I finally force myself to move, one leg after another, until I climb up the porch and stand before the door.
It’s yanked open, and Riot stares at me. For a second, I see agony in his eyes, and then the screen door is wrenched open, and he pulls me into his arms.
I’m so surprised I can’t do anything but stand there, fighting the urge to cry.
“Where did you go?” his hoarse whisper strips all the mental walls I’ve built and leaves me a trembling, broken mess.
I sob into his shoulder.
“Baby, where did you go? Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
I’m so hurt.
“I’m fine. I went to town because I needed to think.”
He strokes my back and drags me into the kitchen, putting me on the island.
Now I understand what that pain is; now I understand what that ache is inside my chest.
Knowing what the wound is doesn’t make it less painful.
It’s over. We’re over.
I hear a creak of wood and turn to see Hazard standing in the doorway. His eyes are red and puffy.
“Casey…”
I wipe away a tear that runs down my cheek. I can’t look away, but I don’t think I deserve to look at him at all.
“Can I see him?”
Hazard hesitates, and it’s that hesitation that shatters what little hope I had left.
“Okay.”
I follow him down the hall. He opens Angel’s door, and I walk in and kneel beside the bed.
I stare at his back for a long time. He knows I’m here, but he’s refusing to turn around.
Khaos runs his fingers over my shoulders and leaves the room.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
I shuffle closer and reach out. My fingers come so close to him, but, at the last minute, I pull my hand back.
“I’m sorry. I spent hours thinking, and I’ve come to two huge epiphanies. Drew, I would never, ever have done that intentionally. I need you to know that. You probably don’t want me anywhere near you. I get that. I totally understand that. So, I’m going to say this quickly and then I’m going to leave.”
He still doesn’t speak or move. He’s just lost; the whole room screams of pain. His scent is muted. I broke him.
“I went into town, and I sat at the coffee shop playing what happened over and over in my mind. And I’m making a choice for you. I’m making one for me and one for the pack. And I’m making it because I think I have to be the one.”
He still doesn’t move.
“I love you, Angel. I love all of you.”
His body tenses.
“I didn’t even recognize the feeling inside me. I haven’t felt those feelings in so long. So, feeling them completely threw me. Thank you for that.”
