After My Alpha Drugged Me for Ten Years novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Reckoning in the Dark

Rowan's hand stayed flat on my back long after the runner's engine faded down the road.

Neither of us moved.

The new bond burned warm in my neck, and under it was something old and sharp that I hadn't let myself touch.

"You didn't come," I said.

His hand went still.

"For ten years you had my face and a name and a whole mountain of wolves. You didn't come."

"No," he said. "I didn't."

I sat up and pulled a blanket over my knees.

"Say why."

"Because Ramsay sent flowers and a grave stone, and I believed a man with a crest on his collar."

His voice was low and level, and he looked straight at me.

"I stood at that stone for an hour, and every part of me said it was wrong. Then I drove home and let it be wrong for six years."

"What about the four years before that?"

"His people said you were resting and wanted no calls. I took it. I told myself it was your choice."

"My choice."

I shoved his chest with both hands.

He rocked back and came forward again and didn't lift his arms.

I shoved him again, harder, and then again, and he took every one with his jaw tight.

"I said your number in my head every night," I said. "Every single night, and nobody ever picked up."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry yet." My voice cracked. "Be here."

"I'm here."

I put my forehead against his collarbone, and he finally put his arms around me.

"Good," I said into his skin. "That's the answer I wanted."

Trudy's voice floated through the door.

"If you two are done being tragic, I brought clothes."

The door opened a crack, and a duffel bag landed on the planks.

"Trudy," Rowan said.

"I smelled you from the road." She looked at the ceiling with great dignity. "The whole creek smelled you. Dress. The Court sits at sunrise, and I'm not above carrying you both in."

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