Page 38 of His Forsaken Alpha

“Take what I have,” Warden said, brushing a hand through his hair. He spun back. “You’re wasting what little it is complaining.”

Wynter eyed the alpha. “Let me fix your tie.” He crossed the space and for once, Warden didn’t wince away from him. He smiled wanly, lifting his hands to untie the mess his mate had made. The scars at his wrists appeared over the edge of his robe, reminding him once again of what he’d done. He pushed the guilt aside, focusing on his plan. “Who taught you to tie these?”

“I don’t know,” Warden murmured. “It’s been too long ago.”

“I can’t believe Ferron would allow you out the door like this,” Wynter whispered.

“My papa isn’t as demanding as yours.” As soon as Warden’s gaze fell on the scars, he tugged his tie away. “I’ve got it.”

Wynter backed away, crossing his arms and hiding the signs of what he’d done. “Neither of us is happy.”

“Tell me something I don’t already know.”

“We’re stuck in this mating, Warden. Instead of hating one another for it, perhaps we find a way to coexist together? I’m not stupid enough to imagine we could ever love one another, but is civility too much to ask?”

“I tried civility. It got me nowhere.”

“I was young. Scared. Can’t you give me another chance?”

Warden’s gaze went down to Wynter’s wrists. He turned back to the mirror and his tie and said nothing.

“We could learn to be friends.”

“Is that something you learned at that expensive treatment center I paid for?”

“Yes, in a way, it is,” Wynter said, ignoring the snipe about expense. “Why spend the rest of our existence at once another’s throats, Warden?”

“Is that what we are? At one another’s throats?” Warden asked, finishing the tie and tightening it. “And here I thought it casual indifference? You spent your days sleeping away while I worked and raised our child.”

“I wasn’t well, Warden.”Not that I’m much better now.

“Oh, I know how unwell you are. I was the one who found you, as you might recall. Or maybe you don’t… youhadlost quite a bit of blood at that point.”

“It was a cry for help.”

“It was a cry for attention,” Warden blasted back.

Wynter fought tears. “I cannot live as we have these last five years. Iwon’tsurvive it.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No,” Wynter whispered. “It’s the truth.”

Warden eyed him. “Why did I even bother saving you if you simply plan to do it again?”

Wynter wiped the tear that slid down his cheek. “Perhaps you’d like to answer that? You have such disdain for me, it’s clear my death wouldn’t have been a great loss to you.”

Warden held his gaze. “It wouldn’t have.” He broke away to glance at himself in the mirror again, which seemed a favorite pastime. “But I’ve just gotten Jaymes & Associates back on solid ground and in the black.”

“I fail to see the connection.”

“People shy away from widowers. I can’t lose business because a potential new client assumes I’m grieving your loss.”

“Of course,”Wynter muttered.

“I’ve worked tirelessly to lift J&A from the ashes of my father’s mismanagement. I won’t see all of my hard work destroyed because of you and your selfish choices.”

Selfish choices?“Then meet me halfway! I’m trying to find a way through this, but I need your help, Warden. I can’t do it alone.”

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