Page 16 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

My wolf form slipped away, as did Choal’s, and then hands were hoisting me off the ground.

“You are amazing, Gray. Well done!”

Jet’s familiar voice rang out quietly by my ear as my senses evened out. The pain started to ease off as my body healed, but then a hand grabbed my wrist and lifted it into the air.

“Our winner!” Aspen called out, and I couldn’t help the exhausted grin.

“Oh, good. That, umm, sucked.”

I looked up to see Kaiden and Jet laughing, and then I sensed her. Kenzie was closing the distance to me, and my eyes immediately went to hers as she ran up.

“Fucking hell, you’re a mess.” She scowled at me, her hands on her hip as she stepped up to me. “You got any debris in there I need to be worried about?”

I tried to shrug, but it was uncoordinated and jumbled. “Don’t know.”

“All right, champion.” Kenzie rolled her eyes, no admiration behind that nickname. “Let’s get you back home so I can check your damn wounds.”

***

Back in my room, I sat straighter on the bed, attempting to give Kenzie a better view of my back. She grumbled something under her breath, and I flinched as her tiny finger probed at the torn skin.

“Fuck,” I looked over my shoulder at her, “are you trying to hurt me?”

She cocked her head, that perma-glare firmly in place. “Maybe. Would you just quit moving and hold still?”

“I’m not—” But I bit back the desire to get defensive with her. It didn’t help, after all. “Sorry.”

Kenzie raised her brows at me, and I turned around to face away from her again.

“Must’ve really bumped your head. You actually apologized for something.”

I didn’t respond to that one. I didn’t know what to say. Again, Kenzie had every right to be pissy with me, but hell, it was getting old. I tried to think of anything else, focusing on the slight imperfection in the wall across from me.

The bed behind me dipped as Kenzie shuffled around again, and that cold liquid passed over my back again, cleaning out the wound before I healed. After a moment, she sighed, and I heard the snap of her latex gloves as Kenzie pulled them off.

“Finished?”

“Yup.”

I went for my shirt, but as Kenzie scooted off the bed, she snatched it out of my hands.

“No shirt until you heal. Remember the last time your scab got stuck to the fabric?”

Kenzie had been there to treat my wounds after Terrance’s attack. I’d been about as quiet during that session as well. Still, that time, we’d been on the same side, and Kenzie’s scent had hit me hard that day.

I’d known she was my mate since she first shifted, the call arriving the exact moment her wolf did. But I didn’t say anything. She didn’t either, for that matter.

Though, I imagine we didn’t think it was real. At least, I knew I didn’t. Mates weren’t a thing back then, not until Jet found his did I start to think more about it.

I remembered being alone with Kenzie for that healing session, remembered how her fingers had traced over the muscles of my chest—soft and gentle but…hungry.

I’d kissed her moments later.

As I looked over at her now, I just nodded. But that same desire to crash my lips against hers built in my stomach. I could taste her, my brain sending me the phantom signals as Kenzie turned away and crossed the room.

She was cleaning up her medical supplies, her back to me, and I turned around, watching her. It was a bad idea to be in her like this with her. Still, maybe I should say something.

Oh, like what, genius? I’m sorry? I don’t think that’s going to cut it anymore.

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