“I’m sorry?—”
“You hurt me in ways that you can’t apologize for—in ways that you don’t even acknowledge. And there’s no undoing what you did. I was your insignificant other because that’s how you made me feel. No apology willevermake it right. It won’t erase the memories of how you degraded and berated me.”
“I’ll never hit you again. I swear it.”
“It’s not just about the hitting!” When Catcher barked at him again, I drew in a calming breath. “It’s all the times you made me starve at home to punish me for eating extra at dinner or insulting you with my tone. It’s every time you made me have sex with you when I didn’t want to. It’s every time you trashed my father’s memory. It’s every time you mocked my tears or shut me down. You gave me a directive on how to live my life. I was afraid of making you upset, and I was scared of being alone. My life became a series of decisions based on avoiding your punishments. Our relationship was an emotional land mine.”
“Goddammit, Cecilia, do you think you’re better off with a wolf?” He pointed angrily at Archer. “Look at what he did to me!” Noah showed me his cast. “He snapped my arm in two.”
I drew in a light gasp and looked back at Archer, who showed no remorse.
“Do you think you’re any safer with them?” He scoffed. “Look around. You don’t belong here.”
A growl ripped from Lakota’s throat when he put his front paws on the car.
“It’s not your decision to figure out where I belong anymore. I just want you to know how much you hurt me. I’ll never forgive you for what you did, and I only pray you fix yourself for the sake of anyone unlucky enough to wind up with you. And by the way,I’ve never talked about going to Canada. You obviously have me mixed up with some other girl.”
“What does it matter? You’re mad over a few arguments and some petty shit that doesn’t mean anything. You’re blowing it out of proportion and painting me as the bad guy. Who took care of you? Who loves you? Because here I am, standing on wolf territory and apologizing. Be a good girl and get in the car.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Did you wear the cast so I’d feel sorry for you?”
“They had me chained up in there!”
“That’s bullshit,” Archer fired back.
Noah got on all fours and winced when he put pressure on his arm. “Please, Cecilia. This is your last chance. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you let me walk away. I’m not coming back. That man the other night wasn’t me. I promise I’m cleaning up my act. No more drinking. It’ll be like it was before. Hell, it’ll be better. That much I swear. The commute was getting to me, and the job was shitty. I’ll find something else. No one will ever love you as good as I will. Come with me, baby.”
I drew near until we were an arm’s reach away. “I’m not your baby. You were an awful boyfriend, but I’m glad that’s all you were. I’m free. You’re just a memory to me now.”
“I took you in when no one else would! I paid your father’s debt. I leased a fucking building for your fantasy. Youoweme. I’ve spent years slaving to keep the little princess happy, but I can’t give you the life you’re accustomed to.”
“What life was I accustomed to? Living in a rental house with a historian? I led a quiet life, Noah. A reclusive life. I’ve never wanted more. The only thing that ever made me happy was having someone who cared about me—having a family. I had to stay home and look after my aging father. I didn’t make friends or go out to events. We lived in the human district, and I was afraid ifI invited anyone over, my father might accidentally shift when he was having one of his episodes.”
“You’ve never had to work a day in your fucking life, so what the hell do you know about sacrifice?”
Tak stood beside me. “Give me a reason to shift, tiger. You think I can’t feel your animal’s energy pushing at the seams? And quit blaming the alcohol. I know a monster when I see one.”
I backed up a step. “You have abysmal taste in music. I hate your hair. You’re lazy around the house and can’t be bothered to clean one glass. Have you ever done your own laundry? Have you ever done anything nice for a woman that wasn’t an apology? I especially hate that egocentric tattoo on your back.” After a few more steps away, courage filled me up. “And you were a terrible lover.”
Cheers from the women erupted behind me.
“Do you know how I know this?” I dared to look in the tiger’s eyes. “Because I’ve had a good lover, and he made me feel things you never could.”
Noah’s eyes blazed with fury. The wolves snapped at his heels, and he crossed to the other side of the car. “You’ll regret this, Cecilia. Someday you’ll wish you’d never opened that big fucking mouth of yours.” He jumped to the ground and climbed into the car. “My tiger’s gonna miss chasing your horse around!”
As soon as he started backing out, Archer shot out of nowhere and chased after him. Through the open window, he punched Noah. The wolves hurled their bodies against the vehicle, savagely barking and threatening to attack.
I drew back, anticipating his tiger’s emergence. Instead, Noah revved the engine to a deafening degree, turned around, and tore out of my life.
Tak walked to meet Archer, and the two of them spoke privately. Tak looked at me twice during their chat.
I’d finally said all the things I’d wanted to, and it was aweight off my shoulders. Having the last word empowered me, and yet at the same time, I wanted to crawl under the covers and mourn the past two years.
All eyes were on me, and my hands trembled.
Robyn closed in and offered me a gentle hug. “That was brave of you.”
Still shaken, my heart racing, I answered the group’s burning question. “Archer and I slept together. It happened months ago. Not that it’s anyone’s business, but it happened once.”
