Page 158 of The Ashpaw: Part One

Had Kyntha…?

No. She couldn’t have been lying. He would have sensed it.

But she allowed her own jealous heart to rule her, and he in turn had allowed it to rule him.

“And you know what the saddest thing about this is?”

Darion blinked, feeling a hot stinging sensation behind his eyes.

“She knew you wouldn’t tend her, and asked me to find a way to suppress it.”

He blinked again, longer this time. “And did you?” he asked, his voice almost cracking.

The healer snorted derisively. “I did what I could. She’s just taken a powerful sedative, a twilight sleep. She is awake, but only barely, and will not remember the pain when it ends.”

He began to pack up his things, checking on the omega again, whispering to her quietly.

She seemed lucid, but muted as she nodded to him, and Serich covered her nakedness with a blanket.

Then he rose and headed for the door, only stopping to address him.

“But just because her mind will forget, do not think the body is so forgiving.”

He leaned in further.

“You would be lucky if she ever went into heat again.”

Darion fell to his knees, barely hearing the door slam shut behind him.

“Gods…” he whispered. “What have I done?”

Chapter 37

Fern

Fern had washed ashore somewhere in between waking and sleep.

The room was hers, and she could feel her body, although the pain had mostly abated.

Her mind, however, floated freely, making everything feel like the strangest, saddest dream.

Her nest destroyed, her needs unmet, and her alpha…

He was here now, his clothing shed as he held her in her new floor nest. She had been crying out for him, hadn’t she?

But now, she wasn’t sure if she even wanted him anymore. He’d told her he wouldn’t come, after all.

And her wolf had finally written him off, both sides of her in agreement. He was…

“Oh, my sweet little omega…”

Untrustworthy.

She could not believe him.

Her mind turned away.

But then her body moved towards him.