Page 42 of Roar Letter Word

She shook her head. “No, that …” She pulled herself up, shaking her head. “You would have said that before.”

She turned, looking back at him and expecting him to laugh. She expected it to be some sick joke, but he gave her the same look he had before. The one where he looked like he’d made a huge mistake.

He had. He hadn’t told her the truth. He marked her without telling her the full truth, and she felt sudden anger fill her.

“I’m sorry,” he said, but his lips didn’t move. “I got caught up and didn’t think about it. I should have told you before.”

Her eyes widened, realizing he was speaking to her telepathically. He was speaking inside her head.

“How are you doing that!” she yelled, gripping her hands into tight fists.

“It’s part of the marking. You get special abilities. I can speak to you like that, and I can find you wherever you are as well. These are skills normally only for shifters, but as my mate, you benefit from them as well.”

She ran a hand over her face, shaking her head. She wanted to scream, but she didn’t have the time. She was running late, and she couldn’t have an emotional breakdown. She had a concert to focus on.

She was livid but sad as well.

She shook her head. “I don’t have time for this, Mahes. You need to leave. I can't do this right now. I don’t want to talk to you until after the concert.”

Mahes looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t. He pulled himself up and left her room. She heard the click of the latch turn before she felt the tears burst free.

She tumbled to the ground, hurt. She knew it wasn’t even about the mark. In a few days, she would be going back to Earth and leaving Mahes behind. Was the mark always going to be the reminder of the one she let get away?

After letting the hurt out, she wiped her eyes. Then there was a quick knock, and the door opened, and Bruce stepped into the room, looking as business-like as ever. He wore a crisp white shirt paired with black slacks. He had his hair combed back, and his eyes zoned in on her. She didn’t know if he could see her hurt look, but he didn’t seem to care either way.

He looked at his watch and then back at her, shaking his head. “We need to get going. You have half an hour, and we need to leave.”

She nodded, turning toward the bathroom and taking her pile of clothes with her. She turned the shower on and stared at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were tinged red, and she turned the faucet on, splashing at her face.

The energy she’d felt earlier was slipping away. She felt nothing but fear of leaving Mahes. She didn’t want to have to say goodbye, but she knew she was going to.

She turned the shower on as hot as she could get it and ducked underneath it. She allowed the heat to warm her and tried to forget about her conversation from a moment ago.

Tears broke free, and she quickly shook her head. She couldn't cry anymore. She had to perform, and she needed a clear mind to do that.

After showering and getting dressed, Bruce took her to the concert venue. She looked at her phone for most of the ride, listening to him rattle off everything to her. Everything she’d heard before, over a hundred times probably.

“Remember to take each of your steps carefully, and keep a smile on your face. Your fans can tell if you want to be there or not. Don't forget to count your steps as well.”

She looked up from her phone as they pulled into the parking lot. She took in the line of cars pulling in and the lot that was already filled. She could see people walking, cheering her name as she and her manager drove for the side doors.

“Everyone is here for you,” Bruce said. It was something she’d been told every time they arrived somewhere, and normally, it made her giddy. Yet, at that moment, she only wanted one person's attention.

What was wrong with her? This was what she wanted, wasn’t it? This was what she had been missing … her love of making others happy with her songs.

“Crazy,” she said because it was always her answer.

She was pulled inside, where her hair was done up nicely. Her makeup was put on, and her outfit was picked out. She felt like a doll being dressed up. She'd done it so many times she’d lost count.

She headed down a hallway where a head mic was placed on her. Bruce once more gave her a stern expression. “Remember, smile. And be vocal.”

“I know, Bruce,” she said, moving past him. “It’s almost like I’ve done this before.”

She slipped on stage. The crowd went wild. All the stress she had a moment ago melted away, and she allowed herself to just breathe and focus on the moment.

She performed like her life depended on it, and she loved it. She loved listening to the crowd sing alongside her with her original work. She felt the love they all had for her and what she had for them.

She was sweaty and out of breath by the end. She stepped off stage, feeling her body growing weak. She took a seat, and someone handed her a bottle of water. She sipped on it, looking around. She wanted to speak with Mahes.

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