Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon novel Chapter 350

Knox's POV

Mindlessly running my fingers through Lottie's hair, I watched Kane scrutinising the way his shoulders pulsed, his fingers locked at his back, turning white with what I knew to be stress. Something was obviously bothering him, something he did not wish to share with the group but, most importantly, with me. I knew we had grown apart these last few months, which was my burden, but I thought we had put everything to bed in the tunnels.

I guess not.

I opened my mouth to speak to ask what was causing him to have such a stick up his ass when Adam's words shattered my concentration. "You could really kill your mate?" Licking my lips, I looked at Chase, a feeling eating at my stomach; it wasn't jealousy, lord knows I didn't want the bitch. But a sense of betrayal in some way.

"Are we talking about 'our' Connie?" I asked as Kane's lips twitched into an amused smile. "Don't know why you are smiling, Kane; this isn't good news." I barked, irritated at my brother's mood change.

"Yes, it's hard to explain, though." Chase had the decency to reply as he looked down at Lottie, who sat still and silent in my lap. I wanted to wrap my arms around her, but she was seriously giving off a 'don't touch me' vibe I knew I should respect. Kane would.

Enveloping my arms around her, I pulled her closer to me. Reminding myself that I was not Kane.

"I think you need to start explaining." I added when no one spoke. Lottie hardened and looked up at her brother, her eyes hooded under those thick lashes that made her so damn irresistible. As much as I knew how important this crap was, I really couldn't wait to get some time alone with my queen.

"Honestly, I don't understand it any more than you guys do. I have seen her so many times over the months and felt nothing but repulsion. But since we got here, it's like an invisible thread pulling me closer to her."

"How strange," Kane uttered from where he stood, looking out the window.

"Isn't that what the mate bond does?" Liam asked casually "It makes you want to be with your mate at all times." He clarified, but a smirk spread across my brother's lips as he finally stepped from the window and looked at us.

"I meant that anyone would want to be close to THAT girl- most run from her."

"Did you just crack a joke?" I scoffed, a smile teasing my lips too.

"Carry on, Chase." Lottie interrupted, shooting me a glare over her delicate shoulder. Seemingly, she didn't appreciate my attempt to lighten the mood.

"Sorry." I mouthed while nodding to Chase to go on.

"I saw her coming back from Kane's room the other night in lingerie and her make-up running, and that usual 'eww' feeling was replaced with the sudden need to cover her up from prying eyes until I got her alone and…" Sighing, he closed his lips tight as if cutting off the rest of his sentence. I felt Lottie stiffen in my lap and knew it wasn't Chase's mating issue causing her pain, but her mind was running away with her as she no doubt ran through the reasons Connie would be in his room in lingerie at all. With a huff, she nodded for him to continue.

Chase began to talk, to explain that he had fought the connection, that he had refused her advances and all that crap, and while Lottie sat there tense and undoubtedly upset, my eyes remained glued on my brother as he apparently had not realised that Lottie was upset but more importantly not made an effort to reassure her that nothing had happened between them.

"Maybe it did," Havoc interrupted my thoughts with concern, lacing his voice.

"No, he loves Lottie too much to betray her like that. We both do."