CHAPTER 13

LILA'S POV

I absolutely cannot believe what's right in front of me right now.

Connor's standing there completely naked, his cock already half-hard, and he wraps his hand around it, stroking slowly.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I stare at him, frozen in shock and disgust.

"Come on, baby." His voice drops to what he probably thinks is seductive. "One last time. For old times' sake."

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Don't act like you don't want it." He keeps stroking, his cock getting harder with each pump. It's not small, but it's nothing compared to Wade's. Nothing compared to the way Wade fills me up, stretches me, makes me forget my own name. "We were good together, Lila. You know we were."

"We were terrible together!" I grab my boxes, backing toward the door. "And I don't want your dick, Connor. I don't want anything from you!"

"You sure about that?" He's fully hard now, his hand moving faster, and he's actually moaning. His eyes are locked on me, like he thinks this is turning me on. "Fuck. Look at what you do to me, baby. Look how hard I am for you."

"You're disgusting."

"I'm honest." He steps closer, still stroking himself, and my back hits the wall. "Why are you playing hard to get? We've fucked hundreds of times. What's one more?"

"Because you cheated on me, you piece of shit!" My voice cracks, and I hate that he can still get to me like this. "Because you fucked Amber in our bed and told me I wasn't good enough! Because you're a selfish, lying asshole who doesn't deserve another second of my time!"

A flash of something ugly crosses his face. Anger, maybe. Or hurt ego.

"Fine." He drops his cock, his expression turning cold. "Get the fuck out then."

"Gladly."

I shove past him, boxes in hand, and I'm almost at the door when his voice stops me.

"You'll be nothing without me, you know that, right?"

I freeze, my hand on the doorknob.

"You think any Alpha's going to want you?" He laughs, and it's cruel. "You think any Beta's going to look at an omega like you and see anything but a weak, needy little bitch? Face it, Lila. I was the best you were ever going to get."

For a second, I can't breathe. His words hit exactly where he intended, right in that soft, vulnerable place where all my insecurities live.

My throat tightens. My vision instantly blurs with hot tears.

But then I think about Wade.

Wade, who's an Alpha. A powerful, dominant, successful Alpha who looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. Who made me come so hard I saw stars. Who wants me enough to ask me to be his mate, even if it's fake.

I turn around slowly, meeting Connor's eyes.

"You're wrong," I say quietly. "But thanks for reminding me why leaving you was the best decision I ever made."

And I walk out, slamming the door behind me.

~~~

I make it to the car before the tears start falling.

I throw the boxes in the back seat and just sit there, gripping the steering wheel, Connor's words echoing in my head.

‘You'll be nothing without me.’

‘No Alpha's going to want you.’

‘Weak, needy little bitch.’

Fuck him. Fuck him for making me feel small. For making me doubt myself. For two years of making me believe I was lucky he even looked at me.

My phone buzzes, and I glance at the screen to see a text from Brooke.

‘Brooke:’ Everything good over there?

‘Me:’ Yeah. Got my stuff. Connor's still an asshole.

‘Brooke:’ Want me to come beat him up?

A small smile forms on my lips.

‘Me:’ No. I'm good. Just need to think.

I set my phone down and stare out the windshield at the building I used to call home.

Wade's offer sits heavy in my mind. A year of pretending to be his mate. A year of public appearances, pack events, playing the loyal partner.

A year of proving Connor wrong.

Because imagine it. Imagine showing up at pack functions on Wade Cross's arm. Imagine Connor seeing me with a man who's everything he's not, powerful, successful, respected. An Alpha who actually wants me.

Even if it's fake.

Even if it's just for show.

The money would be good too. Really good. Enough to get my own place, pay off some debt, actually have savings for once in my life.

And maybe, just maybe, I could figure out this weird pull between Wade and me. This thing my wolf keeps insisting is a mate bond even though Wade just wants a business arrangement.

I pull out my phone, staring at Wade's contact information.

I could text him right now. Tell him I'm in. That I'll be his fake mate for a year and we can figure out the details.

My thumb hovers over the keyboard.

The only problem is Liam.

How the hell am I supposed to explain this to my brother? "Hey, Liam, you know your best friend? The one you’ve known since you were five and who also happens to be my boss? Yeah, I'm dating him now. Surprise!”

He'll lose his mind.

But then again... Wade said we'd figure it out. And maybe we will. Maybe Liam will understand, or at least accept it eventually.

And if he doesn't?

I stare at my phone, at Wade's number, and I realize something.

I'm going to do this.

I'm going to say yes.

Because Connor's wrong. I'm not nothing. And I'm never going to let him or anyone else make me feel that way ever again.

The only question now is how to tell Liam without him murdering Wade.

But that's tomorrow's problem.

Tonight, I'm saying yes.