He didn’t say anything more, and we continued to stare at each other. I’d hurt him.
“I’m sorry,” I exclaimed. “I should’ve come right to you. Please give me a chance to explain. I know you don’t want me, but please give me a chance.”
“Don’t want you? When did I say I didn’t want you?” Zander asked.
“You pulled out of my arms and told me no. I know I mess—”
“Colin,” Zander interrupted. “I didn’t pull away because I didn’t want you.”
“You didn’t?”
Zander shook his head. “I messed up, too. I should’ve let you explain things the day we met. I was stupid. I realized my stupidity too late, though. You were gone by the time I flashed back. I knew I wanted you and needed to make up for it.”
“Then why did you push me away?” I asked.
Zander didn’t reply and bowed his head. He let loose a sigh and peered up at me through his eyelashes. He raised his hand and snapped. My heart stopped and tears burned in my eyes. His shirt was gone, and his vibrant skin was now dull, but that wasn’t what caused my tears.
My fingers trembled as they traced the dark, painful-looking marks on Zander’s body, each bruise a testament to his ordeal. The marks were on his neck, arms, and stomach—they were everywhere.
“What happened?”
I looked behind Zander, and Zander turned his head. Reggie walked into the kitchen. He raised his hand and softly touched the wounded flesh as I had done seconds before.
“What happened?” Reggie asked again.
I’d seen wounds like this before. I’d seen a body that was ravaged by vampire bites. Would this scare my human mate?
“Daren and his friends. I thought they killed me,” Zander whispered.
So many emotions flooded my body, burning hot rage and sorrow, but the chief feeling was guilt. If I’d acted, Zander would never have been hurt.
“What did they do to you?” Reggie asked.
“They’re vampire bites,” I said, finding my voice.
Reggie twirled around with wide eyes. “V-vampire bites?”
“They normally don’t leave marks,” Zander said.
Reggie jerked his gaze back to Zander. “What? But—”
Zander shook his head and clasped Reggie’s hand. “A vampire’s bite is usually a very pleasurable experience and doesn’t leave a mark. These vampires wanted to drain me.”
“Pleasurable. That doesn’t—” Reggie stopped mid-sentence and looked back at me. “Will you need to bite me?”
I nodded. “Yes. I need blood to survive. But my bites are not like what you see. I’d never hurt you—either of you.”
I hurried around the counter and fell to my knees in front of my mates, sobbing. “Please believe me.”
I couldn’t stop my tears. I cried for all the mistakes I’d made. For not being here for Zander. For not stopping Daren. A soft hand touched my hair, and I glanced up.
“I know,” Zander said.
“But if I was here—”
“No,” Zander said, interrupting me. He reached down and pulled me up to my feet before continuing. “I didn’t show you these scars to frighten you, Reggie, or deny or blame you, Colin. I revealed them to explain. I freaked out earlier because when you kissed my neck, Colin. Your fangs scraped my skin, and I had flashes of that day—of the attack. I wasn’t rejecting you.”
“I’d understand if you did. Look what I’ve—”
