Chapter 10
Since I’d taken a year off from ArtGrove for the mating ceremony with Zethar.[]
We were supposed to have a two–month bonding period after the ceremony.[]
Yeah, It’s all over now.
The whole pack world was buzzing with gossip about what went down, and I couldn’t even throw myself into work to deal with it.[]
So I decided to take a solo road trip.[]
The day before I left, I went to visit my parents.
At their gravestones,I filled them in on my whole disaster of a love life.[]
“Thank God you guys weren’t there to see that drama. You would be brokeheart.“[
Dad was a Beta driver, drove an eighteen–wheeler, gone four or five days straight hauling freight across state lines.
Summers were the worst–constant produce runs, barely any time to rest.
He’d finish one route, get the truck serviced, then hit the road again.
Mom stayed home taking care of me and the house, did some freelance work on the side to make ends meet.
They both busted their asses to give me everything I could ever want.[]
Even though I wasn’t their bloodline pup.
We didn’t get many family dinners with Dad always on the road.]]
But birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving–we were always together for the important stuff.]
Our favorite tradition was hitting up this hole–in–the–wall diner on the west side for breakfast.
I’d sit on Dad’s shoulders while he’d boom out: “Excuse me! One small, one medium, one large!”
When I snapped out of my memories, I suddenly realized someone was standing beside me.
1 turned around, Zethar was standing right there.[]
My face went white as a sheet,nearly hit the ground.
Seeing my reaction, Zethar went completely still
Then he looked down, las voice coming out all quiet and rough]
“I’m sorry about forcing myself on you I’ve been thinking about it nonstop, and I was way out of line I think… maybe we need to talk.”
He looked at me with those broken eyes
Back when we used to fight, that look would make me cave every single time
Chapter 10
Now it just made me sick. []
“There’s nothing to talk about. Get lost!I don’t want you here.”
His breathing stuttered, but he ignored me and grabbed some incense paper, lighting it with a memorial candle before tossing it into the ash bowl.
“Zethar! I said leave!“]]
I was practically screaming.[]
Out of nowhere, this weird gust of wind picked up that burning paper and sent it spinning through the air.[]
The flames slapped right across the back of Zethar’s hand.[]
He yanked it back, hissing.]
Staring at the red mark on his skin, he slowly turned to look at my parents‘ gravestones with this shocked expression.[]
I was stunned too.
M
I hadn’t cried telling my parents about everything that happened.[]
`I hadn’t cried remembering those old memories.
I hadn’t even cried while yelling at Zethar.[]
But right then, the tears just started pouring.
Mom and Dad were still protecting me…
“Laura…“]]
e…]
Zethar was staring at me all worried, reaching out like he wanted to wipe my face, but I jerked away.
I swiped at my tears, voice shakin“Just go, okay? My parents can’t stand you.“}
Zethar’s eyes started getting all red and watery.
His whole body just deflated, hands balling up into fists then going limp again.[]
“I’m sorry.“]
That’s all he said before turning around and walking away, looking completely defeated.]
I dropped to my knees next to the ground, crying so hard Lcouldn’t breathe.[]
