Page 98 of Savage Surrender

The line between Weller’s brows deepens.

“I remember.”

“I told you I could live with being argued with. I told you I couldn’t live with being managed, and you looked me in the face and agreed.”

“I broke your trust and I’m sorry.”

“Sorry doesn’t do much when you’d make the same choice again.”

The only sound is the hot pan ticking against the cooling stove.

“We should’ve told you. Freddie wasn’t going to be able to leave if you were awake and trying to come with him.”

“So now we weaponize knots?”

“If he had to choose between you and his mother, he would choose you, and you would choose her.”

My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. Fuck.

But it doesn’t make this okay.

“Did you forget I’m the one who saved your asses?” My voice keeps growing louder and I can’t stop. “You would still be with Whitney if I hadn’t come back.”

“I haven’t forgotten anything.”

“Then why does it feel like my work ended when I got you out?”

Weller’s eyes narrow. “Your work?”

Tristan shifts in the doorway.

“At the refuge, I had a team. They asked my opinion before they made a plan. I trained. I hunted. I kept track of supplies and medicine. I kept watch. People expected me to show up because I was good at things that mattered.”

“You matter here.”

“Are you deliberately missing the point?”

Weller’s nostrils flare. “Your usefulness is not the price of belonging to us.”

“I didn’t say it was. Jesus Christ, stop dancing around the issue.” I yank Tristan’s shirt away from my thighs where it has stuck to my skin. “I want to be part of a team, not sitting on a pedestal like those ugly fucking sculptures you had in the penthouse.”

“I refuse to have you bleeding for this pack.”

“Then what is my purpose, Weller?”

“You’re our mate.”

He reaches for me, but I slap his hand away hard and the sound cracks through the kitchen.

“I love the sound of it. I’ve wanted it my whole life. But being your mate doesn’t give you the right to strip away the parts of me that make you uncomfortable.”

“Bianca—”

“No. You’re not turning my name into a command right now.”

I walk away before he can answer.

Neither of them follows me into my nest. The lock catches on my second try because my hands won’t stop trembling.