Page 86 of Bonding with the Beta

Kayden rests his forehead against mine and closes his eyes tightly as he listens to me speak. Neither of us says anything for a few moments; all I can hear is the sound of blood rushing through my ears.

His forehead is soon replaced with his lips. “I am so sorry,” he strains, and I frown.

“What do you have to be sorry for? I was stupid, weak, and insecure. I did something that almost ruined my parents' life. I’m the one to blame. I did that to myself because I let Josh get to me. It’s my fault. It’s always been my fault.”

“Hey.” Kayden grips my face again, his thumb occasionally wiping away the tears that continue to fall. “You are not stupid or weak. Do you hear me? And it is not your fault. Don’t blame yourself, Kayleigh. Nothing that happened was your fault.”

My nose tingles as I find his eyes through my blurry vision. “Why wasn’t I good enough? I don’t think I’ll ever be good enough.”

Shame almost floors me.

I look away, nausea lapping at my stomach.

“Look at me, Kayleigh,” he whispers, but I shake my head. “I need you to hear what I have to say.”

My eyelids squeeze shut. I can’t. I can’t do this.

I pull away from his grip altogether and wipe my face with my hands, releasing a quiet rasp at the soreness of my skin. “Please go, Kayden. Please just go. You are wasting your time with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says, standing his ground. “I’m not going to leave you. That’s probably what you expect, huh? Because he treated you like crap, and that’s what you think you deserve. But you’re wrong. I’m not like him. I will never be like him. Never think for one second that you’re not good enough.”

I clasp a hand over my mouth and release a silent cry.

“I swear, if I ever get the chance to lay my hands on him.” He pauses, and I sense his anger bubbling at the surface. “He’s going to fucking wish he never hurt you and made you believe these things about yourself.”

Everything inside suddenly weighs me down, and when I reach for the wall to stabilise myself, Kayden reaches out to latch onto me as I catch my breath. He doesn’t say anything more; he holds me until my eyes run dry.

He cups my cheeks again. “I care about you a lot; do you know that?”

I purse my lips and nod. “Yes.”

Even if it’s something I find hard to admit, it’s obvious.

“Good. Sodon’ttell me to leave.”

Kayden’s dark eyes flick between mine for a long moment, and I shiver. He releases my face and walks across my room until he grabs a pair of my trainers. “Sit down,” he orders.

I sniffle. “What are you doing?”

“Putting your shoes on.”

“Why?”

“Let’s get some fresh air,” he says as I perch on the edge, and he starts to slip the shoe on my foot. “And besides, I think you might be in need of some chicken nuggets.”

27

KAYLEIGH

“That’ll be £48.98, please,” the woman at the drive-through window says as she fumbles with the card machine.

I gawk at the price. Kayden pretty much ordered the entire restaurant.

“Let me pay,” I say, digging around my bag for my card.

Kayden’s eyes lock with mine, and he pushes my hands away. “It’s okay. I’ve got it.”

I frown. “No, really. Let me pay.”

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