An Unwanted Second Chance (JB Tirado) novel Chapter 65

Riley could feel Kent’s turmoil throughout the evening, even when she tried to Ignore him completely. She

tried having dinner with Leo and Wesley, but her splitting headache dampened her appetite. She tried resting

in her bed, but Kent’s misery was constant. Finally she gave up, venturing down the hall to knock on his

bedroom door. He opened it, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at her, the smell of whiskey strong.

“You’re a mess,” she said, frowning as she pushed past him into his room.

“What do you want?” he asked quietly, shutting the door.

She walked over and sat on his couch. There was a half–full tumbler on the coffee table in front of her. Kent

leaned against the closed door, shoving the hand of his good arm into his pocket.

“Should you be drinking while you’re still recovering?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I don’t really give a f**k right now,” he muttered. “Why are you here?”

“To check on you.”

He scoffed. “I don’t need you to check on me. I don’t need you at all.”

That stung, but she tried to keep her face blank as she looked at him. He wasn’t looking at her though. He

closed his eyes as he leaned his head back against the door.

“Talk to me, Kent,” she said gently. “What’s bothering you?”

“Everything.” He sighed heavily, keeping his eyes closed. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“In your room?”

“No, in my pack. Here at this pack. I should have never requested you. I should have never asked for Council

intervention at all.” His words slurred slightly, his eyes still shut. “If I hadn’t asked for the help, if I hadn’t

insisted on the f*****g best for my pack, I wouldn’t have to deal with you now.”

She bit her lip hard and looked at the tumbler on the table, trying to focus on the way the amber color almost

matched the color of the wood on the table, instead of feeling the way that his words cut her.

Part of her wasn’t surprised though. Part of her had been waiting for Kent to turn out just like Paul, using his

words to tear her down at every opportunity. Paul used to tell her all the time what a mistake meeting her

was, how having a mate felt more like a curse than a blessing. His words echoed in her head.

“Stop feeling like that!” Kent snapped, putting his good hand over his eyes.

“Kent,” she said softly, “could you look at me?”

“No,” he said tersely as he finally moved away from the door. He opened his eyes but kept his face turned

away from her. He sat on the edge of his bed, squeezing the bridge of his nose and rubbing his eyes with his

good hand.

She stood up, walking over to him. He kept his gaze fixed on the floor as she approached him, chewing her lip.

“Look at me,” she said again./

Finally his eyes flickered to hers and she saw what he was hiding, what she suspected. His eyes were

Chapter 65

bloodshot and glistening. He was clearly a breath away from crying. She sighed, reaching out to cup his

cheek.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

He closed his eyes, leaning his head into her hand. He reached out with his good arm and grabbed her hips to

pull her in between his legs so he could rest his head on her shoulder. She carefully wrapped her arms

around his shoulders, being cautious around his injuries. He wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her

closer as he took a deep, shuddering breath.

“Why do you have to smell so good?” he murmured into her shoulder before turning his head to kiss her neck

softly.

She smiled slightly and pulled his head back to look into his eyes. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Everything is wrong,” he whispered, his eyes earnest. “I’ve made so many mistakes that I can’t find my way. out of this mess. I’ve gotten my pack into trouble. I’ve lost far too many warriors, both mine and warriors from my allies. My best friend is going to lose his child.”

He paused, taking a deep breath, looking at the ceiling before continuing. “And then there’s you. You’re going to lose your job because of me. You don’t trust me, which is my own fault for not being honest with you. You’re sick all the time so now you have to be stuck around me even when you’re pissed at me.”

She frowned, opening her mouth to talk but he quickly put the tips of his fingers against her lips.

“If you hadn’t come here,” he said, “if I hadn’t asked for the best advisor, you wouldn’t be in this position. It would have been better to have never found you instead of feeling like I’m just messing up your life.”

She pulled his hand away from her mouth. “You’re not messing up my life.”

“You’re losing your job because of me,” he exclaimed. “You’re losing everything you worked so hard for just because we’re mates. That isn’t fair to you. I should have never asked for you to be here. This is all my fault.”

She put her own fingers over his mouth. “Will you stop talking and listen?” He nodded, his eyes bright. “I’m glad I came here. I don’t regret being here. There is a lot in this situation that isn’t your fault and that isn’t my fault. It’s just happening and we can’t control that. It’s not your fault that we’re mates. My being here isn’t your fault. It was just fate.”

“Do you really believe that?” he asked, his breath hot against her fingers.

“I do,” she replied, as he ran his hand up her back. She slid her fingers from his lips, cupping his chin, feeling his stubble scrape her hand. “Now things would probably have been a lot easier if we had just been honest

with one another from the start.”

“Absolutely,” he murmured.

“But we can’t change any of that now. We just need to focus on doing what’s best for everyone moving

forward.”

He stared in her eyes for a moment. “What’s best for you right now, Riley?”

“You,” she whispered, leaning forward to press her forehead against his.

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier,” he whispered back. “When you first came in, I said I wished you hadn’t come. That’s not true. I’m just so scared of losing you.”

Chapter 65

“I’m not going anywhere,” she murmured. She leaned forward, pressing her lips gently against his in a soft kiss. When the kiss ended, he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her mouth back to his and kissing her with hunger. She felt heat rush through her body as she leaned into him, gripping his good shoulder hard. She pushed her tongue against his lips and he opened his mouth. She could taste the whiskey

still on his tongue.

He groaned softly before pulling back with a shudder, pressing his forehead to hers again. “We need to slow down,” he whispered. “I’m not supposed to do anything strenuous and I’m not going to be able to stop in a minute if we keep going.”

She smiled. “That’s a shame.” She kissed him again, biting his bottom lip as the kiss ended.

“Goddess,” he moaned softly, “you are trying to kill me now.”

She laughed. “I’ll stop.”

“Lay down with me,” he said as she straightened a little in his embrace.

She raised an eyebrow and he held his good hand up in the air.

“I’m not suggesting we do anything,” he said with a smirk. “Just lay down with me, please. I just want to hold

you.”

She sighed, smiling and he smiled back. He climbed into the bed as she kicked off her shoes. He laid back in the pillows and she snuggled against his good side, resting her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightly against him.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he said softly, stroking her hair.

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