“He was starving you to death, Robin. You really needed help when I left you here with the doctors.”
“I know,” she admits, after a second of hesitation. “Colleen decided what I could and couldn’t eat. I think she was trying to make sure I wasn’t healthy or attractive enough to be sold, because she did other things to make me look ugly when I was younger. She was only trying to help me. I don’t think she was trying to hurt me. She wouldn’t have done that.”
I didn’t think I could hate Ivan Hamilton any more than I already do, but after hearing what Robin went through because of him, I’m shaking with rage. Clenching my jaw, I let her hand drop out of my grasp and I turn away from her while I try to contain my anger.
The usual steps feel useless, but I go through them anyway.
As I suspect, they don’t work. I grind my teeth.
“I’m better now,” she tells me, a hint of uncertainty in her soft voice. “A lot better.”
She is, and she doesn’t need to meet the monster that lives inside you.
So, put it the fuck away and pull your stupid ass together.
This woman needs you.
Sighing out a heavy breath, I turn back to find her with her arms crossed, her gaze worried while she waits for me to explain. She’s owed an explanation.
Even if it messes things up for me and my pack, I need to be honest.
I clear my throat. “I’m sorry. When I get angry, sometimes I need a minute.”
“You got angry?” she sounds surprised.
“It’s kind of hard not to,” I admit. “Hearing about what you went through …”
“But, I didn’t … I didn’t go through anything.” She shrugs.
I blink, and then I study her face closely.
She really believes what she’s saying.
She hasn’t had time to process what happened.
That’s the only answer that fits.
I let out a relieved sigh.
She didn’t have to go through that alone, at least.
My pack will have the chance to be there when it hits her.
If I needed more proof that this was a fated connection, I have it.
She smiles and offers me her hand again. “Let’s go tell Lana we’re having lunch in the cafeteria.”
I nod slowly as I reach out and curl my fingers around hers.
She leads the way, and I follow her down the garden path.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Robin
Falcon is a silent presence at my side as we move toward the academy’s garden entrance point.
The glimpses I steal are enough to tell me something’s on his mind.
