e up

ht entered the room, my body felt scraped raw from the inside. I sat on the edge of the bed with my h

ing this

e he wa

cting to the distance and nei

an empty motel room while he remained in t

de my hands cu

ly. When I looked in the mirror, my expression was harder than it had been

s going to

ed something that belonged to me and not

echo through the bond, as if it was measuring how far I was trying to go. B

ment, steadying myself,

ies, with practical eyes and no-nonsense posture. I recogni

voice came out steadier than I e

few seconds. "You h

on the pack. I didn't mention being Luna. Those titles mea

moment longer, the

ng. Six o'clock. If you can

t was about having somewhere to be. Something to do with my hands. A reason

e here,

e me stop on the sidewalk and press a hand against my ribs. A wave of emotion that wasn't fully mi

, rising under my skin wi

teeth and k

nder my breath. "You don't get to reject

unsettled, as I made my way back to the motel. By the time

ed the route to the café twice. I wrote down the time and taped the note to the mirror so I would see it the moment I w

came, the pul

le my breath. For several long seconds I could feel him clearly - not his thoughts, but the raw state of him. T

e suf

something bitter

ed he

t I still cared

lls felt too close. The air felt too thin. My wolf wanted out. She

ng back. He threw us away in front of everyone. He

response, almost like

, breathing through the pressure until the worst of it eased. My eyes burne

forced myself

show up for tha

take another step

life that didn't include the man

, angry rhythm in the dark, like

had written on the notepad, over and over, unt

not cal

not go

l not