Page 27 of Forever Mine

“Maddie, I don’t think it works that way.” My head was spinning.

“Then how would you explain it?”

I could feel the frustration rolling off her, mixed with anger and hurt. She sat, then stood and began to pace back and forth. I tried to hide my grin. Most shifters only did that when their wolves were agitated.

“You’re a wolf shifter. My wolf would not have claimed you otherwise.”

“Technically you haven’t claimed me, Liam, and you aren’t going to either. Oscar and I have a life. It’s a good one, and I can’t just give that up and go back to the life I left behind.”

I jumped up. needing her comfort as much as I needed to comfort her. “It’s not the life you left behind. It’s not. A life with me wouldn’t be the same. I can protect you and Oscar. I can give you anything you want.”

“Then give me this. Let me go.”

My heart was breaking and I was ready to beg her to change her mind, but I could feel her resolve. I’d found my one true mate, and she didn’t want me.

“I guess that’s it then. We should probably go.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you, Liam.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a little too late for that, isn’t it?” I didn’t mean for the sarcasm to cover my words, but I didn’t take it back either.

Tension was high between us as I led her up and over the hill to the very top. The magical views of the Pacific Ocean, and the little coves, were wasted on us. I didn’t stop at the place I had intended on taking her. I just glanced at the small rooftop of the old fort where you could stand and see San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean from an entirely different perspective that I loved. Instead, we headed to the right and followed the path back around to the car.

When the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco beyond came into view, she stopped and her breath hitched.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I asked, breaking the silence between us.

She reached for me without thinking and touched my arm. I wished she hadn’t; it gave me false hope and even consciously telling myself it meant nothing didn’t change the way it made me feel.

“So beautiful. Everything looks perfect from up here.”

I nodded. I had always thought the same.

We finished the walk down to the car in silence, but with less tension between us. I wasn’t angry. I wanted to be, but I couldn’t. I was just very upset. I needed time away from Madelyn to process everything she had said to me.

My phone buzzed a new text arrival as we got in the car.

LILY: 8 years today. Where are you? I need you.

Eight years today? I wondered what she was talking about.

LIAM: Busy, what’s 8 years today?

LILY: I know you’re busy. I just miss you. Always a tough day.

LILY: 8 years since MC disappeared. I still miss her.

I looked at the calendar. Sure enough, it had been eight years to the day since Madelyn Collier had disappeared from the earth. My twin still mourned her loss every year. In the past I had always done something special to help take Lil’s mind of it all.

“Shit,” I said to myself, feeling guiltier than ever. Not only had I forgotten the anniversary of Maddie’s disappearance and didn’t even check on my sister, but I had the real woman sitting next to me and something told me that she didn’t want even her childhood friend to know she was alive and well.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“It’s, uh, nothing. Don’t worry about it.” I didn’t want to burden her with guilt. It was kind of ironic, despite her ripping my heart out and dancing on it, I still couldn’t bring myself to cause her anymore pain. I laughed to myself, shaking my head as I drove. The entire situation was beyond screwed up and I desperately needed a stiff drink.

“Liam, I can tell you’re worried about something; what is it?”

“Don’t, just don’t, Maddie. You’ve made your position clear and I’m trying really hard to respect it. Acting like you care isn’t helping.”

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