Page 108 of Unclaimed Bonds
She lowers her head and drops both of her hands from our chests. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to fix this. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the execution. Her heels click on the pavement.
Luke offers, “Let me take you home.”
Of course, he will act as her savior. I can’t watch her leave with him.
“Luke!” she screams. “Stop it. Just stop! You’re not any better than him!” I open my eyes as she shoves him away. “You’re mated. Or did you forget? You mated the most horrible piece-of-shit woman on the planet. Elaine made my life miserable for years. Now, you expect me to—what? Choose you? Be with you after you chose her over me?”
I look at Luke, his shoulders droop, he squeezes his eyes close.
She whirls around to face me. “I already knew that you were betrothed, but for some stupid idiotic reason, I still let you in.” She comes closer, tears streaking down her face. “So why visit this time, huh? One last goodbye fuck, or maybe a proposal to continue on as your side piece? No, wait!” She snaps her fingers. “You weren’t planning on saying anything. Just disappear like you always do, without a word, and leave me wondering if I will ever see you again. Then, you’ll show up, just when I finally feel like moving on again.”
I grind my teeth and clench my fists at my sides. I can’t force the right words out of my mouth. The pain around my heart intensifies, and yet I can’t utter a fucking word.
She raises an eyebrow. “I have loved you for eight years, and you have nothing to say?” She looks down at her hands. “That’s fine because I have one last thing to say to both of you. I’m done. I’m done playing these games.” She raises her chin, her tears glinting in the moonlight. “I don’t choose either of you. So, please, just leave me the fuck alone!”
She turns, but I won’t let her walk away.
I can explain. I will fix this. I ignore Luke and rush after her. His footsteps echo behind me, but I don’t care. I need to stop her.
I catch up to her, grabbing her arm and turning her to face me. “Please just listen, Jessica. Don’t leave, not like this.” Desperate, I cup her face, bringing her close to me, resting my forehead against hers. I see how much she hurts, and I want to take it away.
She pushes me, but I won’t let her go. She starts to fight me.
Luke interferes, pulling me from her. I turn on him. Everything—all of this, losing her—happened because of him. I hit him in the face, knocking him back. He comes right back with a punch to my ribs and one to my jaw.
Thunder booms over our heads. We both stop mid-fight, covering our ears.
Clutching Luke’s shirt, she cries, “Go home, Luke! I don’t want to see you. I don’t want you in my life!”
He wipes blood from his lips and sneers at her. “That’s a bit hard, given the circumstances. Don’t you think?”
Through gritted teeth, she adds, “I’ve managed to make it work for three years. I’m pretty sure I can do it for the rest of my life!” The anger in his eyes morphs into despair as she walks toward me.
I move to wrap my arm around her waist.
She holds up her hand. “Liam, go home. I’m pretty sure your fiancée must be wondering where you are.” She glares, ice blue eyes I once compared to a warm sky, now hard and cold. With a warning rumble, she walks out of my life, taking my heart with her again.
Chapter 51
Tired Of Hiding
JESSICA
PRESENT DAY:
March 31, 2025
Isob after telling Christian about that night after the fashion show. He hands me a box of tissues and sits next to me. I can’t stop crying. It’s so late. Carmen never returns, so he calls a wrap on the interview for the day and escorts me back to my room.
I refused to let myself think about Liam after I walked away that night, likely why it hits so hard rehashing it. I assume by now he’s mated. Chris and Elias, with the rest of their family, left for his mating ceremony. Liam is like a son to Elias, and I can’t begrudge him that. The same reason I won’t let my family choose me over Luke.
I flop on my bed and glare at the ceiling, angrier at myself than anyone else. Turning over, I bury my face in my pillow and start to cry again.
A small part of me always hoped he would at least call, send an email or text, but in typical Liam fashion, he vanished into radio silence. More tears fall. I was so stupid to love him, to believe he would choose me, fight for us, help me when I need him the most.
My bed dips, and a gentle hand strokes my hair. Sixes says, “That was a rough one.”
I wipe my face and nod.
