Page 98 of Thor

"I failed you," he said quietly.

“What?”

"When you needed understanding, I gave you anger. When you needed comfort, I gave you fear."

Thor moved away from the window, still keeping his distance, but positioning himself closer to me than before. He was so large, so powerful, yet in that moment he seemed uncertain, almost hesitant, as if afraid of saying the wrong thing.

"I shouldn't have reacted the way I did in the park," he continued, each word chosen carefully. "But those photos . . . seeing our private moments exposed like that . . . knowing someone had violated something sacred between us . . ." His hands clenched into fists at his sides, then slowly relaxed. "All I could think about was protecting you, and instead, I scared you away."

I shook my head, needing him to understand. "It wasn't just that. It was everything. My job. My reputation. Amy's treatments. I felt like my whole life was crumbling, and I didn't know how to stop it."

"So you ran."

"Yes. I hid at Amy's apartment while she was at the hospital. I turned off my phone. I tried to pretend none of it was happening."

Thor nodded, unsurprised. "I figured you were at Amy's eventually. Went by there twice. Didn't see the car I lent you."

"I rented one," I explained. "Didn’t feel right to use yours."

"Your Audi’s at the garage. It’s nearly done, by the way," Thor supplied.

"Thank you," I whispered.

His next question came quietly, almost reluctantly, but with an intensity that filled the room.

"Did you meet with the Serpents after you ran?" he asked, his voice low and controlled. "Did you give them what they wanted?"

There it was—the real question, the one that had probably been tormenting him for five days. Had I betrayed him? Had I betrayed the club?

His face gave nothing away, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the tightness around his eyes. This was the moment that would determine whether we had any chance of rebuilding what we'd lost.

I met his gaze directly, wanting him to see the truth in my eyes.

"No," I said firmly. "I never contacted them again. I'd rather lose everything than betray you or the club."

The relief that washed over his face was subtle but unmistakable—a slight softening around his eyes, a small release of tension in his jaw. He believed me. After everything, he still trusted my word.

"I didn't think you had," he said after a moment. "But I had to ask."

"I know." And I did. In his position, I would have done the same.

The distance between us felt a little less vast now, as if my answer had removed one of the barriers keeping us apart.

I stepped closer, emboldened by the care in his voice. The distance between us still felt significant, but less insurmountable than before.

"I was trying to find another job. I had an interview today, actually." A bitter laugh escaped me, surprising even myself with its harshness. "It was a disaster."

Thor didn't move, but his attention sharpened. "What happened?"

I shifted uncomfortably, shame heating my cheeks as I remembered Phillips's smug face, his leering eyes as he'd clicked through those photos of me.

"The photos are everywhere, Thor. Everyone in town has seen them." I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the cabin's warmth. "The guy interviewing me had them on his computer. He'd been looking at them before I arrived."

Thor's jaw tightened so quickly I heard his teeth click together. A muscle twitched under his skin, the only visible sign of the rage I knew was building inside him.

"What's his name?" The question was deceptively calm, but the dangerous undercurrent was unmistakable.

"It doesn't matter."

---