Chapter 16

Kenzie Hope

Nothing, no words could describe how I felt when I saw him. The first thing I saw was his eyes- those gorgeous green eyes. They felt like the sun and I was the grass after a harsh winter, now it was spring and those lovely green eyes brought life back to the forest. They warmed my soul in a way that only he can. They reminded me of that churning, passionate green that the ocean turns during a storm. They had flecks of the sun in them as he stared me down.

Under his eyes were bags and if I didn't know better, I would think that he had two black eyes. His eyebrows were set in wrinkles and his lips were quivering. That black hair of his was ruffled and greasy, sticking up in unusual ways. He looked smaller than he did when I left him, it was like he hadn't been eating.

"Why did you attack us," Jordan growled at him, but made no attempt to attack. It was silent as he didn't answer.

"Why?" Jordan asked again with more power in his voice.

"I'm here for her," He said, his voice coarse like a fragmented rock in hessian sack, moving and grinding against each other, somehow it complimented his ruddy complexion and raised veins. He wiped black hair from eyes as green as the trees and fixes us in a soft gaze.

"McKenna?" He said my name with raw emotion.

"Z? Who is this guy?" Carter asked, getting in a protective stance. He stood to the left of me, slightly in front in case he needed to protect me. Carter was all about protecting the ones he loved.

I didn't answer his question and Harrison repeated it, putting himself in the same position as Carter of my right hand side. I was now locked in my the two boys and I could barely see Kaden through them. Although, I could see his raggedy breaths, uneven and lost.

"Z, honey?" Dylan asked, standing right in front of me and putting his arms on my shoulders. He blocked my view of Kaden with his beach blonde hair and brown eyes, but I knew he meant well.

"He's-" I started, but it was cut off by Dylan flying out of my sight. Instantly, I ducked down, not wanting to be hit by the force, but I stood up again when I realized it was Kaden. He was standing in front of me now, his eyes black from anger and breathing more ragged than Mt. Everest.

To be honest, I didn't want to deal with him, so I ran towards Dylan, who was standing up after being knocked back to suddenly. Dylan wrapped his arms around me in a protective manner and I began to cry into his shirt.

Kaden was back. He was probably going to take me back with him or kill me because I knew he wasn't faithful to his mate. It was then that it dawned on me that I am reliving the story of Jordan and I's grandparents. In the story, it does not end well for me.

I bawled up my hands in Dylan's shirt and cried harder. He squeezed me tighter and whispered that it would be okay. Meanwhile, Harrison, Carter, and a few other straggler rouges held Kaden down while Jordan yelled at him. By breathing was irregular and I couldn't find the strength to calm myself down as I felt myself slip into a panic attack.

I felt myself being lowered to the ground as Dylan sat behind me and wrapped his body around mine. He then turned us around so that I couldn't see what was happening and began rocking back and forth. He whispered that I would be okay.

After what seemed like forever, Jordan came and crouched down in front of me. He pushed a hair behind my ear and looked at me with sorrow filled eyes.

"Hey, sweetheart," He said, earning him a growl from Kaden. Jordan continued to talk to me until I felt calm enough to begin breathing properly. Jordan picked me up and sat us both on the love seat. Dylan came and sat next to us to so that I was sandwiched between them. I laid my head on Jordan's shoulder and Dylan rubbed up and down my arm.

"You okay, honey?" Dylan asked.

"Yeah," I replied, sniffling up tears.

"Who is this guy, Z?" He asked sweetly, not wanting to hurt me.

"He's her mate," Brady snapped as he walked into the room. He glared at Kaden as he passed and crouched down in front on me. "Hey, Sissy."

"Hey, are you okay?" I cried.

"I'm perfectly okay," He said ruffling my hair before sitting down in front of me. The couch wasn't big enough for all of us, but he curled up and let me hold him. He began telling everyone what happened between Kaden and I, something I was only able to tell him a few days ago. I appreciated him telling everyone, I could barely get through the story when I was telling him, there was no way I could tell it now with Kaden being here.

"He cheated," Jordan growled, his wolf coming out slightly. He went to stand up by I grasped his arm because I needed his support.

"McKenna," Kaden whispered, a tear falling down his face. My wolf howled and whined at the sight and I wanted to too. No matter how much he hurt me, he was my mate and I would always love him. I was beginning to understand why my grandmother killed herself; this hurt.

