Lexie slamming my head into the ground repeatedly during training must have done more damage than I thought. I must have gotten a concussion and it's affected my hearing. That's the only explanation I have for what I just heard come out of Killian's mouth.

"There's a lot you still don't know and I promise I'll explain everything soon, but please, just lay off right now. Lexie is going through a hard time and you're just rubbing salt in the wound by antagonizing her."

There's a desperation in his eyes as he pleads with me and suddenly it all clicks.

"What's your relationship with her?" I narrow my eyes at him.

"W-what?"

I smirk at his response. Killian never stutters, he always knows exactly what to say, and I know I've hit the mark.

"Lexie. You two are together, aren't you? No wonder she hates me," I mumble the last part to myself, but I know he hears it.

Running a frustrated hand through his hair, he says, "Look, it's complicated."

"I have time."

"Lexie and I... we had a thing, but I ended it when you showed up. That's what you walked in on the other day."

"Did you tell her we're mates?"

"No, I haven't told anyone. I didn't think you wanted anyone to know, but she's suspicious. But it didn't mean anything with her."

I bark out a laugh, trying to conceal the bitterness behind it.

"What aren't you telling me?" I ask dryly.

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, obviously struggling with what he's about to say next.

"Spit it out already," I mutter impatiently.

"I was going to mate Lexie," he says impishly, slowly, letting the full weight of his words fall down on me.

Blood rushes to my ears and I try to contain the absolute rage I feel coursing through me. I shouldn't even feel this way anyways. I didn't want a mate, I told him as much. So why am I so goddamn angry right now?

"So do it," I try to feign indifference despite my heart trying to beat it's way out of my chest.

"Excuse me?" He growls, shocked and angry at my nonchalance.

He gets up to stand in front of me, so close that his breath caresses my face.

"You know I'm not ready for a mate. It obviously meant more than you're willing to let on if you wanted to mate her. You clearly have a thing for her, so please, don't stop on my account," there's venom in each of my words, I can't even pretend to hold back my anger now.

I shouldn't have gone on those runs with him, shouldn't have let myself want his approval or attention even for a second. It's just made our bond stronger and made my mission here that much harder.

"You're so fucking stubborn!" He shouts. "I told you I went looking for you for years. I gave up finding a mate, I never expected you to just fall into my lap like this! Why won't you just accept what we are?"

"Because you'll make me weak!" I scream back at him, pounding my fists into his chest.

His only response is to grip my still damp hair and pull my face up to meet his. His lips crash down onto mine, rough and needy, and I find myself kissing him back with equal fervor.

My senses are completely overwhelmed by him- that scent that is so uniquely and intoxicatingly him, his grasp on my hip that sends constant waves of tingles up and down my body, the taste of his mouth on mine- but even as I get lightheaded, I can't bring myself to pull away.

"See, I told you they'd be all over each other," a familiar voice murmurs at the door.

"Yeah, I just thought they'd take a little longer to warm up to each other," another one replies.

"You owe me twenty bucks."

Killian and I pull apart instantly, like we'd been shocked, and I can feel my face heat up at being caught. Patrick leans up against the doorway with Marcus right behind him, both of them grinning from ear to ear.

I take a few steps back from Killian and try to control my breathing, noticing Marcus slip Patrick a twenty dollar bill as I do.

"What do you two idiots want?" Killian sighs, glaring at them both.

"Well, Marcus here needed to speak to you about some pack business and I wanted to see if Rey wanted to go on a walk with me, but it's obvious you two are busy, so-"

"I'll go with you," I interrupt.

"What? No, I don't want you two wandering off by yourselves," Killian looks angry again at the thought, which only fuels my anger.

"I'm not a child, you don't get a say! Besides, if you can't trust your beta, who can you trust?" I snap.

"Fine. But you and I need to finish our conversation when you get back."

"I don't know about you, but I don't think there was much conversing going on here," Patrick stage whispers.

I move to smack him playfully on the arm, but he grabs my hand before I can make contact, so I stick my tongue out at him and he returns the gesture. Killian narrows his eyes at the interaction, but I pull Patrick out the door before he can say something.

I'll be damned if we have that conversation again.