The Runaway 6

 

Chapter 6 

His grip was unyielding, locking me against him as he buried his face into my stomach. 

“Athena, I hate you so much. How can a Luna be this cruel…” 

I went still, feeling the dampness spreading across my tunic-he was actually crying. 

“You really believe I chose Claire? That I don’t love you? How could you think that? Other Alphas have their mates standing by them when the Pack spreads rumors, but you-you condemned me without a word and ran away. Don’t you see I’m the one bleeding? Don’t you see I’m the one destroyed? I hate you, Athena. I hate you more than I can say…” 

His voice cracked, his eyes red, his pride stripped away until all I saw was a broken man. 

“Why won’t you hold me? Why won’t you touch me? Do I have to die before you finally- 

I couldn’t bear to let him finish. My hand slid to the back of his neck, the other smoothing over the scarred lines across his back. Against my will, guilt twisted in me, as if I had wronged him instead. 

The healer burst in at the noise. 

“The Alpha just regained consciousness-his emotions must be calmed. Don’t let him strain himself or the 

wounds will reopen. 

Kael clung to those words instantly, twisting them to his advantage. 

“If you’re not by my side where I can see you, I’ll rip my stitches apart with worry. The healer said I need peace to recover quickly.” 

My mother knew nothing of Claire-she thought it was just a simple quarrel. She clapped her hands, pleased 

at the suggestion that I stay. 

But it wasn’t her approval that broke me–it was Kael’s parents. The aging pair held my hands tight, 

pleading: 

“Kael’s always been stubborn. You’re the only one who can calm him. Please, don’t leave him now.” 

I couldn’t say no. 

Once they were gone, Kael became shameless. 

He claimed his shoulder hurt and demanded I rub it. 

He said his wound itched and insisted only my touch could soothe it. 

All afternoon, I was running myself ragged under his demands. 

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The chamber had a visitor’s cot, but when I finally collapsed onto it, thinking I could rest, his voice cut 

through the dark. 

“Why are you over there? Isn’t my bed big enough?” 

I ignored the childish complaint, too tired to answer. 

But sometime past midnight, warmth closed around me, his arms locking me in place. 

I jerked awake when my foot brushed his bandaged side, making him hiss. 

“Kael! What are you doing? The healer said you can’t be moving around!” 

He only frowned, lips pressed in a sulky pout. 

“I’ve never slept without my mate. I can’t rest unless you’re beside me. That’s final.” 

The words hit me straight in the chest. Memories rushed back-every fight we’d had, every time I tried 

sleeping apart, only for him to follow and drag me back into his arms with the same line: 

“Mates don’t sleep apart in this Pack.” 

Now his chin rested against my hair, his voice dropping to a raw whisper. 

“Don’t ever disappear on me again, Athena. Even if you hate me, say it to my face. When I couldn’t find you, 

I lost my mind. Believe it or not, I love you…” 

He caught my hand and laced our fingers together. 

Maybe it was the haze of recovery, maybe not. But the burn in my chest was real. 

After that night, life slipped back into old patterns-except he was needier than ever. 

He leaned on me just to make it across the room. 

At meals, he claimed he couldn’t lift a spoon and made me feed him mouthful by mouthful. 

At night, he refused to let me use the cot, insisting I sleep in his arms. 

Those days carried a strange sweetness. 

He never spoke of Claire, and I never brought it up. 

Maybe pretending was easier. 

Better to cling to fragile peace than drown in misery. 

But peace never lasted. 

Chapter 6 

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Unwanted guests always had a way of arriving. 

Chapter 6 

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