Chapter 82


    James takes off, leaving me in the armory.


    Jess strolls in.


    She’s tall and lean. Her pretty face is a little uncertain, but otherwise, looking as beautiful as she’s ever


    been.


    Most males would think her a 10.


    But somewhere along the way, I lost my affection for her perfect blond hair and her pale eyes. She’s


    too thin.


    Somewhere along the way, I became obsessed with messy dark hair, a riot of curls that are haphazard,


    and a face that’s too stubborn to ever be a ssic beauty.


    “So I hear you’re expecting.”


    She snorts.


    “Was that said just for your Luna’s benefit?”


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    She crosses her arms. “I h ate when you call her that.”


    “It’s what she is.”


    “No. It’s what you want her to be.”


    Same thing, isn’t it?


    “We have to move on, Jess.”


    “I agree. She’s out. Back to the Roberts where she belongs.” She moves across the room and grabs


    my hands.


    There’s no spark. Not even a tiny frisson.


    “You promised me,” she whispers.


    I squeeze her hands. “I did. But we were kids then, Jess. Look me in the eyes and tell me. Tell me you


    feel the same way you did when we were sixteen.”


    She nces away.


    “Is there someone else?” I ask her.


    It’d be easier. For da mn sure. And she deserves someone.


    She shakes her head.


    “But you know what I mean though, yeah? It’s not the same.”


    Again she looks away.


    “Say what you need to say,” I whisper.


    This girl is like family to me. I owe her at least somepassion.


    “You falling for her… it’s a betrayal of our pack. It’s a betrayal of my dead family.”


    I can’t change how she feels. And she’s entitled to feel that


    way.


    “We’re all victims in war, Jess.”


    “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t care about anyone. Not really.”


    I let go of her hands and step back.


    “You’re cold. The only focus you have is your responsibility. So maybe before you hold up some mirror


    for me to look inside myself and figure out all ‘my feelings’ you should do the same. Because you don’t


    care about Leah. Not anymore than you ever cared about me. It’s power you crave, Aaron. Any female


    in your life…she’ll just be a means to an end.”


    She smiles now. Then she turns and walks back toward the


    door. “I’m sure you think you’re capable of love. But I know


    you. You don’t love anybody. And Leah…she’s just another tool


    to you. It’s her power and her title that you crave. Take away that, and she’ll be just like me. Forgotten


    and receable.”


    I open my mo uth but I’m not sure what to say.


    “Don’t say anything,” she tells me as if reading my mind. “It’s who you are, Aaron. Honestly, Leah being


    stuck with you is probably the best revenge…”


    She reaches into my back pocket and I’m wondering what the he ll she’s thinking. But when she whips


    out my wallet, opens it and pulls out my ck AmEx, it starts to make more sense.


    “I think I’ll take a vacation for a while. I’ve earned it.” Her expression is cold. “I yed the part you


    wanted all this time, haven’t I?”


    My face must give something away. Because it’s true. I used her. Countless times to make Leah


    jealous.


    She drops my wallet and walks out of the room.


    As she goes, I feel like this moment is pivotal, and letting Jess go… it’s going toe back to punish


    me.