was going to have to get really cozy with a man whom I despised. And I had to do so without vomiting all over him. Though now that I think about it, the idea does sound somewhat appealing. I tried to harden myself to the idea. Somewhere deep down inside myself, I knew that if I did this, a little part of me would die; a piece of my soul would wither and decay and I would never be the same for it. He would make me less of a person and I would allow it, all for the end game. I had to suck it up and swallow down the self-hatred I was feeling.
Mark must have seen the weary look in my eyes because his tone seemed to soften. “I wish I could take back the pain I did not prevent. But, Delaney, I can’t.” He took in a deep breath and then let it out. “I’ll live with the guilt of this for the rest of my life. Mitch could give two shits about the weres as a whole, or even this pack. He is all about power and amassing a ton of it through you.”
Just as I was about to ask him what that meant, he stood up and gave me a pointed look. Then he crossed to the door and walked out. I flopped back on the bed. My head was reeling from the knowledge of what I needed to do and my heart was aching for Reid. God, I did not want to do this. Even the new beast that wars inside me agreed that this would be the best way to get out of here and get as far as I could before he came after me. Not a minute later, another knock sounded at the door.
“Sorry, the party was canceled and the hookers have all gone home,” I called to the door. I knew who it was. There was only one male who smelled of leather and menace. Mitch. Well, it’s now or never. Ready to hate yourself forever? God, when did I become so cynical?
Oh yeah, when I was killed by the bastard I’m about to grind on.
I took a deep breath and sighed, “You don’t need me to invite you in, you’re not a damn vampire. And even if I did say no, you would …” I trailed off at the sound of the locks clicking and the door opening. Gods, help me .
I WASN’T SURE what I expected to see when he entered the room, but the look on his face was slightly crazed and crestfallen. What could he be so tortured about? He had beaten me once before and he certainly did not seem to feel anything other than smugness about it. Granted, it was tenfold worse this time. My guard shot up. Could he be feeling bad about what happened? I dismissed that thought as soon as it entered my mind. There was no way. He was incapable of feeling anything other than something that served him.
He walked over to me and knelt at the side of the bed where I sat. He reached up to run a finger along my face. I had to stifle a shudder of disgust. I couldn’t help but wince. His hand dropped next to me and he clenched it into a fist and then relaxed. He did this several times before I tore my attention away and looked at him. He was mixed with emotions. I couldn’t for the life of me read any of them.
“Delaney, I …” His voice was gruff and he seemed to choke on the words.
"Why are you here, Mitch? Did you come back to finish the job?" I couldn't keep the acid from my words. God, I needed to bury the hate I had for him so I could go find Reid.
Remember, Delaney, the end game. The end game is Reid.
“I regret what I did to you. I just want you and every time you deny me, I lose it.”
His words. They sounded like a lie. I didn’t believe he wanted me. He just wanted to use me and wanted what I could give him. I didn’t believe for one second Mitch’s end game was some government shit. I just didn’t know what it was.
Older werewolves can sometimes tell when someone is lying. Their ability was not consistent or perfect, but sometimes, if the person was outright lying, they could tell. I was going to have to get rather inventive when it came to these next words.
“Mitch, I forgive you.” For wearing that heinous shirt.
My tone was solemn. I had to convince him that I did, in fact,
Mark must have seen the weary look in my eyes because his tone seemed to soften. “I wish I could take back the pain I did not prevent. But, Delaney, I can’t.” He took in a deep breath and then let it out. “I’ll live with the guilt of this for the rest of my life. Mitch could give two shits about the weres as a whole, or even this pack. He is all about power and amassing a ton of it through you.”
Just as I was about to ask him what that meant, he stood up and gave me a pointed look. Then he crossed to the door and walked out. I flopped back on the bed. My head was reeling from the knowledge of what I needed to do and my heart was aching for Reid. God, I did not want to do this. Even the new beast that wars inside me agreed that this would be the best way to get out of here and get as far as I could before he came after me. Not a minute later, another knock sounded at the door.
“Sorry, the party was canceled and the hookers have all gone home,” I called to the door. I knew who it was. There was only one male who smelled of leather and menace. Mitch. Well, it’s now or never. Ready to hate yourself forever? God, when did I become so cynical?
Oh yeah, when I was killed by the bastard I’m about to grind on.
I took a deep breath and sighed, “You don’t need me to invite you in, you’re not a damn vampire. And even if I did say no, you would …” I trailed off at the sound of the locks clicking and the door opening. Gods, help me .
I WASN’T SURE what I expected to see when he entered the room, but the look on his face was slightly crazed and crestfallen. What could he be so tortured about? He had beaten me once before and he certainly did not seem to feel anything other than smugness about it. Granted, it was tenfold worse this time. My guard shot up. Could he be feeling bad about what happened? I dismissed that thought as soon as it entered my mind. There was no way. He was incapable of feeling anything other than something that served him.
He walked over to me and knelt at the side of the bed where I sat. He reached up to run a finger along my face. I had to stifle a shudder of disgust. I couldn’t help but wince. His hand dropped next to me and he clenched it into a fist and then relaxed. He did this several times before I tore my attention away and looked at him. He was mixed with emotions. I couldn’t for the life of me read any of them.
“Delaney, I …” His voice was gruff and he seemed to choke on the words.
"Why are you here, Mitch? Did you come back to finish the job?" I couldn't keep the acid from my words. God, I needed to bury the hate I had for him so I could go find Reid.
Remember, Delaney, the end game. The end game is Reid.
“I regret what I did to you. I just want you and every time you deny me, I lose it.”
His words. They sounded like a lie. I didn’t believe he wanted me. He just wanted to use me and wanted what I could give him. I didn’t believe for one second Mitch’s end game was some government shit. I just didn’t know what it was.
Older werewolves can sometimes tell when someone is lying. Their ability was not consistent or perfect, but sometimes, if the person was outright lying, they could tell. I was going to have to get rather inventive when it came to these next words.
“Mitch, I forgive you.” For wearing that heinous shirt.
My tone was solemn. I had to convince him that I did, in fact,
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