Fifty-Eight

Ashanti

Something hot scurried through my belly, burning it and spreading all over it. I realized it was fear, and not just the usual one; this one choked my lungs. Chadwick's announcement was an emotionally disturbing shock, and my mouth gaped open for more than a minute.

Although it was no surprise, considering that he'd been attacked by werewolves, I wasn't expecting such a plot twist. Chadwick's eyes were on me, capturing my face, clinging to it, analyzing my reaction, begging me to understand.

My lids slid down over his eyes; I couldn't bring myself to speak, and I sat there like an object.

"Ash, please say something," Chadwick pleaded. "I swear I had no idea. I've thought and spent sleepless nights trying to brace myself for this moment, knowing that you're going to break up with me because I'm a freak. I don't know what to do."

He buried his face in his palm, groaning into it, and my initial response was to place my face against the corded muscles of his chest and rock him gent