Chapter 118
Chapter 118
The words scraped against something raw inside me. I forced a laugh, though it sounded brittle even to my own ears. “You think I don’t have enough to worry about without chasing after her like some lovesick pup p>
Neither of them looked convinced.
The truth twisted like a knife in my chest. I had been chasing her-not openly, not consciously, but in the way my heart leapt when she smiled, in the way my voice softened when I spoke to her.
And it hadn’t just started after I banished Felicity. It had started the moment I saw her in Moonstone. Hell, maybe even before that.
The way I had searched for her was frantic, almost obsessive. Every part of my being had cried out for her until it was the only thing I could think of.
Now that I had her back in the pack house, I couldn’t stand to be away from her for long. It was obvious to me, just like it was to Lance and Cassian.
I knew they could see it in the way I found myself stepping closer to her without realizing, reaching to brush my hand against her hand in moments of silence.
I had sworn I wouldn’t do this, wouldn’t bind her to me more than she already was. She wanted freedom, a divorce, and I had promised.
But promises didn’t change the way I burned whenever I saw her with Lance.
Lance leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest, watching me like he was waiting for me to admit it.” If you’re really not trying to win her over, then prove it. Step aside p>
Something dark rose up in me, sharp and possessive, and before I could stop it, the words slipped out. “That’s not possible p>
The air between us went taut.
Lance’s eyes narrowed. “Not possible because of the politics, or not possible because you don’t want it to be p>
I ground my teeth, searching for an excuse, any excuse. “You know the situation. The media attention, the instability in the pack. It would be a disaster for her reputation, for all of us p>
It sounded logical. It sounded reasonable. But even as I said it, I knew it was a lie.
The real reason was selfish, primal: I couldn’t let her go. Not to him. Not to anyone.
Cassian’s gaze flicked between us, sharp as a blade. “Convenient excuse p>
I bristled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about p>
“Oh, I think I do,” he said quietly. “And the question isn’t whether I’m right-it’s whether Ellie sees it yet.
My temper flared, and for a moment I considered ending the game entirely, sweeping the cards from the table just to shut them both up. But I didn’t. Instead, I gathered my hand, forced a smirk I didn’t feel, and played my next card with exaggerated calm.
“Believe what you want,” I said, voice flat. “It doesn’t change anything p>
But deep down, where I couldn’t deny it to myself, I knew Cassian was right.
And I couldn’t be sure anymore if these feelings were just because of the mate pull. That was a factor, of course, but was it the only reason?
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Chopter Ba
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Ellie had always been my mate. From the first moment I saw her, my wolf had howled for her. But that hadn’t stopped me from treating her coldly in the past.
I’d been awful to her. Downright cruel. I’d treated her wors than anyone p>
But now, just the thought of making her cry made my chest hurt. I knew deep down that it wasn’t just the pull. Something else had changed between us. Something undeniable. Something powerful.
And that truth scared me more than anything.
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