Chapter 82

Chapter 0082

James looks up, and I see sadness, guilt, fear, and confusion In his eyes. And yet, he still does not

answer me.

“ANSWER ME, D&&&IT!”

(James POV)

“Answer her, James,” Luke demands.

I want do. I really do. But I am so scared. I have allowed Stephanie’s death and Lily’s role in it to define my life for the past six years. I now know that Lily was not to blame, but am I ready to cast negativity on Stephanie… the she–wolf that I loved “that you thought you loved,” Luke corrects me

for almost my whole life?

–

Worse, what if Lily does not understand why I blamed her? What if my explanation makes her hate me more? What if, after I tell her, she ends the meeting and walks away?

“You owe it to Lily to tell her the truth,” Luke tells me. “If she does not forgive you, then… then we will figure something else out. But tell her, James. Please.”

I look at the ocean, take a deep breath, and slowly begin to lay it all out there.

“The night that Stephanie died, we were watching a movie together. She got a text around midnight. She did not let me see the text, but she said that it was from you. You snuck out of the house to meet a boy in the woods, and you got lost. You needed her to come and rescue you.”

I take a quick glance at Lily. She is watching me intently. I look back at the ocean. My mind brings me back to the memories and emotions of that fateful day. I continue the story almost as though I am telling

it in real time.

“I was angry. Really angry. You should not have been in the woods late at night, much less in the woods.

to fool around with a boy. I wanted to go with Stephanie to rescue you…. and to teach you a lesson… but Stephanie insisted that she go by herself. She said you would be embarrassed if anyone else knew what

you had been up to. So I let her go.

An hour later, I got a mind–link from the pack warriors saying that you had been seen running out of the woods screaming for help.

We all rushed to the woods, and we found….”

+15 BONUS

I pause, feeling myself get choked up by the memory. “…we found what was left of Stephanie. It was

awful. Her clothes her hair. her blood… I have never seen anything like it. It was as though the rogues

had literally eaten her alive. I was so angry and hurt and upset. My whole life, I had been told that your

sister was my future. And yet, there I was, looking at my future literally reduced to a pile of blood, hair,

and torn clothing.”

I put my head in my hands, as I feel my own tears threaten to fall. 1 wanted someone to blame. The

rogues were long gone before we got there. I knew you had not killed Stephanie with your own hands, but

if you had not been out in the woods fooling around with a boy if you had not asked Stephanie to

rescue you everything would have been different. Stephanie would still be here.”

“And she would be your mate? Lily asks quietly.

“And Stephanie would be my mate,” I confirm without thinking.

“JAMES!!!!” Luke cuts in. “What did you just say to her?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? TAKE IT BACK! LILY IS OUR

MATE!!!!!”

I lift my head up, and look at Lily. Her eyes are bloodshot, and I can literally feel the heartbreak

emanating off of her body.

“James, if you are here because you think that I can replace Stephanie for you, you should know. I may

look like Stephanie, but I am not her. Nor do I want to be.”

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