“Not everyone cares about power imbalances.”
Understanding flashes across his face, hardening any vaguely soft edges. “Tell me who he is. Tell me who hurt you.”
Always back to this.
“Never.”
I force my hands to fall and my feet to step away.
There’s so much more than space between us. There’s my distrust. My fear. Roderick’s prejudice.
But there’s also his honor. What chaos would erupt if I let myself ignore everything else and become someone special to him, and then he discovered the truth about my past?
Could I fall for a man and never tell him my real name? Could a stubborn alpha give up the hunt for my truths?
If he couldn’t, there’s no telling what might happen.
What blood would be shed.
“I’m going back to work.”
I grab my empty, broken lunch box and take a step toward the building. As I do, the corner knocks against my bag of chips. I watch the scene as if in slow motion, and there’s nothing I can do to keep my foot from landing directly on the final bit of my lunch.
The bag pops.
The chips crush.
My shoulders sag, and I fight the urge to cry.
Maybe it’s the defeated look on my face, or maybe my words have finally sank in. But whatever the cause, Roderick stays silent and lets me trudge away.
Fifteen minutes later, in the last bit of my break, I’m sitting at my desk, trying to convince myself a Snickers bar will keep me full until the end of the workday.
My office phone rings, and when I pick it up, Odina is on the other end.
“There’s a bag at the front desk with your name on it.”
“What?”
“A bag of food. Looks like it’s from The Wild Rabbit.”
Could he have …
“Be right there.”
When I reach the circulation desk, my boss hands over the brown paper bag withJulietwritten in blocky, no-nonsense letters beneath the logo of The Wild Rabbit.
“Why don’t you take a few extra minutes to eat?” Odina offers.
Numbly, I nod, then follow my urge to head outside. There’s no motorcycle in the parking lot. No sign that this gift is from Roderick.
But when I open up the bag to find a turkey sandwich, an apple, a bag of chips, and a large chocolate chip cookie, I have no doubt.
Even when I turned him down flat, the werewolf was kind.
27
RODERICK
