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I gritted my teeth and tried to steady my breathing and control my anger. In sharp contrast, the need to touch her was overpowering, and I couldn’t help but lean in closer. I felt on edge in a way I couldn’t explain.
Ripping open the cleansing wipes, I began carefully wiping away the blood, starting with her face. She watched me in silence, her expression devoid of any emotion. My heart thundered as the reality of what happened set in. She was lucky to be alive—lucky her injuries weren’t any worse.
When her face was cleaned of blood, I paused, cupping her cheeks with my hands and rubbing gently with my thumbs, just thankful she was going to be okay.
She blinked, her brows drawing together. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry.” I wasn’t, though. And I didn’t move back, staying in her space as her breath hitched.
“I just need to touch you, make sure you’re okay.” I smoothed her hair back from her face, then traced my fingers along her jaw. I tried to soften my tone as I repeated, “Will you tell me what happened?”
Kayden let out a breath, her gaze wary as she met my eyes. Then she relayed in detail everything that happened from the minute she returned to her room after the maze competition.
She glared accusingly as she revealed what Faye told her about Jessica and me dating previously—she’d clearly jumped to conclusions there. When she mentioned the letter she’d found, I had to interrupt.
“I didn’t send that letter to you, Kayden. I don’t know how it ended up in your room, but I have no intention of sending you home.” It was the first time I’d admitted it to myself, but I felt the truth of it. “That was for another woman.”
She paused, some of the anger fading, but she didn’t look entirely convinced.
“I swear to you.” I leaned in closer, getting right in her face and gently gripping her chin. “I have no desire to send you away,” I told her, finally letting myself acknowledge what I’d been feeling these past days, even if I didn’t say it aloud. I wanted Kayden more than any other woman here. In fact, I’d barely been able to imagine myself with any of the other contestants. She might not have been groomed to be an alpha’s wife, but right now, I couldn’t care less.
Kayden swallowed, a glimmer of suspicion still in her eyes, but she didn’t pull away, didn’t tell me to leave. I’d count it as a win. Finally, she nodded, looking at her hands folded in her lap. “When I got back to my room after going for a run, I smelled the gas immediately.”
How had there been a gas leak? I’d have my people investigating this until they found an answer. As Kayden told me the rest, including how she’d had to grip a burning-hot chair to break the glass and escape, I felt my wolf again clawing his way to the surface, his rage equal to mine. When it came to Kayden, he seemed extra protective. I pushed him away, trying to remain calm for Kayden’s sake.
“Kayden,” I breathed, lowering my forehead to hers and cupping her cheek. “I don’t know what I would have done if something happened to you.”
She pulled back, staring at me in confusion. “And here I thought just a few minutes ago that you wanted me gone.” She shook her head and bit her lip. “You have no idea all the things that went through my mind.”
I couldn’t help it—I needed to be closer to her and prove that I spoke the truth. Slowly, I reached up and ran my fingers through her hair, pushing it away from her face, then I traced her jaw, her nose, and her lips.
Her eyes slid closed, her lips parting slightly as her breath came in shallow pants. My heart thundered as I stared at her, drawn by her beauty. I closed the distance between us, capturing her mouth with mine. She didn’t resist. Instead, she melted into the kiss with a quiet moan, her rigid body finally softening and giving in to what we both wanted.
Pure relief washed over me that she wasn’t pushing me away, that she believed what I said—and that she was here in my arms where she belonged.
A rush of desire rocketed through me, but I forced myself to be gentle, aware of the trauma she’d just been through. I teased her lips with my tongue before dipping inside, tasting her. Like our other kisses, this one was swiftly accompanied by desire more intense than I’d ever felt for a woman. It was different this time, though. Out of nowhere, an aching need, a longing that went far beyond the physical plane, roared to life inside me, burning me up with its power.
My wolf rose to the surface with a solitary thought.
Mate.
Stunned, I broke the kiss and pulled back, staring deeply into Kayden’s honey brown eyes. And that’s when I recognized it.
This draw I’d felt toward her, almost from the very beginning, became almost painful in its intensity.
Mate. Mine.
It should have been impossible. True fated mates were so rare that I only knew a handful. But there was no other way to explain it. No other reason why I suddenly felt as if I needed this woman more than the very air I breathed….
Kayden was my fated mate.
With my instincts taking over, I thrust my hands into her hair, pressing my lips to hers once again with a fiery passion that left us both breathless.
When I pulled back again, simply staring at her in awe, I knew in my bones it was the truth. Kayden was the only one for me, and I wanted her more than anything.
“What is it?” she asked, her face pinching in confusion. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
I blew out a breath, still in shock. “Don’t you feel it? This… connection between us.”
