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Christ, had he? He couldn’t remember, and he got more than a little hot and bothered under the collar.

“I’m not completely self centered,” he snapped, then came forward and squeezed at his brow. “Sorry. Let’s drop it. We need to get finished and get home for the family meeting.”

Silas hesitated, then rose slowly, not releasing Kodi’s gaze. “You know, if you need to talk, I’m here for you.”

Kodi couldn’t find his voice at the lump developing in his throat. Instead, he nodded and dropped his gaze, signaling for Silas to leave. Emotionally wrought, that was what the therapist stated he suffered from when he was deeply distressed, anxious, or agitated, which resulted in him struggling to manage his feelings. It fit and he recognized when it was at its worst. Barely holding back tears at Silas’s offer, he was most certainly emotionally wrought. It left him feeling afloat in a rough sea with no land insight.

I’m a selfish fucker.

It’s normal to put your concerns first.

Then why do I feel like shit?

Because you aren’t selfish and care about Laken and Lennon.

Kodi released a deep, disgruntled sigh and prepared to leave. Bashing a blackmailing fucker, that’ll help.

Now we’re talking.

I sometimes forget just how bloodthirsty you are.

It’s the wolf in us.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Lennon

Avoidance… yeah, it was all he had right now.

You won’t be able to do it forever.

Will you keep quiet? I’m trying to have a freak out alone.

But you’re not alone, are you?

Honestly, if you keep talking, I swear I’ll… scream.

Go ahead, I’m sure the lady behind the counter will have something to say about that.

Lennon eyed the receptionist who wore an expression that did not promote a happy, welcoming vibe. She looked as if she might have smelled something terrible and was about to vomit.

I’ll do it in my head, then it’ll just be you who suffers.

Lennon fiddled with his phone, occasionally glancing up at the screen above everyone's head on the wall that would display his number when it was his turn to get his bloods taken. It wasn’t the thought of being jabbed with a needle that made him feel the acid burn the back of his throat. It was the reason he needed bloods in the first place.

He was still going with ‘it’s just precautionary’.

Jonny was to blame. He was the one who insisted that there was something different with his scent. If that was the case, why hadn’t Kodi or one of his friends mentioned it?

They’re just being nice to you.

I’m not going to be nice with you in a minute.

His friends were nice, but they were honest with each other. Did that mean it was only noticeable to his brother because they were the same species? Not all his friends could shift, were their senses not as acute? That didn’t stand to reason when Ziggy, Frey, Hollis, Isley, and Wilder could shift. And so could Kodi, so what did that mean when he hadn’t said anything?

Was he getting stinky because he wasn’t getting any action? Was it just his pheromones trying to entice Kodi because he was desperate? This reversal of the relationship to slow things down to get to know each other was very romantic, or so Lennon had first thought. He hadn’t expected all these weeks later they’d still only be kissing and not getting beyond second base at the end of a date. His dick was fed up. It was just like a spanking situation where they were left hard and aching. It was making his skin crawl with need. Not a situation Lennon’s hand helped with. He didn’t know how Kodi was resisting.

Was Lennon’s change of smell off-putting?