Betrayal

KADEN

Hearing Avery's voice snapped Kaden out of his thoughts about Storm.

Turning around, he gave Avery the signature smile, or rather a lame mild stretching of his lips, an action which was definitely in contrast with the freeness he had experienced around Storm.

Kaden guessed it was one of the reasons why he needed Storm; to feel more alive and not be stiff like a robot who has taken it upon himself to take care of the clan by any means necessary.

"Hi Kaden, how are you doing?" Avery asked, stepping closer to Kaden.

She tried to kiss him on the lips but Kaden turned away at the last second, and the kiss landed on his cheek.

He saw the flash of anger that crossed Avery's face and disappeared the next second.

"Is there anything wrong?" She asked, and Kaden wanted to tell her yes. He wanted to tell her to scoot away and that he had found his mate at last.

He wanted to tell her about Storm, and he wanted to tell her that he wasn't going to continue this thing between them but all he did say was that 'I am fine.'

The time wasn't right for that exposure.

Kaden wasn't yet sure if Storm would accept him knowing that he was a mafia lord, but he had a feeling that if his lycan was to resurface, the latter wouldn't give a damn about that. He was not sure I would either. There was no way he would be letting another man close to her.

His attention was drawn to a ding on his phone which was on the bed.

Avery got to it before he could.

However, she handed it over to him without a word, her eyes never leaving his.

It was a message from Storm. She wanted to know if he was dating. Does this mean that she wanted to give him a try?

"You seem distracted.'' Avery muttered, breaking his enchantment with the message.

Quickly, Kaden sent off a reply, before dropping the phone back on the bed.

"Just work." He said monotonically, sighing when Avery touched his cheek affectionately. He couldn't bear to shake away her hand, seeing the care in her eyes and voice.

Avery had been a good friend and partner all these while, and if Storm hadn't come along, she would have been his chosen mate, but now, the tides have changed. He didn't know how long he could keep up with the charade.

"You don't have to worry about me. I am fine." He said in the same monotonic voice, the voice she was of course used to.

He knew he was known as the cold boss whenever he was present in the mafia meetings, in his clan or in one of his companies. But when he was with his friends, he always tried to loosen up, knowing that they all knew the real Kaden Virknoff before the banishment. Avery wasn't among the clique.

She was Lent's cousin and had followed them because Lent was the only one she had, or so he had thought. Later, during one of their sex bouts, she had said that he had been the reason, that she had a crush on him since she was seven.

Of course he hadn't noticed her till she had single handedly outsmarted their opponents in a contract deal. That had gotten his attention, and that had been when their relationship had started. He had always loved smart women, but now, the only woman his body was reacting to was Storm.

He knew what Avery wanted now. But he couldn't do that. It felt like he was betraying Storm. So, taking a step back, he asked her to read out the report.

"What's wrong Kaden? Are you seeing another woman?" Avery asked, folding her across her chest in such a way that her breasts were lifted up in the short red dress she was wearing. It was obvious that she had come for more than just giving reports.

Kaden would bet his life that she wasn't wearing any panties.

"No, I am not.'' He replied.

"But.." She was saying when he waved her off.

"Just read the reports, Avery. That's what I want to hear." He said, not moved by her beautiful face which has darkened with anger. He just wanted her to find her own mate, so that she wouldn't inconvenience him when he would want to claim Storm as his.

"Well, I hope you are not with another woman..or else.."

"..or else what?" Kaden asked, feeling the beat of his anger. "Avery, were you just about to threaten me? It seems, Avery, that our relationship has made you forget who I am to you first, before a bed partner. Don't overstep your boundaries ever again or you wouldn't be able to survive the consequences. Even Lent wouldn't be able to save you."

Of all the thing Kaden so hated, one at the top of the list was to be threatened, perhaps because it was the same thing that had caused him to sanction the wearing of collars. If he had fought against it physically or any other means, his clan would have probably won, they would have probably been gods on this side of the earth, far away from home.

"I'm sorry Kaden. It's just that I have devoted myself to you all these years, and I would hate that all that would be in vain. I know that we are not mates, but I love you Kaden." Avery pointed out, and Kaden sighed, losing all his anger for the moment.

This was what he had been struggling with all these while. Avery had been more than a bed partner, if he cared to admit that to himself. He had liked her, still did. She was smart, beautiful and resourceful both in business and in bed. No man would want to let go of that. But this time was different. Storm was in the equation now.

Avery, seeing that Kaden's face had softened, smacked her lips his, before he could say Jack. Her hands expertly tightened over her neck.

Kaden wanted to push her away, remembering the text he had just sent to Storm about having no one, but Avery's hands were already on his bare skin, setting aflames the desires that had been awakened by Storm in the first place, and he couldn't just push her away.

He kissed her with an intensity that shocked himself, but he knew that was because he needed a release. Storm had him strung up for the past few days since he had moved into the neighborhood.

But all those pent up desires came crashing down when he heard a loud heavy clash in the direction of Storm's window.