Page 86 of Unclaimed Bonds

“Please, stay with me so we can talk.”

I push harder. This time, he slowly releases me. I move as far away from him as I can without falling off the bed. The pain shining in his eyes makes me feel guilty for allowing this. “I’m sorry, but I can’t be with you, Luke.”

His pain morphs into anger. “Can’t or won’t?”

“Both,” I whisper.

“If you would just talk to me—you’ve been avoiding me for three years!” he yells.

“It’s too late, Luke. I’m with someone else.”

His eyes narrow. “Then call him and end it. I don’t share what is mine,” he growls. “Tomorrow, we’ll talk—however long it takes. I won’t give up on you, on us.” He stands and abruptly walks toward to the door.

“I’m not yours, Luke. You lost me a long time ago.” I don’t shout. I don’t scream in anger. I simply mutter in a low, toneless voice devoid of any emotion.

He stops. His hands tighten into fists at his sides. Standing in the doorway, he replies, “Tomorrow, Jessica. You promised me tomorrow.”

Chapter 40

It Doesn’t Change Anything

JESSICA

TWO WEEKS AGO:

March 14, 2025: 7 p.m.

Alpha Kings Mansion

My thoughts tumble around in my mind while riding into the city. I remember Alpha Agnus’s funeral, the truth revealed about Anders being my biological father, the accusations of that dickhead Beta, Young Alpha Dimitri calling me Grit and informing me we were betrothed.

As much as I dislike Territory Two’s leaders, I always held a soft spot for that place. I don’t recall ever visiting, nor did I ever meet anyone from there. When they encountered financial hardship, I wanted to help—not for the leaders but for those in the pack. I never understood why I felt compelled to aid them. Now, I guess I understand. Apparently, I grew up there.

Then, I think of Luke. Why does he always come at me this way? If he’s not after me for some stupid made-up bullshit in his head, he blasts me with declarations of love. I cannot fall downthat rabbit hole again. I gave him my heart once. He took it, ripped it apart, and stomped on it.

I still feel his lips against mine, feel his touch. Even when I am so angry with him and I want to dig his eyeballs out with my claws, he still makes me melt, and I want to give him anything he wants, even if it hurts or breaks me.

“What’s the deal with you and Luke?” Odyssey asks.

“Stay out of my head, Odyssey.”

He chuckles. “Stop thinking about him, then.”

“I’m not.”

“Sure, you’re not.”

I glare at Odyssey next to me in the backseat.

“He loves you, Jessica. He really does. You should have seen the way he behaved when we arrived earlier. No one could touch you. He was so badly injured, but he insisted on caring for you first.”

Guilt curls its way into my gut. “I don’t want to talk about him right now.”

“Jessica, you need to talk to him. What you think happened—that’s not how it went down. He’s been agonizing over it for years.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “Why are you taking his side?”

He shrugs. “I’m not taking anyone’s side. There’s the truth, and there’s what you think happened. You need to hear the truth. You deserve to know that truth.”