er 2

ive oak desk that had belonged to his father.Zeke looked up whe

told

to the chair across from his desk, my spine straight and m

""Cec

it t

lasped on the desk in front of him.When he

es

d the last fragment of h

ong?"I

long

you been fuck

at the cru

lia,

question, Ze

d week after our

ng the blow."So our entir

oving around the desk toward

hand to stop him."Do

love of the Moon Goddess,

his jaw clenching."

er for six months behind my b

promised

, did you?Silly me for thinking that might develop natur

."You never got over your first love, so you found a way to have us both.You marry the adopted daughter

n't lik

as like, Zeke.Explain t

h would clench and butterflies would flutter everywhere, but now I hated it.It w

ou at the betro

upted."I need to know.Was it alw

word, but I refused to be deceived."No, Cecelia, I chos

ears from moistening

uty without my hea

re like a sob."You chose me

Layla, I'd spend my whole life fighting the mate bond, trying to be the Alpha my pack needed instea

es

Layla ca

w her again, I knew I'd made a mistake.The feelings I t

back, Zeke."My voice cracked.Hearing this fr

back."For the first week after she arrived, I avoided her completely.But then she came to

s tempting you.It was very obvious.You let he

en you because I was a coward who couldn'

d t

n she ki

side me die."And yo

es

he pack house wher

cel

e out as a growl."Where

esn't

my hand down on his desk, m

rary," he

reading, where I'd foolishly imagined bringing

after

we couldn't stay aw

t, in rage.I was angry at myself that I let this happen.They were sleeping wi

ed, his eyes nev

very night and pretending

er pre

ond."You claimed me in front of the entire pack,promised to cherish and prote

art of the ceremon

ished for him."I get it now.The great A

stop him.When he reached out to touch my face, I

so fucking sorry.I nev

t the tears from spillin

Y

"She said that you want me to release you f

softly."Free to find someone who

of you."I s

ething, Zeke.If Layla wasn't pregnant, wo

e wouldn't answer.When he finally sp

n't k

then paused with my hand on th

thi

love her

r loved me?Ev

wed told me everythi

pack reject you, Cecelia

to stand erect."I Cecelia Mayers accept your rejection."At this point, I

are you

a w

lia,

back."Don't follow me, Zeke.I thin

clearly and for once in my life, I was going to listen to