“Really?” Katy asked. “Not once did you second-guess yourself?”
Kye took a deep breath and his grip tightened on Michaela ever so slightly, pulling her closer. “Really,” he said, his voice sounding a bit strained. “And why would I regret being with Michaela?”
Katy snorted. “Come on, with your looks? No offense to Michaela, but you could get someone prettier with a snap of your fingers.”
Kye’s head whipped around in Katy’s direction. From the deep scowl on his face, there was no missing the fact he had taken offense to what the other woman had said. “Just because you say you didn’t mean any offense to my wife doesn’t mean what you said will be excused.”
Katy was saved from answering as the waitress showed up with their food. But Michaela saw the shocked expression her nemesis wore. She bet no one had talked to Katy like that in a long time, if ever. Kye had definitely brought her down a peg or two with his comment.
Even though some of the company wasn’t her choosing, Michaela enjoyed her meal. And when Kye fed her from his fork, she saw Katy give them a look of disgust.
It was after they had finished eating, but the dishes had yet to be taken away, did Kye stand and say he wanted to use the restroom. The uncomfortable feeling that washed through her at the thought of being left alone with Katy vanished as the other woman stood after Kye had gone and excused herself for the same reason. Michaela breathed a silent sigh of relief. She and Kye could ditch Katy soon and spend the rest of the night enjoying each other’s company.
After washing his hands, Kye turned off the water in the sink. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror on the wall in front of him. He didn’t see the telltale sign of the arousal coursing through him. He hated leaving Michaela alone with Katy, but he’d needed to use the toilet and put some space between them to get a better grip on his control. Sitting close to her, totally focusing on her alone, confessing his true feelings— even though she probably thought he’d put on a show for their dinner companion—had gotten him all worked up. But at least, the meal was over and he could get away from the self-centered woman and take his soon-to-be mate home.
Michaela had been right about Katy being a bitch. He’d never wanted to slap a female as much as he did her, especially after her rude comment about Michaela. She had some nerve to say he’d basically settled for his mate. As if he’d ever want Katy instead. She wasn’t ugly, by any means, but her personality made her less attractive. At least, for him it did. His Michaela was just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. He didn’t think she’d ever say something spiteful to anyone.
After he dried his hands, Kye headed out of the restroom and exited into a short hallway, which was hidden from the main part of the restaurant by a short stretch of wall. Much to his disgust, Katy stood close to the doorway, looking for all the world as if she waited for him.
“I’m glad I caught you alone,” she said.
“Why?” The word came out sounding clipped.
She took a step nearer, giving him what she probably thought was a sultry smile. It did nothing for Kye. If anything, it annoyed the hell out of him.
“Without Michaela around, you can talk more freely. Say how you truly feel without having to worry about the consequences.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Katy came even closer. “There’s no need to play stupid, Kye. It’s just the two of us. I know the things you said about being so in love with Michaela were just for her benefit. She’s a nobody and will always be one. She’s not even that pretty.” Her hand dropped and cupped his cock. Katy licked her lips and smiled. “I know you’re attracted to me. You’re hard.” She moaned. “I’m going to enjoy riding you.”
Completely pissed off, Kye put his hand around her wrist and squeezed, painfully. He also let the anger he felt show in his eyes. The widening of hers told him his mutedly glowed. With a borderline growl lacing his words, he said, “You’ll take your hand off me unless you want it broken.” She released his dick, but he didn’t let go of her wrist. “Just to set things straight, I wouldn’t want you if you were the last woman on Earth. Now you’re going to go back to the table and apologize to my wife for insulting her. I also suggest you leave, never to see Michaela again.”
Kye released her with a shove. Katy stood there, her mouth working as if she tried to say something. To get her moving, he snarled his upper lip and growled softly. With a squeak, she turned and hurried away.
“Now that’s what I call putting a woman in her place,” a man’s voice said from the entrance of the hallway.
Kye looked in that direction and stiffened at the sight of Miles standing there. “What do you want?”
Miles stepped farther into the hall. “I’m not following you, if that’s what you think. I’m here with friends. I happened to need to use the restroom, and here you are.”
“Friends? I didn’t think you had any of those, unless you count all the lone wolves you’ve recruited to your side.”
Miles’ eyes glowed for a split second with anger. “Those days are done. I no longer associate with the likes of them.”
“So you expect me to believe that since finding out your daughter is the foretold one, you’ve turned over a completely new leaf? That one day you won’t up and change your mind about wanting to rule the packs yourself, through Jaden?”
“I have, and I would never do anything like that to her. She’s my flesh and blood.”
“So is Saskia, your own sister, and that didn’t stop you from sending one of your thugs to kill her mate. Eli barely survived.”
Kye just stopped himself from saying that only Eli being turned into a werewolf had saved his life. As far as Miles knew, it wasn’t possible. He had no idea there was a spell only Roxie could use that would change a mortal into one of their kind, since she was the true foretold one.
Miles sighed deeply. “I’ve come to regret that decision. I’ve apologized, even though it doesn’t make up for it. But believe me, those days are behind me. I want to be a better man for my daughter. I want to keep her safe just as much as all of you do. I know you won’t accept me back into the ranks of the Protectors, but I’m willing to take whatever you allow me.”
“Does this newfound sense of duty extend to Saskia? And to Jaden’s unborn child?”
“What?” Miles asked, a shocked expression on his face. “Jaden is pregnant?”
Oh shit. Leif and Jaden obviously hadn’t yet told Miles about their good news. Hopefully, Leif wouldn’t want to kill him for telling his father-in-law about the baby. It didn’t matter, anyway, since Kye couldn’t take it back.
“Ah, yeah, she is,” he said. “We just found out.”
A wide smile broke across Miles’ face, then he hugged Kye, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. Kye had never taken Miles for the type to put on outward displays of emotion like that.
Miles released him. “I’m going to be a grandfather,” he said exuberantly. “I have to call Jaden.”
With another glowing smile, Miles turned on his heel and walked away. Kye hoped to hell he hadn’t messed things up for Jaden and Leif. Taking a big breath, he returned to his table.
Michaela sat there alone with Katy nowhere in sight. She smiled. “There you are. I wondered if everything were all right, especially after Katy came back from the restroom, mumbled an apology and almost ran out of here.”
“Sorry,” he said as he sat next to Michaela. “I was held up by a couple of people.” At that moment, Miles walked by the table with his cell phone held to his ear and gave him the thumbs-up sign.