apter 118
Shahook her heal, tears glinting in her eyes but refusing to fall.
“And I knew I couldn’t risk you rejecting him the way you rejected tie. Icouldn’t bear it, Derek ”
My naine on her lips felt like a blade.
“So I stayed,” she said. “In Moonstone. With people who loved me Whn didn’t care what I remembered or didn’t. Who didn’t make me feel like something broken just because I didn’t fit where they wanted me to
She stood slowly. Braced het arms around herself like she was holding something in
“I’m not saying I made the right decision,” she said. “That it was the only one I could live with.”
Η
I stared at her, jaw clenched so tightly 1 thought it might shatter. My whole body felt heavy. Hollowed out.
Because there was no argument. No angry rebuttal. Only the truth, raw and bleeding in her hands and the unbearable weight of what I had done to her.
What I had lost.
What I might never fully get back.
Not just a son.
But her.
Because of me.
And then she walked away, leaving me with nothing but the weight of her words and the cavern in my chest they hollowed out
I slumped back in the chair.
1 had spent years furious with her. Accusing her without knowing the full truth. I had imagined she left because she didn’t care. Because she didn’t love me.
But I was the one who made her feel unloved Unwanted.
In all the ways that counted, I had rejected my mate. I had pushed her away.
And I had lost years with my son because of it.
Whatever anger I’d felt with her dissolved beneath the crush of guilt.
I buried my face in my hands. I had fucked everything up.
And there might not be a way to fix it.
ELENA
I walked.
Down the stark white hallway. Past roots lined with machines and glass. The soles of the shoes Joe had brought me made soft, hollow sounds on the tile, like echoes in a cave. I kept walking until my mind cleared enough to breathe.
The pediatric doctor found me near the nurse’s station.
“Ms. Hart,” he said gently. “The transfusions are complete. Aiden’s vitals are holding strong. He’s stable, for now. If you’d like to go see him.
I was already moving
I pushed open the door to his room, heart climbing into my throat
+25 BONUS
i was wrapped in pause.
Chapter
He looked so small in the hospital bed Pale Motionless
fifchest rose and fell in shallow, even breaths, machines licking beside him like metronomes. One hand was The bandage at his neck was still stained faintly red.
My legs buckled, but I caught myself on the side of the bed. I didn’t. I didn’t speak
I just watched him.
Listened.
Prayed
A nurse entered after a few minutes. “We need to change his dressings. You can step out if you’d like,”
“I’m not p
going anywhere,” I said, not taking my
eyes off my sou
my son.
She didn’t argue. Just worked quickly. Removed the bandages. Cleaned the wound. Applied a fresh layer of wolfshane salve that made my nose wrinkle.
Aiden didn’t stir.
When she was done, she placed a hand on my shoulder. “He’s strong. He’ll fight. Just keep being here.”
She left, and I sat.
My fingers brushed his.
And that’s when the rage came. Not panic. Not grief.
Rage
Pierce might be dead–but the wolves that supported him were not. Not all of them.
Iclenched my fists, the fury rising like a tide I couldn’t hold back
I didn’t know who they all were.
But when I found out?
They’d regret ever slepping near my child.
They’d regret everything.
Because I wasn’t afraid of burning down everything to keep my son safe.
Chapter 19
