Chapter 287
“How could you? I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” I said, pacing in the clearing behind the packhouse. Warrick leaned against a tree, arms crossed, frustration etched on his face. He’d called me to speak, but I couldn’t stand him, not after what I’d seen. Though I felt hurt, I shouldn’t show it.
“Piper, please,” he said, his voice strained. “I’ve apologized a hundred times. What more could you possibly want from me?”
“It’s not about the apology, Warrick!” I spat, spinning to face him. “It’s about trust. You broke it, and now… now I don’t even know who we are anymore.”
His jaw hardened. For a moment, he said nothing. Then his voice gentled, almost imploring. “I made a mistake, Piper. I know that. But I love you. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
I shook my head. My chest tight, I managed, “Love isn’t enough when I can’t even trust you.” The silence that followed was a chasm between us.
Finally turning away, I muttered, “I need to get my head sorted,” and walked off.
“Piper… baby.” I heard Warrick calling, but I didn’t turn. I didn’t know which way to go, but my feet carried me toward the training grounds.
I passed Rowan, sparring with a circle of younger wolves. “Piper?” he questioned, concern furrowing his brow.
“I need someone to talk to,” I whispered, halting.
He nodded and walked to a nearby bench. I followed, and we sat. “What’s going on?” he asked softly.
I fumbled over words; my brain felt like a jumbled mess. “It’s Warrick. Everything just seems so… shattered. And maybe not worth saving anymore.”
“Relationships suck, I know. But you are strong, Piper. You’ll figure it out.”
“Will I?” I said, forcing a bitter laugh. “Because right now, it feels like drowning.”
He leaned over and placed a reassuring hand on mine. In his quiet voice, he said, “You are not alone. You’ve got people who care about you.”
Blunt as the words were, they felt like a lifeline. I found myself leaning toward him; his warmth was everything.
I smiled, even as I felt confused. Warrick kept screwing up, and Rowan kept being so great. I wasn’t sure what I wanted anymore.
With my eyes locked on Rowan’s, he leaned closer. “Piper,” he whispered, his tone unsure. “You know you’re important to me, right?”
My breath caught, and in that instant, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The space between us seemed to shrink, and in one swift moment, we were leaning in. But at the last second, I drew back, my heart pounding. “I can’t,” I whispered, then stood abruptly.
Rowan looked as shaken as I felt. “Piper, I’m sor…”
“I need to get going,” I hastened to say, turning away before either of us could utter another word.
I returned to the packhouse; Warrick was waiting by the door. I ignored him and walked inside. I sat in my room while he remained by my door. Rowan also arrived from the direction of the training grounds, a frown on Warrick’s face.
“What the hell were you doing with her?” Warrick thundered. He was loud enough that several wolves stopped and stared.
Rowan stiffened, eyes unyielding. “We were talking, Warrick. That’s all.”
“Talking?” Warrick jeered, taking a threatening step closer. “It didn’t look like just talking to me.”
“Warrick, stop,” I said, rising to my feet, but he didn’t hear me.
“You’ve been sniffing around her for weeks,” Warrick growled, fists clenched. “You think I don’t see it? You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do?”
“Warrick, that’s enough,” Rowan said, firm and controlled.
“Oh, now you’re telling me what to do?” Warrick sneered, stepping into Rowan’s space. “You think you’re better than me? You think you can just take her?”
Warrick was older than Rowan, making him look bigger and intimidating. But I and Rowan were just age grades.
“I’m not trying to take anyone,” Rowan said over him, his voice rising. He glanced my way, and I pursed my lips. He continued, “But perhaps if you were treating her with the respect she deserves, you wouldn’t feel so threatened.”
Murmurs stirred, all glancing between them in the corridor.
“Respect?” Warrick spat. “How dare you speak of respect.”
“Oh, then cease acting the jealous fool,” was all Rowan returned. I gulped; I couldn’t find the strength to ease the tension.
“Enough!” Aurora’s voice cut through, and she stepped between them. “That is enough. Both of you.”
Warrick glared at Rowan one more time, chest heaving, before whirling and stalking away. Rowan held my gaze for a second, then turned to leave, leaving me with the weight of it all pressing on my chest.
Warrick stopped, whirling with a snarl. “You really think this is over, Rowan? You’re just a failure, crawling on your hands and knees to try to get places you don’t deserve. Her.”
Rowan clenched his fists, pausing as he growled. “Say what you will about me, Warrick, but knock it off with bringing Piper into it.”
“You don’t get to talk about her,” Warrick snapped, his voice cracking with anger and frustration. “You don’t know her like I do.”
“And yet here you are,” Rowan said evenly, “accusing her of things she hasn’t done, pushing her away because you can’t handle your own guilt.”
“Enough,” Aurora repeated coldly. Stepping between the two men, she let her sharp eyes hold, unrelenting. “This pack doesn’t have time for petty fights. If you cannot settle this like adults, then I will see both of you accountable.”
“I am sorry, Luna,” Rowan said, bowing slightly, then giving me one more gaze before walking off.
Warrick laughed harshly. “Petty? You think this is petty, Aurora? He’s trying to…”
“Warrick!” Aurora’s voice rose above the din. “If you cared for Piper the way you claim, you’d stop embarrassing her in front of everybody.”
Warrick faltered, his gaze flicking to me. His anger softened, replaced for a moment by something like regret.
“I’m not trying to embarrass anyone,” he muttered.
“Then act like it,” Aurora said, firm but unkind.
The people finally dispersed, but the whispers lingered until Aurora turned to me: “Piper, come with me. Now.”
Warrick would have reached for my arm, but I pulled away, my chest tight with the weight of it all.
“Not now, Warrick,” I managed, my voice firm though my body shook with emotion.