Chapter 053

[Apple]

"Sly," the sound of the door closing behind me tells me we are alone. I hold my breath.

He steps forward, closing the distance between us, and pulls me into his arms holding me tightly as he breathes in my scent.

"I needed to see you," he says against my hair. "I'm so glad I found you."

"You left me alone," a sob breaks free, muffled by his chest as I bury my face in his embrace, craving his touch and scent as much as any wolf. "You don't need me. You don't even want me."

He holds me even tighter as I cry, clutching his jacket. "I know this relationship is just pretend to you, that you never promised me anything, but I can't help how my heart feels," I try to explain, my words moving quickly. "I can't give my body without my heart, Sly. When I offered myself and approached you, it was with everything, and I know you can't love me back, but I thought it wouldn't matter."

"But I was wrong," I confess. "I want you to want me too. To have you reject me broke me."

"I didn't reject