Eclipse Of The Fated Mate

tone. His scent still lingered on his pillow-pine and something darker, sharper. Like storm clouds gathering. I curled my

this."* Tomorrow. I'd go to him tomorrow. Swallow my pride, admit I

hone

o after Lillian's *emergency*, and I'd stopped expecting him to return. The s

perfect performance. "I-I'm sorry to call so lat

hroat tight. "

syrup turning to ice. "Selina.

ung

to the window, pressing my forehead against the glass. The forest stretched beyond the packh

ammed dow

ander's shadow filled the doorway before he did, his silh

e." His voic

words tasted bitter.

jacket, tossing it o

o the window. "She just wanted

he sat. "Jealousy

d hollow. "You thin

n't an

ass-a ghost with sunken eyes. "Why do you

ence looming behind me. "You've nev

Because she *conveniently* remem

ist, cutting me

ull away. "You're not blind, Xan

d in his eyes-doubt? Fear? Then it vanished. He released

eam. *Your hate. Her lies.* But my throat closed, a cough tearin

t away, blood s

still. "Wh

behind my ba

g it into the light. His

I wrenched free, stumbl

this from the b

, locking it. "Go

the

o.

against the w

id *g

s. The bedroom door cl

my chest. The cough came again, wet and ragged.

rom my skin until it burned. When I re

-

house buzzed with activity-warriors heading out for patrol, Omegas scrubbi

maps and reports spread acros

to talk,"

us

the blood

led. "What a

words trembled, but I held

He finally met my gaze, his icy. "You

killin

esk. "Then die quietly. But y

ting my tongue, swallowing my pain. For what? A man w

ed to

ou going?" h

from

flash, blocking the door. "Y

st, useless. "You don't want me

oulders. "You're my *mate*. T

. "You'll lock me up? Hurt me

ed in his eyes. He release

eed to be

-

llapsing against a tree. Rain began to fall, thin and cold. I

g sna

hair damp, expression unreadable.

ve. "Why do

. "You're st

ud from my jeans. "Or am I

ned. "You're b

ou're draining me, Xander. Literally.

oser. "You ag

My voice broke. "You used my fath

ipping again. For a moment, I thought h

s phone

the screen. "I

lli

wer, already

tore from me, raw and despe

pau

dered. *Stay.

his phone.

n he wa

-

soaking through my clothes. But when the s

mega handed me a towel. "Th

of medicine and a note in Liam's handwri

t sent it. O

esolve hardening. Tomo

, I'd s