Pacific Northwest Werebears(104)

Every time she was near him, she prayed he’d just accept the fates. Be happy, be with her.

Conner cupped her face in his hands. Goddamn, she was beautiful, he thought.

Slowly he leaned down, giving her every opportunity to deny him what he was seeking, he placed his lips on hers. Kenzi sucked in her breath, opening her mouth, giving Conner the chance to sweep his tongue over her lips. Kenzi let him in, tasting him back, her tongue battling his. Their dancing was non-existent now as they were standing on the dance floor just seeking each other out.

Mackenzie let herself slip into it, maybe this was it, maybe he could try this. Cage had told her he was spending more time shifted. Maybe his bear had convinced him that they were meant to be.

Breaking off the kiss, Conner used his thumb to rub over Kenzi’s swollen bottom lip. He looked so conflicted. Kenzi couldn’t help herself when she blurted out, “I love you, Conner.”

She watched as what she said registered on his face. His hands still cupping her jaw tightened for a second. Then he dropped his head to hers, his eyes closed, and said, “I can’t.”

Mackenzie stood frozen and he turned away from her and walked off the floor and into the woods.

She left that night for California.





Chapter 15




“I don’t want to hear anything from you! In fact, it would be best if I don’t even see your fucking face!”

This was the roar coming from Dax when Conner walked into the office two weeks after the wedding. Mackenzie had left and Conner hadn’t heard anything from her. His family hadn’t given him any updates either.

When he’d walked off that dance floor, he briefly stopped by Cage’s truck and stripped out of his tux, leaving it inside for Wyatt to take care of.

Then he spent the next three days in the woods. His bear and he were feeling more in sync. By in sync, meaning they were both miserable. Conner felt like he was finally figuring out that being a shifter was an advantage. Not the burden he’d always thought it was. His bear was showing him that their connection was soul deep. Conner had spent days with his consciousness in the forefront, but still shifted as his bear. Then there were times that he’d fall back and, well, let bear be bear. It was good. It was finally feeling right.

During these revelations, Conner gave himself a chance to think of the, what if. What if he’d said ‘I love you’ back to Mackenzie? How would his night have ended? How would his life have started?

Instead, he was standing in the camp office with a seething Dax in front of him. Conner took in the elongated teeth, glowing eyes, and couldn’t miss the razor sharp claws that Dax was sporting.

“Look, I understand,” Conner started.

“No! You have no idea! I don’t know what the fuck went down at the wedding. She won’t tell me anything. I just know that my sister is suffering and it’s your fault,” Dax yelled.

Conner put his hands up in a placating gesture when Dax had started in, but dropped them when those words slashed through him.

Leaning back against the wall across from Dax, Conner slid to the floor until he was sitting on his ass. He ran his hand through his hair and said, “You’re right.”

Dax looked at him to see if he was going to pull some bullshit about how tough life was. But was surprised when Conner admitted, “It’s all me. I broke her heart. I hurt her and I’m still hurting her.”

Letting his claws retract, he put his hands on his hips and looked over to Cage who’d been quietly sitting through the exchange. He didn’t plan on interfering; his little brother needed his ass kicked. Dax needed to do the kicking since it was his sister in question.

Cage gave Dax a shrug. They’d already come to an understanding where Conner was concerned. This was a Hayes family fight and Conner had to take whatever Dax wanted to dish out.

Sighing, Dax took a seat in front of the desk. Crossing his arms over his chest he asked, “Are you going to do anything about it? End her suffering?”

Rubbing his hands over his face, Conner thought about just going to her. Telling her he loved her. Because he did. From the very depths of his soul he couldn’t deny any longer she was The One. And no matter if he deserved her or not, or if she could do better than him, there must be a reason the fates matched them together. Maybe it was because he was a complete fuck-up and she was willing to love him in spite of that? Whatever it was, he wanted her pain to stop.

“Do you think she’ll talk to me,” he asked Dax quietly.

“I don’t know. How many chances has she given you?”

Snorting, Conner admitted, “Too many.”

“Well, I’m guessing there needs to be some serious groveling. A bunch of begging and a grand gesture probably wouldn’t be asking too much,” Dax suggested.