Page 14 of Breathe Again

“Known what?”

“About us, Elizabeth. How long has he known about us?”

Her eyes were wide, staring back at me. “You’re actually talking about the unmentionable?” She feigned shock. “Relax. There’s no way he knows about that.”

“I’m telling you, he knows.”

“I’ve never told anyone, Cole. Not one single person.”

The sting of her revelation took me by surprise.

“It must have been Jason who told him, then. He’s the only person I ever told,” I confessed.

“You told Jason Westin about us? When?”

“Of course I told him. I called him the first night I set foot in Collier and saw you. Your wolf hadn’t even come in yet and he swore to me it wasn’t possible. He asked me to wait and see, so I did. I waited, but it was too late. And as I recall, you lied to my face and told me we couldn’t possibly be true mates because you felt nothing.”

Years of anger and loneliness were bubbling up out of me, but I couldn’t go on with all I wanted to tell her, all the pain I wanted to cause her when a single tear fell down her cheek.

“Don’t,” I said. “Don’t start with the waterworks now. None of it matters.”

“Of course is matters, Cole,” she sobbed. “Don’t you even want to know why?”

“I thought I did, but now? No. I don’t want excuses, Elizabeth. I don’t want anything from you,” I lied. “Look, your dad wanted me to make sure you’re okay. Are you?”

“No,” she said. “I haven’t been okay for almost half my life and I don’t think you have been either.”

More glimpses of my stubborn, passionate girl. It was too much to bear.

“Well, okay then. I’ll assure him you’re as good as always.” I got up and turned to leave, overwhelmed by everything—her, her scent, her touch. It was too much—too many memories, and too much pain.

“Cole,” she said softly when I reached the door. “It’s always been you, only you.”

I turned to glare at her, trying to control my building anger. “You made your decision, Elizabeth. You made it without even bothering to talk to me, and then laughed in my face when I tried. You don’t have the right to say things like that. Not now. Not ever.”

I slammed the door behind me and headed next door. I needed a new tattoo, and to feel the burn I knew would momentarily dull the breaking of my heart all over again.

Elizabeth

Chapter 8

I sat there, numb, staring at the door he’d just slammed shut. I wanted to curl up and cry, but the tears wouldn’t come; only a deep emptiness that physically hurt everywhere.

I was still curled in a ball, staring at the door when a knock sounded, startling me. I didn’t answer, hoping they’d go away. A knock came again and then muffled voices, before my front door flew open.

“Oh, no,” Lily said, rushing to my side.

“What the hell is going on?” Ruby asked.

Lily shot her a glare. “I told you, Ruby, if you can’t be nice, go home. She doesn’t need your shit right now.”

Lily was going to make an amazing Pack Mother. I knew because of her fierce protective nature towards those she cared about, and her capacity for love was enormous.

“I’m not trying to start anything, I’m just concerned. This is weird and out of character for her,” Ruby protested.

“Lizzy, are you okay?” Clara asked. She checked my forehead and asked if I was hurting anywhere. Clara was the sweetest of all of us.

I knew plenty attributed that title to me, but it was all a mask. I was a complete fake. The only time in my life I had ever seemed to be one hundred percent me, was around Cole Anderson, and then I didn’t always like that person, like now, as the impact of what I’d done sank in and dragged me deeper into the dark recesses of my mind.

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