Page 177

Silence fills the room.

“Hey, can you guys give us a minute?” I tell Chayton, Torak, Zyion, and Alarick.

They all look at me with somber faces.

“Make this right,”Chayton demands in my head before walking out of the house with the others.

Once the home is empty, I turn my attention to Michaela.

“Come here.”

She looks down and then back at me. Yet she doesn’t come to me. My stomach knots. But I deserved that.

“We don’t have to do this, Zo. We can discuss what we’re going to do about the baby. I have no plans of keeping you from him or her.”

“How the hell are you going to keep me from a baby that’s living with me?”

Her gaze narrows.

I chuckle. “You really think you’re about to give me the we’re not going to be together speech?”

“You said—”

“Yeah, I said a bunch of shit that I didn’t mean. I run my hands over my head. “I wanted you to hurt, Michaela. I thoughtyou’d played me and killed my Luna. Hell, I’m sure if the tables were turned, you’d have killed me.”

She looks away and the hint of a smile plays at her lips because she knows I’m right. If I’d have pretended to kill Liz in front of Michaela, she wouldn’t have allowed me time to leave Dark Woods before she would’ve come after me.

I’m not liking this distance we have between each other. I step over the many dead bodies to get to her.

“You don’t believe me?” I question. “Check for yourself. Look back at that night in my memories and see how I felt as I said those words.”

Her approach into my memories is as gentle as a breeze. A drastic change from her ex’s heavy handling. She pulls up the night of the attack. Everything I said plays back in my head, but this time she can sense my feelings and how no matter how angry I was, I couldn’t stop loving her.

I push forward. “Even though I didn’t mean that shit, I still said it and I’m sorry. I used what I knew would hurt you as a weapon, but none of it was true. Baby girl, I don’t regret touching you. I think about us together more times than I can count. Hell, thinking about it is what saved my life against your ex.

“And you’re not like him. You have proven to me and everyone else that you are the most giving and selfless person in this world. A world that has never deserved you. You look at everyone else as if they are the blessing to your life, but you are the true blessing and gift.”

I get down on one knee in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m on my knees in front of you, Michaela Keane. I am begging you to give me another chance. Do I deserve it? No. Hell, none of us do, but I’m pleading with you to stay with me. I said some stupid fucked up things that I didn’t mean, and I willforever have to live with. But please, allow me to love you fully, wholeheartedly, and to the standard that you deserve. It’s time for you to rest, Baby Girl. Put down your armor and your shield against the world and let your mate give you a soft life.” Her red tears track down her face.

I wait for her to answer my request. My words were sincere. I want to give Michaela the life she deserves. If I had it my way, she would never fight in another battle. But I also know that isn’t who she is. Michaela, like me, was made to fight.

“I don’t know, Zo. You hurt me. I vowed I would never let anyone have the power to hurt me that way again.”

“Beg,”my wolf snarls.“Beg harder.”

“Baby, I know I hurt you and I am so sorry. Tell me what you need to make you believe what I say is true? Please, Baby Girl. Whatever it is, I will do. I love you, Michaela. I love you more than anything in this world. I love you enough that if you truly want me to leave you alone, I will. It will kill me physically, but I will give you whatever you want.”

More tears fall down her face. I meant what I said. If she truly wanted out of this bond, I’d give it to her. Now, I’d probably follow her around like a lost puppy, but I give her the out.

She looks away. I hold my breath.

“My bathroom could really use an upgrade,” she looks back at me with a teary smile on her face.

I let out a deep breath and jump to my feet. “Woman, your ass is about to get a brand-new cabin. Come here.” I grab her and pull her into me.