Page 41 of Mated to the Wolves

“Doubt the validity of our love. I ruined everything. Not you,” he swallows, hard.

“Why can’t you explain it to me?” I hate the desperation in my voice.

“It doesn’t matter why?—”

“It might.”

“Agree to disagree.” The tight set of his jaw reflects his regret.

“What the hell happened to you?”

“Four years is a long time. You’re not the only one who’s changed, or been through difficult times.”

There’s a darkness in him that wasn’t there before. Turning from me, he shuts the dishwasher and starts it.

“I made what I thought was the best choice. That doesn’t mean I didn’t suffer for it. But some things can’t be stopped once they’re put into motion.”

“You never even tried—.” My voice cracks. Remorse flashes in his eyes before he looks away, and I feel abandoned all over again.

A throat clears, breaking the tension.

“Time’s up, Princess,” Bo calls from the other room.

Fell tenses. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

He walks away without looking back. I watch, unable to speak around the massive knot in my throat.

“That looked unpleasant,” Bo jerks his head toward Fell’s retreating figure.

“Astute observation, Jensen.”

“Don’t shoot the innocent bystander,” Bo lifts his hands. “I’m not fond of you, and I know that feeling is very mutual.”

“I loathe you,” I correct him.

“Hmm. Unfortunately for us, none of that matters.” Bo’s face loses its mirth. “I don’t plan on being miserable for the rest of my life.”

“Neither do I.”

“Good, we agree on something. I won’t ask you to forget about our past, because I won’t.”

I blink, startled by his blunt approach.

“Common ground is the best thing we can do for now. I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not, but I’ll never treat you the way I used to again.” I hear the honesty in Bo’s words.

I blink, surprised by his maturity. I expected to catch hell from him.

“You look shocked,” he lifts an eyebrow and chuckles.

“Because I am.” It’s strange when you see another side of your tormentor. I’m not sure I like viewing him as human.

“Neither of us knows the other really.” He shrugs.

“You’re right.” The admission is painful. I don’t want to be in agreeance with him. I’ve never hated being the bigger person as much as I do right now.

“Keep talking dirty to me like that, and we’ll get along just fine.”

“You would get off on being told you’re right. That’s the Bo Jensen I know.”

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