Page 78 of Unforgivable

I tuck her close, my breathing still heavy.

"Wow," she whispers. I can't stop my smug chuckle, kissing her cheek.

"Rhet?"

"Yeah, pretty?"

"You don't have to tell me, but you said that you pretended something on that... that night."

Yeah. I did babble that out during my confession, didn't I? I swallow back the denial on my tongue. I want to be honest with her, even if she kicks my nuts in anger.

"I pretended that we were lovers, just lovers meeting in the forest. I told you I had seen you before. It honestly wasn't hard to fantasize that you were meeting me willingly. You didn't protest, so I just imagined a different scenario." There were times I shut my eyes so that I could pretend the other males weren't there. The memory makes my entire body feel numb. She didn't close her eyes. I remember that. Those hazel eyes stayed open, showing her pain, her horror, until they glazed over from the agony.

I bury my face in her hair, breathing in her scent. She's recovering, so healthy. She's here. Alive. And through some miracle, willingly in my arms.

"I knew my protests wouldn't matter," she explains in a soft voice. "That's why I didn't say anything."

"I wouldn't have been able to shut out your pleas, Lyri. I know that." I swear I wouldn't have been able to pretend if she had screamed at me the way she screamed at some of the other males.

"Rhet?"

"Yes, Angel?"

"Thank you for saving my life."

Goddess, I love her. Forgive me for forsaking my fated mate's memory, but I love this female.

"Thank you for forgiving me."

She's forgiven me for hurting her, but I won't ever forgive myself.

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Alpha Jax

"Alpha, we have a body."

I can hear the sheer exhaustion in Gamma Brett's voice.

"Fuck," I exhale noisily. Leaning backward, I stare at the smooth, polished wood of my office desk with bleary eyes. I clench the phone a little tighter. "Who?"

"Brent Jensi," comes the flat response.

"Fucking hell, how did an eighteen-year-old pup end up dead?" I snap.

"He was one of the males at the Shaming," Brett says bluntly. "Drew tells me that he was always chasing after that female. Guess he finally got too close to her."

My blood ices over. "What do you mean, Brett? You think that one of the Genom males murdered him?"

"No," he responds. "Body scents of Luke and Jake Rosen."

"Luke and Jake Rosen?" I reply, stunned. "What's the story there?"

"Brent was Dahlia's mate. Daddy and big brother didn't approve of him. Can't say I blame them. Who wants a rapist to mate to their daughter?"

My heart sinks. "Dahlia was in the clinic three months ago." I flash back to the scared little female. Luke sent Dahlia to visit his mate's birth pack shortly after that visit to the clinic.

Brett pauses. "I'll check in with Roberta when she's working today. Never a bad idea to check out the clinic, anyway. Luke is in custody. We're still searching for Jake. He may have taken off to be with his sister. Luke is pretty close-lipped right now."

"With both of his children gone, he has nothing left to lose," I say grimly.

"And those pups have everything to lose," Brett agrees. "Alright, Alpha. I'm going to head over to the clinic now. You coming?"

"No, I need to make some phone calls. Keep me updated."

"Will do."

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