Page 40

SIMON

I hesitantly entered my bedroom coated with her scent. Underneath the sweet scent of my injured mate was the tang of blood. I flexed my hands into fists, hovering near the door. The tips of my wet hair dripped onto my face. After hosing myself down of all the blood, I hadn’t taken the time to dry. My wolf writhed in my chest, causing the suffocated sensation in my throat to enhance.

I slowly approached. She lay on the bed beneath multiple blankets, her eyes closed, those dark eyelashes fanning her perfect bronze skin. The swelling had doubled. Deep pink bruises painted her face, and a cut sliced her bottom lip. My precious mate had been bludgeoned.

I shoved my shaking hand through my wet hair, slicking it back from my face. My neck was so tight it hurt. I rolled my shoulders, but the tension didn’t abate. And it wouldn’t.

My need for vengeance caused this. I’d been the reason she’d been hurt.

Murdering those werewolves was a necessary evil. I ran my pack on rage, fear, and hate. Never caring about myself, least of all my pack. Those that had been poisoned would have gone after her to cripple Graham. They hated Graham as much as I had, and they’d have bided their time to take him down.

Violet had been attacked because of that bitch I’d used; I wouldn’t take the chance she’d be hurt again.

That bitch was fucking lucky I’d made it fast.

Violet inhaled and her multicolored eyes widened on me, immediately brightening with relief. Even now, after what I’d caused, she was relieved to see me. It made me feel even more like trash than I already did, and I hadn’t thought it possible.

“Where have you been for the last few hours?” she asked, moving her lips the slightest bit.

“Handling the pack situation.”

“Oh,” she murmured and rolled onto her back gingerly. She favored her side. I leaned over her to tug the blanket up to her neck and tucked it around her. She peeked at me, not saying anything else.

“No questions?” I asked.

“Not like you’re gonna say anything more than some cryptic comment telling me that you’ll tell me later.”

The dry words found their mark. I exhaled. She deserved the information. Not only that, but she was also owed it.

“That text you read . . .” I licked my lips. Her lips puckered the slightest bit.

“I don’t want to get into that—” She avoided my eyes. Nausea rolled through my stomach. She’d seen things a mate shouldn’t be exposed to. I struggled to swallow, and I exhaled slowly.

“Listen,” I bit out.

She clamped her mouth into a thin line, blinking so quickly I could tell she was trying to get rid of the tears sheening her eyes.

I kept fucking up. “That’s not-I-Violet—” I shut up.

I felt exposed—flayed alive and it was uncomfortable. I preferred shoving it away and never bringing it up again. Starting fresh and showing her that I would never hurt her this way, but that wasn’t how she worked.

She would wonder and doubt me, and I couldn’t have that.

“I shouldn’t snap at you.” I rubbed the top of my head. “Let me get this out and I will answer all of your questions.”

She hesitantly nodded.

“That text,” I repeated, “wasn’t real.” Her eyebrows furrowed. “I made her believe she would be my Luna, and my chosen, but it was a lie to get her to do what I wanted.” I exhaled with a gust, holding her gaze. Emotions flickered across her eyes.

“You don’t love her?” The way she said it, so lost and confused . . . she may as well have gutted me. For once in my life, I was left speechless. She still believed those stupid fucking words she’d read in my text. Emotion clogged my throat. I swiped my hand across my face. It felt stiff and off.

“No.” I’d never loved anything or anyone before she slammed into me. It was so fast and sudden. The realization of my feelings made my shame grow.

“Then why were you so upset?”

“Because of you,” I snarled. “You were hurt.”

I dropped to my knees at her bedside, bending my head forward.

“I’m so fucking sorry.” I shuddered.

I’d fucked up. If she never wanted to see me, I would understand, but I wasn’t strong enough to stay away from her. I’d follow her anywhere, waiting until she turned to me.

Her gentle touch grazed my shoulder, and I leaned toward it like it would save me from the agony.

“But I don’t understand, why did you keep it secret?”

“She fed me information on Graham. His patrol rounds and enforcers. I was coordinating the attack to take over his pack during his chosen mating ceremony.” I met her gaze.

Silence and she blinked a few times, then burst into laughter.

“And he messed your plans up when he moved up his mating.” She paused to laugh some more. “Goddess, my face hurts, but this is too funny.” She guffawed. I wasn’t sure if I should be pissed or embarrassed. “Sorry, it might be the drugs.”

Her eyes glistened with tears. She chortled, her entire body shaking.

The door creaked and Graham stepped inside. He sneered at me, but I didn’t give a fuck. My precious female’s opinion was all that mattered.

Her eyes flicked to the side and then returned to me. She swiped the tears that trickled from the corner of her eyes, settling down.

“We’ve also come to an agreement about this situation.” So he’d been listening in to our conversation.

“What do you mean by that?” She eyed us warily.

