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Could there be more to this?
I wanted, so desperately for that to be true. There were more papers in that stack, maybe papers that had more story to tell…
But if I gambled on that truth, I might be dark bonded by tomorrow.
TWELVE
SHATTER
I pretended to sort out my pillows when Dusk and Ransom arrived at my room. Umbra wasn’t there, thankfully. I didn’t know how I’d face Umbra. Umbra had always been different… like me.
My heart ached, and I didn’t know how much was heartbreak, and how much was fear.
I tucked Ransom in, forcing back my grief, unable to help cuddling close to him once again. There was a frown creasing his brows as he looked down at me, and he lifted a hand, stroking my cheek with his knuckle. For a strange moment, I thought he was going to open his mouth to speak.
He held me tighter as I tried to pull from his arms, a low whine in his throat as if he knew I was leaving.
“No matter what happens, you’re going to be okay.”
It mattered to me more than it had any right to. He wasn’t my mate, but I had to make sure he was okay. I’d tell Roxy it had tobe a part of the plan we made: somehow, Ransom would wake up. He was a part of this, but not by choice.
Myalpha…
The one I’d claimed. The one I’d saved. It was almost enough to change my mind.
But I had to leave now, or I might never.
“I’m not scared of a bond with you,” I whispered to Ransom. “I just… I don’t know if he’s who…” My chin quivered. “Who I think he is.”
The man I’d been about to hand everything to.
Yet, all he’d ever said and promised might have been a lie.
Ransom was still frowning, but I peeled his grip away. He tugged me back to him, desperation in his deep green eyes.
“I can’t.” There were tears in my eyes. “P-please let me go. I promise to come back for you. I just… I need Roxy to help me figure this out.”
I would be safe when I was with her. That’s what friends did in emergencies. They protected each other, and I think she would do it for me. I didn’t know what it involved, but she was really clever and kind. Dusk would never come and dark bond me in front of her.
W-would he?
They both knew I was gold pack now.
Surprising me, Ransom pulled me closer, cupping my cheeks with both hands and drawing me into a kiss. I clung to him for a second, inhaling his scent, a cool forest after rain, lily of the valley making me feel so safe. And then, when he drew back, he let me go.
Stifling my sob, I grabbed my pencil case and hurried from the room. Dusk was down in the living room, and it wasn’t hard to cross to his room without being noticed.
The folder and its contents were no longer on the bed. I didn’t dare spend more than a minute looking around for it,hoping I could get the rest, but the shadows of the dim room revealed nothing. I stopped when I saw the iron safe in his closet.
Within, I knew, must be the pages. Information that could, perhaps, change what I’d seen?
But it was out of reach, and I might never get away if I didn’t go now. I fumbled for the window that was still unlocked just like I’d left it, picking up my pencil case from the sill before I climbed through.
I wiped a tear on my sleeve as I slipped into the cool night air.
The metal fire escape was just to the right of his room, and it wasn’t a hard climb, even with shaking hands. I tried not to think at all as I dragged myself over the railing. It was cool out, and the early evening air was heavy with the promise of rain.
I had to wait until I got to Roxy before I panicked.
