Page 76 of Connected

“No. You shouldn’t be drinkin’ now, anyway. Go take a bath and get an early night. You look tired, you could do with the sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Kat takes a breath, watching as he leaves. Laying back on the bed, the soft pillows behind her, a lone tear rolls down her cheek and closing her eyes it’s not long before she falls asleep.

Chapter 22

“Zak… get the hell up, I need you,” Digby grins.

“I told you already, no,” Zak ignores him and continues to stir his drink with a straw, “I’m not in the mood.”

“Not in the mood? What the fuck does that mean? Zak, what the hell’s wrong with you? Have you looked at them?” Digby gestures toward the two tall brunettes at the bar—black high heels, long-lean tanned legs displayed below their short black dresses which cling desperately to the curve of their ass. “C’mon Zak, play with us? Please… they’re beggin’ for some prime wolf meat.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not in the market for shifter-whores right now. Anyway, those girls are always sniffin’ around. Go ask Hudson, I’m sure he’ll help out if you need a hand.”

“Oh, I see… this is about QT, right? So, what he’s got you all loved up now—you’re gonna be a one-man wolf? Oh c’mon, he went home over an hour ago and it’s not like he’s gonna care what you do—he never has before.”

“Yeah, well, things are different now and I wanna try’n make a go of it—properly.”

“You haven’t even gotten it on with him yet, and what… you’re not gonna sample pussy no more? Oh, c’mon Zak, you’re a wolf—playin’ the field is our thing.”

“Well, maybe it’s your thing, but I don’t want that now. Look, I’ve got a chance of somethin’ good with QT, Kat’s in the pack and things are more settled. I just think considerin’ all that and with a new pup joinin’ the pack, then maybe we should tighten up. You know, stop all the outside distractions? Do you get what I mean?”

“Oh man… geez, have you got it bad. Shit… You know what Zak, go home. Go drink hot chocolate and hell… I’ll even buy you a mini-van, cos by the sounds of it, you and QT will be gettin’ married and adoptin’ a shit load of pups soon.”

“You know what Digby… you can go to hell!”

“Oh… well, I can go to hell? Well, if you’resobothered about QT, then why didn’t you leave with them, hmm… Why’d you stay?”

“I stayed to keep tabs on your dumbass, but you know what… I wish I hadn’t bothered cos you sure as hell only care about yourself.” Zak grabs his jacket from the back of the chair and snarls menacingly at his friend. Gulping back the last of his drink, he slams the empty bottle on the table. “I’ll leave you to it, see you tomorrow.”

“Zak… Hey Zak, c’mon. Hey… I didn’t mean it. Zak… Zak, come back. I’m sorry… Wait.”

“What Digby… what do you want? You know, not so long back your sorry-drunken-ass was cryin’ into a glass of whiskey about Kat. Now you’ve got her, now she’s in pup—you don’t want her anymore? It’s the same ol’ story with you—you have a good thing, and you throw it away, for what? For two-pieces of shifter ass? Digby grow up. You’re gonna regret this if you do it, but then hey… since when did you ever listen to me?”

“Zak, I do listen, but I just need to let off a little steam. I mean what Kat did… What she was gonna do, you know how bad that was? I’m not sure I can forgive her. Really, I don’t know if I can. And as for those two… you know they’re sisters, right?” he grins, nudging Zak, trying to tempt him. “C’monshifter sisters—so it’s not really cheatin’, right? I mean, they’re not wolves so—”

“And in what goddamn alternative reality do you figure that? You’re gonna fuck them so the way I see it it’s still cheatin’, but you’re not gonna listen so go do it. I’ll tell you one thing; Kat won’t forgive this so Digby think—be an adult for once in your goddamn life and go home. Go talk this through with her.”

“When did you become so fuckin’ borin’? Besides, Kat’s probably otherwise engaged right now. I told her I was okay with her and Darius bein’ together—figured after what happened in Mexico, I couldn’t really object—and like you said, she’s pack now. It’s up to her about who she wants to be with.”

“And does she… really have your permission? Cos, that’s a helluva un-Digby-like thing for you to do?”

“Yeah, of course—I’m cool with it.”

“Good. So, then don’t do this, cos Kat didn’t give you permission to go out and fuck everythin’ in a short—very,veryshort skirt,” Zak coughs, " hell those are some seriously long legs. Ouch!” he sighs wistfully, the wolf in him wondering if he’s made a mistake. “Okay, I’m goin’ before I change… No, no, that is not happenin’. Goodnight Digby. Oh, and be careful, cos you don’t need no more problems right now.”

“Zak… Zak, you can’t just leave me. Take another look at their legs. Hmm… you’re tempted, I can see it? Please, say you’ll stay.”

“No! No, I’m goin’ home. I can’t do this—I won’t. Understand me when I say I don’t wanna do it—I don’t wanna cheat on QT. But you go do whatever the hell you want.”

“Fine… well, fuck you. Thanks for nothin’. I’ll just go play with thembothmyself. I mean, they’re not anythin’ I can’t handle. Bye Zak… And hello ladies.” Digby smiles as he snakes his arms around both of their waists. “So, can I get you another drink, girls?”

Digby positions himself between the two sisters and growls. They giggle in a peel of high-pitched laughter and wrap their long-manicured nails around his neck—teasing his ass and groping his groin as he orders the drinks from the bar.

Zak heads to the exit of the VIP area; but before he goes, he takes one more look back. The two wolves glare at each other and Zak shakes his head with a sneer of disapproval. “Yeah, knock yourself out. But be warned; you drive Kat away from this pack and the rest of the team will never forgive you.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Digby wafts him away. He sighs and glancing over his shoulder, he watches as Zak disappears. “Right, so that’s three large vodkas, and Hudson… keep them comin’.” He raises the glass in his hand, still growling under his breath about Zak’s lack of loyalty.

“Uh, sure thing. So is Zak not stayin’?”

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