Chapter 9: Unspoken Feelings
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Kate
The whiskey burned, but it wasn’t enough. I slammed the glass onto the counter, motioning for the bartender.
“Another,” I demanded.
He hesitated, eyes glancing at the empty bottles beside me.
“You sure about that?”
“Do I look unsure?”
The bartender sighed, grabbing another bottle, but he froze halfway. His entirel body went stiff, and his gaze darted to the door. My nostrils flared as the scent of forest and cedarwood hit me–a scent I knew so well.
“Tell me that’s not who I think it is,” I muttered, not bothering to turn.
“Kate.”
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That voice was deep, smooth, and infuriating. My wolf stirred, sensing his Alpha authority.
“You‘ re late,” I said without looking.
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“For what?” came the reply with a hint of
amusement.
“For the lecture, I didn’t ask for,” I shot back, finally turning to face him.
Kent stood calmly, his dark shirt hugging his frame as if tailored to his athletic body. His piercing blue eyes moved from me to the row of bottles, then back again.
“Impressive,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“Trying to drink my entire collection or just the expensive stuff?”
“I wasn’t paying attention to the label,” I said coolly, twirling the empty glass between my fingers.
“But hey, your bartender‘ s generous.”
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His lips quirked into a smirk as he stepped closer, leaning one elbow on the counter.
“He doesn’t have a choice. I own the place.”
Of course, he did. Who else could make the bartender stop, looking like he was about to wet his pants?
“You here to cut me off?”
“No. I’m here to figure out why you‘ re making such a spectacle of yourself.”
I stiffened, my fingers tightening around. the glass.
“It’s called relaxing. You should try it sometime.”
“This isn’t relaxing. It’s running.”
The words hit like a slap, but I wouldn’t let him see it.
“What do you care? You don’t know
me.”
He studied me like a puzzle he already had
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half–solved.
“Don’t I?”
I scoffed, turning back to the counter, but the movement froze when his fingers. brushed my wrist. It was just a touch, light and fleeting, but it sent a spark straight through me.
“Kate, whatever he did, whatever they said–it doesn’t define you.”
I yanked my hand away, my pulse racing.
“Stop it. Stop acting like you‘ re here to save me.”
“I’m not here to save you.”
“Good!”
“I’m here because I don‘ t like seeing someone like you waste herself over someone like him.”
I hated how his words chipped away the walls I was desperately rebuilding. I felt bare and defenseless, but it wasn’t anything
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fearful; it was more of a relief.
“What do you want from me, Kent?” I asked, glaring at him.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
“I want to know why you‘ re giving someone so unworthy the power to break you.”
My breath caught in my throat, and I almost couldn’t speak.
“You don’t get to decide what I do with my life.”
“No. But I see a woman who‘ s been through hell and is still standing. And it pisses me off to see her letting someone who doesn’t deserve her take her down.”
“You‘ re awfully poetic for a guy who broods in the shadows.”
He chuckled, the sound low and rough but sexy as hell.
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“And you‘ re deflecting for someone who’s supposed to be fearless.”
My chest tightened under his stare. What is happening? Was it because of the whiskey?
“Mate,” my wolf whispered, her voice filled with joy.
No. That wasn’t possible.
“This isn‘ t your fight, Kent,” I said, dismissing her and whatever this was.
“Maybe not. But I’m not walking away.”
His tone made me hitch because he
actually meant it.
“Why?” I asked softly.
Kent’s jaw tightened, and his gaze dropped. briefly before locking back onto mine.
“Because someone should remind you what you‘ re worth. And if no one else will, I guess it’s up to me.”
For a moment, everything else faded. It was just us, locked in a stare that felt like it
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“And you‘ re deflecting for someone who’s supposed to be fearless.
My chest tightened under his stare. What is happening? Was it because of the whiskey?
“Mate,” my wolf whispered, her voice filled with joy.
No. That wasn’t possible.
“This isn‘ t your fight, Kent,” I said, dismissing her and whatever this was.
“Maybe not. But I’m not walking away.”
His tone made me hitch because he
actually meant it.
“Why?” I asked softly.
Kent’s jaw tightened, and his gaze dropped briefly before locking back onto mine.
“Because someone should remind you what you‘ re worth. And if no one else will, I guess it’s up to me.”
For a moment, everything else faded. It was just us, locked in a stare that felt like it
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could shatter the ground beneath me.
“Let me take you home, Kate. You don‘ t belong here.”
And I just let him escort me home.
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