Page 139 of Pack Scratch Fever
I wonder what that says about me that the grumpiest cat at the rescue is also my biggest fan.
“You didn’t have to come here, you know,” she says, giving me a thin smile. “I’m alright.”
I look at her in disbelief. “Do you see how many wires you’re attached to right now?” I growl. “That is the exact opposite of being alright, Piper.”
“Poe,” Avery warns, and Piper’s face softens as she regards me.
“Thank you for earlier,” she says. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to say those things to my parents.”
Maddox shakes his head. “They’re fucking ungrateful people. No one should be talked to that way, especially not you.”
“They don’t realize what they have,” Avery tells her sadly.
I won’t tell Piper this, but I’m already planning on ruining her father’s life.
“How much did you hear?” Piper asks tentatively, her brow furrowing.
“Everything,” I admit. “We wanted to give you privacy, but he raised his voice to you…” I clear my throat, stopping myself from telling her what I truly want to do to her father. “I meant what I said, by the way. You have a lawyer. Whatever they’re trying to do to you, I can represent you.”
“I can’t pay you, Poe.”
The room falls silent, and I sense Avery and Maddox watching me.
What a ridiculous statement.
“Why on earth would I charge you?” I ask. “Piper, that’s not how this works. We are here for you always.”
“We’re whatever you want us to be,” Maddox says. “Even if you just want us as helping hands at the rescue.”
Her scent sweetens, and her eyes brighten. Her warm eyes meet mine, and I stop breathing.
I’m not worthy of her forgiveness, not after such a foolish mistake. But if she could find it in her heart to give me another chance…
“I thought you only did property law,” she says, scrunching her face.
“Not anymore. I’m closing my firm.”
Her mouth falls open. “Why on earth would you do that?” she demands. “That is your job. You’requitting your job?”
“Because it hurt the person that matters most,” I admit.
There’s a moment of silence, and she sucks in a breath.
“Don’t do it because of me,” she insists, shaking her head. “I won’t let you make me responsible for something like that.”
“It was bound to happen,” I say. “I was in burnout but ignored all the signs. I was holding myself to impossible standards, and that grave error is what made me realize something had to change. So, as much as I would love to say I’m doing itforyou, Piper, I’m mostly doing it for myself. To be a better person and figure out what I truly want to do.”
She visibly relaxes.
“And for you too,” I admit, and she scowls.
“I didn’t ask you to.” But she sounds more scared than angry at what I admitted. As if she doesn’t want to matter as much to us as she does.
As if she doesn’t want to be the reason we exist.
“I know you didn’t. But I can’t be the Alpha you deserve if I don’t get my shit in order.”
“Yeah, Pipe, he’s too old to be doing dumb shit,” Maddox smirks, and I shoot him a dirty look.
