Page 42 of Kai's Hunger

“Drop it,” I bit out, tired of everyone inserting their two cents. What happened between me and Lily wasn’t anyone’s business. “I can handle it.”

Wyatt reached across the table and dug an extended claw into my forearm. “You need to do it soon. It’ll drive you mad if you wait too long.”

“I’ll handle it. Leave it alone.” I jerked out of his hold, then searched the room to see if anyone had seen my alpha unsheathe his talons. Everyone was too absorbed with their phones to notice. The one time I was glad that the annoying devices existed.

“It’s your funeral,” my brother muttered, then looked toward the parking lot. “And where the hell is Miggs?”

“I sent him a text,” I explained. “He’ll be here any minute.”

A few minutes of frustrated silence drifted by, then a sweet, blonde-haired waitress approached their table. “Hey, Kai.”

“Tessa. Looking pretty as ever.”

She grinned, then propped her hand on her left hip. “And you’re full of it, as always.” She took out her order pad and tugged a pen from behind her ear. “What can I get you?”

“Nothing for me. We’re just waiting on Miggs.” I remembered telling Lily about Tessa and added, “A friend of mine is coming here later. Name’s Lily. She’s new to the area.”

“Got ya.” Her smile widened. “I’ll take good care of her. Don’t you worry.”

“Thanks.” Tessa had only been in the area for a few years, but already folks treated her like a local. I winked. “I knew I could count on you.”

“Always, darlin’,” she replied, then smiled over at Wyatt. “A refill?”

“No,” he grumbled, staring at her as if he wanted to strangle her.

She gave me a curt nod, then left us alone. I leaned forward. “What the hell is your problem with Tessa?”

“She doesn’t need to flirt with every goddamn male customer who comes along.”

Seriously? “She wasn’t flirting and you know it. Tessa is always friendly. She’s the same with the women who come in here. It’s just her nature.” I shook my head. “Jesus, Wyatt, stop being a dick.”

Wyatt turned his rage on me. “And what’s your deal? You have Lily, remember?”

“I was beingnice. It’s what people do.” Then a thought struck. “You know, it occurs to me that you’re always kind of a dick toward Tessa.” I narrowed my gaze on him. “Why is that, I wonder.”

Wyatt’s jaw tightened, his fingers drumming against the table. “I don’t hate her,” he muttered, not meeting my eyes.

I raised an eyebrow. “You sure have a funny way of showing it. Every time she’s around, you act like she’s the plague.”

Wyatt sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple, Kai.”

“Then explain it to me,” I pressed. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re hiding something.”

Wyatt’s gaze finally met mine, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something—regret, maybe even longing. “I made love to her,” His confession was barely above a whisper, but that didn’t lesson the hostility.

I blinked in surprise. “You what?”

Wyatt looked away again, staring at the scarred table. “It was a mistake. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but ... it did.”

I leaned forward, my interest piqued. “A mistake? Wyatt, come on. There’s more to it than that.”

Wyatt’s shoulders slumped. “I took a little of her blood. Just a bit. I couldn’t help myself.”

My eyes widened. “You took her blood? Wyatt, that’s—”

“I know what it is!” Wyatt snapped, cutting me off. He lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “I know what it means, and I regret it. But it happened, and I can’t change it.”

I studied him, and the pieces started to come together in my mind. “Wyatt, could she be your mate?”

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