Page 33 of Hunted

Abigail looked out of the windows.

The weather was bright and clear, the sky balmy, the wind thick and sweet, but inside, the air felt gray and cold.

“So, what are we going to do now?” Abigail broke the quiet after a while.

“I would suggest that you take some time to sort things out,” Dominic said in his clear, commanding voice. “This is not a problem that can be fixed with one conversation.”

“I agree,” Abigail and Luke said in unison.

Chapter 15

Luke

DominicleftAbigailalonewith Luke after ensuring she would be okay. He had pack business to attend to, but it was clear he would rather not have left Abigail alone with Luke.

It burned Luke to see the two of them together, to see the way Dominic and Abigail were so easy around one another. He had to stop himself from jumping between the two of them, and the wolf inside him wasn’t happy about it either. The creature was seeing red all the time, which made it difficult for Luke to think rationally either. All the beast saw was another wolf, coming between Luke and his true, chosen mate.

“Why don’t we take a walk?” Abigail asked him, and he didn’t miss the fear in her eyes when she looked at him.

No one had yet told him how Abigail had gotten her injuries, but however it had happened, it had been brutal enough to leave her afraid ofhim. He did not know why, but he would find out before he left the Moonstone pack compound. That was one promise he would keep to himself.

“Sure,” he cleared his throat and followed her out of the room. Abigail clearly did not want to be alone with him.

What the hell happened to make her like this? What the hell happened?

His inner voice was furious—furious with his father, with himself, and even with Abigail even though he knew he had no right to be angry with her.

They walked slowly across the fields in the Moonstone pack compound. It became more obvious as they strolled, but it was clear that Dominic had instructed his pack soldiers to keep a close eye on Luke.

At least I know she’s safe here,he told himself. But the thought wasn’t as comforting as it should have been for him.

He closed his eyes, inhaled, and tried to find some clarity. But that did not work either because all he saw was the light, comfortable touches between Dominic and Abigail.

She definitely isn’t afraid ofthatalpha.

“Why did you run?” Luke found himself saying as they came to a quiet spot away from the compound buildings.

They weren’t alone—pack soldiers were close by—but the space was private enough for them to talk.

Abigail looked at him quizzically, her eyebrows raised. “I told you,” she began.

Luke cut her off. “Why did you run, when my father told you all that? Instead of waiting to talk to me? We’re mates, chosen for each other. Don’t you think you owed me a conversation instead of just leaving?”

Abigail looked away from him but not before he saw that her eyes had become glassy with tears. “Because, as much as I trusted you, Luke,” she said eventually, “I trusted your father, too. I trusted him to know how you felt. I knew you were close. I knew you told him everything.”

“Still…” Luke interrupted, but Abigail held up her hand. He fell silent.

“You are the alpha, Luke. You are—were—my alpha. And even though we’re mates, even though that elevated my position within the pack, my presence still did not outweigh your father’s.” She sighed and frustratedly wiped away tears that were rolling down the tip of her nose and down her cheeks. “How could I believe that you would choose me over your father? He fed us both so many lies that neither of us knew which way was up any longer. Don’t ask me why I left when you know damn well that I don’t have the power your father does.”

“I’m sorry,” Luke said immediately. “I don’t blame you. I just… I thought things between us were better than they were. At least, I thought things were good enough for you to come to me.”

Abigail just shrugged.

Then she looked at the compound around her with such fondness in her eyes that it made Luke ache inside.

She’s moved on. She’s found another home.

The words resounded, echoed, in his head. And the wolf inside him howled and paced at the thought their mate had moved on.

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