Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Ayla I wiped the tears from my eyes as I held my side. The laughter hurt, but I couldn’t stop.

“You cheated,” Kingston said again. “There’s no way you could have figured that out.”

I gasped for air. “I told you it wasn’t the husband.”

“But the gun and tire treads...” Kingston said, looking through the list of clues again. “Everything leads back to the husband.”

“Sure, but it was the daughter,” I said with a shrug, taking a sip of my drink to calm my giggles.

“But that’s not possible,” he protested. “She was out of the country at the time of the murder. Her passport was stamped.”

“It was.” I leaned forward and picked up the stack of fake passports. “But so was her twin sister’s. Coming into the country the morning of and flying out of the country the morning after the murder. So, Alpha, why would someone with an airtight alibi fly into the country just to create another airtight alibi? And how did she get on foreign soil in the first place?”

Hooked at him expectantly.

“She used her sister’s passport to come back, murder her mother, set her father up for it, and leave the country again,” I said.

“Using her own to establish an alibi.”

Dividing into pages now |||

O r Chapter 27. Ayla Kingston looked at the paper that held the name of the murderer again. “Well, damn. I guess you win.”

“Without cheating, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I guess you didn’t cheat,” he conceded.

“Nope.”

1288 (Vouchers He sighed, leaning back into the couch cushions and throwing an arm over my shoulder.

“I admit defeat.” He pulled me against him. “I say we turn on a movie and forget this whole thing happened.”

He was teasing me.

“Oh no, there will be no forgetting,” I replied, laying my head on his shoulder.

He began to trail his hand lightly up and down my arm.

“Well, as long as you enjoyed yourself.” His tone was gentle, without any teasing.

“I did,” I replied, looking up at him.

He looked back at me, and our eyes locked for a moment. He leaned in and his mouth touched mine. I didn’t have time to stop him. I didn’t think I wanted to stop him. The touch was tentative but firm. His hand went to my face, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue grazing my lips.

I opened for him, meeting him happily. The hand I had resting on his chest moved up and around his neck, holding him to me. It felt good. He felt good.

Dividing into pages now O L Chapter 27: Ayla 288 Vouchers The pain in my chest had been gone for hours, thanks to Kingston’s proximity. I noticed he made an effort to maintain contact with me the whole evening. Just light touches. His leg resting against mine. An arm over the back of the couch, grazing my shoulders. Little things. But they were enough.

Along with the painkillers, I felt fantastic. It was the most pain–free I had been in weeks.

But it wasn’t just that.

Whenever he touched me, my stomach would flutter. And his kiss made my heart skip, followed by racing as he pulled me in tighter. His hand moved from my face and down my body.

I pulled away with a hiss. He had hit my sore ribs.

“Ayla, I’m sorry,” Kingston rushed. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t even intend for that kiss to happen. I know it’s too soon for you.”

“Kingston, it’s okay,” I assured him with a smile. “It’s fine, really. It really didn’t hurt that bad. It just hit suddenly, is all.”

He shook his head. “Still, I don’t want to pressure you, Ayla.”

I chuckled. “You didn’t. I wasn’t exactly pushing you away.”

Kingston smiled. “I was hoping that was intentional.” His expression became serious again. “I really do care about you, Ayla. I know you’re probably not ready to even think about being with anyone right now.”

“Everything is just so complicated,” I said quietly.

“I know,” Kingston urged. “I know. And I know my kissing you doesn’t make anything less complicated. But I guess I gave |||

O Chapter 27. Ayla away my intentions.”

18 288 Vouchers I met his eyes, not really knowing how to respond. He brushed my hair back from my face.

“I want you to be a member of my pack, Ayla. No matter what happens,” he insisted. “But I also want you. For me. I want to be with you.”

I held my breath. Many emotions were swirling through me, but excitement was pushing to the front.

“There’s no rush for any of that, Ayla. I have no expectations. I swear, you owe me nothing,” Kingston said. “But you should know that I plan to try.”

“I think I’m okay with that,” I said with a smile.

He smiled back. He leaned in and kissed me again. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I said.

He pulled me against him, just holding me for a while. I was so comfortable that I eventually started to fall asleep. I let my mind wander. I began to think about what Kingston meant and what that would mean for me. We didn’t have the intensity of the mate bond like I had with Theo. But with all the trouble that had caused me, I didn’t exactly think that was a bad thing. And sitting there in his arms, feeling no pain, taking comfort in his touch, I could imagine this being the rest of my life.

“It’s getting late,” Kingston whispered. “We should get you to bed.”

He helped me up and walked me to my room. He kissed me on Dividing into pages now |||

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Chapter 27: Ayla 288 Vouchers the forehead and said goodnight. I shut the door and hobbled to the dresser to get my pajamas. I got changed and pulled the blankets down on the bed. I heard Kingston puttering around in the kitchen.

I grabbed my crutches again and headed out of my room. I probably shouldn’t have done what I was about to do. I doubted he would, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask. I risked giving him the wrong impression, but I was willing to take that risk.

Kingston must have been getting a drink before going to bed himself. He was already in a pair of sweats and shirtless as he rinsed a glass in the sink. He turned to me when he heard me approach.

Goddess, he was attractive. All lean, chiseled muscle. He was taller than Theo but not as broad. But his dark features made his green eyes stand out in a way that was mesmerizing.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

I swallowed as I mustered the courage.

“What is it, Ayla?” he asked when I didn’t respond.

“Will you stay with me tonight?”

Surprise, desire, and concern flashed across his face. “Ayla, I didn’t mean you had...”

“I know,” I rushed to interrupt him. “It’s not that. I know you won’t push me. It’s just that... the pain comes back. It makes it hard to sleep.”

He nodded his understanding, closing the distance between 1. us.

Dividing into pages now “I can do that,” he said with a gentle smile.

He followed me back to my room. He helped me settle into the bed, resting my broken leg on pillows before climbing in next to me. He slipped an arm under my head, laying the other over my stomach, pulling me against him. His chin rested on my shoulder as he nuzzled into my hair.

“If you ever need anything,” he whispered, “you can tell me, Ayla. I’ll be here.”

I smiled as I drifted off to sleep.