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I didn’t have to be an expert in reading Wolf to know he didn’t like it, but I reminded myself not to care.

This had nothing to do with him.

“Fine,” Wolf said, stepping to the side and letting Lanson enter the room.

He looked disheveled as all hells, clearly hadn’t slept at all. “Huntyr,” he said, taking two steps to stand by my bed. His hands hovered for a second like he wanted to reach out, but he didn’t. “I’m so sorry, Huntyr. I don’t know what to say.”

“You can start by explaining what the fuck is wrong with you,” Wolf said from the doorway. His arms crossed over his chest, his legs spread.

He was a sight.

“Wolf,” I warned, though he had a point.

“I don’t know what happened,” Lanson explained, ignoring Wolf. “I panicked. I shouldn't have left your side, it all happened so fast.”

“You left me there to bleed out,” I stated.

“I know,” he murmured. “I know, I know. I’m so sorry, Huntyr, you have to believe me.”

“You told me I could trust you,” I hissed. “Dammit, Lanson. I counted on you to have my back.”

“I know!”

“What changed? You stood up for me before, so what happened? Was it Espek? Was it the way we fought?”

“I was just surprised, that’s all,” he whispered, stepping even closer. If I could flinch away, I would have.

“I opened up to you,” I said, hating the way the back of my throat burned. “I told you my secret, Lanson, and now what? I’m supposed to think you’ll fight for me? How can I ever trust you again?”

“Huntyr, please,” he begged, closing his red-rimmed eyes. “Please, give me another chance.”

“The only reason I’m alive right now is because of him.” I nodded to Wolf.

Lanson’s nostrils flared, a flash of anger betraying his features. “Don’t say that. We can still get through this, Huntyr. We can still fight this together.”

“How?” I spat. “How am I supposed to complete the bond with you when I see what you really are now, Lanson?” Tears threatened my eyes. “You’re weak. You’re a coward, and you run from the darkness.”

He took a step back as if my words had physically hit him. “Me?” he questioned. “You thinkI’mthe weak one?”

“Watch it,” Wolf growled from the doorway.

“You’ve been lying to everyone this entire time, Huntyr,” he hissed. “Me, included. You made me think you needed my help. You made me think you were…”

“What?” I pushed. “I made you think I was what, Lanson?”

“Soft,” he said. “Kind. Like me.”

I huffed. “I am nothing like you.”

“I see that now. You’re a killer, Huntyr. You’re cruel and dark and violent. I may run from the darkness, but at least I do not wallow in it.”

“Get out,” I ordered.

His eyes widened. I knew he regretted his words the second they left his mouth.

But I didn’t care.

“Get the fuck out,” I said again.