Chapter 154
“I don’t hate you, Isabelle. You’ve been there for me during the worst time of my life. But I can’t forgive myself for what I did to her.” I swallowed hard. “I saw the pain in her eyes before those men attacked her. I can’t shake the fact that I caused that. That pain was there the moment she saw us together at that dinner.”
“I failed her. Every. Single. Time. Until there was nothing left to save.”
Something broke inside me then. The tears came hot and fast, and I couldn’t stop them. A sob tore from my throat.
“She wasn’t just my wife. She was my best friend. I always thought Joel was my best friend, but it was Juno. It was always Juno. She was there for everything, and I took her for granted.”
My shoulders shook with each ragged breath. “She supported me. She thought of me. She made me happy. She tried so hard to make me smile.”
Isabelle finally moved, sitting beside me on the couch. “Matthew…”
“I’ve never been so fucking lonely in my life, and I’m surrounded by people.” I gave in to the sobs that had been building for months. “I miss her so much it’s killing me.”
Isabelle wrapped her arms around me, letting me cry against her shoulder. The irony wasn’t lost on me–the source of my pain was now comforting me through it.
“You need to forgive yourself,” Isabelle said softly after my tears had subsided. “Juno has moved on. She’s found love.”
I broke away from her embrace, wiping my face and looking into her eyes. “How do you know that?”
Isabelle sighed. “I went to work in Clifflands, remember? Everyone is talking about her. About how she’s going to be the Luna Queen.”
My stomach twisted. “What are they saying?”
“That the Alpha King is madly in love with her.” Isabelle’s voice was gentle but firm. “She runs affairs with the Elder Council. She moves freely. She even went to Lakeside alone to discuss peace with Alpha Elton.”
Each word stabbed my heart. “How do you know all this?”
“My friends still live there. We talk.” She looked at me with pity “Matthew, she’s let go. Maybe it’s time you did too.”
I stared at her, trying to process what she was saying.
L
“If you don’t believe me, see for yourself at the Games.” She stood, moving toward her suitcases. “I’m going me. I’d hoped you would change your mind about us, but that’s not going to happen until you get whatever closur
need.”
“Wait.” I caught her arm as she reached for her bag. “Don’t go.”
I placed my hand on her swollen belly, feeling our child move beneath my palm. “I don’t want to miss this. When the baby comes, I want to be there. I want to hold your hand through it all.”
Isabelle’s eyes softened for a moment before hardening again. You can’t have it both ways, Matthew. Either you’re all in,
or you’re not.”
1/2
Chapter 154
“Please, stay. Give me time. fix this, I swear.”
Her laugh. “Fix what? You compare me to her constantly. You talk about her all the time. You call her name in your sleep- sometimes even when we’re making love.”
The accusation stung because I knew it was true.
“How much more am I supposed to endure?” Her voice cracked. This isn’t the life I wanted, Matthew. I’ve tried so hard to fill the space she left. I’ve been training since they took her away. I’ve been studying. But you haven’t encouraged me or given me the support I need.”
“You haven’t helped me through this transition. You’ve left me do it alone, and I can’t keep going like this.
I moved closer, burying my face in her neck near my mark. I gently sucked on it. It was a despicable move, and I damn well knew it, but I was desperate.
“Please, give me time,” I whispered against her skin, kissing her neck. “Please, Isabelle.”
Her resistance weakened as I continued. I felt Zephyx take over recognizing our mate’s distress.
She belongs with us, Zephyx insisted. We can’t let her leave.
The pounding on the door jolted me awake. I glanced at the clock–midnight.
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TR
more than once earlier in the book it said that women sent to the clifflads as tributes never returned… here it says most come back
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