“Him again.” Kate sighed, pointing to the shelter fence.
Scott was fixing a loose section. He’d been in town for two weeks, silently showing up around the shelter every day, mending things.
“Tell him to get lost,” I said coldly, disgust clear in my voice.
“Elena…” Kate hesitated. “He looks like he’s really trying. Maybe—”
“No maybes,” I cut her off. “You don’t know what he did.”
I pushed open the door and walked straight to Scott. He immediately put down his tools, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
“Leave,” I said flatly. “I don’t want to see you.”
“Elena, please, just give me a chance,” he pleaded.
“You had your chance. Ten years of chances,” I advanced on him, my voice shaking with anger. “And how did you use them? Humiliating me, belittling me, rejecting me in front of everyone!”
Scott looked down, his face etched with pain. “I know I was wrong…”
“Knowing isn’t enough,” I sneered. “Knowing doesn’t erase the damage.”
“Then what can I do?” he asked, desperation in his voice. “Tell me, Elena. Anything.”
I looked him straight in the eye, my voice like ice. “Leave. That’s the only thing you can do for me.”
Scott’s eyes looked shattered. But he didn’t argue, just nodded silently, picked up his tools, and started to leave.
Just then, a familiar truck pulled up to the shelter gate. Derek hopped out, a paper bag in his hand.
“Lunchtime!” he called out with a smile, then he saw Scott. The air between the two men instantly tensed.
“Derek.” I walked quickly towards him, pointedly ignoring Scott’s wounded look.
“Everything alright?” Derek asked quietly, his gaze shifting between me and Scott.
“Perfect.” I took his hand, making sure Scott saw. “Let’s go eat.”
Derek clearly noticed what I was doing, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he squeezed my hand gently and walked with me into the shelter.
Before the door closed, I saw Scott standing in the drizzle, alone and silent.
“Is that your ex?” Derek asked as he unpacked the food.
“Something like that,” I sighed. “A mistake of a mate bond.”
Derek was quiet for a moment. “Werewolf mate bonds are powerful. I thought they were unbreakable.”
“I’d rather die than be tied to him by it,” I said through gritted teeth.
