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“It’s not just that,” he added, clenching his hands into fists. “The mating bond is strong—stronger than any other connection in the world. It shapes those under its influence. Drives them to protect and defend each other at all costs. It’s…”
All in all, it had proven to be a pain in his ass.
He could feel it, even now, bristling at the fear and unease that wafted from her like a bad stench. He had to bite his lip just to keep from reaching for her. Holding her. Touching her. Fuck, he had to drill his own nails into his palms just to keep from…
“What aren’t you telling me?” Her eyes were sharp, picking up on his hesitation.
Bill choked back a groan. “Ican’ttell you,” he said finally.
Call it weak or stupid—whatever. He couldn’t say it out loud and watch her reaction. Hecouldn’t.
“But…I can show you.”
He rose and moved toward her as cautiously as a soldier navigating an active minefield. To his surprise, she didn’t flinch when he offered his hand.
It hung in the air for a long while before she finally took it, pulling herself upright. Bill had enough sense to turn away as she stooped for the sheet and wrapped it around her trembling frame.
“Tell me,” she whispered, facing him from beneath that curtain of hair. “Please.”
Bill couldn’t help himself. Fingers shaking, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Just this once. One last feel of her delicate muscles flexing beneath his palm before he lost her forever. Her scent teased the air, and his nostrils flared, desperate for one last whiff. Against every ounce of logic in his brain, he leaned in, allowing his mouth to brush the corner of her jaw before settling near her ear.
“I’m sorry,” he rasped.
And then…
He just let go.
Finally, releasing her memories was easier than he ever would have thought. It was like a weight being lifted off his shoulders. A relief. He could finallybreathewithout that darkness at the back of his mind. Though, he would have gladly kept that pain for eternity to prevent the strangled sob that broke from her.
Her eyes widened, glistening as the memories returned faster than she could handle them all. Even now, Bill couldn’t bring himself to go through the worst of them—but he could guess fair enough.
It was too late to change his mind, but as her expression fell, he would have given anything to do just that.
23
Loren swayed on her feet, knowing that his grip was the only thing holding her upright. But rather than comfort, his touch repelled her, confused her, irritated...
She recoiled as a tangled mass of memories overwhelmed her all at once. In a distorted slideshow, they ran through her brain, each one more painful than the last.
McGoven. Fred Connors. Uncle Bart.
Punctuating them at random intervals were the recovered instances of her mother, and the terrifying figure from her nightmares, now with a face.
It was like waking up from a hazy dream when she hadn’t even been aware that she’d been sleeping. She could only stare into McGoven’s silver eyes and attempt to process the various emotions rising within her.
Everything was…
Too clear.
Too sharp.
Toomuch.
Rage. Anger. Hate. Pain. Fear.
More pain.
