Page 91 of Ice Devil

I threw my hand out. “Just stop right there. Just stop. I don’t really know why you decided to throw me under the bus, but you accomplished your goal. I’ve had more hate mail in various forms than when people first realized I was a damn wolf. Okay? I’ve had reporters hounding me. The team’s coach isn’t a hundred percent certain my contract isn’t going to be bought out. Neither is my agent. That’s how toxic I am. Okay? Mission accomplished. But what hurt the most was reading your diatribe on shifters right after we were exposed to the public. Had I known how much you hated our kind, I never would have…”

I couldn’t even finish the sentence, the words stuck in my throat.

“I don’t hate your kind. What you read was taken out of context, although I will admit that I was heavily influenced by the wrong people.”

“You mean by Matt.”

“Yes. A man I can’t stand. Do you think I wanted your career threatened? Do you honestly believe I would ever try and hurt you on purpose?”

“Why not? Didn’t your ratings soar?” I wouldn’t know because I hadn’t been able to stomach the thought of reading anything she’d written. Because then all I would have done is suffer even more.

She laughed, the sound entirely different than just moments before. “Apparently, you weren’t the only brunt of the ploy they used.”

While she seemed sincere, I was at the point of being unable to trust anyone any longer. “I just don’t care, Sloane. Maybe you weren’t just using me to boost your career, but⁠—”

“Is that what you really think?” she threw out, interrupting me.

Her air of indignation was polished as hell. I moved around the desk, daring to walk closer. “What I think is that you figured I was a cash cow for you. When the big boys came calling, you decided I was an excellent scapegoat. You certainly did a number on me. I honestly can’t believe I bought the shit you were selling.”

While my laugh sounded as hollow as hers, there was no turning back no matter if the reason didn’t include her full betrayal.

“I would never intentionally hurt you.”

She also took a step closer and the same angst from before, only even more intense created a wave of need that mentally and emotionally I couldn’t tolerate. Not again. “I thought…” Well, shit. The electricity was far too high powered. So much so my thoughts were already becoming muddy. That just couldn’t happen.

“You thought what? That maybe we had something, Beck? I thought so too. I’ve never felt so close to someone before. Not once in my life. I sensed you felt the same way. The pull we couldn’t deny, the lingering thoughts and sensations when we weren’t together. It was very real and so confusing, but for once, I was genuinely happy.”

The bitter anger swelled within me. “Well, I guess at least one of us felt that way.”

Hurt swept across her face, the kind of pain someone couldn’t manufacture.

Unless they were a damn good actress. Which she’d been. Damn good.

I’d need to remind myself of that over and over again until I got it through my thick head. At this point, mate or not, I couldn’t afford to care.

Her throat and jaw were tight. Even her fists were clenched. She’d always found the perfect thing to say. Not this time. Likely because she knew I was right and I’d caught her in several lies.

“Why did you come here? North Bend is a long way from the bright lights of Chicago.”

“To talk to you. To explain things.”

“There is honestly nothing you can say that will change anything at this point. Maybe never. Now, I have a lot of work to do. This is my family’s business and it’s important to me, especially with my dad and his heart condition.”

“How is your dad? And Ford?”

I almost answered her. I almost fell into the same trap she’d laid out like a soft red carpet before. But the golden leash she’d attached around my neck had been cut with a chainsaw.

“They are none of your business. I need to get back to work. I’d appreciate if you’d leave.”

Sloane wasn’t the kind of person to take no for an answer any more than I was. That’s what had made our time together a little crazy and so very hot. I missed that, but she’d never hear about how I couldn’t sleep and food had no taste. When I made up my mind, that was it.

She glanced down the length of me, which of course was exactly what I was doing to her at the same time. The woman was breathtaking in every way. Instead of wearing her signature pants, she had a dress on, a beautiful summer dress that hugged every curve.

Of course she would try to appeal to my wolf and hell yes, my balls were tight, but that just wasn’t going to work with me. Damn it if my cock wasn’t aroused. Even my hands were sweaty.

A low and deep rumble of the earth beneath us was immediately followed by a sweeping bolt of cerulean blue lightning with a crack loud enough to shake the building.

“Just leave. Please.” My voice was much harsher than before.