For a moment, I’d been so close to sinking my teeth into her skin that I could taste her throat on my tongue even now.


    But I’d pulled back at thest second. Out of fear, perhaps, but also control. What if she was manipting me into marking her? She’d made it clear before that she didn’t want me to mark her, but maybe she changed her mind.


    Maybe her father made her change her mind. Maybe he forced his little spy to get closer to me.


    Or maybe I was just a fucking coward.


    “No,” I said tly. “I didn’t mark her.”


    Relief flooded Gabriel’s features. “Good. That’s good. For a moment there, I thought—”


    “Gabriel.” I fixed him with a hard stare. “Instead of worrying about my personal life, why don’t you go summon Sophia? I have questions about her car.”


    Gabriel frowned. “You think it was stolen?”


    That was what I wanted to believe. That Sophia’s car had been taken by some random criminal, that she had nothing to do with what happened to E. But deep in my gut, I knew better.


    “Just bring her here,” I said curtly.


    Gabriel nodded and left, although I could see the frustration in his eyes over my having slept with Est night. The moment the door closed behind him, I let out a long breath and leaned back in my chair, passing my hand over my rapidly heating face.


    E had been so perfectst night. And the way she’d looked at me when I was inside of her, like I was her whole world… My wolf had been ecstatic, practically howling with joy at finally being with our mate. Even now, hourster, I could barely keep the smile off my face.


    Suddenly, another knock interrupted my thoughts. This time it was Liam who entered, and he looked furious.


    “Where is she?” he demanded.


    “E? She’s upstairs, sleeping.”


    “Is she alright? After what happenedst night


    “She’s fine.” I leaned back in my chair and gestured to the chair Gabriel had vacated. “Do you


    want to take a seat?”


    He remained standing, arms crossed. “I’d rather not. I came here to tell you that this is your fault.”


    “Excuse me?”


    “E was kidnapped because she felt so isted, so unwanted, that she epted a drink from a stranger just to feel normal for five minutes.” Liam’s anger was palpable. “If you hadn’t spent five years pushing her away and making her feel like she meant nothing to you, she never would have been in that situation.”


    The usation hit harder than I wanted to admit because there was truth in it. E had been starved for affection. Of course she had been vulnerable to someone showing her attention.


    “You’re right,” I said quietly.


    Liam blinked, clearly not expecting that response. “I… what?”


    “You’re right. I pushed her away for years. I made her feel unwanted.” I stood up, walking to the window that overlooked the garden. “And if sophia was behind what happenedst night, I’ll make sure she pays for it.”


    “Sophia?” Liam’s anger shifted to confusion. “What does she have to do with this?”


    “The kidnapper used her car. Either it was stolen, or…” I trailed off, not wanting to voice my suspicions out loud.


    Before Liam could answer, another knock at the door interrupted us. I rolled my eyes, wondering who else could possibly being to bother me today, but then Gabriel poked his head in. “Alpha, Sophia and her parents are already here.”


    My eyebrows shot up at that. Liam moved to leave, but I gestured for him to stay; I wanted him here for this. Composing myself, I nodded to Gabriel. A momentter, Sophia entered with a gift basket in her hands, her parents trailing behind her.


    “Alex, we heard what happened to E and wanted to bring this-”


    “Sit down,” I said, cutting her off. “We have much to discuss.”