“I told you, I’m damaged. I am not worth loving. You deserve better.”
Fire blazes in my chest as I take a step forward. “Don’t tell me what I deserve. You’re worth more than you know, Logan.”
His eyes close, and I watch as he takes in a breath. Hope fills my chest and I’m stupid so fucking stupid. I know it the second he opens his eyes.
“I’m sorry. Goodbye, Salena.” With those parting words, he turns and gets in his car.
My heart cracks at the rejection, at the sheer fact my mate doesn’t want me. I watch as he pulls out of the parking lot and onto the road. I watch until I can’t see his taillights anymore. As soon as they disappear, I break. I struggle to breathe, gasping for air as I double over. Pain lashes me from all sides as I fall to my knees in the snow, rain hammering down on me as I hang my head.
This isn’t fair. He belongs with me.
I hear the door to the bar bang open and sense Kai approaching. “Salena?”
I moan, unable to speak through the tears. Kai’s strong arms wrap around me, lifting me from the ground.
“What happened?” he asks, his voice low and filled with concern.
“Logan,” I hiccup. I can’t even finish the sentence. Exhaustion and despair overwhelm me.
Kai curses and carries me around the back and up the stairs to my apartment. He places me on the sofa and grabs me a blanket, wrapping it around my shoulders.
“I’m going to hunt him down,” he growls.
My voice is rough and barely above a whisper. “No.”
“But he is your mate. You didn’t even tell him, did you?”
His words are a knife to my heart. I gasp in anguish as the wordmatetears through me, leaving behind the tattered remains of my heart and soul.
“I don’t want him with me because of the mate bond. I wanted him to choose me!” I cry.
“But it–”
“No!!” I scream.
I stand, throwing the blanket to the floor and shifting. I let my animal take over, snarling at Kai, who holds his hands up, sadness reflecting in his eyes. Before he can say another word, I spin, jumping through the window. Glass shatters around me as I leap to the ground and take off across the parking lot to the woods. The ground is slippery from the rain and snow, and I slide, almost hitting a few cars as ice forms on the road.
I feel a cut along my belly, but I don’t care. The pain will give me something else to focus on, and I will heal in a few minutes. I run straight for the trees and along the road, keeping to the darkened woods. Sander is still in town; he’s been staying at the motel on the other side of Boulder. I need answers, and I need them now. Something isn’t right, and I just can’t believe Logan would willingly walk away like that. Something has to have happened.He said he loved me too. I wasn't imagining that right?
When I reach the motel twenty minutes later, my breathing is only slightly labored. I skirt the edge of the property, my ears pricked up, and listen. Not hearing anyone about, I quickly move around, smelling each room until I pick up Sander’s scent. I look around the empty parking lot and shift before straightening my clothes and smoothing my hair back. Sander swings open the door, and without speaking, grabs my arm and yanks me inside.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, quickly checking out the window. Turning, he takes one look at me and curses. “Are you alright?”
Looking down at myself, I see blood stains from the cuts that have now healed along my stomach. I’m sure my face is red and puffy from crying. I shrug. I’m not hurt, but I’m not alright.
“Where is he?” I ask, my voice wobbling.
Sander shakes his head and paces in front of the door. “He’s gone.”
My stomach twists, and I feel like I’m going to be sick. “Where?”
“I can’t say. I wish I could Salena, I do, but he told me not to say anything. This is something he has to do on his own.”
A low growl rumbles from my chest. “Do what on his own?”
Sander’s eyes widen. “He didn’t tell you?”
Anger replaces my misery. “Tell me what?” I say, taking a menacing step forward. When he doesn’t answer, I continue, “If it was your mate?”
