IE'S

ation won't end her

Not the gasps or the whispers of the guests. Just him. Over and over, like a knife twisting in my chest. My tears wouldn't stop, falling

red to help. No hand reached out. No sympathetic glance lingered. I was utterly alone. My sobs grew louder, spilling out of me

ears, I looked up to see the waiter who had carried Carmela's silver tray toss it toward me and walk away without a word. No apology

tremors coursing through my body. Shock. Pain. Fear. Humiliat

ded down, soaking the jacket, drenching the scraps of fabric that still clung to my skin. My tears mixed with it, but I had no strength left to c

dding painfully in my chest. Slowly, I turned. There was Calhoun. Clutching the steering wheel, hi

am at him. Fuck you. Go to hell with your ride. But the words caught in my throat. Did they even matter anymore? My vision w

my soaked jacket, but I barely noticed. I was already broken. Already numb. My

re it, my soaked jacket clinging to me like a second skin, h

et into th

ighter than the cold rain pelting my skin. In the past, I would have panicked. I would hav

n wash over my face as I faced him, giving h

eed for me to enter your car right now? Don't waste your time, Alpha Calhoun.

tting each step pull me farther from him, from everything I had once beli

c, but I didn't look. I shouldn't have to. And just as I took another step, a hand clamped

fire, furious

erstandings everywhere. But I did what I had to! I didn't want to lose Carmela again. I've lost her once; I will never let that

ned, and I yanked my wrist from his grip, ignoring the sh

lt no shame? Left your mate to chase after a mistress? Why? Don't worry, Alpha Calhoun. I know m

He stepped forward, pointing at me, shouting, his

ou! I did what I had to out there to calm Carmela, or there

ding. The last thing I heard before everything went black was him calling my name

e window. I winced, trying to open them, only to be startled

iform smiled at me warm

e said softly. "Yo

ice gone. I tried to spe

you to the hospital and stayed with you through the

chest tightened. I turned my head slig

nd. He never was. An

ing over the sky, a cruel contrast to the storm still raging inside me. My eyes stung. I pre

oun would fall for me. That one day, he would choo

erase myself from his world, from my own mistakes,

ed to