Page 151 of Bonding with the Beta

My jaw tightens as I turn to face him.

If I thought I looked broken, he looks dishevelled.

“This isn’t what it looks like.” He holds his hands out flat in defence.

My eyes burn red. “Do you think I’m fucking blind?”

A troubled sigh leaves his lips as he drags a hand through his messy hair. “I know what you saw was?—”

“God,” I shout over him. “I’m so stupid. How could I fall for all of your lies?”

“I just need a few days to figure everything out,” he murmurs. “I need my wolf to?—”

“Need a few days to figure everything out?” I repeat in disbelief, the words dying on my tongue. He might as well shove a stake through my heart while he’s at it. “Do you mean to decide who you prefer? If you want to be with her or me. I won’t be second-best to anyone.”

Kayden’s jaw slackens, and he shakes his head. “You aren’t second-best.”

I release a dry laugh. “So, you expect me to sit at home while I know you’re with her?” I mumble as tears continue to stain mycheeks. “You want me to wait for you while you take her on dates and get to know her and then fuck her on the kitchen counter?”

His chest quivers, eyes glistening with regret. “I would never fucking do that to you.”

“You promised me that if she came, you wouldn’t do this to me. Youpromisedme,” I hiss through my teeth. “You said you love me, but this doesn’t feel like love; this feels like betrayal.”

Kayden’s throat tenses, and he holds a shaky hand towards me. “I love you, Kayleigh,” he says simply. “I love you, and you know it.”

Before he can touch me, I back away. “Do you?” I challenge him. “Because if you did, you wouldn’t be telling me you need to figure things out with her.”

He buries his head in his hands and releases a frustrated groan, but I have no sympathy for him. He knew what game he was playing.

“If you had even the tiniest inkling that you were going to end up with her, you should have told me,” I yell. “You shouldn’t have led me on. You shouldn’t have made me fall in love with you so I could keep you satisfied in the meantime!”

Kayden’s eyes begin to burn with fury. “I never used you for anything.” His jaw tightens. “What we have is so fucking special. But I don’t expect you to understand what I’m going through right now.”

“No, you’re right. I don’t. But maybe if you couldn’t stick to your word, you shouldn’t have said anything at all,” I spit before walking away again.

“Fuck.” Kayden steps directly in front of me. “You can’t leave like this.”

I bark out another laugh, but it dies in my throat. “Can’t I? You’ve already chosen her. So, what’s the point?”

Kayden flinches, brows falling together. “I haven’t chosen her.”

“Stop it.” I grit my teeth and resist the urge to rip out my hair. “Stop fucking with my head! You can’t tell me that you need a few days with her and that you haven’t chosen her. Shove your stupid lies up your ass. I’ve seen what a matebond can do. We’ve all seen Ava and Jaxon. I know if you spend a day with her, you’ll forget I ever existed.”

“Kayleigh—” He reaches out desperately.

“You’ll fall in love with her,” I murmur through my tears. “And I’ll be left with nothing.”

My stomach aches, and bile rises in my throat at the thought. I cover my hand with my mouth and glance away. The pain that wrecks my body is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

“That is not true,” he rasps.

I turn towards him and flick my gaze between his strained eyes. “Are you going home with her, or are you coming home with me?”

Kayden’s chest heaves rapidly. “I’m not going home with her, Kayleigh. But I need to sort this out. I know you won’t understand, but I’m begging you to try. She deserves answers, too.”

My eyelashes brush my cheekbone. “Right,” I whisper. “I see.”

I press a hand to his shirt and shove him away. My phone vibrates in my palm to alert me my Uber is here. I glance around the car park and walk towards the right car.

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