“Nothing to be worried about.” I smoothed her hair back from her face. “We will be combining our packs.”

She gawked, eyes flickering between us. Graham approached and perched on the edge of the bed to her other side.

I’d never seen the male smile until now. His eyes screamed his devotion to her, similarly to what I assumed mine reflected.

He would be at her side when I couldn’t—and the only one I could trust with her. Not because I trusted him, but because he wouldn’t hurt a hair on her head.

Any left-over antagonism toward him faded.

“Unless you want something else. I will take you anywhere on this earth as long as you remain by my—our side.”

She looked at me and I didn’t deny his words. I wasn’t good. I never had been, having done much to keep my spot as Alpha. Selfishness was my default, and it would always be, for all except my mate.

She frowned and winced. It tugged the wound on her lip. I eyed the medication at her bedside, but Graham was already popping the tube open and spurting some gel on his fingertip. He lightly rubbed the clear substance on the cut on her lower lip.

“We need more good packs and Alphas. I would hate to see everyone I met suffer just because of my greed to keep you two to myself,” she mumbled.

Her eyes flicked. “Not everyone is like you, Graham.” She peeked at me. “I’ve not seen how you run your pack, Simon, but I heard you have, uh, unorthodox methods.”

I couldn’t argue with that. Revenge was my only drive since I took over.

“Him taking lead will leave me more time with you,” I drawled.

“And more time to drink?” She peeked at me from the corner of her eye.

I cleared my throat, avoiding her gaze.

“No,” I said, my voice roughened. She’d truly seen me at my lowest, but never again. I didn’t deserve this precious female, but I wouldn’t let her go. She was my only addiction.

“Can you get me some water?” she asked, wincing as Graham patted the wound with his fingertip.

My stomach rolled. Every fiber inside of me hated seeing her in pain. Like a coward, I took the opportunity to get her water. Every little bit of the house was as it’d been in the years I’d lived here.

That crack in the hallway linoleum never bothered me before, but my mate should have an updated home. Something nice, without nicks and wear.

A conversation to have with Graham.

I kept the pack financed with the investments left behind by the prior Alpha. The two hardware stores in town were enough to keep the pack fed, but they needed more. I never cared before, but what would my mate think of me?

Rounding into the kitchen, I stalled.

My Beta had Graham’s sister perched on my counter while his hips wedged between her legs. When had this begun? Had he been feeding information to her?

I had him by the back of the neck within moments. He struggled to pull away, but I growled warningly. He stopped, shoulders jerking with his breaths.

“Alpha,” he hissed between his teeth, keeping his head lowered. “I tried to fight it.”

“Traitor,” I hissed.

“No.” His eyes widened. “I didn’t betray you?—”

“Leave him alone,” Maggie cried out, dropping next to him and grabbing his arm like she could pull him away. I eyed her. Violet was fond of the female, or I’d kill her. Adan scooted to block her from view. He kept his head and eyes lowered on my chest, but his posture told me he’d spring at me to protect her, which would end up with his death. He didn’t seem to care.

“I should snap your neck,” I growled.

“She’s my true mate, Alpha.”

“And did you have a difficult time telling me?” I shoved him and he hit the kitchen chair with a loud pop of wood.

“I tried to fight it.” He grunted, sitting up. He didn’t fight it hard enough.

“Shut up, all of you,” Graham bellowed. I bristled and shoved Adan to the floor again. He kept his head lowered. Maggie pressed her hand over her mouth to cut off her sob.

“Please, don’t hurt him.” The female’s wide eyes took up half her face.

“Fuck what you want,” I snapped.

“What is going on?” My mate’s sweet voice speared through the kitchen with the effect of a gunshot.

Violet shoved past Graham with a slight limp in her gait.

“What are you doing up?” he snapped. He tried to pick her up, but she shoved against his chest. I stepped back from the two on the floor. She scanned the scene.

“You found out they’re mates?” She pressed her lips into a thin line. “If you’re mad at them for hiding it, be mad at me too.” Her chin tipped up. Of course she knew, but I could never be angry at her.

“You’re lucky she’s here to stop this,” I snarled at Adan. He bowed his head.

“Simon.” Violet scowled. “Leave them alone.” I grunted and went to her side to sweep her into my arms.

She gasped and grabbed onto my neck as I strode back to our room.

She smacked my chest.

“You were too much in there,” she grumbled.

“Adan is lucky I didn’t snap his neck. He owes his life to you.”

“Simon,” she huffed and winced again.

“Focus on getting healed and then we can talk about this.” She hit my chest again. It was cute how she balled her fist.

“Promise me you won’t go all psycho on them?” I said nothing and lowered her into bed. “Promise!”

Her beseeching eyes held mine. I scanned her beautiful, injured face. My precious mate was anxious. Her desires would always come first.

“As you wish,” I grunted and tucked the blanket around her.