bWe /bbjust /bbsat /bbthere /bstaring at each other until there was a soft knock bat /bthe bdoor/b. “Come In.b” /bRowan called bout/bb, /bhis eyes bnever /bbleaving /bmine.

ra came in with another cart. “I brought your four bottles. Just in bcase/bb, /band the chef gave me two slices bof /byour bfavourite /bstrawberry cake, Amy.” She smiled as she pushed the cart over. “I just leave the cart here. Once you are all finished, just bpush /bbit /bout into the hall.” She gave us both a small bow and then left us alone.

I grabbed my ss and took another sip as he finished the first bottle. I waited for another minute, then I sat back. “Well, bif /byou aren’t going to exin, we can just skip this awkwardness and just go our separate ways.”

He nodded. “That’s what I have been debating.‘

estek “I don’t think I could live with

myself \\ III it all.

And I know Erubus would abfolutely

I scoffed and shook my head. “Well then.” This was a waste of time. I pushed back and stood..

revolt if I didn’t at least try.” He nodded to my chair. “Please.”

I to him? Maybe there is a reason.

parsed my lips as I considered it. Nix whispered softly.

Can you

Her words nearly broke me. A reason good enough for everything that he did?

decision. She looked at Megan, who nodded.

I don’t know. But I want to at least have all the information before you make

“Fine.” I sat, and I started back in on the food. I grabbed my wine and finished it. I grabbed a second bottle before Rowan could and filled both of our sses. “Start at the beginning, then.”

He nodded once before cutting a bit of steak. “Well then.” He smirked. Then he dove in. “You had me hooked as soon as you asked me to torture someone.” Iughed, but he looked at me with hungry eyes. “Then I

saw vw youb, /band I was sold.” I snorted at that. “But it was who you are… that made me fallpletely in love with you.‘

b“/bb /b

He talked more about our time together until he got to my heat. “I knew you would hate me if we went any farther. I had to force myself away. Even Erubus was struggling, and he was bset /bon a beautiful she–wolf from the forest.” He smirked again.

I had finished my meal and was just swirling my ssb. /b“So you left..” I took a sip, trying my best to focus on now, and not how felt back then.

He nodded. “I went back to my ce and was going insane. So bI /bcalled your father.

“My dad?” I grabbed for the cake, picking at it as my stomach rolled. “Why?”

“Because I wanted his advice.” He took a drink. “Believe it out not. I don’t have a lot of friends.‘

I nearly snorted wine through my nose. bI /bcoughed. “You don’t say?

Heughed, but then his smile fell. “I called because I wanted him to tell me it was okay if I chose you instead of waiting for my mate.” He grabbed the bottle of wine and just took a sip from bthe /bbottle. “You can guess how well that turned out.” He snorted.

“What did he say?” My words were soft.

“He said that we had to y this smart, and getting together at that point would have puta target on your back. Vince, Brandon, they wouldn’t have touched you with a ten–foot pole. And your dad needed you to get close to them.” He took a longer pull from the bottle. “bHe /btold bme /bbto /bcreate space between us. That he would exin it all when the time came, but for our ns bto /by out, I needed to leave you alone.

My heart cracked open. “Your letter said you and him made the ns…but I didn’t know he told you that.“,

“You read the letters?” He looked a little lost.

I nodded. “When I found out about them…a few days ago.” I grabbed a bottle of my own and popped the cork. Might as well. Before that, I was kept in the dark. You had just left me, and then you ignored me.”

(

“bIgnored /bbyou/bb?/bb” /bHe bshook /bbhis /bhead. “bI /bbnever /bbignored /byou. bI /bcalled babout /bbhelping /bbyou/bb…/bI created Thothb./bb” /bHe emptied the rest of the

bI /bbgrowled/bb. /bb“/bbNot /bthat it mattered?” I pped a hand on my chest.

“You ignored me!” He screamed backb. /b“I was drowning without

I stood up. “I never fucking ignored you. You ignored me.” I scre fucking left me when I needed you the most and then you wouldr AND YOU U LEFT ME!”

Chapter b508 /b

b“/bbIgnored /bbyou/bb?/b” He shook bhis /bheadb. /bb“/bI never ignored you. I called, emailed. You didn’t answer. So when your dad came bto /bbme /bbabout /bbhelping /byoub…/bbI /bcreated Thoth.” He emptied the rest of the battle. “Not like it matteredb./bb” /b

bI /bgrowled. “Not that it mattered?” I pped a hand on my chest. “mattered to me.”

b“/bbYou /bignored me!” He screamed back. “I was drowning without you and you ignored me.

I stood up. “I never fucking ignored you. You ignored me.” bI /bscreamed thest part as everything came rushing back. “bYou /bfucking left me when I needed you the most and then you wouldn’t answer my calls, my texts. Nothing. I FUCKING LOVED YOU AND YOU LEFT ME!”