Chapter 6 - Kit

Unsurprisingly, Kaiden was being completely fucking ridiculous. Oh, of course, I couldn't be trusted. I was just some human. And a Williams.

Fury made me sick to my stomach, and the truth was that behind it all, I was most upset with myself. Luck, fate, stupidity, whatever you wanted to call it, I'd wandered into the Williams territory and gotten roped into being their maid after days of questioning. Now, I'd wandered back into Kaiden's life by the same stroke of sheer serendipity.

I hadn't planned on being here. I was running; that part was true. The Williams were clearly doing something with their "supply," and now I knew what Eli had been talking about when I escaped.

Drugs.

It had killed young wolves, and my soul ached for them and their families. But this was way over my head. I had no way to defend myself if Eli came looking, and I didn't trust Kaiden to actually protect me when push came to shove.

I needed out of here. I needed to get back to humans. Where I belonged.

And maybe playing nice was the only way that was going to happen.

Sighing, I let my head fall forward as I slumped into the admittedly very comfortable mattress.

"I left them, Kaiden. I have no loyalty to the Williams pack. I just wanted to get away. I still want to get away. So I'll answer what I know, but I expect you to, at the very least, uphold your end of the bargain. I want out of here." I leveled him with a glare, trying to put my entire being behind it. "I don't know how or why you're alpha now, but I remember one thing, and that's an alpha keeps his word."

When I looked back up at him, Kaiden's expression was inscrutable. He wore a familiar mask of stoic harshness. It was apparently a skill all alphas learned, because I'd seen both Jet and Eli do the same.

"I'm going to need something more to go on, Kit. My pack needs information. Their safety is at stake."

"That's great, and you know what, so is mine. I've been running for too long. I just want to go back to my own people since I'm so clearly not wanted in wolf society."

He scoffed. "I think you're being a bit harsh. You can't judge all wolves by what Eli might have done. We don't like him, either."

I chuckled, but there was nothing humorous about it. "Who says I was talking about Eli?"

Kaiden's mouth fell open slightly, and I noticed him back-peddle just a step. He frowned, tilting his head down as his jaw went so tight it looked like he might crack a tooth. It was odd to see him fighting back a response. I was used to the guy absolutely tearing into me. What was stopping him now?

"That was a long time ago, Kit. This is an entirely new situation. Do you think that you could—"

"What? Put the past behind me?" I raised my brows, not backing down now that I'd found some of my confidence again. "No. I don't think I can."

Now, the stepping backward had shifted into an invasion forward. I could see the flicker of that old desire to say something terrible light behind Kaiden's eyes. He could say whatever he wanted. I was used to his treatment, and he did have a point. Eli was a lot worse than he was.

"I know I wasn't…I was a dumb kid, Kit. It's been twelve years."

Kaiden looked frustrated and over the conversation. You know what? Good. But I'm not stopping. It's about time he realized what he was like back then .

"So I'm just supposed to be over it? You were beyond horrible to me. Do you really not realize what you were like?"

He shook his head, holding up his hands like he was surrendering. "Kit, this isn't the conversation I wanted to have. We need to discuss—"

"I don't give a shit what you want. And we need to discuss how, at the very least, you owe me an apology. But frankly, that's not enough. I should be asking for retribution payment. That's what you wolves call it, right? When you need to tuck your tails between your legs and make up for your bullshit?"

"Kit."

My name was barked out, and wolf or not, I could sense the rage there, the command for me to back down. But again, I wasn't a wolf, and I wasn't being silent anymore. It had been years, but it had also been years of bullying at his hand. Eighteen of them.

"You constantly picked on me!" I screamed. "You shoved me. You tripped me. You snapped my fucking bra. But all that was nothing compared to that day."

His eyes went wide, and I could see the realization strike him. Kaiden knew precisely what I was talking about, but he was going to listen to what I had to say.

"You made me think you liked me. You stood there, with your dumb wolf scent, on my fucking birthday no less, and you let me believe you were going to kiss me. Before pointing out yet again that I was a fat, non-wolf that was miles beneath you. I ran away because of what you and Grayson did to me."

The room was dead silent as Kaiden gaped at me. My chest heaved as I tried to breathe around my latent fury. I'd said my piece, sure, but my heart still ached. I still felt alone and useless and trapped in his fucking house.

I'd never talked about what went down that day. I didn't think about it if I could help it, and still, after all this time, it hurt like he'd just said the words to my face. I remembered it so vividly—Kaiden inches away from me, his lips so damn close, and the way he smirked at me. I'd actually believed he was flirting for a second.

"Kit, I…"

"Oh, now you can't talk, huh? Sure." I glared, my eyes burning as I fought against tears. " You told me to leave, Kaiden. You told me to get out because I wasn't one of you."

The alpha stepped forward, his finger pointing accusatorily. "I didn't want you getting…ugh!"

He tossed his arm down, his eyes rolling closed as his head tipped up to the ceiling. Kaiden raked a hand through his hair, making the black locks tumble into his equally black eyes. When he looked at me again, I could see a burn behind his own eyes, and my stomach clenched.

