Page 74 of Broken Chains

"Come on, I'll walk you out," I finally conceded.

Just as we were heading for the door, the baby cried on the monitor. Melina turned quickly, expectation vivid in her eyes. She was just going to have to get used to disappointment. She'd made her bed and as far as I was concerned she could lie in it.

"Let's go," I told her.

I didn't think the devastation she was displaying was an act for once.

"I'm sorry," she said the second the door closed behind us. She thought we were alone to talk, but she didn't know there was a houseful of wolf shifters with accelerated hearing listening in anyway.

"I know you are," I finally said. "But that doesn't change anything."

"I just want to see her. I know I made a huge mistake. I understand what they're saying about legally I'm not her mother, but in my mind, my heart, I'll always be her mother. That's my daughter, too, Ollie."

"You left without a single word to me. This isn’t payback, this is protecting Eve."

"From me?"

"Yes from you. I can't have that kind of instability in her life. One day you're here, the next you're not."

"You didn't even wait to give me a chance to come back. Married? You really married her? We'd been together for years and in a matter of months, you what? Fall in love, buy a house I know you can't afford, and settle down with your latest rebound?"

"It's not like that," I growled. "And I don't have to explain myself to you. But I have a good paying job now, and just as I've always done, I support my family. Peyton is the love of my life, not some rebound or seconds to the likes of you."

I didn't want to fight with her, but I would not have her disrespecting my wife or my life. It was none of her goddamn business.

"I'm sorry," she said again.

"Have you even stopped by to see your parents? They've been worried sick about you," I said, deciding it was best to change the subject.

She snorted. "My parents never gave a damn what I did. They're probably happy I left."

"Bullshit."

"How would you know? Are you suddenly an expert on them as well?"

"I do see them every week, so yeah, I know. I listen to your mother ask hopefully every single time if I've heard anything from you, and then I have to watch as her face falls in disappointment. Even if you aren't planning to stick around, you should stop by and see them. They miss you something terrible."

"I thought you'd be the only one missing me."

"I had our daughter to take care of. I didn't have time to miss you or even think about you."

"Ouch," she said, rolling her eyes. "I figured that was what the mommy replacement was for."

"Peyton. Her name is Peyton. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me and my family. I'm walking away if you talk shit about her one more time," I warned.

"So it's really that serious?"

"She's my wife. I love her."

She sighed, looking defeated. "I don't think in all the years we were together you ever once truly said those words to me."

I shrugged. "Probably not. Trust me, I know the difference now."

"You're going to screw her up, Ollie. We both know it. She seems like a sweet girl, but does she truly know the bad boy you are?"

I shook my head. "You aren’t going to screw with my head this time. Peyton knows absolutely everything about me, far more than you ever did, and she still chose me. There is nothing you can say or do to come between us. And this conversation is officially over. I'm done here."

"Wait. Please. Just let me see her, Ollie. One last time. I'll try to leave you alone after that. I just need to see her this one time."

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