#Chapter 13 - Engagement


    Abby


    He looms over me, his jaw clenched. His anger seems to win out over his attempt to shield his


    emotions from me. The sheer power radiating off him makes me want to back down and submit to him.


    I shake my head to clear my thoughts and take a step back. He might be an Alpha, but that doesn’t


    mean I should let him get away with everything. I don’t need to submit to him, and I have no intention of


    doing so ever again. If he thinks he can intimidate me, he’s wrong. I stand up straighter and stare him


    in the eye.


    “Engaged?” he snarls. “To whom?”


    I cross my arms, creating a further barrier between us. I refuse to back down. “His name’s Adam


    Mitchell, and he’s great. He’s my partner, and he really cares about me. No matter what, he believes in


    me. He thinks I’mpetent and loyal.”


    I only say thest part to get under his skin, but I can’t help myself. It’s not like he doesn''t deserve it


    after everything.


    Karl growls in answer, and unease pools in my gut. I have a feeling that the growl came from his wolf


    more than anything. He turns away and runs his hands through his hair, clearly trying to get a grip on


    his anger. I wait quietly for him to sort himself out.


    I was just as surprised when Adam proposed to me, but I haven’t second guessed my answer. Even


    though we haven’t been going out for very long, I really like him. I think we could be really good


    together, and we have time to get to know each other, anyway. Things move fast in our world, and we


    both want the same things. That’s what really matters.


    “Did you say Adam Mitchell?” he finally says, turning to look at me again. His expression has smoothed


    out, but there’s a sort of nkness to it. He’s trying to keep me out. Though, I can’t help but wonder if


    it’s really hurt that he’s trying to mask, not his fury.


    “Yes?”


    “Shit, I know him.” He shakes his head. “He’s thetest restaurant investor to make a name for


    himself.”


    “His investment in your pack should make you a fortune as well,” I say. “If you’re good to me, that is.


    You should give me your blessing to start a new life.” I’m not really expecting him to do so, but I figure it


    doesn’t hurt to ask. It would certainly make life easier if he did give me his blessing.


    He shakes his head with a dryugh. “I’m not interested in a business deal, but thanks.”


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    I’m not sure why he thinks he has the right to sound so bitter. Shouldn’t I be the bitter one? It’s been


    three years. Three years. Why is he doing this now, after all this time?


    “I don’t know what to tell you, Karl. I’m happy with my new life.”


    He takes a sudden step toward me, a pleading look in his eyes. “Let’s just start over,” he says, reaching


    for my hand. I move my arms behind my back, and he drops his to his side. “I can do better than him.”


    Maybe this isn’t even about me. He just can’t stand the thought of another man having something that


    ‘belongs’ to him. I can’t believe he thought I’d take him back after everything. It’s not as simple as just


    starting over. I still don’t even know why he left me in the first ce.


    “We can’t go back to the past,” I say. “I can’t focus all of my energy on you like I did back then. If you


    didn’t believe in me before, then what about now? It’s even less likely.”


    I know he’ll never approve of my restaurant business. He hated when I cooked just for fun, let alone as


    a career. He must know that I have no intention of giving up the thing I love, especially just to get back


    with him. And how am I supposed to trust that he won’t just leave me again? With no exnation. With


    nothing.


    “We can start over.”


    I shake my head and soften my expression. “No, I don’t think we can.”


    When I get home that night, I’m exhausted. As usual, the restaurant was packed, and I spent the night


    running around. I can’t wait to get off my feet and watch TV for a while.


    Adam is lounging on the couch when I walk in. He looks up at me and smiles, his blue eyes softening.


    “Hey babe,” he says, opening his arms to me.


    “Hey.” I sink into his embrace and rest my head against his chest. Today has been an emotional


    rollercoaster, and I can’t wait to get to bed so I can put it all behind me. All night, I couldn’t get the look


    on Karl’s face out of my mind. Before the anger, I could have sworn there was a sh of hurt.


    “You okay?”


    “Yeah,” I sigh. “It’s just been a long day.”


    “Did something happen?”


    I wrap my arms around his torso and close my eyes. His body is warm, and I have the feeling that if I sit


    too long like this, he’ll have to carry me to bed sooner rather thanter. It feels like I could sleep for an


    eternity.


    “Karl, my ex-husband, came by today,” I say tiredly. Adam stiffens slightly but waits for me to finish


    talking. “Things are a little tense between us.”


    He shrugs. “So, you haven’t seen him in a while. I think a little tension makes sense.”


    “Yeah, you’re probably right.”


    He squeezes my shoulder. “So, I found this new restaurant I think I’d like to invest in. We should check


    it out sometime. I’d really like your opinion.”


    He starts to tell me about the restaurant, but I can barely pay attention. There’s a tightness in my chest


    that just gets worse and worse the longer I sit with him. I wanted to talk to someone about how tired


    and confused I’ve been, but Adam clearly wasn’t the right choice. He’s more interested in work.


    When he’s done telling me about the restaurant, I stand up and wander into the kitchen. I grab my


    phone and dial Leah’s number, walking into the bedroom so I have a little privacy. In the living room,


    Adam turns the TV on.


    She picks up after a few rings. “Abby!” she says, her voice cheery. “How’s the bride to be?”


    I can''t help but cringe a little at her words. “Leah, hey. Are you around for a drink? I could really use a


    talk.”


    “Yeah,” she says, her voice suddenly serious. “Of course. Meet me at our regr spot in half an hour?”


    “Sounds good! See you.”


    I hang up the phone and wander over to my closest. The thought of getting dressed up and going out


    makes me want to sleep for a hundred years, but I force myself to grab a random dress and pull it on.


    There’s no way I’ll be able to sleep tonight if I don’t talk to Leah. Somehow, she always knows just the


    right thing to say to end my spiral.