The Cold Breakfast Bride novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: Not Yours to Undo

I didn't open the door.

I stood behind the counter in a gray Hatty's T-shirt and pajama shorts, a glass of water in my hand.

The neon turned his face pink.

"Jess. Please."

"It's two in the morning."

"I know what time it is. I haven't slept since you left."

"That's a month."

"I know."

The back door banged.

The night cook came in from his break smelling of cigarette and cold air.

He saw who was on the step and set his coffee down very carefully.

"Want me to call somebody, boss?"

"No," I said. "Stay."

I walked around the counter and unlocked the front door.

Treaty ground started at the step.

He could come in.

He couldn't make me do one thing once he did.

Cordell came in and stood in the middle of the black and white tiles like he didn't know where to put himself.

He'd lost weight.

His flannel shirt hung wrong at the shoulders.

"I tore them up," he said, and held out the papers.

"I see that."

"My wolf won't go near her. Since the morning you signed, he won't eat. He won't run. He lies down in front of the door to the kitchen and waits."

"For what?"

"For you to come down at six."

The night cook made a sound in his throat.

Cordell didn't look at him.

"I was wrong," he said again. "I want you to come home."

I set my glass on the counter.

"Say what you did."

"Jess..."

"Not to me. To him." I pointed at the night cook. "He doesn't know. Tell him what you did, and then we'll talk about wrong."

Cordell looked at the old man in the stained apron.

A packless wolf.

An Alpha didn't explain himself to a packless wolf.

I waited.

So did the night cook, arms folded over his belly.

"All of it," Cordell said finally. "Whatever she's already told you, it's true."

"I didn't ask what's true. Say what you did to this place."

His jaw worked.

"I bought her aunt's note. I bought the distributor. When my lodge called the inspector, I let them."

"And the doctor?"

"I signed the order to fire her."

"And the walk-in?"

"I didn't know about the walk-in." He looked at me. "I swear to you, I didn't know."

"And the claim?"

He didn't answer.

The compressor hummed out back.

"Say it."

"I filed to take your pup if you lose this place."

The night cook unfolded his arms and picked his coffee up again.

"Well," he said. "That's a list."

I picked up the torn papers off the counter.

My own signature, ripped down the middle.

Jessamy Oakes, in two pieces.

"Pack law says it's final when the rejected mate signs," I said. "Not when you feel bad."

"I can talk to the elder."

"You can tear up anything you want. You can't untear me."

"Jess..."

"Drop the claim. Tear up the note. Right now, in front of him."

His face closed.

I watched it happen.

"It's my pup," he said quietly.

"There it is."

"I'm not giving up my child because I made a mistake about its mother."

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