Chapter 10: A Bond Awakened
Kate
At first, the drive was silent, with only the sound of the engine humming. Kent hadn’t said much, but his occasional side glances told me he wanted to know what happened. My wolf sensed it, making her stir, and I hated how much it made my skin. prickle.
“So, you’re going to tell me what happened, or are you leaving me to guess?” Kent finally said.
I rolled my eyes, keeping my eyes on the passing trees.
“It’s nothing.”
He let out a low and unimpressed laugh.
“Kate, you stormed into my bar like you were ready to flip tables and set the place on fire. That doesn‘ t scream nothing.”
“Why do you care?” I snapped out of
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frustration.
“Because something‘ s eating at you, and you‘ re trying too hard to bury it.”
“It’s pack drama, okay? You wouldn’t get it.”
“Try me.”
I turned to him, ready to tell him to back off, but the look in his eyes stopped me. There was no judgment, no pity, only a calm, patient determination that made it. clear he wasn‘ t letting this go.
“I rejected Tyson.”
His hands tightened slightly on the wheel.
“Rejected him?”
“As my mate, as my Alpha, as
everything.
He slowly nodded and said, “Good.”
The casualness of his response made me blink.
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“Good? That’s all you’ve got to say?”
“Yeah,” he said, glancing at me briefly before looking back at the road.
“Sounds like he earned it.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“You don’t even know what happened.”
“I don’t need to. Any man who pushes. someone like you to that point doesn’t deserve you.”
I stared at him, searching for any sign of mockery, but he meant it.
“It’s not that simple. He’s still the Alpha. The pack still needs…”
“Not your problem anymore,” Kent cut
- in.
I glared at him, my nails digging into my palms.
“You make it sound easy like I can just turn off years of responsibility and walk away.”
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“You already did the hardest part. You chose yourself. Do you know how many people never get there?”
His words hit harder than I expected, stirring something in my chest that I couldn’t quite name.
“It doesn’t feel like an achievement.
“It will. One day, you’ll realize walking away was the strongest thing you could‘ ve done.”
“We re practically strangers but why do you care this much?”
“Because I’ve been where you are. I know what it’s like to give everything to people who don’t see you. To lose yourself trying to be what they want.”
The raw honesty caught me off guard, and I couldn’t look away. The car slowed as we turned into my driveway. Kent parked and turned off the engine, but neither of us moved.
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“So, what now?”
I let out a shaky breath.
“I don’t know. For years, I’ve been defined by Tyson, by the pack. Now…I don‘ t know who I am without all of
that.‘
“Maybe it’s time to figure that out.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Nothing worth doing is ever easy.”
I reached for the door handle, desperate to escape the conversation and his stare.
“Kate.”
His voice stopped me, soft but
commanding. I froze, my hand hovering
over the handle, and turned to him reluctantly.
“You‘ re not alone. Not anymore.
Those words tightened my chest, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe. Before I could respond, Kent reached out for me and
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kissed me. It sent a sharp and undeniable spark through me. My wolf stirred, her presence rushing to the forefront.
“Mate! Mate!”
There she goes again and it’s undeniably
terrifying. My heart raced as I pulled back like I’d been burned.
“This can’t be happening,” I said, shaking my head.
“It is. You feel it, don‘ t you?” he said softly.
“I don‘ t want this. Not after
15
everything.”
“You don’t have to want it. But that
doesn‘ t change what it is.”
My wolf growled softly, urging me toward
him, but I pushed her back.
“I’m not ready for this.”
“And I’m not asking you to be. I’ll wait, Kate, for as long as it takes.”
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His words left me breathless. All I could do
was turn away open the door and step out.
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