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, fuck that.
I’m not even going there.
Besides, I don’t want a man who rejected me.
Sitting up with a long sigh, I look around the room again.
It’s big, just as Colin said it would be.
The attached private bathroom is like something out of a design magazine.
As much as I hated the beautiful, popular, mate stealing Sarah, I must admit, reluctantly, that she had good taste.
There’s even a door in this room to the large balcony, overlooking the back lawn.
I used to think how cool it would be to have a room with a balcony.
Especially on those mornings where I would catch the Luna, in her silky blue robe, having her coffee in her lounger, her feet tucked under her as she read a magazine.
It looked so fancy. Like something from a fairy tale.
Sliding off the bed with a groan, as if it was effortful, I walk over to the balcony door and pull it open, hesitating before poking my head out to make sure that no one will see me.
Seeing that the coast is clear, I step out and inhale the fresh air.
This is nice.
Biting my lip to prevent myself from smiling, I step closer to the freshly painted railing and lean over it to look out over the spacious lawn that ends with the thick woods surrounding the territory.
I can’t help thinking about Cami.
We’ve practically been attached at the hip since our parents died, especially since we left here all those years ago.
And it feels like I lost her today.
Lost her to Jody of all people.
But maybe he’s like Colin, matured since he was a teenager.
Propping my chin into my palm, I take another deep breath.
And freeze.
Fuck.
It’s him.
Dropping to the ground, I peer between the thick railings as a tall figure marches out onto the grounds, followed by another man that I instantly recognize as Colin.
Damn.
Look at him.
Tate, or Alpha Tate now, has grown several inches taller, his broad shoulders even wider, his biceps are large, bulging…and his dark hair that he used to keep longer is cut a lot shorter, pushed up and sideways in the front as if he runs his hands through it a lot.
An image of him in biology class, his hand gripping his hair as he frowns at his paper pops in my head.
That’s probably why his hair is like that.
Maybe he’s been stressing since Sarah left.
Shaking off that thought, I push my face against the railing to see better.
Wow.
Look at his scruffy facial hair. That’s new.
And sexy.
Ugh.
Why couldn’t he have gotten fat and ugly?
It seems only fair.
He lifts his hand, his biceps flexing against his fitted t-shirt sleeve, and grips the front of his hair, his eyebrows pulled together.
Colin seems to be trying to explain something to him.
He points over his shoulder in my direction and Alpha Tate’s eyes follow the movement.
Fuck!
Pulling my head back, my hands crossed over my chest, I do the only thing that I can think of to hide, which is to roll myself backward, away from the railing of the balcony, keeping myself straight up and down as I roll over and over until I feel myself touch the door and army crawl inside, using my feet to close the door.
Staying low, I twist around and grab the curtain, tugging roughly on it until it hides the glass door behind it.
Throwing myself flat on my back on my new bedroom floor, panting, I feel a cool sweat covering my body.
Shit. Shit shit shit!
Did he see me?
Oh my god.
Oh my god!
Ugh, I need Cami!
Usually when I get all worked up like this, she gives me a tight hug and tells me everything is going to be okay in that soft, sweet voice of hers.
But she’s Jody’s comforter now, not mine.
She doesn’t have time for me.
Groaning, I throw my hands over my face.
I need to get out of this place before I completely humiliate myself.
Again.
My phone pings and I crawl on my knees to grab it off the bed, throwing myself on the ground again as I hold it up.
It’s from Colin.
You okay up there?
No.
They saw me?
They saw me!
Well, I think the only thing left for me to do right now is to just go ahead and die from humiliation.
Closing my eyes, I lay my hands over my chest like they do in caskets and wait…
Opening one eye, I sigh.
Okay.
Maybe I can’t physically die from humiliation.
But if one could, I would be dead right now.
My phone pings again.
Do I even want to read it?
Rolling my eyes, I lift it in front of me again.
Alpha Tate said that you can be excused from training today.
My chest feels all tight and a weird noise burst from my mouth, which I cover with my hand, feeling shocked…
But here it comes again.
Why am I laughing?
Oh, maybe because Alpha Tate just saw me rolling like a bowling pin on the balcony and decided that the crazy girl doesn’t need to go to training after all.
Clutching my side, I can’t stop laughing, tears sliding down my cheeks as I roll over onto my stomach.
Well. That was unexpected.
Using my tank top to wipe the wetness off my cheeks, I pick myself off the floor.
Honestly, I can’t be more humiliated than I have been already, so might as well just accept it and move on.
At the very least, I’m going to stop moping around my room.
First, I’ll take a shower. Then…well…one thing at a time.
That's the only way I'm going to survive being here with my mate who didn't want me.
Take it one step at a time.
