Chapter 108


    “And you know how much thispetition means to her,” my wolf retorts. “If you ever n on winning


    her back, you need to show support. Show that you care. And not just about yourself.”


    “I do care for her,” I shoot back defensively, but my wolf has already withdrawn, leaving me alone with


    my thoughts and my drink.


    As if on cue, Chloe, one of the bartenders, walks over to refill my ss, her eyes cold, judgmental. It’s


    as if she’s trying to pour that disdain she feels for me into the ss along with the liquor.


    “What’s with the look?” I ask, setting down the ss harder than I mean to. “You’re serving up


    judgments now instead of drinks?”


    “Considering who’s asking, I think I can manage both,” she snaps, her eyes narrowing.


    My eyebrows shoot up, surprise mingling with a touch of indignation. “I’m missing something here,


    aren’t I?”


    “Missing something? Oh, you mean like how you missed being supportive of Abby when she needed


    it?” Her voice drips with contempt.


    So she knows.


    “Abby tells me everything, Karl. I know what went downst night, how you made her feel. After all


    you’ve put her through, you’ve got the nerve to get angry about her sess?”


    I feel like I’ve been pped. Chloe has always been direct, no-nonsense, but this feels like a


    confrontation I wasn’t prepared for right now. For a moment, I almost consider being vindictive and


    asking if Abby also told her about the night that we almost hooked up in the kitchen, but I decide


    against it. “Look, I—”


    “Save it,” she cuts me off, stepping back from the bar. “If you want to make amends, you better do


    something more impressive than drowning your sorrows. Abby’s had enough, and I swear if you keep


    bothering her—”


    “I realize I made a mistake, okay?” I say, my voice tinged with both frustration and desperation. “I want


    to make it up to her.”


    Chloe scoffs, shaking her head as she turns away. “You’ll never make up for it, Karl. Not in Abby’s


    book, and not in mine. Especially not if you’re going to stomp all over her moment in the spotlight.”


    “So what do you suggest?” I ask.


    Chloe’s eyes narrow. “I suggest you leave Abby the hell alone. For good.”


    Before I cane up with a retort, Chloe storms off. I down the rest of my drink in one go, the burn of


    the liquor a poor distraction from the knot of guilt tightening in my stomach.


    “Damn it,” I mutter, both to myself and to the situation that seems to be spiraling out of control.


    My wolf stirs inside me, agitated. “Don’t listen to her.”


    Without responding to my wolf I get up, leaving some bills on the counter before heading out. The night


    air is cold, biting, a reflection of my own thoughts.


    “Get back in there,” my wolf says, his annoyance showing through his voice. “Chloe doesn’t know what


    the hell she’s talking about.”


    I shake my head. “Maybe she does. Maybe this is all pointless, and Abby… I’m just getting in the way.”


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    As I pass through the alley alongside the restaurant, though, something catches my eye. Through the


    window, I catch a glimpse of blonde hair—Abby. She’s working in the kitchen again, hunched over


    something. I can see her brow furrowed from here, and she’s muttering something. Then, pounding her


    fist on the metal table, she throws her whisk in the sink and starts yanking off her apron.


    Seeing her like this pains me. I can’t just leave her like this.


    “Check on her,” my wolf urges me, and I find that I can''t say no. Not this time.