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“They demanded I come over for dinner. I went, wanting some closure. It turned into them pretending everything was just fine now and acted like I’d come crawling back. They made all of these plans in front of me. They blame you for all of the hate so they’re willing to do anything to bring you down now. Prepare for the worst.”
“What about you, then?” I asked. “What now?”
Bear met my eyes, his pale blue ones boring into me.
“I’ll be… around. I’ve said what I came to say. I’m going to stick around Lockwood but I understand if you don't want anything to do with me." he said with enough sadness I had to swallow down my emotions. "For what it’s worth, I never wanted this. I wanted you, not her.”
“Seriously, thank you. You should know, I chose them because of you. That’s why it hurt so much to be rejected like that.” I wasn’t saying I had forgiven him for the pain, I was telling him why I needed time to process this all.
The fact they were so hellbent on ruining my life because they fucked up their own was terrifying. His warning saved me from a hell of a shock. Now we had time to prepare how to handle the war to come.
And if they could find me?
So could the paparazzi.
Everything I had grown to love about this sleepy, little town was about to change and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it.
Walter’s shop would be a safe haven and with Tori in town along with Micah, I’d have allies.
But I would lose the sense of peace I felt here. At least for now. No longer was I that sweet, little accountant they’d rejected on that stage. I was a strong omega who had not only found her worth, but also found herself and a pack.
“I think we’ve all got some things to mull over,” Collin said. This time, his voice wasn’t angry, but tired. He took Bear’s phone from Atlas and walked it over to Bear.
They both froze at once and the phone fell to the floor, the thud echoing in the silence that followed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, anxiety thrumming under the surface now. What possibly could have happened to change the mood so swiftly?
“He’s my mate.” Collin’s words had my chest tightening painfully. My alpha took a single step away, spun on his heel, and walked out of the shop, leaving us all in disbelief.
My fated mate was now mated to one of the men who betrayed me.
Ellie
“Collin?” I’d driven to our current house and found nothing, then attempted to find him at the pack house that was still half finished. The moment I opened the door I was met by more silence. “Collin?”
“I’m back here.” The voice echoed from above me and I wound through the house until I found him sitting in the middle of the attic. Drop cloths lined the floor and only a few lights were working. It was a work in progress and my poor alpha sat in the middle looking completely and utterly lost.
My heart clenched as I sat down next to him, curling into his side. His hand went to my hair and he scratched my scalp gently.
His usual fresh-wood and smokey-campfire scent was clouded by his emotions. I could feel his unease through the bond now and it had my own stomach churning with nerves.
“Well, that was crazy.” The words were so absurd we both started cracking up.
“Just so you know I’d reject him in a second for you, Ellie,” he said emphatically. “He hurt you and that dooms us from the start.”
“Apparently, he didn’t. Not fully. Could he have said something then? Yes. But I don’t know… I can see why he would be scared now that I know the lengths they’re willing to go to clear their reputations. Maybe he didn’t feel safe,” I said.
“It’s so weird. Like… I want to hate him for everything,” Collin said quietly. I’d never heard his voice so somber and careful. “But there’s also this mate bond pulling me closer. I felt bad for him in there, when I looked into his eyes.”
“Is that why you ran?” I asked. He nodded and shrugged.
“It was complicated. My emotions were a mess and I didn’t want to do or say anything I’d regret. But hurting you? It’s not a fucking option, Ellie. I love you.”
A tear escaped at his words. We hadn’t shared the big ‘I love you’ yet, but one glance into his hazel eyes, and I knew he meant every single word.
“I love you, too.”
That had Collin pulling me into his lap and pressing his lips onto mine. The time for words had passed and both of us needed the reassurance that this new development wasn't going to pull us apart.
