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looking thing that was up on blocks.  Is everything okay?
 Niall pointed me in this direction when I asked him if he s been leaving me gifts, I whispered
as I stared at him, feeling like I d maybe never seen him before or something.  It s you, isn t it?
He licked his lips as he sat up slowly and then nodded.  Are you mad?
 No. Why would I be mad?
 I don t know but you look like you ve seen a ghost or something.
 You ve been coming out to the orchard with me too, haven t you?
 Yes. He rubbed his hands over his head as he moved his knees up and rested his elbows on
them.  I can explain that though. Don t be pissed at me.
 Okay, explain it then.
 I-I know you wanted space and t-to be alone. I-I just thought w-we didn t know much a-about
the i-island. And I d heard someone had been taken off it once and the groves are several miles away
from the mansion, so if you were in trouble or screamed, no one would get to you in time.
 Also, sometimes when we want to be alone we don t really want to be that alone and you re
from Chicago so I didn t want you to freak out that you were in the middle of nowhere and end up
stranded, he stuttered and rambled as he stared at a spot on the ground.  I was just worried. I mean
we messed up so badly. I messed up so badly and I didn t know that I hadn t reactivated your PTSD
because I don t know anything about it.
 What if I did and you had an episode right in the trees? And it was my fault and you got hurt?
I d never forgive myself. So I d go for a run in wolf form when you were fruit picking or to fill what
was needed on the list. I didn t want to hover and act like you couldn t take care of yourself or know
what s best for you. I d just run and clear my head, looping around the general area you were in so I
could hear you if you needed someone.
 Taye, I m not mad, I said gently when I saw he was taking a deep breath to continue
rambling.  I think it s really sweet actually. Thank you.
 Yeah? he breathed, finally raising his head and meeting my gaze. I nodded and he sighed.
 And the gifts?
 Apology presents, he muttered, instantly looking away again.
 Taye, you ve more than apologized and I ve forgiven you, I reminded him as I moved closer
and knelt between his legs, making room for me.
 Not for what we ve talked about, he choked out, his eyes squeezed shut tight.  For so much
more, Gideon. I ve been so horrid and unfair to you and you re so wonderful.
 Is this what you ve been keeping and holding back from me? He slowly nodded after a
moment.  Will you tell me now? Please? I want to move forward, Taye.
 I want to as well but I don t think you ll be able to forgive me and then it really will be my
fault that none of us will be together and that would kill me.
 I think you need to give me more credit than that.
He looked up and searched my eyes for a moment.  Will you promise me something?
 Depends but I ll try, I hedged.
 That s fair. If you can t forgive me, will you and Ciro still love Niall? If I leave, will you guys
love and claim him? I don t want him to have to choose and him to lose out on your love because I
fucked everything up.
 Taye, it can t be that bad, I gasped.  And no, I won t promise that because the choice should
be up to Niall. Just trust that you mean a lot to me and there s pretty much nothing I wouldn t forgive
you.
 I wouldn t forgive me but you have a right to know. He took a shaky breath then looked off
over my shoulder, not really focusing on anything.  I was so pissed when you showed up to our pack.
God, I was mad. Here I was thinking it was going to be some Omega that wouldn t ever cut it in the
mountains, away from most modern conveniences like cable, internet, and cell phones.
 I mean, not that Omegas as a group can t handle that, but most people don t come to our pack
and go sure, I ll give all that up after living life like that. Hell, I hated it after having spent time with
other packs making alliances and handling things for Alpha Gifford. So I had it all set in my head that
whatever Omega that was going to visit would just be a blip on the calendar and would run right back
to Chicago.
 Then I could tell Declan we were good hosts and I did my friend a favor because he s a good
guy. But then it was you. I just about fucking shit a brick when I saw you, instantly recognizing you as
Niall s crush and fantasy man for years. I mean, it was like fate served up his biggest dream right to
his doorstep and you were going to ruin everything. And here I was so in love with him and I d been
waiting for years for what was right around the corner.
 Right around the corner? I asked, following him up until then.
 You were around Alpha Gifford enough to know he couldn t lead much longer. Niall wouldn t
challenge him but the Alpha was grooming Niall to take over soon. We would lead the pack and I
would devote myself to that and him. I would be his Beta and mate. Once I was his Beta, if he hadn t
figured out how I truly felt by then, I knew I would tell him. I mean, Niall s still young compared to
me and honestly I ve loved him before I probably should even have.
 But just a little longer and I could have had my dream maybe. Then you show up and it was
like I saw it all go up in that moment. I was so rude to you, wanting you to leave.
I felt my jaw drop open.  No, you weren t! Sure you didn t roll out the red carpet and wait on
me hand and foot but, Taye, you weren t rude to me. If he thought he d been rude to me, then he had
the best manners in the world. Yeah, he d been a little growly at times, but who wasn t when they
didn t have a choice when a stranger visits for weeks in their home?
 I was compared to how I would have treated a normal guest the first few days, he whispered.
 But then I saw how you instantly clicked with Niall and I liked you. I mean, really liked you as I
spent time with you which pissed me off even more. Why did you have to be so sweet and nice? It
was killing me that you couldn t just be a jerk so I could push you out the door before you took Niall
away from me.
 This isn t anything I need to forgive you for, Taye, I hedged when he got quiet, lost in the
memories.
He shook his head again before speaking.  And then the shit went down with Alpha Gifford and
the visitor from Nashville. I knew Niall would want to get you out so I came up with a way to get us
all out before he did something stupid, cursing you the whole time for ruining everything, taking us
from our home even though none of it was your fault and you were the victim.
 And he left you behind, I finished, knowing how much that had hurt him.
 And he left me behind for you, he choked out.  Niall swears that he was going to get word to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]