Jesse refused to meet her gaze. Typical.
The hard head in their family would work to prevent any disruption in the status quo—their happiness. She could respect that. But she didn’t have to agree with it.
Kate studied Kellen, saw his shy smile when he noticed, and knew they’d have to get to the heart of his worries if he had any hope of fitting into the Savages.
Good thing he had her on his side.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kellen hadn’t been able to get the last encounter with Kate and the pack out of his mind. Two days later, as he sparred with Dante on the training field, for the first time since joining the Savages he let himself go.
Berserker versus berserker.
The fight turned bloody, and Kellen let his claws and fangs all out.
It was glorious. He won by a large margin and had the respect and approval of most of those watching. Even Dante grinned and held up a bloody hand, accepting Kellen’s help to stand.
“About fucking time you let loose. I knew you were holding out on me.”
“Didn’t want to hurt you.”
Dante guffawed and invited him to meet up for drinks later at a bar in town.
“Sounds good.” Though Kellen didn’t know if he could leave. He’d been on Savage lands for the past two and a half weeks, watched carefully by his fellow Ravagers, and in particular Kate’s pack.
He automatically looked for her and the others, aware he seemed to do that all the time, needing to know where they were.
Some distance across the field, Kate sparred with a male he didn’t know. She got in a few licks before taking a huge slap to the face.
Furious, he would have stormed to her side and stomped the fucker into the ground, but Logan stepped in front of him.
“Don’t. Trust me. I know from experience. Kate can hold her own.”
“But—”
“She’s training, Kellen. Don’t do it.”
He watched as Kate kicked a wicked fast blow to the male’s gut and followed up with an uppercut to his face. He went down in a howl, and Kate smiled through very sharp teeth.
“I take your point.”
Logan clapped him on the back.
The touch felt good. Before, Kellen hadn’t liked being touched. Though he’d wanted it so much, he’d been taught that touch came with expectations and violence. The contrasting need bothered him. Now, Logan’s hand on him felt right. Grounding him. Making him part of a whole.
Jesse had been touching him a lot lately too. Nothing sexual, just one Ravager brushing against another. Stroking a shoulder, rubbing his head and teasing him about his hair. Physical bonding, things he’d experienced a long time ago, before he’d arrived in this world.
He noticed everyone doing it, not just his pack.No, notmypack, my new…friends.
Logan left him to join Kate, and Prime passed them with a grin. He continued across the field, heading in Kellen’s direction. He stopped a short distance from Kellen, looking him over. “Nice bout.”
“Thanks.” Kellen drank water and waited.
“How are you fitting in?”
They watched as Kate fought Logan, who didn’t take it easy on his mate. He tried to drag her into a headlock, and the pair started scrapping harder.
Kellen realized Eric had asked him a question. Something about fitting in. “I’m good.”
