Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 193(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 193(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“I’m sure—”
“No.” I raise my voice more than I wanted. “He told me I would beg for him when I was in heat. He knew I’d have to go to him, so he didn’t even show me one ounce of respect. I deserve more than that!” The bastard tears leak down my cheeks, and they make me angry more than they do sad. “You’re lucky you don’t have a mate. You can find someone you love. You’re not stuck with whoever fate picked for you.”
“But I thought you made up? Couples fight don’t they? And he’s…he’s not the best at expressing himself sometimes. Sometimes people say things they don’t mean or—”
“We weren’t even a couple yet. He didn’t even know me. He still doesn’t know me. How could he possibly love me?”
“Why don’t you feel that way toward Owen then?”
I’m stunned by her question and fail to come up with a response. It’s like a blow to my chest. I just feel it with Owen. But it doesn’t matter. None of this matters. “I’m leaving anyway so it doesn’t matter. I’m sorry I’m going to hurt your Alphas. We just can’t stay together. They’ll get over it and find someone else.”
“They won’t.”
I wipe the tears away and stalk to the window with my arms crossed. “If I meant anything to him, he would’ve done more than fucked me last night. He wouldn’t have sent you to deal with me.” I stare out the window at the forest. “I want to mean more to my partner; Luke can’t give me more and Owen will never leave his brother.” I turn around and look at Charlotte. “Nothing’s going to change that.”
“I know he hurt you, but don’t you think you’ve hurt him too?”
“What did I do to him?”
“You denied him.”
“I hurt him by not wanting to sleep with someone who treats me like shit? How is that fair?”
“It might not be fair, but it’s the truth.”
“Well that’s what he gets. He doesn’t get to treat me like that and then have me bow down to him.”
“I wish you’d stay. I wish you’d give him another chance.” I can tell the fight in her is nearly gone. Silence lingers between us as I question everything and do all that I can to keep from getting emotional. I’m so sick of feeling emotional.
“Can I ask you one question?”
I nod, waiting for this conversation to be over. My heart just can’t take it anymore. I need to get out of here and drown myself in a bottle of wine and forget this ever happened. “Do you feel the connection at all?”
I close my eyes as my heart shatters. I nod my answer and turn back to the window. Letting the pain settle in my chest. I feel a connection to both of them. A deep, powerful spark that makes me feel alive.
She sulks at the door, and I turn away from her and wait to hear it close so I can gather up my shit and get the hell out of here. I gave it a chance and it didn’t work. I’m leaving. After a long minute I turn around and snap at Charlotte. “What?”
She’s shocked at my anger, and it makes me feel like a bitch. I run my hands across my cheeks, wiping the tears and apologize. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She stares at her feet. “I’m just sorry.” She starts to leave but pauses in the doorway. “Oh! I forgot to tell you.” I pinch the bridge of my nose just wanting to get this over with. “Luke said he’s sorry about the story.”
“What?” Adrenaline spikes through me, quickening my heart.
“The story. I don’t know what he means, but he’s sorry.” My eyes widen as I register what she’s talking about. He knows about the story.
“Thank you.” The weak words barely register as she closes the door and leaves me standing there.
I walk quickly to my bag and pull out the computer. I barely get half my ass on the bed before I cautiously open it.
I click on my email and wait. An error message pops up. What the fuck? I check Wi-Fi and it’s on, but my icons aren’t working. I click through applications and nothing. Not a damn thing is opening. That’s when I see the desktop. There’s a JPEG sitting in the middle of my screen. I click it and open in preview. It’s a screenshot of an email sent from me to my editor and boss. My heart plummets and my lips part in shock as I read the message. He destroyed everything I worked for. Resign. I didn’t fucking resign! That motherfucker! Anger courses through me. He’s ended my fucking career!
I search the folder for the manuscript using the search bar, looking in the trash, everywhere on the computer. He fucking deleted it. I jump off the bed and storm to the door. As soon as I open it I slam into a wall of solid muscle. I have to crane my head to look at him and when I do, all my anger dissipates.