A low, warning growl slips from her lips. They peel back, showing off the little canines she wields as a weapon. Small, but sharp enough to rip my throat out.
Right now, I’m not the strongest predator in the room. Not by a long fucking shot.
“Not today,” I murmur, staying where I am. I keep touching her. “It’s okay.”
And then I shift back. She stays where she is, her body stiff as she watches me warily, scarlet eyes flicking around us. Assessing.
“Just you and me,” I murmur, and her head snaps back to me. “Theo. Your Theo. Because I’m yours, remember?”
Another soft snarl. As if she disagrees.
“I know,” I whisper raggedly. “We’re trying to make it right, baby. I’m trying.”
I stay still as she uncurls herself, getting off the bed to stand opposite me. Kenny’s shoulders are high, her teeth showing as she edges around the bed.
Closer. Until we’re barely a foot apart. She stares up at me.
“I’m not running.” I hold her gaze. “Not from you.”
Cautiously, I lift my hand, making sure she can see exactly what I’m doing. Her head snaps back with another snarl. But she doesn’t move.
My fingers are so careful on her cheek, as they settle against her skin. As I cup her cheek with my palm.
“I’m yours,” I say quietly. “But you’re ours too, Kennedy Traylor. And we’ll wait as long as it takes for you to see that we’ll always choose you. Every time.”
When I dare to shift closer, I pause. Sharp little daggers poke into my chest, but I don’t look down. “You gonna mark me, baby?”
She growls again, scarlet eyes not moving from mine. Her claws flex against my skin. Leaving them there, I raise my hand from her face, running it over her hair. Again, repeating it.
And at that moment, there’s no Center. No pain, or regret, or guilt.
Just me and Kenny. Like a relaxant injected straight into my bones, I feel myself soften, tension bleeding from me as a tiny, soft sound uncurls from my mate’s lips.
Her eyes don’t shift from scarlet. But she doesn’t hurt me. Doesn’t attack me.
She blinks, slowly. Her eyes start to close—
The heavy bang behind us sends her stumbling back with a whine. A line of fire opens up against my chest as I whip around, my chest heaving as my arms spread out. “Don’t fucking touch her!”
Jake shoves between the row of puffed-up helmets, taking up the space beside me and holding up his hands placatingly. “She didn’t hurt him. You saw it.”
“Don’t say a fucking word,” I snap when a helmet looks down. I can feel the blood running down my chest. “You did that, assholes. You fuckingscaredher.”
Fuck – I can feel her behind me. Poised. Waiting. My neck prickles in silent warning. “Get out. Now.”
One of them points to the door. That fucking voice sounds.
“All non-Center staff to leave the room immediately.”
“This is distressing her,” a voice snaps from the doorway.Abrams. “Staff need to leave first. Theo. Jake. You can step away once she’s settled.”
Jaw tight, I nod. “Seems reasonable.”
“Help her,” Jake whispers. “I’ll watch them.”
I don’t want to give any of them my back, but I turn slowly. Kenny stares back at me from her corner. Her hands grip the new pile of shirts, twisting them.
Crouching, I make sure to keep eye contact. “I’m just outside that door, Ken. All of us are. You’re not alone, okay? And we’re going to be back as soon as we can.”
