I shake it forward, into my face. “Thank you.”
His hand lingers in my hair. Tangling in it, his fingers brushing my neck. Holding it.
My breath catches. I’m not…. comfortable, I realize.
Not here. Not alone like this.
If any of the others were here—
“Kennedy.” His voice sharpens. “Pay attention.”
“Sorry.” I whisper it, staring down at my hands.
We won’t be long. And then we’ll go home to them.
“Forgiven.” His breath against my cheek takes me by surprise. When I turn, his lips meet mine.
He’s not gentle. His hand holds the back of my head, holding me in place as he moves his mouth over mine, his tongue thrusting into my mouth. When I try to pull away, his grip tightens instead of loosening.
Both of us are breathing heavily when he lets me go. Yanking myself away, my shocked eyes meet his. “What the fuck was that, Brett?”
They’ve never kissed me. Not ever. It was something – something to look forward to, something I’ve been waiting for, and he just…tookit.
“Language,” he says softly. A reminder. “We’re having dinner with my parents, remember?”
Yes. The relief at that thought is staggering. When my face softens, he smiles again. My stomach begins to churn. “I’ve been thinking about the future, you know.”
“Oh?” My heart hammers against my chest. “
“Mhm.” He reaches for me again, pausing when I dip my head. “About whether a pack is the right decision for us.”
I’m still staring. “I can’t believe you would—,”
Wait.
“What?” My voice is high. “What did you just say?”
He shrugs one shoulder. “It’s just… I’ve been talking to my dad. About the future. And he’s right, you know. Alphas don’t need packs anymore, not really. I mean, look at your dad.”
I blink. Slowly. “Rick isn’t someone I’d choose to emulate, to be honest. I…,”
I don’t know what to say. “But they’re yourbrothers.”
But he’s there. His hands are on my face, gripping me, always that little bit too tight. Brett presses his forehead to mine. “Only Theo. He’ll understand. They’ll get over it. They probably won’t even care, not really. We can create our own mating bond, Kennedy. Right now. Here. And none of them will be able to argue when we go back.”
“Let go of me—,”
His lips on my forehead, my cheek. “You were supposed to be mine. You know that, don’t you? I did, that first day. I saw you and I knew then—,”
I’m shaking my head, trying to push him off. “No. No –get the fuck off me.”
I am not quiet. I shriek it, directly in his face.
And his own expression darkens. “I won’t share you.”
This is dangerous. I look around, at the meadow, and the sky, and the mountains. Perfect, and beautiful. And isolated. My breathing deepens. “I want to go back. Take me back, please.”
Take me back to them.
