“I knew,” I mutter, looking up at him. I keep my voice firm and my face blank, waiting for his reaction.
To my surprise, his eyes widen with shock, and he takes a little step back.
There it is again. As if he’s scared of me.
The questions arise in my mind, teeming against my skull, begging to be let loose, but I still feel it might be more painful to learn the truth than to leave the secrets buried.
And it’s just like with Father. Who can I really trust? Would Kit tell the truth if I asked?
“Lexa,” Kit says, looking over at the mountains and not at me. “Would you run with me in the forest, up to the high ridge?”
I follow his gaze to the dark line of trees just above the town. Not as high as Lycan Pass, but above the rough hills around the town.
The idea of going that far into the wilderness alone with him scares me for a lot of reasons.
Best-case scenario, I let him seduce me again. Worst case… I find out what really happened to Mom.
The possibilities are too painful to contemplate, but a run does sound good. My wolf is almost howling with tension and need, and I’m more than happy to give over my higher thinking to her primal mind.
“Sure,” I answer. “That sounds like a good idea.”
Kit looks surprised but pleased. He holds out his hand and gestures towards the back of the cemetery.
“There’s a path through here. Come on.”
I don’t move, just stare at his hand, then let my eyes flick back to his face. Reluctantly, he lowers his hand.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t think this meant—”
“Good,” I reply, cutting him off. “Because this doesn’t mean anything. I could use a hard run. Today has been a difficult one for me. I think it would do us good to go together, but this is my commitment to making an amicable partnership with you. It doesn’t mean I’m letting you back into my heart—or my pants.”
Kit shakes his head. “No, I’d never dare to suggest that. I know what I did was unforgivable, and I wanted to tell you I’m sor—”
“Don’t,” I snap, cutting him off. “Don’t say you’re sorry, or give me any speeches. I heard quite enough the night you seduced me, and the next day when you tossed me aside like a used tissue. Do you really think I’d believe anything you have to say?”
I’m surrounded by liars. There’s no one I can trust.
“Okay.” Kit looks at the ground, his shoulders sagging. “I understand. I don’t deserve your trust. I lied to you horribly, and if you never believe a word that comes out of my mouth, that’s exactly what I deserve. Just know that I am committed tomaking it up to you, and I can’t thank Iris enough for bringing us together so I at least have a chance.”
Iris! What was she thinking, matching me with him? Did she know? Did she know about all of this?
More questions pushing into my mind just make my head hurt even worse. My wolf throbs in my blood, begging to take over. I can’t keep my shit together a second longer, so I gesture to Kit to lead the way.
“Let’s go, then,” I mutter. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Okay, Lexa,” he answers, his voice very soft. “I will make it up to you. I swear.”
I shake my head, refusing to answer. I’m distracted momentarily as Kit pulls off his clothes, but once he shifts, the flicker of arousal is snuffed out.
He doesn’t stop being nonstop gorgeous.
When my wolf takes over, the hunger returns. Being naked in front of him is tempting enough, but in my wolf shape, I feel even more bare than I was before.
Luckily, Kit turns and bounds into the forest. All I have to do is follow him, letting the thrill of my wolf swallow all my doubt and most of my pain.
Chapter 10 - Kit
Shifting mid-run, I feel a surge of excitement as my paws hit the dirt and my wolf takes over. A sizzling wave of exaltation floods into my skin, accompanying the thick fur covering my body.
