A long, messed-up life,I thought flatly and shook my head, causing water to splash everywhere.
When I finally came up for air, it was to the scent of evergreens clouding my nostrils, the aroma instantly relaxing me.
At least until a faint whiff of blood taunted my senses.
Old blood.
Like rusted iron.I frowned.That’s strange.
Maybe I’d left some blood out somewhere. Except I could swear it was accompanied by the distinct smell of dying roses.
I flinched as old memories threatened to engulf my mind.Black roses, dried out and dead on my pillow. Splattered with blood.Hisblood.
I gagged, the odor so powerful I thought it was real.
But it couldn’t be.
He’s dead, I told myself.He’s fucking dead.
And I really needed to stop letting his memory haunt me.
I leaned as close to the water as I could without inhaling it and took a deep, calming breath.Evergreens. Safety. Warm.
My eyes fell closed, the sense of calmness rolling over me as I recalled Lorcan’s distinct purr. I’d heard it every time we’d entered the ice cave, the rumble one I’d never forget.
It was so loud in my mind, almost as though he were purring for me even now.
My Alpha,my wolf seemed to say.My protector.
I let her think what she wanted, not bothering to correct her this time. Because I much preferred this innocent obsession over the darkness of my past.
Evergreens instead of dead roses.
Purrs instead of blood.
An Alpha protector instead of an Alpha aggressor.
Leaning back in the tub, I finally turned on the jets. Then I let the salts chase away the lingering stench of rotting flowers.
Tomorrow, I’ll talk to Fritz again.
And tomorrow, I’ll go for another run. Alone. With no time spent in the cave.
My wolf and I had to forget these last few weeks.
And the only way to do that would be to move forward.
The past couldn’t be my present. No matter how hard it often tried.I’m alive. I’m free. And no Alpha will ever own me again. Not even a potentially good one.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
LORCAN
A Few Days Later
“It’s too easy,”I muttered, the words ones Kyra had said just the other day. “We’re missing something.”
Cillian stood beside me in a tux, his gaze on the crowd in the ballroom.
