Chapter 147

Derek:

It took me a lot longer than I would ever admit to return to normal.

In the wake of Alisha’s abrupt exit, I felt the stinging pain of rejection, and the bitter taste of defeat on the top of my tongue.

It felt truly awful: like a burning in my chest and a heaviness that left me reminded of the two years Alisha hadn’t been in the pack or in my life by my own stupid mistakes.

I left the portrait room and went back to the study, my body moving on autopilot. The zeal I had to hang out with my friend and his mate (and possibly include Alisha in the mix) had vanished straight into thin air.

I had made another mistake, and I knew it. It was just another in the long list of reasons why Alisha refused to return to me.

I shouldn’t have brought the children into our disagreeable relationship. I had known it was wrong but somehow I had been a little desperate. I knew that Alisha would never have the heart to say no to anything the twins asked her, and thought I could take advantage of it.

“