You Wouldn't Dare (Khaos Trilogy Book 1), стр. 59

“You already did,” he whispered, low enough for only my ears to pick up. The last remaining piece of my heart shattered into a million pieces as his armour slipped for that brief moment and I saw the raw emotion, heard the burning hurt in his words.

“I don’t want him, Khaos, I want you. From the moment we met, it’s always been you!”

“I don’t believe you. It’s me because it has to be. You no longer have a choice now Logan is gone. You’ve proven to me twice now that you will choose Logan over me, why else haven’t we completed the mating? Because you didn’t want to, Violet. Remember that. I told you we would do it when you were ready, and never once did you want anything other than sex. All it would have taken was one word, one small action to show me that you were ready for a life with me, and not just horny and desperate. I offered everything I have, and it wasn’t good enough.”

“It was good enough! It is good enough! Don’t let this ruin us, don’t let it destroy everything we’ve worked so hard to build.”

“It’s too late. You ruined us; you destroyed my trust in you. What would have happened if I hadn’t returned when I did? Would I even have had my mate to return to? Would you have bothered to say goodbye?”

A few of the more dominant wolves shouted, calling out to their Alpha as they felt the hurt over the bond. The shouts grew louder as more and more wolves joined in, demanding that I be punished or thrown out, left to fend for myself. Even Jasmine looked at me with disdain, her face dark with anger and her own hurt for the lost friendship we had been forging. I looked down at the ground, sobbing openly, not knowing how to make this pain end.

I felt Khaos gently lift my chin until our gazes locked. Before he could say anything, I burst out, “I love you, Khaos, I would never intentionally hurt you. I was telling Logan exactly that when he kissed me! I pushed him away, Khaos! You need to believe me.”

He stepped back, gesturing towards the guards. “Just take her. Lock her in my room. Leave the key on the desk in my office, I’ll deal with her later.”

The nearest guard attempted to reach out for me, but I shrugged him off, willingly going with them as they escorted me out. At the last minute, I turned back to Khaos.

“You’re going to be incredibly sad and lonely if this is the way you’re choosing to end things. You know me, look past your own hurt and stubbornness for five minutes and you’ll see I’m telling the truth. You’re blinded by your hatred and obsession for Logan, but have you seen his death affect me at all? Think about that.”

I was beginning to think this wasn’t worth it at all. As sweet as he could be, I couldn’t live this life, constantly terrified of his lack of trust in me. Logan’s parents had lost their son, I had lost my childhood best friend, but all that mattered was how Khaos was hurting.

Yes, Logan fucked up, but did that mean he deserved to die like that? He wouldn’t even get a proper burial. Khaos fully intended to leave him to rot in those woods. His parents would never know what had happened.

How many more people were destined to die for the sake of Khaos and me?

“Come on, Lu… Violet,” the guard corrected himself, looking down at the floor sheepishly.

I gave him a filthy look before turning to Khaos once more. “Whilst you’re busy hating me, calling me out for my sins, you would do well to think of how it was Logan managed to get onto pack grounds. I certainly didn’t sneak him in. There’s a weak link in your armour, Khaos, and someone far more sinister than Logan will take advantage of that one day.”

I flinched as the door slammed shut behind me, leaving me alone with the guards who couldn’t stand to look at me.

I lifted my chin, straightening my spine. I hadn’t done eighteen years under Amanda’s thumb without learning dignity and control in a time of crisis. This pack would not break me, and never again would they see me cry.

The guards returned me to my room. Khaos left strict instructions that no one was to speak to me, no one was to ask about me, and no one was to offer any help. After everything Khaos and I had been working towards, I was back where I first started.

Alone.

I refused to feel sorry for myself, though. I would not let him break me like this. I had to find a way to pick up the remnants of my self-respect and get past the hurt and betrayal, and find the strong person that lived inside me.

My wolf howled as I climbed into bed, needing to feel her mate by her side. She had gotten so used to Khaos being nearby, always ready to soothe her fears and lessen her anxiety.

She was terrified that he would leave her. I had let her down so badly.

“I’m sorry, girl,” I whispered to her before sliding under the covers and falling into a restless sleep.

I woke up in the midst of a fever, my body burning from the inside out. I clutched at my dry throat as another wave of heat blistered through me, every inch of my skin coming alive in mind-numbing tingles.

No, no, no, not now. Please not now, I silently begged, knowing it was useless.

The Heat was here.