Page 314 of Knot What I Expected

Silence. Not the reaction I'm expecting.

Then Rafe's voice changes.

“You don't blame yourself for that, do you, Rowan?”

I go still.

Gabby notices immediately. Her amber eyes lift to mine.

“What?”

“Prom,” Rafe says. “You don't actually think that was your fault?”

My hand tightens around the phone.

“I lost control.”

“No, you fucking didn't.”

I frown.

“What are you talking about?”

“They spiked the punch, Rowan.”

“I know.”

“No. I don't think you do. That wasn't beer or some stupid teenage prank. It was a magic brew. It riled up a bunch of Shifter teens that night. Aggression. Territorial instincts. Mating instincts. Everything got amplified.”

I don't move. Gabby's hand slips into mine. I grip it automatically.

“And your girl was deliberately trying to make you jealous,” Rafe continues. “She knew exactly which buttons she was pushing. Shit, I didn't know you blamed yourself all these years.”

My throat feels strangely tight.

“I went fucking crazy.”

“No, you didn't.”

“Rafe—”

“Rowan, listen to me. You did not go crazy and try to hurt them.”

Monster is utterly silent.

“What?”

“You were pissed. Your Wolf came forward. You scared the shit out of a few people, but you didn't attack anybody.”

My chest feels strange.

Like something that has been sitting there for years just...shifted.

“I remember⁠—”

“You remember being drugged with a magical substance designed to fuck with Shifter instincts. What you apparently don't remember is controlling yourself.”

I stare out the kitchen window.