Jax drops his head. Logan steps forward. “Sienna—,”
“Andyou,” I say coldly, taking in his soulful, kicked-puppy eyes. “All I asked for was the truth. And after everything, you still lied to me.”
“Sienna,” Tristan leans forward. “You’re sick. I know you don’t want us close, and I do not blame you. But we can help you.”
“I don’t want your help. I’ve seen what it looks like.”
“But—,”
“I choose this.” My words cut Tristan off. “I would choose this over and over, and over again over your so-calledhelp.”
Tristan pales, but I’m not finished.
“I would have given you everything,” I whisper. “But I have nothing left to give. You can live with your mistakes, Tristan. Because I won’t be. Go home. There isnothingfor you here.”
They’re silent as I turn my back on them, Jess and Emmett spreading out to put a barrier between us as I shuffle towards the stairs.
“I told you before,” Tristan calls out. I pause, my hand shaking on the handrail. “Hate me if you want to, Sienna. But we’re not leaving.”
I don’t acknowledge his words, dragging myself up to the small haven of our room as Jess follows me. She doesn’t say anything, uncharacteristically silent as she tugs the blankets over me.
When I meet her eyes, she looks away. “Si—,”
“No.” My resolve is firmer than the shaking in my voice. “No, Jess.”
Her shoulders slump, but she doesn’t say anything else as I roll over and close my eyes.
I meant every word. I have nothing left for the Cohen pack. I’ll see myself through the Soul Bond.
And even if I can’t… I’d choose short-term agony over a life filled with nothing but pain.
15
JAX
All four of us are struck dumb as we watch our Soul Bonded walk away from us.
Shortcake.
She’s so much thinner than she was even a few days ago. The sharp, pointed edges of her elbows poke out of her shirtsleeves as she shuffles away. Jessalyn swings her head between us and Sienna, clearly torn between laying into us and going after her.
“Leave,” she says finally. “Please.”
Tristan shakes his head. “We can’t do that, Jessalyn. We won’t. We’re not leaving her again.”
The harpy frowns. “She doesn’t want you.”
“Maybe not,” Tristan admits. “We understand that. But we’re not going to sit back and watch her wither away, Jessalyn. We’re Soul Bonded. She needs us close. Her mother told us that before she left.”
Jess pauses, and I see a flicker of indecision on her face. “Helena did?”
He nods. “We’re not here to hurt her, Jess. I swear it.”
Jess glances behind her, takes a step away. “She doesn’t want you. If it wasn’t for the Soul Bond—,”
“We know. But we are Soul Bonded. That has to mean something.”
I see the moment Jess stiffens. “Pity it didn’t mean anything to you sooner. The only reason we’re here, the only reason my best friend is looking more like a corpse every day is because of you and your pack.”
