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“You came into my house during the Sacred Seven,” I say. “Of course you could have hurt me.”

He shakes his head. “You’re pack. Or at least—you were.”

I feel my hackles rising at his reaction.

“Do you put all pack members on the Wanted List?” I ask.

Let’s see just how big Eli’s balls are.

Eli runs a hand down his face. “What I did, all of it, was a mistake,” he says, his voice defeated. “I was angry, and my wolf was demanding justice …” He sighs. “It’s no excuse, but I regret it, if it makes any difference.”

I press my lips together. It’s not like I handled things well either, but putting someone on the supernatural Wanted List far outweighs any wrongdoing on my part.

“I’m not going to let you arrest me,” I say.

He lets out a breath. “I’m not taking you in. I just … needed to talk to you.”

“You could’ve just called.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice genuine. Coming from an alpha like him, an apology is a rare thing.

I work my jaw. I’m still so peeved at the whole thing. Pushing down my frustration, I nod, looking away. I’m not sure whether I’m acknowledging Eli’s apology or accepting it. All I know is that I want to bury the hatchet between us.

The shifters eyes move to the Bargainer’s house. “My offer still stands, Callie.”

I glance at him.

“What I did was wrong, but what this guy’s doing, that’s worse. He’s taking away your free will,” he says. “The Bargainer is a wanted man. Just give me the word and I’ll go in there and take care of the issue.”

It takes several seconds to register what he’s saying. When it does, horror washes over me. “No, I don’t want that.”

“Callie.” The alpha is in his voice.

“Don’t,” I warn. He no longer has the right to exert his pull over me. “There’s so much you don’t know.”

“Then tell me,” he says. “Or else I’m just going to keep assuming the worst.”

Isn’t that exactly what I’ve been demanding of Des? To stop keeping secrets? And here I am being a hypocrite.

But this secret …

“I never told you about my past.” I rub my face.

Even now I hesitate to tell Eli. It hurts to remember, and then there’s the shame. Always the shame.

But perhaps if I tell him, he’ll understand why I acted the way I have. And perhaps it will help him feel better, about me, about Des, and about the situation.

“When I was a minor,” I begin, “my stepfather … my stepfather …”

Eli goes still.

“He sexually abused me.” I force the words out.

I hear a low growl. This is what I’ve always loved about shifters—about Eli. No one fucks with their young. No one.

I blow out a shaky breath. “It went on for years. And it only stopped …” I pause again, pinching my forehead.

I can do this.