Page 54 of The Broken Wolf's Redemption

“Why couldn’t I have kids?”

“Yeah.” He couldn’t find every doctor she’d ever gone to, if any, and kill them too, could he? Maybe he could just make them suffer. Malpractice cases apparently weren’t that hard to frame.

She sighed, drawing his attention back. She was so beautiful. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her. Not just because he desired her, but because maybe his closeness could help her heal.

Your ego is one hundred percent out of control.

That wasn’t his most logical thought process. He’d hurt her and he couldn’t apologize enough to make it right. Sorry was a paltry and pathetic word, and even if he was so heartily sorry, it didn’t matter. Sorry was the most frustratingly inept concept.

“Endometriosis. And before you ask, yes, I actually did go to the doctor. I even got surgery more than once. I trusted my wolf enough to submit myself to human doctors. My parents know nothing about it. They would have been a wreck. The great thing about being a shifter is that you heal fast. The bad thing is that the stuff that isn’t supposed to be there grows back equally as fast. Isn’t that painful? Yeah. Cripplingly sometimes, but I’ve found ways to deal. Exercise, breathing techniques, meditation, heat, pain killers, all of that is pretty effective.” She set the tattoo machine down and rolled her shoulders, refusing to look at him. “I don’t feel like I’m less of a person or like something is missing for me. I was angry years ago, but I’m not now. I’ve worked hard to have a full life. I’m still working at it. My condition doesn’t make me less of a woman or less of a wolf.”

“Of course not,” he growled, hands clenching and unclenching. The rage was growing in him, the heat of anger and adrenaline tearing through him so hard it was nearly crippling. His wolf got in on the action, the beast whipping back and forth, eager to get out and just fuck something up on Seren’s behalf.

Also not logical, but how many emotions truly were? That’s why they were feelings, not facts. His mother once said something like that to him.

His mother was a wise, good woman. He should have listened to her more often.

Then, he wouldn’t be here.

He’d never have Waverly. He’d never have met Seren. He would have escaped most of the pain and torture of his life. He’d still have a pack. He’d still have a family.

He still had a family.

Seren was right.

“The universe gave you a shakedown and I only added to your misery. I threatened to destroy what you’d built when I knew how much you loved this place and your craft and that’s unacceptable.”

“Yes,” she said simply, frowning. “I’m glad you get it. You’re going to have to go now. Sorry, but I can practically feel Becka vibrating on the other side of that door.”

“Is she standing out there?”

“Can’t you smell her?”

“No.” He tried. He couldn’t. “The scentless thing is true, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “She’s my best friend. I’m very attuned to her. I’m glad you came to apologize. Thank you. It won’t change anything, but I’m still glad. I do hope that you can find a way to build up your own happiness. You also got a bad shakedown. Waverly deserves better.”

“She deserves better than me.” A truer statement had never been implied more often.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You meant it.”

“No.”

“Okay!” The door flew open and Becka barged into the room. She really had been standing out there. He truly hadn’t sensed her or scented her. She stalked towards him menacingly, like a guard dog protecting its master. Her lips drew up ferally and her fangs descended. “It’s go time, Rome. You should have left with you had a chance. I’m going to enjoy hypnotizing you. Your blood is going to be delicious. I’m goddamn starved.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” he yawned, bored.

Becka’s eyes rolled in their sockets, but Seren stepped between them. “Let him go, Becks.” She grasped her friend’s arms. “I’m fine. This conversation took a little longer than five minutes—okay, a lot longer—but it needed to be had. Rome is leaving and he’s not coming back here. Ever. He’s going all on his own, no hypnotism required.”

“I was almost looking forward to making a snack out of him. I wasn’t going to be gentle. This asshole could use a sore throat as a reminder not to mess with the people I love.”

“He’s got that already.” Seren edged Becka back a few steps, against the wall. It didn’t stop the vampire from glaring at him as he headed for the door.

He wasn’t afraid. Becka wouldn’t kill him. If she wanted to hurt him, he deserved it. Pain never bothered him in the least, unless he caused his family and the people he cared about to feel it. He’d caused them plenty.

He’d come to offer Seren something to think about, but the opposite happened, and he was walking away with his thoughts racing.

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