Maybe I should be sleeping on the couch!
Lexa slurps a little as she drains the last of the cocoa from the cup, then crumbles the last cookie into her mouth. I put allmy effort into staying still, wondering what she’s going to do next.
If I had thought of it, I could have found her something to wear.
I decide that if she attempts to put her old clothes back on, I’ll admit that I’m not really asleep and get up to find her something to wear. Even if my clothes are too big, I’m sure I can find a sweater or pants that would do for the night.
There is a lightthunkas she puts the cup down. When she stands up, my ears follow the sounds so I can hear what she’s doing.
I hear a rustle as she pulls the towel off, then tosses it over a chair. Her soft footsteps return to the bed, and the blankets crinkle against the sheets when she pulls them back.
Lexa slips into bed.
Naked.
She’s so close to me, I can feel the heat rising from her skin. Her scent is all around me, in my nose and painting the back of my throat. My mouth is watering so bad, I feel like I’m going to start drooling like a rabid dog.
Not far from the truth.
To my surprise, Lexa’s breathing settles quickly, and she relaxes and drifts off to sleep. I roll onto my back, carefully not brushing up against her or even looking at her. I keep my eyes stuck to the ceiling, trying to empty my mind so I can rest.
I’ve never felt so guilty in my whole entire life.
My chest seems to crack with the weight of my betrayal. Lexa doesn’t even know how badly I’ve wronged her. Andbeneath the explanation of my actions lies the ugly details of finding her mother’s body.
And revealing that I know who did it.
And that I could have prevented it.
I close my eyes, letting the wreckage of our past expand in my chest until pain is all I feel. The arousal fades from my body, and I occupy myself with thoughts of redemption.
I don’t deserve redemption, that’s for sure. If I can just show her how I’ve changed, convince her that all I want is to make up for what I’ve done and take care of her… maybe then I can tell her everything.
Even in my exhausted, stressed-out state, I know I’m lying to myself. Even worse, I’m lying to Lexa—and I don’t know how to stop.
Chapter 7 - Lexa
The woods are dark, casting shadows so deep that even my wolf’s eyes can’t see into them. The trees are too close together, reaching out to scratch me and claw at my hair.
My chest is bursting with the need to scream, but I don’t dare to make a sound. If I do, they’ll catch me.
Who are they?
All of them—Father, Vince, even Kit—don’t let them get me!
The ground is so uneven, and the spaces between the trees so small, I can’t stretch my legs out to run. Even my wolf won’t rise. She just snarls in my blood, a creature desperate to protect me. Frantic to get out, but held back by vengeful forces.
I shove through some more branches, feeling the threat of capture right on my heels. As I try to run, the trees finally part. With a great sigh of relief, I’m finally able to let my adrenaline loose and bolt.
I only make it a couple of steps before I skid to a halt, screaming and scrambling back the way I came. I end up kneeling in the dirt, looking at the sight before me in utter horror.
My mother’s body.
She’s lying twisted on the soft forest floor as if many of her bones have been broken. Wounds and bruises mar her pale skin, and her clothes are torn.
“Mom?” I whimper, knowing that she will never answer me again.
Suddenly, my hair is grabbed from behind, and I let out a bloodcurdling scream that tears my throat. The pressure on my hair increases as someone yanks my head back to stare down into my face.