"Shut the fuck up," Carter growled, "You lost your right to speak."

Kaden ignored the demand and continued, "Love, love, this is a huge misunderstanding."

"Shut up," Carter growled again. I blinked and then suddenly Kaden was in front of me and with another blink had gathered me up in his arms. Sparks shot through various parts of my body as we made skin to skin contact. I missed the feeling.

He leaned his head into my neck and curled me up into him. When he kissed my neck and breathed my scent, it felt like everything was okay again. That was until I remembered what he did. I jumped out of his arms and pushed him back. I regretted that once his warmth let me.

"Go away, I don't want you here," I bawled, tears running freely down my face. His forest green eyes turned to that of a child's water-color painting, how in their haste to paint all the grass they add too much water to the green and it comes out that subdued shade. He bent down and grabbed both of my arms.

"If you don't want me here, then how come you're crying and wearing my shirt?" He asked. I looked down and sure enough, I was wearing his shirt tucked into some black jeans. Point Kaden. He laughed sadly and then looked into my eyes.

"Give me a chance to explain, love," He pleaded. I couldn't resist those sad puppy dog eyes of his. I felt myself nodding my head, despite the boys' yells. I sat down on the couch between Jordan and Dylan, again, while Kaden and Brady sat down in the chairs. Harrison and Carter stayed standing, in case of any funny business.

"Do you remember the day we met?" He asked with a sad smile.

"Of course, you idiot. Is that the day that you-?" I cut myself off.

"I didn't cheat," He insisted with tears in his eyes.

"Then what, Kaden?" I asked.

"It was inspection day, right? Do you remember what happened?"

"It was horrible, the worst inspection I ever had. They-" I stopped myself again. Replaying inspection day in my head I realized what happened.

Flashback:

"Let go of her, dude," The other man chuckled. The one that was holding me let go and spit at my feet. I lowered my head in fear and shame as they walked away.

The third man walked out of my room with a pair of my underwear in his hand and smirk at me. I shivered under his gaze and out of disgust. He grabbed the plate of cookies and walked out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him. I shivered again out of pure disgust.

"They what, love?" He inquired.

"They took my underwear."

"I smelt your intoxicating lavender scent on the warrior when he came into the pack house. I demanded he tell me everything and he did. I took your underwear from him and then went to find you, McKenna. It was your underwear. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," He explained.

I felt so dumb. Goddess, I was dumb. I just had no words for my actions.

"Z, we gotta talk," Dylan said grabbing my hand and pulling me up. Kaden growled at the action and Dylan gave him the 'really?' look.

"Calm down mutt," Carter mumbled under his breath. I shot Carter the same look Dylan gave Kaden. Both Kaden and Carter seemed to take a few deep breaths. Dylan led me into the other room and looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

"Come here, honey," He whispered and hugged me softly. I left a few tears drop before I let go of him and wiped my eyes.

"I'm so dumb, Dylan," I told him, my tears going down heavy now.

"No, no, you're not dumb. You went with your facts. That's all you can do. It's okay, Kenzie." He pulled me in for another hug. "Plus, if it hadn't worked out like this we would have never met. Isn't that so dumb?"

I laughed lightly at his attempt. "I could imagine a world without you guys," I whispered.

"What do you want to do?" He asked.

"I think I want to go home with him. He is my mate, after all. I don't want to leave you guys though," I cried.

He flattened my hair down and whispered in my ear, "Hey, it's okay. We don't live very far; we can visit all the time."

I held out my pinky, "Promise?"

"Promise," He said as he looped our little fingers together. "Want to go back out there?" I shrugged my shoulder in reply and he laughed then lead us back out there.

Dylan and I stood in front of everyone and he rubbed up and down my back as I told the group, "I think we're going to go with Kaden." They boys nodded their heads in understanding, but looked very depressed to say the least. "On the condition that they can visit me whenever and I can visit them."

My words caught Kaden's attention and he considered the options. On one hand, he had to take me home with him for his own sanity. On the other hand, letting rouges into the pack would be dangerous. Lucky for him, I made friends with nice rouges instead of the crazy ones.

"Fine," He agreed, "But I will kick them out if they disrupt the peace. They will also have to wait a while because I will have to inform everyone first."

I smiled. For the first time in a long time, I smiled.