Page 43 of Brutal Mate

Before Grandma could protest or offer any more help, Kane hurried down the hall, followed by Moses.

Slipping into Miley's room, he kicked the door shut before the dog could follow. A growling match with a collie dog was the very last thing he needed right now.

Gently, he laid Miley down on the bed. Even before he laid the back of his hand on her forehead, he could feel how hot she was.

“Miley, can you hear me?” he said gently, unable to resist the urge to stroke her cheek.

Though her brow was furrowed as if in torment or pain, her expression was much more peaceful than he had ever seen it. And she was even more beautiful than before.

Breathing deeply, he took in her scent. It definitely had changed since he had arrived at the farm. It smelled as if it were changing more by the hour. Though she still smelled sweet, there was a muskier, earthier, more animalistic scent to her.

Fearful, Kane grabbed her wrist and turned her arm over and over, looking at every inch of her skin. When he found nothing, he checked the other.

Then he checked her legs, her stomach, and rolled her onto her side to check her back.

Nothing.

He was just considering removing her clothes altogether to be even more thorough when Miley gasped, her eyes fluttering open.

Still on her side with his hand holding her in place, she fought against him, trying to roll onto her back.

“What the hell are you doing, Kane? How did we get in here?” she demanded, forcing him away from her and sitting up, wrapping her arms around her knees.

It was a good thing Grandma had a no shoes inside the house policy or her linen sheets would be ruined.

Instead of answering her, Kane demanded, “Were you bitten?”

Miley's gaze darkened, her brow furrowed. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me, were you bitten?” Kane asked through gritted teeth, hands tightening into fists at his sides.

“How…how did you know?” Miley stammered. It wasn't an answer, but it was enough.

“Fuck!” Kane ground out, running his hands through his hair in exasperation.

He turned away from Miley. The anger, frustration and downright mindless aggression he felt was too much for her to witness.

He threw a fist at empty air and kicked the mahogany bedside table.

“Fuck!” he growled again.

“What is it? What is happening, Kane?” Miley demanded. She slipped to the end of the bed and got up onto her knees, looking at him expectantly. “Kane?”

He half-turned back to her, pain lancing through his heart.

She had no idea what was happening to her. That was the worst part. Her entire life was about to change irreversibly, and there was nothing either of them could do about it.

He shook his head, unsure he had the strength to admit the truth. “You wouldn't believe me.”

“Try me,” Miley bit back, already sounding like a badass shifter. And yet, the truth was, she wasn't one. Not yet. And she might never be.

“I can't,” Kane said, shaking his head. He lowered his gaze in defeat and dropped into the chair beside the bed.

“If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were the one who was bitten,” Miley said, and her words made Kane’s gaze snap to hers.

“If only you knew,” he scoffed.

“Then tell me!” Miley growled at him. She was sounding more animalistic by the minute. And it did things to Kane, things that really shouldn’t be happening right now.

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