Chapter 68

~Tia~

I wanted so badly to comfort Lincoln, but I couldn't bring myself to do so. I know that the situation

at the dress store looks horrible at best, and he is fighting his urge to toss me aside. I'm amazed

that I could convince him to just listen to me before making a decision. He is the impulsive one, yet

it was Landon who lashed out without hearing my side.

The walk to the room is agonizing. I don't know what to say or what to do. My only plan is to tell

the truth, but that doesn’t mean I will be believed. The truth sounds fishy at best, but it's the only

truth I have. I would never cheat on my mates for any reason, and I don't even have an interest in

Neal like that. I'm more interested in finding out what happened to make Neal think I wanted him.

I walk into our room and stand in the middle. I don't really want to sit down because I'm too

anxious. Honestly, I may need to run; if I sit down, it would be hard to do. If anyone had asked me

before, I would have said that my mates would never hurt me, but after seeing the look on Landon’s

face, I'm not so sure anymore. If I had betrayed them, I would gladly drop to my knees and take

whatever I had coming, but I didn’t.

Lincoln walks in behind me and sits on the couch. We don't speak, and the tension is thick. I can't

even bring myself to look at him, which, I'd imagine, makes me look guilty as hell. I can't help that

right now, though. I don’t know what to do with myself because I don’t know what will happen once

I tell them what I need to say. I don't know if they will believe me, and that, the unknown, is

unnerving.

The door opens, and I smell him; peppermint and lemon......and something else. I turn around

quickly and look at Landon. He is looking me up and down, anger in his eyes. I don't care about that

at the moment. I have more pressing matters. “Where were you?” Landon doesn't answer but

continues to stare. “Were you with her?” I recognize that scent. I have known that scent all my life,

that cherry scent. I've actually grown to despise that scent and most things associated with it.

L...what's going on? What happened? I don't respond. I can't respond. I'm so f**king angry at Tia, at

Neal, hell, I'm angry at myself. The hurt in Tia's eyes is the same hurt I've felt since I saw her stumble

out of that dressing room. A part of me is satisfied that she feels what I feel, and another part of me

is breaking down at the pain my mate is feeling. S**t!

"Answer me, Landon....what did you do?” Tia's voice is quieter now, the pain clinging to every word.

I close my eyes and breath.

*Flashback*

I'm lulled by Adela. My heart hurts so much, and my head is clouded. I've blocked out my brother

and Tia just so I can think. I'm feeling so comforted that I forget where I am and who I'm with

Her touch is soothing; to be honest, she’s always been able to calm me. It isn't like Tia’s touch or

even just her scent, but at the moment, it's working. I guess my heart is just so broken that any care

is appreciated.

I lean into Adela, and she continues to stroke my arms; up, down, and back again. I get comfortable

against her chest, and I close my eyes. I can feel her breath on my face and neck. The quiet and

stillness of the woods add to my ease. I'm taking deep breaths and clearing my mind of everything.

I can feel my eyelids get heavier, and my body is getting more relaxed. I could stay like this for a

while, which would suit me just fine. The sounds of the forest always get me; I could listen for hours.

I don't know how much time passes, but I can feel myself drifting off. I start to give into the

darkness when I feel a scratch on my neck, and Goliath yells simultaneously. That snaps me out of

my relaxation, and I jump off the boulder. I look around the area, seeing nothing, before my eyes

land on Adela. I place my hand on my neck, and it feels wet. Adela is looking at me innocently,

fluttering her lashes. I pull my hand in front of my face and take steps away from Adela. My hand

has blood on it....I'm bleeding.

"Whaaaa....what were you doing?” Adela doesn’t answer; she just smirks. I turn and run back toward

the packhouse, mind linking my brother on the way.

*End of Flashback*

Goliath was pissed that I let us get into that situation with Adela, of all people. She almost marked

us because of my carelessness. No matter how I was feeling, I should have never let her get so close

or gotten so comfortable. I let myself get into a bad situation that could have cost me everything.

Thinking about that on my walkover made me want to actually hear Tia out. Maybe she had the

same issue as me, allowing herself to be in a bad situation. I should at least hear her out before

passing judgment.