Chapter 52
ACE’S POV
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I saw the confusion in her eyes when I said those words. Slowly, that confusion turned into worry.
“I’m so sorry for everything that has happened to you,” I said again. “I’m so sorry.” The words kept coming out, over and over, like I couldn’t stop myself.
“What are you sorry for?” she asked softly. “You haven’t done anything wrong to me.”
Her eyes shone with so much care as she stroked my cheek, and it nearly broke me.
“If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have gone through all this,” I said, my voice breaking. “The constant attacks, all of it is because of me. And I hate myself for that.” I was right on the edge of breaking down. And the woman I had treated in the worst way possible years ago was the same woman holding me together.
When Damien told me that an accident might have been the reason Charlotte lost her memories, I didn’t think too much about it. But after hearing Kathryn that morning, and finding out the accident had been planned, I lost every bit of control I had left.
I had no right to be here. No right to touch her, to be this close, or to have her care for me like this. I didn’t deserve any of it. She had been pushed off a cliff. It was a miracle Alpha Graves saw her in time and saved her. She would have died, along with our son.
She shook her head slowly. “I don’t blame you for any of this, Ace. Back in the Brimstone pack, we get attacked too, and we fight back. Rogues, different creatures, even other packs attacks, all of it. You don’t have to carry everything on your head.”
I wrapped my arms around her small waist, pulling her closer to my chest. Then I lifted my hand, circling my finger and thumb under her chin, gently forcing her to look at me.
‘God, I love you. I love you so much it hurts,‘ I said in my head. I wanted to say it out loud, wanted her to hear it, but I held myself back. Images of the first night we spent together filled my mind.
That night, I had let myself go. I had always been careful around her, pretending I wasn’t affected, that I didn’t feel anything for her. But that night, I completely gave in and we made love. That was the best night of my life and I messed it up in the morning. I often wondered if things would have been different if I had admitted the truth then, if I had told her I liked her, that I had been fighting my feelings for her for so long.
Instead, I was mean to her, I called her cheap. I accused her of sleeping around, when she had just given me her innocence. My wolf was furious with me after that incident. He shut me out for days for hurting our mate with my words, it was worse after I rejected her. And as if that wasn’t enough, I went ahead and got engaged to her sister the very next day. I had to be the worst Alpha alive.
“Yes, you were,” my wolf said in my head. “But you’ve got to stop feeling so sorry for yourself.”
“What if she had died that night?” I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. “She wouldn’t be sitting right here.”
“But she is,” he replied. “Thank goodness. Now it’s time to make things right.” Then he went silent.
9:00 Wed, Feb 11
Chapter 52
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If I was ever going to make it up to her, I had to start by creating new memories. Maybe one day, when her memories came back, and I was certain it would be sooner than I imagined, she wouldn’t hate me so much. Maybe she would remember the good new moments too, not just all the bad ones I created out of my own stupidity.
With my finger still under her chin, I pulled her closer until there was no space left between us. I brushed my lips against hers, in a soft feathery manner, like I was asking for permission. The kiss was light at first, my mouth moving slowly against hers. I tasted her breath, felt the warmth of her lips, and it made my heart beat like crazy.
I ran my tongue along her lower lip, slow and teasing. She gasped quietly, the sound barely leaving her mouth, and that was all it took. I took the chance, deepening the kiss, slipping my tongue into her mouth. She met me there, hesitant at first, then bolder, her lips moving back against mine. Our mouths moved together, slow, then hungry, like we were both trying to say things we couldn’t put into words. Our tongues fought for dominance and I won.
My hand slid from her chin to her waist, holding her closer as the kiss grew deeper. Her lips were soft, warm, and addictive. I pulled back just enough to breathe, my forehead resting against hers.
“Please,” I whispered against her lips, my voice deep and rough. “Tell me to stop.” My eyes looked at her. “Because I won’t be able to stop myself.”
darkened as I
I lowered my mouth to her neck, pressing soft kisses there, slow and lingering. I breathed her in, my lips brushing over the spot where I should have marked her, where my wolf wanted her the most. My teeth grazed her skin, sucking her sweet spot, just enough to make her shiver in my arms. I felt my control slipping, my wolf pushing close, my eyes burning with desire. Then she placed her hands on my chest and pushed lightly.
We stayed there, still holding each other, both of us breathing hard, our chests rising and falling together in the quiet room.
Our foreheads rested against each other.
“I’m crazy about you, baby,” my voice came out as a low growl instead of soft as I wanted it to. “I burn for you, and I want you to see how much you affect me.” I took her hand and pressed it against my chest. She gasped when she felt how wildly my heart was beating for her.
“This is what you do to me, baby,” I whispered. “You make me lose my mind, you make me unable to think straight and I love it. I love being around you. You intoxicate me, my sweet addiction.”
I kissed her again, slowly and deeply. Then I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.
“No matter what happens in the future, I want you to always remember that you mean the world to me. I’ll do anything to earn your love and your trust.”
I lifted her off the floor and carried her to the bed. She curled into my arms and fell asleep not long after. I stayed awake, watching her breathe, memorizing her face like I was afraid I would really lose her for the second time.
First thing after the festival, I need to send Moon the divorce papers. It’s not going to be easy. I know Moon, she would fight it with everything she has, she’ll go to the elders and the ends of the earth to get me back. Then there are the elders, some of them are already against me. They believe Gavin is the better choice. I’ll have to set it straight with this fight, get mentally and physically prepared. I wasn’t scared of losing to Gavin,
9:00 Wed, Feb 11
Chapter 52
it’s not possible,
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Losing to Gavin would feel like giving up on my love for Charlotte, and that is never going to happen. I also have to make sure they never meet each other, not yet. At least not until she gets her memories back. I don’t trust Gavin. I know if he speaks to her, he would tell her the truth in the worst possible way. And Charlotte, who possibly does not love me the way I love her yet, would end up hating me even faster.
“I’m going to make everything right,” I whispered into her car. Then I finally let sleep take over.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
