Theo takes a step, and then another.
Until he’s in front of me, our bodies barely an inch apart. I inhale as his hands come up, flinching back.
“Don’t do that,” he grounds out. His voice is almost a growl. “Don’t flinch from me, Kennedy.”
My mouth opens to ask him exactly what the fuck he expects me to do—
Hetouchesme. Cups my face, examining it. And despite his anger, his touch is gentle. My mouth closes.
When I realize what he’s searching for, his eyes tracing my skin, my mouth dries. “It’s not my blood.”
His fingers pause. And then they move beneath my chin, tipping it up as he steps impossibly closer.
He feels warm. Warm, solid, and reassuring. I could bury my face in that chest. Crawl into him and let it all out.
Theo sighs. And I stiffen as his hand moves to my hair. But he carefully runs his hands through it. Stroking. Small, gentle touches that have my bones softening.
He doesn’t push me away when I lean forward. I let my forehead fall into him, my eyes closing.
Six months without touch is a long time. The bite of pain is worth it.
Theo’s hand moves from my hair, running down my back. “Did he hurt you?”
My eyes feel hazy. I can’t stop myself from wiggling, trying to get closer. “No.”
Lips on my hair. Travelling down the side of my face, warm breath brushing my ear. “Kennedy.”
“Mhm?” I blink, my eyes drifting closed.
I could sleep like this. Actualrest, instead of fractured nightmares and glimpses of the future waiting for me. My hand moves up, pressing over his heart. I can feel the steady thump beneath my fingers.
His soft whisper lands all the harder. “You really are a fucking psychopath, aren’t you?”
It’s a bucket of cold water over my senses. Acid poured into an already open wound. I try to move back, but his arms wrap around me, pinning me painfully in place. “I should have seen it. But you hide it so fucking well. First Brett, then Eric. I won’t let you touch anyone else. Do you understand? I’m watching you,mate.”
He spits the word like a curse. His hand winds into my hair, tugging it back. With me pressed against him like this, it feels like a parody.
Everything we could have been. Everything we’ll never be.
I run my tongue over my chapped lips, and he follows the movement. Our breathing mingles as I force out an icy response. “Are we done?”
“Not even close.” His words vibrate with fury. “Stay the fuck away from my sister.”
“Fine,” I say tightly. “Let me go.”
We watch each other for a long moment.
“You might be able to fool them,” he says finally. “Max. Jake. Even Oscar. But you’ll never fool me. You’re never going to be part of our pack – not if I have anything to do with it. I’d rather be alone for the rest of my life than have you as a mate.”
Feigning boredom, I take a step back and fold my arms, glancing away. “If you’re done with the insults, I’d rather be washing dishes than standing here.”
His laugh shakes us both. “We both know that’s a fucking lie. You want me, Kennedy. Desperately. And you just proved it. Toobad you’re a murdering bitch, or I might have been tempted. Maybe I’ll toss you a pity fuck to take the edge off.”
“You never used to be cruel.” I pull away from him, my cheeks burning, and he lets me go, his fists closing on empty air. “And I’m not the only onewantinghere, Theo. You made it pretty fucking obvious.”
Maybe I’d even take the offer, if he made it. Just to feel something. To pretend. I’d lose a little more of myself in the process - but what does it matter, when I’m disappearing day by day anyway?
“I was never a lot of things, until you blew up my fucking life.” He watches as I cross to the door. “You will tell me, Kennedy. I’m not going to leave you alone. I will be there, every second of every day, and I will make your life fuckingmiserable.”
