a positive sign and leaned in, pressing a kiss to her soft cheek.

She held her breath as I kept my lips on her skin a little longer than necessary, taking in her scent and enjoying the subtle smell of her desire coming to the surface. Her body turned with me as I pulled back until her shoulder brushed my stomach, and she could look up at me.

Her eyes looked torn between longing and fear. It was something I never imagined my mate would feel when looking at me. I wanted them to be safe and loved. The idea of them ever being scared of or around me was foreign, and I was unprepared for it.

I blinked, and it was gone. She looked at me with so much warmth that I had to question whether I saw the fear there to begin with.

"No, Kate," Kaylee said as she held eye contact with me. Her hand reached out to grab mine, squeezing it ever so slightly before she turned to stare down the woman who was invading our first morning together. "We wouldn't tell the Alpha that. I would simply inform him of your blatant disrespect of our mating, and how your continuous actions and disrespect may cause his pack to lose a partnership with an oracle. We both know how important my kind is to have on your side. Imagine it. The power of foresight... gone. Just like that."

Kate's jaw dropped before she regained her composure and loudly dropped her mug onto the coffee table. "You're threatening me? You're threatening my pack?"

She rose to her feet, and I moved forward to stand in front of my mate.

"Don't put words in my mouth, Kate. I have been used and beaten for years. I am done being treated like shit. At this time, the only connection I have to your pack is Parker and Olivia. You are only solidifying my want to not be involved with your people. Now, you have been asked to leave. I suggest you do just that." I felt her hand brush my lower back, making my wolf incredibly happy.

Kate glanced between the two of us as if shocked that either of us stood up to her. She was just as entitled and arrogant as my brother. Perhaps they were perfect for each other, after all.

As she made her way to the door, she paused and turned to stare at me. "I'm not giving up on you, Parker. It's time to put aside our differences and move forward. We had always planned to be in each other's lives. We just never expected it to be in this way. Finding your mate is irrelevant to that fact. Even with her present, I will still be here trying to make things right between us."

"It has been years, Kate. Give up already. I want nothing to do with you." I snapped back.

"Exactly, Parker. Even years later, I am still here. I'm not going anywhere. We need to work through this. It was always me and you, and it always will be. Even if we are only friends this time."

As the door slammed close behind her, Kaylee's hand dropped from my back. I spun around to face her, only to find her staring intently at the glass of water on the counter as she digested the newly acquired information.

Suddenly, I felt more alone than ever before.