Free Perfect Mate (Book Two: A Werewolf BBW Shifter Romance) by Aubrey Rose Page A

the last of the stitches tight and Damien winced.
    “There, was that so bad?”
    “Horrible,” Damien said, unclenching his jaw. “How is the rest of the pack?”
    “They’re all recuperating downstairs.” Jordan put the suturing tools back into his bag and snapped the clasp shut. “I think Kyle is trying to convince Katherine that part of his recovery requires sexual therapy.”
    “I didn’t think Kyle was hurt in the fight,” Damien said, lifting his arm so that Jordan could finish bandaging up his ribcage.
    “He wasn’t.”
    Damien chuckled. A knock came on the door.
    “Go away, we’re busy making pups!” Jordan called.
    The door opened slightly and Kyle eased himself inside, the scent of guilt on him. Damien’s smile quickly faded.
    “Can I talk with you, sir?” Kyle asked. His voice was quiet, contrite.
    “Yes,” Damien said.
    “I just need to finish bandaging this up,” Jordan said apologetically.
    “It’s alright,” Damien said. “You can stay. This won’t take long.”
    Kyle entered the room and stood in front of the bed. His breaths were shallow.
    “Sir, I—”
    Damien held up his hand.
    “Before you start to explain, I know that you are on my side. You and Katherine both. But there are a lot of questions that need answers. The pack needs answers.”
    Damien tried not to wince as Jordan tightened a bandage on his side. Kyle shifted his weight on his feet.
    “I betrayed you, sir.”
    Damien waited. After a moment, Kyle continued.
    “I lied. I—I betrayed the pack. But Katherine had nothing to do with it. Please. Even if you exile me, don’t force her out.”
    Damien raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think she could let you leave without coming with you.”
    Kyle exhaled, a long, deep sigh. A crack of guilt worked its way into his voice.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I thought I could fight them off before they got to Julia.”
    “Your old pack? The ones you told about Julia?” A growl came into Damien’s throat.
    “I contacted them before I ever knew she was your mate!” he said. “I thought she was just a shifter.”
    “One you could throw to the wolves?” Damien snapped. Kyle choked on his words, and Damien waited for him to calm down before going on. “Kyle, that doesn’t sound like you.”
    “I didn’t know what they were planning to do! I thought they just wanted her to join the pack,” he said.
    “Why would she want to join a pack like that? Why would you ?”
    “When I was a pup…I don’t know, it seemed different,” Kyle said, speaking quickly. “It seemed more like a game. And the wolves were so strong, and I—I was so weak. I wanted to be like them. And then my leg got more twisted, and I knew I couldn’t stay, but…but I always wanted to go back.”
    He sounded so young, and Damien could hear the pain in his voice.
    “I’ll do anything to make it right. And if you tell me to go, I’ll go. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
    Jordan stood silently and began to gather the rest of his medical equipment. That was what good friends did; they talked when you needed it, and stayed out of the way when you needed it. Damien lay quietly, thinking. On a gut level, he’d wanted to throw Kyle out of the pack the instant he read the letter. The kid was right. He had betrayed the pack. And when Damien thought of what might have happened to Julia, his blood ran cold through his body.
    And yet…he sensed that Kyle had matured after seeing Julia and the pack being threatened. There was no longer the brash certainty that he’d come with when Damien had first met him. While it was certain he had a long way to go, Damien thought that he could be trusted. At the very least, given another chance. Damien hated to think of the kid out on his own, with no pack to look after him.
    “You can stay in the pack,” Damien said flatly. “But if you ever lie to me again, you’re gone.”
    Kyle swallowed hard.
    “Thank you. I can’t—I…Thank you so much.”
    “Can you