4. Wyatt

4

WYATT

Kendra's body softens and relaxes against me. We stand like that for a few minutes. I breathe in her scent and allow the beast in me to relax.

I've missed you Kendi.

I don't give voice to those four words, but inside I'm screaming them.

"I've missed you too, Wyatt. So much," she whispers.

My body stiffens when she echoes my thoughts.

For a minute, I let my guard down and forgot that she could hear my thoughts and feel my emotions. I keep a block in place, not wanting her to read too deeply, but maybe it's for the best I let her in a little … especially if she's going to be living here.

"You're the one that left," I tell her, and there's no way to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

"I couldn't stay, Wyatt. I thought leaving would be for the best."

I lift her face up with my thumb and finger under her chin so her gaze locks with mine. I look deeply into her eyes, and there's so much emotion there it makes my chest hurt and my wolf roar in hunger.

"No one asked you to leave, Kendi. I sure as hell didn't."

"I couldn't stay, Wyatt. Surely you see that."

"I don't see that at all. Unforgiven is your home—just like it's mine. You don't belong in the city, Kendi. I'm surprised you didn't wither up and die there."

"That would have happened if I stayed here and…" She trails off, trying to pull her face away from mine, but I don't let her. I keep our gazes connected.

"Explain," I command.

"Stop that," she growls back, her voice loud and strong.

It surprises me. And my pack-mates and other shifters in the bar notice too—I can feel their eyes on me. I hate to do it, but I'm not about to back down—even with Kendra. I stiffen my spine, allow my wolf to leak out in my voice, and let her feel my power. It emanates around us, vibrating through me. I can hear the beta wolves in my pack whining in my head.

"Tell me, Kendi," I order.

"Stop that!" she growls, shocking me even more.

"Stop what?" I ask through my surprise.

"Stop ordering me to do your will like I'm one of your pack-mates. I'm not."

"You don't think I know that?"

"Well, apparently not. If you did, then you would know why I left Unforgiven," she says, and she yanks free of my hold, turning and stomping away.

I watch her go. She's pissed and I don't think I've ever seen her look more beautiful—even with her damn hair gone. I follow her, because I don't think I have a choice. My wolf is tearing against my chest, demanding out, wanting to change and claim his woman. Kendra has no idea how much she's teasing him right now. She has no idea the trouble she's getting us all into.

"Are you running away already?" I ask as I make it outside to her. She stops, turning to look at me and there are tears in her eyes. They hurt me to see them. I never liked it when Kendra cried before—I like it even less now.

"You're such an asshole. Why did I hope things had changed? Why do I even care?" she mutters.

"Hope what had changed? You're going to have to start making sense sooner or later, Kendra."

"I loved you!" she cries out, the sound painful, the words making my wolf howl.

Perspiration breaks out over my body, dotting my forehead as my wolf tears against the restraints I'm keeping on him. Christ, I need to shift so much that it's physically painful to keep from it.

"Then why did you leave?"

"Did you expect me to stay and watch you mate with one of your own kind, Wyatt? Did you think I could watch as you bonded with another woman? Did you think I could watch that?"

"That's why you left?" I ask and if I was shocked by the way she stood up to me before, I'm even more shocked now. Kendra loved me? She left because she didn't want to see me mated?

Christ.

"I shouldn't have come back," she mutters. "And I really shouldn't have come here tonight."

"Why did you?"

"I wanted to see you," she answers honestly, but she does it shaking her head no. "I did it because I'm an idiot. Let's just forget all of this, Wyatt. You go on with your life and I'll see to my grandmother. Then I'll get the hell out of Unforgiven and you'll never hear from me again."

My wolf is so close to the surface I can feel my teeth elongate. It takes all of my control to hold him back. I know the shift has started, though. I can feel it. I know that when she looks at me, she can see the bright golden color of my eyes, signaling my wolf is close.

"You're not leaving me again, Kendi."

The words are a growl, more animal than human. I don't know what my next step is. I'm not sure I care. If I have to give up leading my pack so I can have my mate, then by God, I will. All I know right now is that I have to kiss her. I reach out and yank her roughly to me. Then my mouth slams down on hers with a bruising force. I take over her mouth, infusing my frustration, the years of emptiness I've endured, and the feelings I have for her in every second of our punishing kiss.

I'm never letting Kendra go again.

Never.