As they neared the edge of the forest, Hollie asked Kyle to put her down. She wanted to walk on her own, and if necessary, run away as fast as she could on her own two feet.
She had to be on her guard at all times. Nobody was her friend.
Maybe Kyle had an ulterior motive for saving her…
Hollie gulped and touched her neck. He had bitten her without her consent. That was wrong, yet it felt...right.
Hollie winced and shook her head. She was not thinking straight. Stay alert, and don’t let your hormones get the better of you! she warned herself.
Kyle was handsome, strong and protective, but...she shouldn’t drop her guard and her panties for him just because he had saved her.
Hollie sucked in a sharp breath, mortified at her own lustful thoughts. Why was she even thinking of dropping her panties? She was really going out of her goddamn mind!
When she stumbled, Kyle held her arm to steady her. His touch was electrifying, and all her nerve endings ignited and sizzled at his touch. She felt the heat bloom in her core and jerked back, embarrassed and shocked at her sudden arousal.
Kyle watched her, his piercing blue eyes glowing faintly in the dark. His nostrils flared and Hollie suspected that he could scent the moisture between her legs.
Blushing, she cleared her throat and looked around. “Where are we going?”
From the route that Kyle had taken through the forest, Hollie knew that they had moved quite a distance away from the territory of the Black Blade pack. The pack house was at the other end of the woods. It was unlikely that they would run into any of her pack mates here.
Unless they were hunting her down.
A strangled sound of distress bubbled from her throat. Kyle immediately reached out and took her hand.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “You’re safe with me. I won’t let anyone hurt you. The Black Blade pack won’t get past me. I promise you, Hollie. I will protect you with my life.”
She managed a small, grateful smile. “I...thank you, Kyle. You saved my life tonight.” She swallowed and went on, “You risked your life for me, and you’ve made yourself an enemy of the Black Blade pack. I don’t want to drag you down with me. We should part ways here. I...”
“Do you have any friends in town?” Kyle asked, looking intently at her. “People you trust?”
“I trust no one,” she blurted out.
Kyle frowned but didn’t reply.
“I wasn’t allowed to make friends outside the pack so I have no friends in town,” Hollie explained. “But...I’ll find a way,” she said resolutely. “I can fend for myself.”
“Hollie,” Kyle said quietly. “I’m going to ask you to trust me. I know I’m asking a lot from you. But...I promise that I will keep you safe. I saved your life, so in a way, I’m responsible for you. You have nowhere to go, so stay with me. The safest place for you right now is by my side, in my house.”
She opened her mouth but before she could get a word out, Kyle continued with a wry smile, “I’m not asking you to sleep with me. I have a spare bedroom. You’ll have your own room and you can lock the door. You’ll be safe with me.” After a pause, he made a face and added, “From me.”
“No, no, it’s not that,” she said quickly. “I’m not trying to run from you, Kyle. I really don’t mean...”
“I won’t do anything to you without your consent, Hollie,” Kyle hastened to explain. “I gave you my mate mark just to assert my mate claim over you against your pack. I will never touch you without your consent, Hollie. I’m not a monster.” He suppressed a growl. “Jasper is your Beta. Unless I’m your Alpha or your mate, I won’t be able to...”
“I understand,” Hollie answered. “I know why you did what you did. I...I’m very grateful. I really don’t know how I’d ever be able to repay you...”
“I don’t want any repayment. And I don’t want your gratitude,” he said gruffly.
“Everyone wants something,” she mumbled. “Everyone looks out for himself.”
“Hollie...” Kyle exhaled a long breath. “That may be the case with the members of the Black Blade pack. But I assure you, true friendship and loyalty do exist. There are good people around, people you would be proud to call your friends and brothers.”
He must have seen the skepticism and apprehension in her eyes when she looked up at him. His expression softened and he broke into an easy smile. “You’ll get to meet them real soon. These...brothers of mine...”
“You have brothers? Do they live with you?” she asked with an audible gulp.
“No they don’t,” Kyle said, his smile broadening. “Shane and Ian aren’t related to me by blood. They’re my best friends and business partners. The three of us own and run The Maverick Mechanics together. They can be a real pain in the ass sometimes,” he mock grumbled. “But...they’re my brothers.”
Hollie smiled. She saw how Kyle’s face lit up when he talked about his two best friends, and she felt a twinge of envy. She didn’t have a single friend in the pack, or outside the pack. She looked at Kyle and a sudden thought struck her.
“What?” Kyle asked, squinting at her.
“Huh?” Hollie blinked.
“You’re giving me a rather strange look,” Kyle said.
Embarrassed, she looked down. “I just realized...” With a shy laugh, she said, “I made a friend tonight. You’re my very first friend, Kyle.”