CHASED BY MY REJECTED MATE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

TYLER

I was shocked when Kat suddenly leaned over and kissed me.

My entire body froze and my eyes widened.

It wasn’t a soft or hesitant kiss. It was full, warm, and deep. For a second, I didn’t even know how to react.

But then… I kissed her back. My heart thumped inside my chest like it had been woken up from a long sleep.

I leaned closer, pressing my lips to hers, not caring about anything else in the world.

For four long years, I had felt nothing but pain and emptiness. But now, in this very moment, with her lips on mine, I felt alive again. Truly alive.

I felt like I could breathe again.

Her kiss reminded me of everything I had missed. Her scent, her warmth, her fire. My beautiful Kathrine. My mate. My everything.

But just when I was starting to get lost in the kiss, she pulled away.

And just like that, the warmth left my lips.

The electrifying feeling that had filled my body disappeared instantly, replaced with cold and emptiness all over again.

Kat looked at me, and for a moment, I saw it. I swear I saw it.

That love. That affection. That fire in her eyes that only she had for me. I saw it again.

I saw the way her gaze softened like she didn’t want to pull away either.

It tore at something inside me. Something deep. Something raw and it renewed my zeal to get her back.

I didn’t want this to end. Not again. Not when I had just found her.

But also did this kiss mean she wanted me back? I began to feel hopeful so I asked here just to be sure.

My voice came out rough and low. “Does this mean… you’re coming back to me? Does this mean you have forgiven me?

Her lips trembled slightly. I could see she was battling something inside. But then she shook her head slowly.

“No,” she said, her voice quiet and soft. “It was a goodbye kiss.”

A goodbye kiss? Those words echoed in my head over and over again.

My throat tightened. I blinked, trying to make sure I heard her right. “What?”

She took a deep breath as though it hurt her to say the next words. “We need to forget about each other and move on with our lives.”

Forget? Forget what we had?

How was I supposed to forget the way she used to smile at me when I brushed her hair behind her ear?

How was I supposed to forget how I sneak glances at her whenever she laughed like a little girl?

How was I supposed to forget how she used to fall asleep in my arms?

No. I couldn’t.

“Kat…” I whispered, feeling a lump grow in my throat. “Do you still love me?”

She paused.

That tiny moment of silence filled the car with more noise than any scream could.

I watched her every move. I watched how her fingers slightly clenched on her lap, how her eyes looked down, how she bit her lip like the truth was fighting its way out.

But then she shook her head again making me sigh and curse under my breath.

“No. I don’t love you anymore. I’ve been over you for years now.” She answered with so much difficulty.

I just stared at her knowing that she was lying. I knew Kathrine. I knew when she wasn’t being honest and it hurt me that I couldn't tell she was being honest when she told me that she didn't cheat on me back then.

“You’re lying,” I said, my voice still soft but full of certainty. “You’re not over me. And we both know it.”

Her jaw clenched and her shoulders straightened a little like she was putting her armor back on.

But it was too late. I already saw through the cracks. I wondered why she was trying so hard when she could already see that I didn't believe her.

“What makes you so sure?” she asked, trying to sound strong.

“I see it in your eyes, Kat,” I replied immediately. “The way you just looked at me… That isn’t nothing. That isn’t the way someone who’s moved on from her lover looks at him.”

I leaned a little closer, and my voice trembled slightly at that moment. “The way you kissed me… You felt it too. I know you did. You felt that spark. That fire. That connection. Don’t tell me it meant nothing to you. Don’t lie to me or to yourself.”

Her mouth opened but no words came out. Her breathing changed. It became deeper and slower.

Her silence was enough for me.

“Please,” I whispered. “Forgive me. Come back to Dreadwood with me. Come home, Kat. We can be a family again. You, me, and our son, Rex.”

Her eyes were filled with tears now, and I could feel my own eyes sting too. Seeing her cry broke something in me.

I wanted to pull her in again and promise I’d never let go.

“I swear I’ll protect you both,” I said, my voice cracking. “I’ll find out who framed you, Kat. I’ll make them pay for what they did to us. I’ll make sure no one ever hurts you or tries to come between us ever again.”

She turned her face away from me, but I still saw the tears sliding down her cheeks. My chest ached.

“Don’t marry Julian,” I said, my voice lower now, almost begging. “Please, don’t do it. He’s not me. He’s not your mate. You don’t love him.”

That’s when she turned to me again, and this time, she placed her hands on my face. Her soft palms cupped my cheeks gently.

Her thumbs brushed lightly against my skin like they used to whenever we wanted to make love.

My heart began to beat faster.

That small touch did more to me than anything in years.

And in that moment, I had hope. Real, honest hope.

That maybe… Just maybe… She would say yes.

That maybe she would finally agree to go back home with me.

But then… something happened.