AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Kayden…”
“No.” She jerked her arm out of my grip. “Don’t say my name like that.”
“Like what?” I asked carefully.
“Like you think I’m being unreasonable.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “After last night, I finally thought we were okay. That we were a sure thing, Holden.”
“We are.” I stepped toward her, but she backed away. “What are you talking about?”
She scoffed. “I felt like a third wheel at breakfast just now. Do you have any idea how it feels to hear her talk about the day you’re going to have together? To not know if everything you’ve told me is even true?”
“Of course it is,” I said, flabbergasted. “You really think I want Sydnee? I want you, Kayden. You’re my mate.”
She shook her head, and a tear spilled down her cheek. “I thought everything was okay, but now I see nothing has changed. You chose to keep her here, and you’ve flat out admitted how good she’d be as your wife. What am I supposed to think about that, Holden?”
“Kayden.” My voice was low in case anyone was milling about, but she simply had to see the truth. “You’re mymate. I couldn’t possibly want anyone other than you.”
“That’s what I mean, Holden.” She threw her arms up in the air. “I don’t want to be yours because of some stupid bond telling us we must be together. If you don’t want me for me—and not just because of this fucking mate bond—then maybe you would be better off with Sydnee.”
She turned on her heel and darted up the stairs and down the hall, leaving me staring after her. More than anything, I wanted to go after her, to assure her that she was the only person I wanted. Once again, the damn Contention was putting a rift between us. The last thing I wanted was to visit Sydnee’s family, but I didn’t have a choice.
I’d just have to trust that in the end, Kayden would see the truth—that I would love her no matter what, and being mates was just icing on the cake.
34
KAYDEN
“You can’t just stay in bed all day,” Faye said, opening the curtains to let sunlight in my room.
I pulled my blankets up over my head. I’d crawled right back into bed once Holden left with Sydnee. “Why not?”
“Because moping isn’t becoming to you.” I peeked out from under the covers to see her staring at me with her hands on her hips. “You’re above that, Kayden.”
I frowned, wondering just how much she knew. “What else am I supposed to do today? There’s no one here but me.”
“Maybe I can arrange for you to spend some time with your sister.”
“I thought it was against the rules,” I said, my tone acrid. I was being petulant but couldn’t seem to stop it.
Faye gave me a look that made it clear how aware she was of all the rule breaking that had been going on. “You’ll be fine. Why don’t you do some PT then take a shower? You’ll feel much better after you’ve worked off some of this nervous energy.”
“I’m not nervous,” I muttered. “I’m pissed.”
Faye arched a brow. “PT works for both. So unless you want to spend the day fretting over Holden and Sydnee’s home visit, I suggest you get your ass out of bed and get moving.”
My mouth dropped open. In all the time we’d spent together, it was the first time I’d heard her speak like that. Maybe she was over this as much as I was. I was so shocked I didn’t even argue, climbing from the bed once more and changing into workout clothes.
Faye was right, though. After an hour in the gym, I felt much more like myself. I headed back to my room for a shower, surprised to find Jenna sitting on my bed waiting for me.
“Hey,” I said, running to her and throwing my arms around her.
“Do we really get to spend the day together?”
“That’s what Faye said,” I told her with a shrug. “I’m not going to argue.”
Jenna grinned. “So, what should we do?”
“I don’t know, honestly. I’ve been so busy with everything that I don’t have much free time. What have you been doing to keep yourself occupied since you’ve been here?”
