Page 109

“My father,” he said flatly. “I killed my father, little cat. Does that satisfy your curiosity now?”

She tilted her head to the side. “I thought the late Duke died of a heart ailment.”

He laughed humorlessly. “That was the story my brother told to protect our family.”

“To protectyou.”

Naked pain flashed in his eyes. “Yes,” he bit out. “He summoned the family physician and swore him to secrecy the night my father died. Told him to tell everyone that the Duke had passed suddenly, his heart giving away when I told him that I was going to join the army.”

“Only that was not the case, was it?” she said softly. “You joined the army, but it was after your father died.”

“After I killed him,” he corrected. “And yes, my brother sent me to the army as part of the grand scheme to cover up the truth of our father’s death.”

His hands were on his knees, his knuckles white. His jaw was tight as he forced the confessions out of his chest.

These were the ghosts of his past that had taken root in his soul, weighing him down. This was the darkness that had haunted him and kept him from her.

“Why?”

“Little cat, you do not want to venture there,” he growled in warning. “Some things are better left unsaid.”

“And some wounds fester until they are beyond healing,” she argued. “I marriedyou. All of you. I will have everything, including the things you never speak of.”

“What is there left to speak of? I killed my father, my own blood.”

“Why?” she persisted. “People kill each other for many reasons. For money. For power. For justice.” She paused and took a deep breath, looking him right in the eyes. “You did not stand to inherit much, even if you murdered him. You had an older brother who would have inherited most of his lands and title, the Wolverton fortune. Yet, your brother still protectedyouwhen it happened. Nothing is ever so simple.”

He laughed harshly. “And this is what I get for marrying an intelligent woman.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Would you rather have married a dimwit who would acquiesce to your every whim?”

“Never,” he growled. “You are the only one I would marry, and in my selfishness, I have dragged you into my personal hell.” He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, pain and tiredness etched on his features. “I did not intend to kill him… merely to stop him from killingher.”

Her blood ran cold at the implication of his words. She had heard stories of how the former Duke had not been a kind husband. How he had kept Diana locked up in their estate.

He must have done worse to her that the rest of the ton was not privy to. Many men were simply… cruel.

“I pushed him away from her,” he whispered hoarsely. “He fell, but that time, he never got up.” He smiled bitterly. “You thought you married the Wolf, but I am worse than that—I am a beast who murdered his own kin.”

The self-loathing in his voice made her want to cry.

“It sounds more like an accident. You did not intend to kill him,” she whispered. “Accidents happen.”

“Not really, little cat. That time, I used more force than was necessary. Somewhere in the bottom of my heart, I wanted him dead.”

“Then it was either him or your mother.” She frowned. “And honestly, knowing Diana the way I do now, I was glad you made that choice.” She reached out to cup his face. “You will not hurt me.”

His eyes flew open in disbelief. A pained expression took its place only for a moment before he looked away from her.

Had no one, even his brother, thought to commend him for saving his mother?

“You still do not understand, do you, little cat?” He shook his head. “I am not just a Wolf—I am a beast. But I would cut myself open before I hurt you. I cannot, however, force you to lie with a monster.”

A monster?

“So, you still have not changed your mind about us?” she choked out, her heart seizing in her chest. In the end, she still was not enough. “You are never going to change your mind, are you?”

She hated how her voice hitched, how it rose almost hysterically. How he seemed to remain stoic throughout it all when his gaze found hers again.