Page 117 of Our Deceptive Heat

“We’re on a date, Tyr, that you’re interrupting.”

Tyr sits back in his chair with an expression of shock as feigned as the plastic palms in the hotel lobby.

“I am so sorry,” he gushes. “I had no idea you were looking to expand our pack, love.”

I seethe, shifting on the seat, wishing for a lightning strike. “It was supposed to be a mass exodus!” I snap back.

Eben looks between us. “Is something going on? Because I didn’t know this was a date. I thought we were just friends. Sorry, but I’m not looking for a pack right now.”

I turn my stunned gaze on the alpha, who is now blushing a mortified red colour. This wasn’t a date?

I stand up abruptly, but Tyr grabs my wrist.

“Ryn.”

There’s so much unsaid in those words. I can hear all the things he wants to say. It’s okay, don’t be embarrassed, I want you, who cares about him, I can kill him for you, please let me hug you. I know it all, word for word, because I know him.

I’m never going to get away from them. I’m never going to be able to move on. The realisation hits hard, punching me in the gut. I stumble, but Tyr is up and catches me, pulling me to his chest and turning so I’m shielded from all the eyes.

“It’s going to be okay,” he whispers. “You’re going to be okay, no matter what happens.”

For a long moment, I let myself stay in the safety, the comfort, the love of his arms, but then reality breaks through, and I push away from him.

It’s never going to be okay.

“Sorry, Eben, we have to go, but here’s my card,” I hear Tyr say behind me, but I’m already rushing through the restaurant.

I think I escape him, but he catches me at the cliffs. The waves below crashing into the rocks can’t detract from the beauty of the expanse of blue. It’s peaceful. It should be.

“Why are you following me?” I scream at him.

“I will always follow where you go, Auryn. How can I not?”

I let out a sob and turn away from him, frustrated and aching. “I don’t want to hear it. And I don’t want to hear anymore lies!”

“Ryn, they aren’t lies. I promise-”

“NO MORE PROMISES!” I howl. “NO more broken promises, no more poison lies, no more hoping for something that I can’t have. Just stop. Let’s just stop this now.”

“Baby, please. I love you.”

I freeze.

“Since the moment we met, you have been the part that has been missing from my life. I’m not walking away from you, and I’m not going to leave. I’m going to stay here and convince you to forgive me if it takes me a hundred years.”

I stare at him. He really means it.

“When you’re ready, we have all the answers that you’re not ready to hear. I can explain about why we didn’t tell you everything. I can tell you our big secret. Ryn, it’s not what you think. If you just listen, you will understand.”

“I just need to be alone.”

He opens his mouth, hesitates, and then, to my surprise, he turns and walks back down the track.

He left. He listened. What did he mean it’s not what I think?

I stand there for a few hours pondering life and everything, but it’s not until someone clears their throat that I jerk out of my head.

Eben shuffles his feet and spreads his hands. For a moment, he’s speechless.

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