His wolf snarled inside him, mine, mine, mine—but he stayed still.
"What am I?" his mother's voice rang from the circle of people watching. "An ogre?"
Laughter broke out instantly. Even the toddlers squealed, catching the mood though they had no clue what was said.
Everyone laughed—except Kade.
Of course, he didn't laugh.
He didn't find anything amusing about what was happening. Not when the woman who should have been wearing his mark was now blushing at someone else's attention.
"Sorry, Mum," Mark chuckled and gave a sheepish smile that made half the women in the crowd melt. Then he turned back to May, eyes locked on hers, all nerves and adoration.
Kade felt a pulse in his temple. A hot, angry throb. His wolf was on edge, pacing behind his skin, teeth bared.
"You have made me a very happy man," Mark continued. "I am at peace when I am with you. And…"
He reached into his pocket.
Kade's eyes narrowed, breath catching.
The second he saw the outline of the small box, the blood in his veins turned to fire.
A collective gasp rose from the crowd as Mark dropped to one knee in the center of the backyard, surrounded by balloons, and children.
No. No. Not this. Not here. Not now.
Kade's hands curled into fists at his sides, claws threatening to punch through skin. His pulse was thunder in his ears, and his vision began to tunnel—everything fading into a haze except for May's face.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Mark said.
The broadest smile broke across May's face.
She stared down at Mark.
Kade was about to explode. Literally. His wolf pushed and snarled beneath his skin, clawing toward the surface. It wanted to shift, to claim, to tear the scene apart.
Mark opened the box.
The sunlight caught the ring and set the diamond shimmering.
"Will you marry me?"
Kade screamed internally. Say no. Say no. Goddess, say no. His whole body vibrated with suppressed fury. His mouth was dry, his nails bit into his palms, and he was so close to snapping. The rage burned so bright he could barely think. All he could hear was the pounding of his own heart.
May gasped. "Yes!"
She held out her hand, eyes shimmering with tears, and Mark slipped the ring onto her finger. He stood, pulled her close, and kissed her as everyone erupted into cheers.
Nelly turned to look at Kade. Regret flickered in her eyes as she caught sight of him standing rigid and alone.
He couldn't stand it.
So, he turned.
And walked—away from the laughter, the music, the applause still echoing in his ears. Away from the woman whose scent was still driving him insane. Away from her stupid fiancé and the ring that now glittered on her.
From the house.
From her.
******
May was still giddy as she leaned against the kitchen counter, staring at the glitter-covered floor. The birthday party—meant to be a simple, sweet celebration—had turned into an engagement party.
Her engagement party.
She couldn't believe it. She was getting married.
It still didn't feel real. But the ring on her finger was heavy and cold.
Finally, a family she could call hers. A name.
A future.
She exhaled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. Miss Nelly had taken Adelita to Mark's parent's house, likely to bask in the afterglow, trade gossip, and already start planning wedding venues.
"Anything I can help with?" Kade's voice rumbled behind her.
For a moment, she didn't breathe. Her spine went rigid, her body flushed with an involuntary heat that made her cheeks burn. Her hands trembled slightly as she turned around to face him.
He stood there in the dim kitchen light, shadowed and powerful.
He had spoken directly to her for the first time since he arrived, and now her heart was threatening to beat out of her chest. Her stomach flipped.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
She was engaged. Engaged to a good man.
But here she was—nervous, breathless, eyes locked on another man.
Her tongue felt dry. But she managed to force the words out with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "No. I'm all done."
She turned back to the counter, pretending to busy herself with a stack of used paper plates. Her fingers shook slightly as she reached for them.
Behind her, she felt him take a step closer.
"So, I see you are serious with Mark," Kade said again.
"Yup," she replied. "He is a good man. Attentive, caring, nice, dependable and available."
"I'm not sure," Kade said, "but I seem to get the feeling you're listing all the things you think I'm not."
"If the shoe fits." May tossed the towel onto the counter and turned to face him. Her tone was breezy, but her heart was slamming against her ribs.
He stepped closer.
"I don't exactly care how you feel about me."
"I know you don't." Her smile faltered.
"And I don't think you should be feeling anything about me," Kade added, eyes narrowing slightly.
"I shouldn't…?...Why shouldn't I?"
A year ago. That night. The memory flashed in vivid color—darkened room, his fingers inside her, her nails clawing at his back as he commanded her body. A moment that shattered her.
"A year ago, you didn't say that to me when you…you…"
The rest caught in her throat. It didn't feel safe to say it aloud, even now. Not when he was standing this close. Not when she could see every ripple of tension in his jaw, every flicker of battle playing out behind his hooded eyes.
"When I what?"
She swallowed hard. Looked away.
"Never mind," she said in defeat, her breath shaky. "There's no use bringing that up."
"You mean when I fucked you with my fingers?" he said.
"Like I said," she managed, forcing steel into her tone, "never mind. It's in the past."
"Is it?"
His next step erased the distance between them entirely.