Is that...regret?

"I was eighteen and stupid, Kit. I didn't have any idea how to be a wolf or man. Everything had just been so…confusing. I'm sorry for what I said back then. I know Grayson is, too. I wish I could take all the words back and be this version of myself the entire time, but—"

"But you can't, because that's not how life works." I sighed. "They're really pretty, those words you're spouting, but you're still keeping me locked up like a prisoner, so excuse me if I don't think you've changed all that much."

"I want to keep you sa—" Kaiden frowned, rubbing his hand across his stubble as his head hung low. "You're a human, as you've pointed out. I'm a new alpha, as you've also pointed out. And I don't have the trust and obedience of this group of wolves yet. Their old alpha was an asshole. And yes, before you say it, I know. Asshole alpha, surprise, surprise."

My mouth fell open. Asshole alphas weren't surprising to me, as Kaiden guessed, but that wasn't the part of his words that I was focusing on. No, what I was zeroing in on was that first bit, the bit that made Kaiden's eyes shine with determination as he looked at me with…I didn't know what, or at least I didn't want to examine it too hard.

"You want what, Kaiden? What were you going to say?"

He shook his head. "It's not important. What's important is that you listen to me and tell me what I need to know about Eli's pack so I can get you out of here."

I knew I should back down. I was hardly in a position of power, but I couldn't stop myself. I was dying to know what that last word was going to be and, if it was what I thought it was, why Kaiden would say it.

"No, not good enough. You owe me, remember. What were you going to say?"

Stepping forward once, I crossed my arms over my chest and met his stare. Kaiden ducked his head back, tension radiating off him as he clenched his jaw. A low rumble echoed out of his chest, not quite a growl. His fists squeezed.

"Kit, just drop it."

"Try again, Alpha." I raised my brows when he glared at me.

"Kit, I'm not kidding."

"Neither am I, Kaiden. What. Were. You. Going. To. Say?" I punctuated each word with a step forward, getting right up in the tall, unfortunately handsome wolf's face.

Kaiden looked away from me, holding himself taught like he was terrified of coming into contact with me—like I had some disease.

"Come on, coward. Spit it out."

In a flash, he snapped his gaze onto me, and I fought the desire to back up. I needed to stand my ground. But Kaiden still just glared.

"What? It's just a little teasing. So you can dish it out but not take it?"

He shook his head at me. "You're such a brat. Why can't you just do as you're told?"

"I'm not one of your pack bitches, Kaiden. You can order me around all you want, but I'm just going to keep asking you. You'll save us both a lot of time if you just own up to it."

"You're so annoying." He shook his head.

"Then why do you want to keep me sa—"

Kaiden's hand shot out, snatching my wrist, and I was suddenly up against his chest. His very firm, very muscular chest. Our eyes locked, and all the air in my lungs just vanished. The black of his eyes was so damn deep. I could fall into those wells, and the familiar thought made my heart pound all the harder.

"You really won't drop it, huh? Fine," he tossed my arm away, turning away from me, "Safe. I want to keep you safe. It's what I wanted before. It's what I want now. But I didn't know how to deal with that feeling before. Can't say I have much of an idea now, either."

My jaw dropped, not for the first time. Kaiden…wanted to protect me. That couldn't be right. He had been nearly abusive with his teasing, and I was finding it hard to believe it had come from a place of concern.

"You're fucking lying to me."

He turned around, those black eyes meeting me dead on. "I'm not. Why bother? I needed to keep you in here because I'm not sure how the other wolves will react. Their previous alpha was a cruel, terrible man. I killed him for my position, and many of those who remained loyal to his teachings left. But I know some had his ‘teachings' ingrained in them for years. It's hard to just shake that."

For what felt like eons, I just stared at him. I roamed my eyes over his expression, his body language, looking for some tell or evidence that he was bullshitting me. I just saw Kaiden.

Broad shoulders and a towering height, years more of chiseled physique to add to what he'd gained from his first shift, new scars, and the look of weight on his shoulders and in his eyes that spoke volumes.

Kaiden had seen a lot in the twelve years that we'd been apart. It affected him. He really didn't seem like the same guy I knew. He seemed strong and critical and so protective of his pack, caring for them so much.

It was strange. It was intriguing. Hell, it was damn attractive, and that was a problem.

"Okay. I know a thing or two about crappy alphas and their orders, so I get it. I'll stay here. But there's still not much I can tell you about him or these drugs you're talking about."

Kaiden smirked, cocking his head as he stepped forward with his hands on his hips. "I'm sure you'll think of something, Kit. Resourceful girl like yourself. I'm sure you can think of several things about Eli he wouldn't want you to divulge."

My heart kicked, and heat billowed in my blood, swirling through my core. I clenched my jaw, unable to stop myself from doing the same with my legs. God, I hope he doesn't notice. Smelling someone's pheromones is reserved for wolves, right?

Right?