Page 104 of His Forsaken Alpha

“You’re writing something new?”

Cav scoffed. He’d not written much of anything since they’d dissected his last attempt and sewn in back together like some bright and shiny thing of beauty. If his words couldn’t be ugly, maybe that’s why he had to be.

“Cav…”

Cavanaugh lifted his gaze.

“You’re not selling readers a book, you’re selling them hope. You’re saying you’ve overcome grief through all this amazing travel, and then you show up looking like a fucking mess.”

He scoffed. “As you well know, Ididn’twrite that piece of crap they’re selling and Iama fucking mess. The publisher might want to sell a lie, but I can’t.”

“Maybe weshouldcancel the rest of the book tour.”

“Be my guest,” Cav said.

“That’s exactly what he wants us to do,” his editor, Marlo, said, sidling up beside Cavanaugh. He tossed his too-long dark brown locks over one shoulder and glared at Cav. Only there wasn’t anger there. Cavanaugh stiffened, ignoring the longing look in his editor’s eyes. He sensed Marlo saw that reluctance, and things only grew more awkward. Marlo looked away, his back to Cav.

One drunken night early in the editing and rewriting process, he’d made a foolish mistake. In his grief, those pining gazes had felt like shelter in the storm. It was only by the full light of day he’d realized his error in judgement. He had nothing to give anyone. A man he’d considered a friend and confidante deserved more than nothing.

Marlo was a good man and shouldn’t crave a dead one walking.

“Don’t let him off the hook.” Marlo said to Gregory, his voice tinged with disappointment as he sat on the corner of the table, head slumping. He barely looked over his shoulder at Cav. “Get your shit together, man.”

“It’s as together as it’s ever gonna be.”

“You have a book to sell to the public,” Marlo said, avoiding Cav’s gaze.

“Maybeyoushould be signing these books, Marlo.” He slid an extra copy toward his editor. “You’re the one who stitched this word salad together.”

“You’re the one who asked me to do it,” Marlo shot back. “Don’t make me regret it more than I already do.”

Cavanaugh lifted his gaze to Marlo, not remembering asking his editor to completely rewrite his book, but hell, as drunk as he often was, maybe he had. After that night together, he would’ve done just about anything to put distance between them. He lifted his gaze to offer some sliver of an apology to Marlo when a flash of long, silver-blond hair caught his attention. Since the best—and worst—week of his life, when he saw long, platinum hair, it called to him. Every single time. Years had passed and he’d still look up, as if he might find Wynter still alive, walking toward him with a knowing smile, ready to start their journey together.

He searched the face attached to that hair, ready to once again prove to himself that Wynter was gone, but…

Only…

Cav rose from his chair and craned his neck, narrowing his eyes.It can’t be.

“Cav? Have you ever…”

Cav had no idea what Gregory was saying, not when Wynter Jaymes walked in his direction, looking down and speaking to a dark-haired child in his grip. Expensive-looking fabric billowed around him, his hair braided to perfection and thick golden cuffs on either wrist. He lifted his head, a hint of a smile on his lips. Cav’s heart shattered. He scrubbed his face, sure his eyes were playing tricks on him.

I’ve got to stop drinking…

When he lifted his hands away, his omega’s face was even clearer. ItwasWynter. He saw that face every night in his dreams. No way would he forget it. He stumbled around the table, nearly falling over.

“Cav?”

Cavanaugh plodded closer to that platinum hair, the light bouncing off it from the overhead fluorescents creating a halo effect—or maybe that was his drunken eyesight. He knew he had to be dreaming. He needed a better look to stop his head from spinning. As he neared, the omega lifted his gaze.

Blue eyes.

Just the right shade.

Wide-eyed with what could only be terror.

Wynter Jaymes stood frozen, just as Cav had seconds before. Ten feet apart, they held one another’s gaze. A shine of tears appeared in Wynter’s eyes.

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