Page 50 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
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She’d leftin the middle of the night, taking the rental car. Ever since meeting with the goddess, she’d managed to avoid anyone. Instead, she’d remained in the guest room they’d assignedher.
Avoiding the cheerful gathering at dinner had been awkward, but Samantha—sweet,considerate Samantha—brought a tray to herroom.
Eating it felt like her last real meal. She’d gulped down the hot beef stew and the tea and then scribbled Adrian anote.
Took the rental. You can afford to borrow another. Goodbye. Have a nice life with yourpeople.
Darcy departed the Mitchell Ranch and drove south, not knowing where she headed, only knowing she had to getout of the lodge, away from Adrian. Her backpack on the passenger seat floor, her heart heavy, shefled.
Thirty minutes on the road, she started realizing how stupid she’d been. The lightly falling snow had begun when she pulled out from the lodge driveway started to stream down in giant flakes, blowing in what promised to be a real Montanablizzard.
Not many provisions were in herpack, not even much cash. All her credit cards were locked away in a safe depositbox.
Danu had told her there was a good amount of money waiting for her in her bank account. But Darcy had only three twenty dollar bills on her rightnow.
Still, she knew why sheran.
Self-preservation. It wasn’t cowardly to leave and go off by herself and drive far away from Adrian and theMitchell Ranch. Far as she could go, to put distance between herself and the only man she’d everloved.
The goddess had granted her freedom, and she could do anything shewanted.
Go anywhere in thecountry.
Why, then, was she crying? Darcy blinked fast, trying to clear her vision. Hard enough driving at night on this dark road. Exhaustion claimed every bone in her body. Shehad no idea where she was going, no idea where she’d live or what she’ddo.
For the first time since she was sixteen years old, Darcy feltlost.
“Not fair,” she whispered, her white-knuckled hands gripping the steering wheel. “Why did I have to be attracted to you, Adrian? Why did you have to be so sexy and so nice? If you only stayed the arrogant asshole I thought you were and youdidn’t show me what you’re really made of, I could walk away and never look back. I wanted to hold on to you and never let go, butno…”
Darcy pulled off the side of the road and shut off the engine, letting the tears freelyspill.
“You let me go, Adrian. I’m a beautiful, intelligent person, and you couldn’t make room for me in your family, just like my family couldn’t make room forme because I didn’t fit in with themeither.”
Scrubbing a fist against her eyes, she stared at the snow blowing against the windshield, dancing in the beams of herheadlights.
“Will I ever fit in withanyone?”
The sobs poured out of her as she buried her face into her hands. And then, ever practical, she wiped her face and blew her nose on a handkerchief found in her backpack.It had monogramed initials—AW.
Adrian gave it to her on the airplane after she’d woken up. So stupid, weeping because of some silly dream she’d had of a perfect life, with a strong mate like Adrian and a house filled with kids, everything she hadn’t dared imagine could behers.
He’d told her she was absolutely lovely and the linen handkerchief was atoken.
If someone had askedher long ago what her heart’s desire was, she’d never have said love. Power, yes. Freedom, of course. But never love and settling down with oneguy.
One very special alphawerewolf.
With a sound of disgust, she tossed the wet handkerchief aside. Shivering, she turned the key to start thecar.
Nothing but a sputtering sound.Okay. Don’tpanic.
Darcy tried the engineagain. Snow billowed against the windshield and danced in the light of the headlights cutting through the thickdarkness.
Headlights that would soon go out because she couldn’t start the car. It wasdead.
Dear, sweet hellfire, she was stranded out here, on a dark country road, snow falling fast. So fast she could barely see the road. Darcy reached for her cell phone. Don’t panic.Maybe roadside assistant could come out thisfar…
