Chapter 62: Chapter Sixty-Two

Roan.

Sullen’s heartbeat quickened as they walked through the crowd toward her father, and Roan felt it in his throat. She felt something that Roan didn’t. Had they decided on what to do? Had her mother picked her father or his?

Roan reached over and interlaced his fingers with hers. She gave him the side eye and pushed open the gym doors.

He had walked several yards away, next to the pack house, his hands shoved down into his jean pockets.

Roan picked up that it wasn’t looking good on Mr. Andrews’s side. He looked pained.

Mrs. Andrews had rejected him.

“Hey,” Sullen said softly, pulling him in for a hug.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. The longing on his face hurt Roan’s chest. “I guess it’s pretty obvious,” he chuckled

humorlessly.

Sullen pulled back and cupped her father’s face as if he were a child. “Mom rejected you?”

He closed his eyes and pressed his hand against his chest. “Yeah, and I don’t blame her. What I did was for your protection, but it hurt you both. I hurt you in the end, and I left. Your mother deserves to be happy.” His gaze moved to Roan. “And your father makes her happy.”

Roan nodded, watching the exchange with folded arms, not having the words to reply.

“I’m going to leave in the morning. I wanted to tell you how beautiful you look, and that I think you’re going to make a great Luna.”

“Thank you,” Sullen mumbled. “Can I come to see you? Where are you going? You’re not going back to the rogues—”

“No, I’m not,” he said swiftly. “There is a pack several towns over that I know. I have several friends that said the alpha would welcome me. I need to be far enough away from your mother that my wolf doesn’t go feral, but close enough to see you … if you want.”

Sullen wiped at her eyes and pressed her fists against them. “Of course. I don’t want you to leave, Daddy.”

He pulled her back in for another hug. “Don’t cry, Baby Girl. You can come see me whenever. I have your phone number, and you can call me. Everything will be fine, I promise.”

She pressed her face into his chest and cried.

Roan almost left because it felt so personal, but his wolf wouldn’t let him.

She pulled back. “I understand why she did it, but I wish it never came to this.”

“Me too, Sweet Girl. But I don’t want to ruin your night. I wanted to say goodbye because I’ll be gone when you wake up.”

“Thank you. Are you staying for the party?”

He glanced at the gym but shook his head. “I need to run my wolf. He’s in pain.”

“You promise to call?” she whispered.

He stepped forward and cupped her face in his palms. “Of course I do. You go enjoy your night, and I will see you soon. I love you.”

“I love you,” she whispered, giving him one last hug.

He left Sullen after several seconds of her clinging to him like a child.

Roan stepped forward and touched her back, bringing her into his arms. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she whispered. “I’m glad it’s over with, and they can go on with their lives, but it still stings.”

“I get it,” he said, gesturing his head toward the gym. “Do you want to go back inside?”

She shook her head. “In a few minutes. I don’t think I can right now.”

“You need a drink?” he asked, offering her the flask.

She chuckled. “Being drunk when I’m sad only makes it worse. Why don’t you take me to that pond?”

He quirked an eyebrow. “The one I took you on your first night here?”

She nodded. “Yeah, with the dock.”

Roan began to strip off his suit, and Sullen followed him. In seconds they were undressed under the stars, the crisp night air nipping at their skin.

Sullen shifted first, her wolf eager for a run, and Roan couldn’t deny his wolf was excited, too. He followed her into the woods, and toward

the pond, jumping over overturned trees, and through the underbrush. The moonlight was their guide, calling to their wolves like sirens.

Sullen shifted once they neared the dock, and dove straight into the water.

Roan stopped on the edge of the dock and stared out at her. Sullen came up on the other side, staring at him from over the water.

“You're not coming in?” she asked.

“You know I’d follow you anywhere,” he said, slicing through the water. He swam toward her, coming up inches from her face. He snaked his fingers around the back of her neck, holding her still. “To the city.”

“What?” she chuckled, sliding her palms against his shoulders.

“I’d follow you anywhere. To the city. To the city dump—”

She laughed. “You’re stuck with me now,” she said, angling her neck to show her mark. “I don’t want to end up like my parents. Promise me you’ll never leave. I’m gonna be that girl. The sixteen-year-old needing reassurance of forever.”

Roan nodded. “You don’t have to make a joke out of it. I can’t imagine the pain my wolf would go through if we separated, Sullen. I will never leave. No matter the day, the time. No matter what happens between us, I will not leave you.”

Sullen leaned forward and pressed her mouth against his. It was soft, inviting and pulled Roan into a frenzy. He heard something in the woods and turned to look.

Sullen followed his gaze, and before they knew it, the entire party was diving into the pond with them. Roan’s wolf grew irritated since he’d planned to drag Sullen to the bank and have his way with her.

But Sullen laughed and clung tightly to him. “I never thought that I would enjoy a pack again. I’m so glad you brought me here, even if I tried to run.”

Roan smiled. “Yeah, well, I couldn’t let someone—unbeknownst to me—my brother take my mate.”

She cringed. “Yeah, it’s already weird that we’re going to be step-siblings. Let’s not talk about your brother anymore.”

“Deal.”