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
Alpha Tate’s POVWatching Colin kissing her from the window of my office, I go through an assortment of emotions.Pushing the anger and resentment aside, I try to feel happy for him.He needs some action.I don’t care if it’s with her.Good for him.I try to turn away, but instead, I step closer to the window, my face nearly pressed against the glass as I try to see what she looks like, but Colin is blocking her from view.The only reason that I know it is her in the first place is because of her scent.It almost smells different though…almost…lighter. Oddly enough, happier.Is this because of Colin?He deepens the kiss, pulling her against his body.Fuck!My fist pounds the wall by the window without me realizing and I extract it from the large hole it created, glancing at the figures on the lawn to see if they heard the noise.Apparently, they didn’t.Maybe I need to get laid.There hasn’t been anyone since Sarah…and even when she was here…Sighing, I rub my forehead.Even when she
Alpha Tate’s POVSlamming my bedroom door shut, I slap my palm against it and hang my head.What was that?What the hell was that?I rejected her.I shouldn’t be feeling this way about her.She shouldn’t be so…so beautiful. Sexy. Soft. Enticing.So fucking desirable.Clutching my hand into a fist, I pound the door with it and push off it.Now that I know what her lips taste like, how her touch sets me on fire, I can’t not be with her again.We didn’t even fully explore each other yet.No.I will have her again.But once I have my fun, I will let her reject me back.Even if she is hot now, she still abandoned the pack all those years ago.She abandoned me.She’s too weak to be a Luna.A true Luna would have stayed, even with my rejection.She would have stayed for the pack.My stomach clenches as I remember that day, how hard I worked to hold in the pain from doing the unnatural act of rejecting my mate.How Sarah’s gentle strokes did nothing to soothe me.How my body had ached to go t
Alpha Tate’s POVFeeling smug, I grip my hair as I hurry down the main staircase.It’s nice to know that I can make Kit desire me, to throw herself at me.What isn’t nice, is her obstinance.I can’t have that.I have worked too hard to make this pack strong.Unbeatable.We don’t need another massacre like that one that took out my parents and so many other of my friends, family, and pack members.Yanking open the door to the training center, Colin instantly tries to catch my eye, dodging a high kick, and jogging over to me.“So?”His concerned look gets under my skin.She isn’t his to be concerned over.Feeling annoyed, I recall him asking permission to pursue her yesterday, insisting that I see her before giving it to him…and I refused.Now I will look like an even bigger ass, or a complete fool, if I go back on it.Or even worse than that…weak.“She’s on her way.”Colin looks relieved as he follows me toward the front of the center while I scan the room, watching everyone’s progress
Kit’s POVSniffing, I internally curse that arrogant son of a bitch.To hell with this place!I’m not staying.I don’t care what Cami says.I haven’t even seen her since we got here!She didn’t even care enough to text me since we got here, let alone check on how I’m dealing with being back in the place that I hate so much.Might as well accept the fact that I have lost her forever.That I am completely and utterly alone now.A tiny sob escapes and I cover my mouth with both my hands.No!I won’t give that jackass the satisfaction!“Kit, I’m so sorry…I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”“I do!” I cringe at how wobbly my voice sounds. “He is a complete jerk, always has been, and always will be! He hasn’t changed one bit!”I look over my shoulder at Colin, who opens his mouth, but then closes it in a thin smile and leans the side of his head against mine.“I’m sorry.”“Whatever.”I sniff again and grab my upper arms.“I’m leaving.”“What?”Colin pulls my shoulders back and steps in fro
Kit’s POVFlopping face first onto the bed with a groan of despair, I leave my arms and legs spread exactly where they landed.Seeing Cami and Jody so madly into each other just makes it so much clearer exactly what I missed out with my own mate bond.I can’t ever imagine Alpha Tate standing there all puppy-eyed with a heart-shaped pillow covering his goods…even though the thought of it does make me give a muffled laugh against my comforter.Just replaying that entire scene with Alpha Tate and I versus Cami and Jody is comical.Alpha Tate is too brooding and grumpy to be so enamored. And I can’t ever imagine myself sticking my lower lip out in that pouty fashion that Cami does.Sighing, I roll over onto my back.But at least they are happy.Whereas I am quite miserable.There’s a soft knock on the door and for a moment, I think that it must be Cami, finally dragging herself away from Jody, but that’s not her scent.“Come in.”Grabbing a pillow, I use it to cover my face before the doo
Kit’s POV“Hey…morning sunshine.”Squinting through heavy eyelids, I see Colin grinning at me, holding up a cup of coffee.“When did you get here?”“About three minutes ago.”Struggling upright and leaning against the headboard, I gratefully take the hot coffee from him with both hands.“I thought that you were going to come back after your shift last night?”“You know, you really should check your phone more often.”I grin guiltily as I sip the drink that he brought me.Colin watches me, resting his hand on the bed beside my legs so that his body is laying across mine.“Apparently there was a small pack of rogues in the vicinity and Alpha Tate wanted me to stay on patrol until it was all clear.”I pause, the mug nearly touching my mouth.Uh huh.Sure…Colin lifts his shoulder.“It happens. Especially as the pack’s only healer.”I reach down and put my hand over Colins, who turns his hand over so that he can twist his fingers between mine.“So…are we going to training today?”I nearly