19 Chapter 19: Quiet Wolf

Tate stood up and turned around, his shoulders tense and his jaw clenched. Suddenly the room felt small to him.

What the hell was he doing? That night was best left buried where it was, in the past. Why was he bringing it up now? In the kitchen, for God's sake!

He exhaled. His own scent advertised his frustration. He ran his fingers over the top of his head.

He cut his hair short nowadays, but there were times he missed the old length of it.

He should leave as quickly as possible. Just walk away, man. But she looked so damn good. And after what he had just seen, he needed to be near something good, and warm, and alive. Cat was all those things. And more.

He took a deep breath and under the regular kitchen smells he got a whiff of her. She was feeling something in that moment, concern, sympathy maybe.

He lowered his head. He didn't deserve it. Not after the day he had had.