Chapter 78-1
Troy
Claim
“Would you have left me there? If the roles were reversed? Would you have come for me?”
When she rolled her eyes, I knew I’d hit the mark. She stopped believing in herself a long time ago.
Stopped believing that she was worth anything. It clouded every decision she made.
“I-It’s not the same,” she argued. “You have responsibilities. You are in charge of the largest pack
on this mountain, and you love it! I told you to let me go.”
“Have you so little faith in me that you don’t think I can protect you and my pack?”
“I think every second that I’m with you, we are all in danger. You. Me. The pack. Even if we do leave
this town, Morven will just find another way to take me. He doesn’t give up!”
“Neither do I!” I roared. I didn’t want to lose my temper, but I was so done with her flimsy excuses.
I am stronger than him, Kiana. He can try a thousand times. Or maybe, I kill him and rid us of the
problem entirely.”
“If you kill him, you could start a war.”
“I’ve all but declared war on him already, Kiana. I warned him of what would happen if he tried to
touch you again, and we both know he will. Morven is living with a ticking clock, and I’m at the end
of it. Now eat your damn soup.”
Eyes wide, she stared down at her soup and took another bite. There was a knock at the door.
“What?!” I snapped.
It opened, and Saul stepped in. “Only little old me. I thought I’d check on Kiana while she was
awake. If you could give us a moment.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then I would remind you that a, you are currently not my alpha, and, even if you were, my orders
supersede yours when it comes to patients.”
“It’s all right, Saul,” Kiana said with a small smile. “He’s feeling a little vulnerable, and you clearly just
came in here because you hear him yelling at me. We’re all right. There might be more yelling later,
but it’s good for us to clear the air.”
Saul stared at her for a moment and then nodded. “All right. How is your stomach feeling?”
“Good. The soup was a good choice. I don’t think I’ll have any trouble with it.”
WED
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OON
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< Chapter 78-1
Claim
“All right. I would like to look you over, but I can wait until after dinner. And after the air is cleared.” He shot me a sharp look and left the motel room.
Properly admonished, I lowered my head. “I’m sorry, Kiana. I shouldn’t be yelling at you. After
everything you went through…”
“Stop. Please, stop. I know you’re pissed at me. I’m pissed at you. We can yell for a little bit.”
“You’re pissed at me?” I asked.
“You closed the mating bond. I know why you had to do it, and I know why you had to take all those pictures with Willa, but it’s going to be awhile before I can stop seeing them in my mind. Before I can stop hearing her taunts. I left thinking that that is exactly what would happen.
You would realize that she was the better choice. It hurt, but I did it anyway. And when I was gone, I
realized that I’d made a huge mistake.”
“You did?”
“I don’t know that I would have made a different choice, or that I could have made a different choice, but I do know that I haven’t given you a chance. I haven’t given us a chance.
I’ve hated you. I’ve needed you. I’ve wanted you, but I haven’t trusted you, and that’s not entirely your fault.”
My chest squeezed. “It’s partly my fault. I haven’t given you many reasons to trust me.”
“That’s because you didn’t trust me.” She muttered softly.
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