Page 123 of The Packaged Deal

Sven gently pulls himself away from us and stands there. It’s the first time I've seen him look uncertain.

“I hurt people. There was a fight, where I was trying to hurt the driver, and I hurt other people. I’m-” He cuts off and runs his hand over his head. “I could have killed him. Mindless animal, that’s what I was, out of control, mindless, a monster. I knew nothing but rage, but pain.”

“You were grieving and so young. You paid for your crimes, Sven,” Adrian says softly. “You aren’t that out-of-control teen anymore.”

Sven opens his mouth and closes it again.

“If anything ever happens, I will be here to protect you,” Adrian says to me. “I’d protect you, too, Sven.”

This hits Sven, hard. He blinks several times. “What?”

“I won’t let you get out of control. I won’t let you hurt anyone, and I won’t let anything happen to us. We’d be okay. If you want to stay, Jade is right. It’s not right to keep asking and trying to force you.”

Sven swallows hard and looks at Kandi.

“You know I’ve got your back. I’ve always had your back.”

At last, his gaze turns to me.

I stare at him. “Do I need to say it?”

He opens his mouth and closes it. My temper flares to life, and I step forward and poke him in the ribs.

“You’re a free alpha, Sven. The bonds will be mere irritants, you can ignore them. You won’t be obliged to stay. You can come and go as you please. No one will beg you or ask you. No one will demand you stay when you need to run. This is me setting you free. You will always be my alpha, but I don’t need you to give me proof. Not anymore, and I am sorry for pushing.”

Sven exhales roughly.

He steps towards me but stops when his phone rings. He picks it up, his gaze still locked on mine. I feel all the unspoken words, the pain of my decision, but the rightness of it all.

“Talk to me.”

His eyes slide to me and darken, not in a good way.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

Sven shakes his head and turns and walks back to his car. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Are you sure?”

“Sven!” I shout, “what’s going on?”

“We found Trevor.” He pauses and whirls back, snatching me to his chest. “I’m not done with this conversation. It’s not over. I’ll come back, and when he’s caught, we can talk.”

“What are you saying?” I whisper.

“I’m saying I’ve been working hard to be a better person. Maxim thinks I’m ready, he thinks I’ve changed. I want to be the alpha you need. This conversation is on pause.”

I almost trip. My heart accelerates through my chest, making me feel dizzy and sick. “Wait, don’t go after him. Just stay. Stay here, with me.”

Sven looks over his shoulder. “I have to. We can’t leave him out there when he did that to you.”

I reach out, gripping Kandi’s hand. “Go with him.”

She glances between us. “All right.”

I watch as she runs around the car and slides into the passenger seat. I stare at them until they’re gone.

I sigh heavily and lean into Adrian’s arms. “He’s as elusive as an eel.”

Adrian snickers. “At least we know why.”

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