The Bad Boy's Promises

Control or not

Nova

I stood outside with my family and my stupid mate when a bike roared up. Cress stopped, dropped his kickstand, and got off before strolling toward us.

"I thought you were dealing with a problem," Aunt Wren said.

"I dealt with it. Now, I'm here to ensure Kendall does his part," Cress said.

"What part?" I asked.

Cress looked at me in his no-bullshit way. "His part of not fucking up. He fucks up, and I deal with your bullshit. I don't like bullshit. Got me?"

"Loud and clear." I bobbed my head with my arms folded.

Kendall approached me, took my hands in his, and gazed into my eyes. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you jealous or hurt your feelings. Do you forgive me?"

I smiled sweetly at Kendall before pulling my hands from his grip and clocking him. Kendall's head snapped back. My aunts cringed and went, "Oooh." My dad and Cress rolled their eyes.

When Kendall's head came back to its rightful position, I clocked him again and again and again. That pissed him off when he tackled me to the ground and sat on me with his knees, pinning my arms to the ground.

"Get. Off. Of. Me!" I growled.

"So, you can hit me? Nope, not going to happen. My wolf might enjoy you belting me," Kendall leaned into my face as his hot breath fanned me, "but I don't."

"Too bad. You should have thought about that before sticking your tongue down Cindy Lou's throat."

Kendall raised his finger. "I'll admit that was bad judgment on my part."

"Bad judgment?" I arched my brow. "That was horrible judgment. You really are a stupid mate. Now get off of me." I squirmed and kicked my legs, trying to get the idiot to move.

Kendall didn't move but stayed planted on me. "I won't move until you agree to give me a chance."

I stopped moving. "And why would I do that?"

"Because you're my mate."

"That's not a reason to give you a chance. And I don't believe you're my mate."

"What?" Kendall's brows pulled together in confusion.

"I read stories about werewolves. I don't feel a pull or smell anything delicious from you. I don't get tingles when you touch me. I got nothing. Yet, you insist I'm your mate. How do I know you're not lying?"

Kendall stared at me and blinked. His distraction gave me a chance to shove him off of me so I could stand up. Kendall sat on the ground while I glanced at everyone.

"This idiot," I pointed at Kendall, "claims I'm his mate. But I don't feel anything. You all want me to play nice when you kept me in the dark about what I am. So, no, I'm not playing nice or accepting anyone." I turned and marched to the house, then turned to face them. "It'll be a cold day in hell before I believe any of you!" With those words, I went into the house and slammed the door shut.

******
Kendall

I rose from my feet and stared at the closed front door. I didn't get it. Nova is my mate. Why couldn't she feel the mate bond?

'Because she's not eighteen yet, dumbass,' my wolf said.

'What?'

'Nova is seventeen. She won't feel the bond until she's eighteen.'

I looked at Hawk. "When does Nova turn eighteen?"

"Halloween. Nova was born during a full moon. I found her mother in a cave while she was in labor with Nova. She ran from her mate so he didn't find out the baby wasn't his," Hawk said.