Page 42 of Forbidden Virgin Mate

"Oh no, not from the packs,” Tanya corrects. “Mainly from rogue regimes, the Syrian government, some gun runners, and profits from a corporate oil spill. All over, really."

I didn't think it was possible to be even more shocked. "You weren't kidding about being a super-spy hacker, were you? Who are you really?"

"I'm an idiot," she whispers. "I didn't expect to fall in love with you. I didn't expect my wolf to bond with you. And I definitely didn't expect to discover that you and Saffy were as much victims in all this as I was. I know you'll never forgive me. You shouldn't. But I want you to know that I love you. And I'm sorry."

I'm fighting tears of my own as I watch hers fall. "Was it real? With us?" I choke out.

She nods, crying heavily now. "Y-yes. All of it. I tried to stay away, but I couldn't. I wanted you."

"And now?" I ask, needing to hear the words.

"I know it's over and you must hate me, but I'll always love you, Zack. This will always be the biggest mistake of my life."

"I love you, too," I say, the words tumbling from my lips before I cross to her bedside and pull her against my chest. I don't want to hurt her, but I need to feel her close to me.

"How can you ever forgive me?" she asks, gripping my shirt.

"I already have, Tanya. We are both victims of my parents. Yours weren’t the only people my parents hurt and destroyed along the way, and I’m so sorry you’ve suffered. The greatest revenge I can think of is being together and loving each other." I say honestly.

I know why she did what she did, and her actions today have proven her love for me in ways I don't even think she realizes. She nearly died trying to stop the transfer today, and she just confessed everything to both alphas, knowing the consequences could have been dire for her. Now that I know what my parents did to her family, I can understand her motivation for coming here.

"What about Saffy? What about the packs?" she asks.

"We'll stand together. We'll tell your story. Besides, it'sourstory now." I lean down and gently capture her lips with mine. My wolf confirms what I already know.

I'm never letting her go.

Chapter 21 - Tanya

I'm so grateful for the warm sun on my face as I stack the last of the boxes that are ready to be taken away. It's been a long winter, my first in the mountains since I was a child. I'm still wary of the roads after the accident, so I'm quite glad to see the snow melting even at the cabin now.

Not that there haven't been some advantages to hunkering down with Zack over winter. Thoughts of long, cold evenings under the covers with him, exploring each other's bodies, flit through my mind, distracting me. My hand slips, sending two boxes crashing to the floor. I bend down, laughing to myself as I pick them up.

"What are you smirking about? Or do I really want to know?" Quinn, Diego's mate, asks me.

I blush furiously and lose my grip on the boxes again. Laughing, we pick them up. "I couldn't possibly say," I mutter, trying to get my fiery cheeks under control as more people arrive to help.

Quinn snorts knowingly. "I bet you're looking forward to seeing Zack out there. It's all he and Diego have been talking about for weeks now."

I look to the tournament ground, where a few teams are already warming up for the Spring Games. I nod to Quinn. The truth is, I can't wait to see Zack out there participating in the games he loves with his pack. It's such a contrast to where we were during the last games.

It took some time for Zack to fully let go of how some of the pack treated him. He was hurt that so many hadn’t even reached out during the time he isolated himself, even more so by the whispers when he did venture out. But gradually, those bonds returned, and men found the courage to admit their mistakes and apologize to his face. After I’d laid out my plan enough times, everyone could see the evidence against Zack had looked pretty damning for a while. Even he admitted he would have doubted many in the face of such evidence. It’s been a process, but I’m so relieved Zack found a way back to the friends that mean so much to him.

Honestly, it's a dream come true that I'm here to witness it. It's a miracle these people forgave me, but even more of a miracle that Zack and Saffy did.

More college students arrive with Gina and Lucca, carrying the final bakery items for the bake sale. I offered to man the booth during the tournament, mainly to give myself something to do. And if I'm honest, it feels a bit like coming full circle, seeing as this is where I first met Zack. I must be feeling sentimental, but I find myself remembering that day and marveling at how far we've come.

The students are all from the food tech department and rightly proud of their creations, insisting I try a bit of everything so I know what they taste like before the sale begins.

"I'm going to be stuffed!" I protest, but I still can't help myself as I try one delicious treat after another.

I can already see that some of these students are going to do great things in the area. The college is setting up a restaurant in town to showcase all the upcoming talent, and I couldn't be happier for them. It's hard to believe that these two packs were at war until only a couple of years ago. My own story of revenge and redemption seems to fit right in here.

While the students finish dressing the stand in the college colors, I step away for a moment and fish out my phone. I've been waiting all morning for a message from my mom confirming that she's picked up my dad for his day-long release from rehab. These outings are part of his reintegration into society, and they're becoming more frequent now that he's doing so much better. My mom was so excited about their plans today.

I turn on the screen and immediately see a photo of them with beaming smiles at Fisherman's Wharf. My eyes get a little misty as I take in their happy faces. Mateo insisted on paying for my dad's rehab. I told him it wasn't necessary, as I had plenty of money set aside, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. It was never the money that stopped my dad from entering rehab. It was the motivation to quit.

Once Mateo and the pack reached out to them and exonerated them, my parents gradually reconsidered their path. It hasn't been easy, and there's still a long way to go. But I feel more hopeful than ever for their future. Mateo and Billie have offered the cottage I once lived in as a place for my parents to stay if and when they're ready to visit Silverstar. It's there for as long as they want it.

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