Page 30 of Forbidden Virgin Mate

Tanya chews her bottom lip, and I can't help wondering why she looks so nervous. Perhaps because of my outburst the other day, and now she's here alone with me again.

"Seems like you've got good friends, too," she states, and I scoff before I can help it.

"Diego, yes, and I'm grateful for him and Quinn. The others? No chance."

Her eyes turn sympathetic. I hate that; I don't want anyone's sympathy. Especially hers. It makes me feel weak, and my wolf can't bear it.

"Please don't," I snap.

"Don't what?" she asks, surprised.

"Don't pity me.”

"I don't pity you, okay?" She sighs. "Your situation isn't that different from mine, you know?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm innocent, Tanya!"

She sighs, turning her back on me, and I feel like I've totally blown it.

"Sorry, I shouldn't yell,” I say. “I'm doing that a lot recently."

"My parents were innocent, Zack," she says, her back still turned. "Everyone turned on them, and they were innocent. So I do know."

I don't want to be rude or say the wrong thing. Maybe she just wants to believe they were innocent, or perhaps they were. I don't know anything about the case. She seems pretty sure about it, though. And I've seen for myself how poorly she's been treated by some members of Silverstar.

"I'm sorry," I say. "You're right, and I don't know enough about their situation to say whether they were innocent or not. I'm just frustrated, and I'm taking it out on everyone around me."

"I think that's normal," she says with a small smile. "They were innocent, though. I have proof."

"Have you shown Mateo?"

"Why? It won't change anything now. It can't bring back my childhood home, their business, or friends. It can't make my dad sober, and I doubt it can heal my mom's bitterness."

Although she's touched on it before, I see for the first time the depths of her sadness, and my heart breaks for her. I step forward without hesitation and pull her into my arms. For a moment, I think she's going to resist the contact, but then her whole body softens, and she melts against me.

"I'm so sorry you went through that," I whisper into her hair. "That you're still going through that."

We stand like that for a few minutes in silence, just holding each other. I can't help wondering if Tanya’s situation is what the future has in store for me. I've always thought banishment or losing your pack was reserved for only the worst of the worst. But what if it could happen to the innocent? It sounds like Tanya's parents have fallen apart since losing their pack—it is almost unthinkable for a wolf to live alone.

It must have been dreadful for Tanya. No wonder she appears skittish around fellow wolves. She probably hasn't even been able to embrace that side of herself.

"I'm sure your parents did their best to help you, though?" I ask finally.

She laughs ruefully against my chest. "I'm sure they did, but their best wasn't good enough."

I kiss the top of her head. My thoughts turn to Saffy and what it would be like for her to give up our pack. Would they force her out? Would Emily's parents take her in?

I can't believe I'm even thinking like this. Bile rises in my throat, and I suddenly take a step back.

"Are you okay?" Tanya asks, her eyes flashing with concern.

"No," I reply honestly, all bravado gone from my heart and mind. "No, I'm really not."

Chapter 15 - Tanya

I stand there frozen, Zack's arms wrapped around my body again. He's whispering how sorry he is, and I feel him kiss the top of my head. His emotion is genuine, and I feel the lump forming in my throat, tears trickling down my face.

When I came back here, I felt so sure in my conviction that revenge was the right thing to do. It felt like a quest to avenge my parents and childhood. I had toyed with waiting a year or two before revealing the evidence that my parents were innocent and how I'd framed Zack. I wanted to highlight how cruel everyone in the town was to turn their backs on my family.

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