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“Baby, please—”
“Tell me the truth!”
“Okay! Yes, I lied!” He buried his fingers in his dark hair, his chest heaving. “But it was a lie of omission.”
“And that makes it right?”
“Of course not. But, baby, I didn’t take any, I swear.” His voice was pleading for understanding. “I wanted to, so badly. Just to help me cope, just one or two.”
She flinched. “I thought these past two weeks have been as wonderful for you as they’ve been for me. Why would you need the pills?”
“They have been! But that’s not what addiction is about. It’s the craving that’s driving me crazy. That’s what I’m having trouble coping with, don’t you see?”
“No. How could I? Because you didn’t confide in me. You lied to me.”
With hurried motions, he yanked his shirt back on. “I’m sorry. I wish I hadn’t kept them.”
She pushed to her feet. “But you did, and you didn’t tell me. Didn’t trust me to help you.”
“I do! I just wanted to handle it on my own,” he tried to explain. “Is that so wrong?”
“Are you kidding?” She stared at him, incredulous, and her voice rose as she went on. “Now I know I have a mate who’ll keep things from me as it suits him. If I can’t trust you, what do we have?”
The heartbreak on his face had her regretting her harsh words the instant they left her mouth. But she couldn’t take them back. Not fast enough to stop him from grabbing his jacket and motorcycle keys.
“Micah, wait.”
He shook off her hand and bolted, ignoring her pleas. She jogged after him, but he was fast, slamming the apartment door behind him. For a few seconds she considered going after him, but there was no catching him. Not when he was so upset. Besides, there was also no need to air their argument in front of other Pack members, which would surely happen if she caught up to him.
No, best to wait until he returned.
Please, come back, she said through their mental link. Let’s talk it out. I’m so sorry.
Nothing. He’d already shut her out, then.
r /> Disheartened, she walked into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Over and over, she replayed the incident, and the knot in her stomach grew. She’d mishandled things from the start. If she hadn’t been so tired and strung out from today—
No. That was no excuse for how she’d treated her mate. Instead of acting like an accusing bitch, she should’ve shown him understanding and support. He’d been through hell these past few weeks. Months, to tell the truth. How he was doing so well was a miracle.
Yes, he had lied by omission. But it was totally understandable that he might hang on to a few pills and have trouble resisting the terrible craving. Mac had warned it wouldn’t be easy for him to stay off of them.
Micah told her he had resisted taking them, and she believed him. He’d been strong enough not to give in.
And she’d upset him so badly, making him believe she had no faith in him.
“What have I done?”
Saddened, disappointed in herself, she hung her head, barely noticing the tears streaming down her cheeks.
* * *
Christ, what a day.
Nick was wrapping things up in his office, getting ready to join Calla in their quarters, when the vision hit.
The argument between Jacee and Micah had changed somewhat. It wasn’t quite as vicious as his previous visions, because Micah hadn’t used drugs again. He’d taken that much of Nick’s and Mac’s warnings to heart, and it was a damn good thing.
But the result was nearly the same. Nick knew instantly part of the vision had already taken place. The argument. Micah leaving, but not from Jacee’s house like before.
