Page 141 of Moonlight & Mayhem

Chrome's jaw tightened. “Then the mates are separated.”

“Forcefully, I’m assuming,” she said.

“Yes,” he said.

“That's barbaric,” she hissed.

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed.

“What if the Holly Ridge wolf chooses the outsider?” she asked.

Chrome looked at her. “They don't get to.”

Chris stared at him. “Everyone gets to choose.” Something inside him cracked, because that was Christmas. She said things like that as though they were obvious—as though the world had always worked that way. Everyone gets to choose, but Elias hadn't. Chrome hadn't—not until he'd run.

Chris turned toward him. “You chose.”

“What?” he asked.

“You left,” she said. “You got out.”

“Barely,” he admitted.

“But you did.”

Chrome looked away. “You don't know what I did to get out.”

“Does it matter?” she asked.

“Yes,” he breathed.

“To you, maybe.” He looked at her, and Chris shrugged. “If someone tried to keep me somewhere against my will, I'd do whatever I had to do to escape.”

“You don't know what you're saying,” he insisted.

“I know exactly what I'm saying.”

“No.” Chrome's voice sharpened. “You don't.” Chris stared at him. He shouldn't tell her—not tonight, and maybe never. But tomorrow he was taking her back there, and she deserved the truth.

“I killed my father,” he almost whispered. Chris didn't move. Chrome waited for disgust or fear—anything.

Instead, she asked, “Was he trying to stop you from leaving?”

Chrome swallowed. “Yes.”

“Did he kill your brother?” she asked.

“Yes,” he breathed.

Chris nodded. “Then I'm sorry you had to carry that.”

Chrome stared at her. “What?”

“You heard me,” she said.

“You don't think I'm a monster?” he asked.

She snorted. “Chrome, we're wolf shifters in motorcycle clubs.” He almost laughed, and she continued. “You killed a man who murdered your brother and was trying to keep you prisoner.”