2. Wyatt

2

WYATT

I almost did a double-take when I caught her scent in this fucking bar. She's like the sweetest flower on the damn vine and I've been grieving the loss of it for two fucking years. The wolf inside of me has been pacing back and forth, barely resisting going wild and chasing my mate down and claiming her. Now that she's back here of her own free will, nothing will stop me. I'm not letting her walk away from me again.

I zero in on her immediately. A snarl leaves my lips before I can stop it.

What in the fuck has she done to herself?

She's lost weight. Her damn hipbones are pressing against that black, short skirt she's wearing. Then there was her damn hair. Kendra had this thick mass of auburn hair that fell heavy around her face and reminded me of dusk, as the sun faded and light danced through the clouds in different hues and tones.

In the past, I couldn't stop myself from touching her hair whenever the opportunity rose. Fuck, most of the time I made up excuses to run my fingers through it as often as I could. It was gone now, cut short and dyed a brown that looks expensive and pretty, but it isn't the glory that belonged to my woman.

For probably the millionth time, I want to kick my ass for letting her walk away. For the hundredth time my wolf inside snarls and pulls against the restraints I keep on him. He wants free to claim his woman.

His very human woman.

And that's the whole problem.

Kendra is human, physically weaker than my kind, and for a shifter who is destined to take over his pack … that can be a problem. Fuck, as many times as I've been over it, the scenarios are all the same. The females in my pack will eat my woman alive. An Alpha can't have weaknesses, even if that was a human as a mate. Kendra would be a huge weakness to them and me.

Logically that's what I know to be true, but in my heart my thoughts are different. In my heart, I truly believe the Fates have blessed me. They have picked out a beautiful mate who is sweet, smart, and brings me peace when we are together. She is also strong in her own right, holding more power than many shifters in my pack, whether they'd ever admit that or not.

Right now, however, having her this close after letting her go once is slowly killing me. I can't stay away from her, that isn't possible. Almost of their own volition, my legs begin moving, bringing me closer to her and with each step I take, a sense of rightness pours over me.

"Wyatt."

She breathes my name and although she has taken great pains to change her outward appearance in the years since she's been gone, that sweet, lyrical voice is still the same. It wraps around me like a siren's call, drives deep inside and strokes across my wolf like a calming, healing touch.

"What are you doing here, Kendi?"

That isn't what I intended to say, and I can tell by the pain that slashes across her face that my gruff words hurt her. My wolf howls with anger and I know my pack brothers hear him, because I can feel their gazes on me.

Fuck.

"No one ever called me Kendi but you," she whispers, her voice sounding lost, her head bent as she looks at the ground. I want her looking at me, always, want those bright blue eyes trained on me.

She's still so fucking innocent.

I like that. I like that she didn't give another man what is rightfully mine. From the looks of her and the aroma of the city on her, I seriously doubted that she would still be a virgin. And the thought of another man touching my mate fueled an anger inside of me so blazing hot, it is a wonder it didn't scorch the ground around me.

But she's still pure.

"What are you doing back in town?"

She takes a couple of steps away from me. Immediately, I want to tell her to stop. I want to reach out, grab her and drag her body next to mine. I want to fuck her right here in this damn bar, throw her across a table and claim her from behind, bite down on her shoulder and mark her in the way of my people. I want everyone to know that my mate is home and she is mine.

I do none of those things.

"My grandmother is sick, so I came back to check on her," she responds.

I frown. I haven't heard that about her grandmother. Then again, I try not to get around Kendi's family. Her mother is a toxic piece of shit and her father skipped town years ago—when Kendi was barely able to talk. Her grandmother seems to be a good woman. How she ever gave birth to Kendi's mother is beyond me.

"When will you be leaving?"

"Are you so anxious to be rid of me?" she asks, hurt laced in every word. "I'm not sure. She's not doing well and now that Mom has moved to Nevada she's all alone. I've been thinking of staying."

Fuck.

If Kendi is moving back to Unforgiven for good, I'm screwed. There's no way I can stay away from her. Heaven help us both, there's no way my wolf won't claim her. I won't be able to rein him in. Shit, I won't be able to rein myself in.

We're all screwed.