?
I may not have been the one that caused Josie''s attack or the attack on the pack but I had been silent. I had ghosted my entire family...who had been through hell. Who had clearly needed me.
Shame washes over me.
"Look had I of known I would have..."
"Stayed? I don''t know why the fuck you left for a second time, and I don''t care. But put my mate
in danger like that again and I don''t care if you are her brother or not, I will end you." Knox threatens me, his toxic tongue re-igniting that fire within me.
"Don''t put that shit on me. I may have left but I''m not to me for what he did to her. I''m not having that.
I''ve done things wrong, I know I have, but don''t put your guilt on me."
"My guilt?"
"Where the fuck were you that night, where were you when your mate was being attacked."
"Why you arrogant piece of shit. I was the one reassuring the sixteen year old girl that you embarrassed in front of your entire pack and friends." Cleo, he means Cleo.
My mind spirals at the shback of her hurt face.
I''ve just poured explosive fuel onto the fire burning within Knox. He rips his shirt off, preparing to shift. What had they both been eating, both males had grown more muscr in my absence.
"He''s marked an alpha born, he''s quite theponent now." Jaxon teases through the mind-
link.
"Please." I respond back, removing my top off and tossing it aside. If a fight with my wolf is what he wants, then that''s what he will get.
Fur on fur.
“He''s an alpha born as well, something he failed to mention."
Knox was an alpha born?
I didn''t have time to think on Jaxon''s words, Knox had stopped circling me, his eyes locked on mine as his chest continues to pant out from his growing rage.
"You need to control that rage within you Knox, you aren''t thinking clearly." I seethe out to him, trying to remind him not to start something he cant finish.
"My mind has never felt so clear. How could you turn your back willingly on your pack...for an
entire year." I''m surprised when his voice flitters into my mind, he had be a pack member.
"I have my reasons." Not that I would admit it, but they were right.
My reasons for leaving are no longer justifiable after what they have all been through.
I shouldn''t have left, I wouldn''t have left...not if I had known what would happen in the hours after I disappeared.
I needed to make the first move, I needed to apologise. I had made what had happened a hundred times worse in selfishly disappearing.
"I''m sorry that I left. I do have my reasons. Believe me, I would never have gone if I knew what was toe. I would have died protecting Josie, you know that.
If she doesn''t breathe, then neither do I.
I am sorry my friend. I will make it up to her and to you." My words are sincere, truthfully meant. This was the foundation I needed toy, brick by brick I''ll rebuild their trust.
"I don''t care about me, but you make it up to her...or we will be having words again." Knox''s eyes continue to hold anger, but his body starts to ease...his muscles rxing.
"I understand."
Alpha born or not, I could quite easily pin Knox''s wolf to the ground within seconds. But he was hurting...I hadn''t been here.
Shame washes over me again as I think back on the past year...I had been sunbathing and knocking back the beers, enjoying my life as a hotel entrepreneur.
While my family and pack have been living through hell.
Why didn''t Cleo tell me two months ago, why didn''t she warn me of the shit they had been through.
"I''m here, with my luna, to take on the Clear Waters pack. I won''t dissaprear on you all again...you have my word."
I ce my hand out to Knox, preparing to put the ground work in to earn his forgiveness.
Not only had I missed a key milestone in their rtionship...but I had not been here to protect my
own sister.
Who went to the hospital after chasing after me. Fuck, yes, I understand why Knox had so much anger targeted towards me.
Being back with Callie, I will make amends to my family. I will earn their trust again.