I Won't Forgive You, So Stop Waiting

The communication crystal lit up the moment I got home.

It was Lorenzo.

I didn't answer. I just watched the crystal glow and then go dark again.

Then I looked at the apology letter I'd already crumpled in my fist.

I felt like an absolute joke.

The crystal lit up again, and this time I answered.

Lorenzo's image floated above the crystal, his face like thunder.

"Chloe, what do you think you're doing?"

"Why did the ceremony coordinator just tell me you'd canceled everything connected to the ceremony?"

I said nothing.

Lorenzo narrowed his eyes.

"Is this about Anna?"

"No," was all I said.

Lorenzo was starting to lose patience.

"Is it because I bought Anna the ruby?

"Or because I taught Anna to fight?

"Or because I gave Anna the moonstone pendant?"

With every question, my smile grew more bitter.

So he knew.

He knew all of it would hurt me.

And he did it anyway.

I answered flatly, "If you knew it would hurt me, you shouldn't have done it."

Lorenzo didn't think he was in the wrong at all.

"Chloe, then you shouldn't have smiled at another male werewolf."

I studied Lorenzo's indifferent expression.

And it hit me that I had never really known him.

"Lorenzo."

I took a deep breath and spelled it out for him again.

"It was one polite smile. That's all it was."

"But I didn't like it."

His tone was as matter-of-fact as ever.

"If I don't like something, you don't do it."

I took a deep breath.

"You don't like me smiling at other people, so that gives you the right to be sweet to Anna right in front of me?

"The right to cancel the mating ceremony without a shred of respect for my dignity?"

Lorenzo's frown deepened.

"What are you making such a fuss about? I canceled the ceremony to give you time to think about what you did.

"You know exactly what I mean."

My heart sank slowly.

So that was what he meant.

He had canceled the mating ceremony, but I wasn't supposed to take it seriously.

I was supposed to sit quietly and wait for him to cool off.

I was supposed to wait for him to toss me a bone the way you'd pacify a pet, then thank him for it while I put every arrangement back together.

It had happened the same way every other time.

In the end, he always chose me.

So I was expected to be understanding and swallow every grievance on my own.

"I understand."

I nodded.

Only then did Lorenzo smile, satisfied.

"Chloe, if you were always this reasonable, everything would be fine.

"All right, come outside. I'm at your door."

I stood and went to the second-floor window. Sure enough, Lorenzo was at the front door.

He looked up at me too, those golden eyes bright in the moonlight.

There was a time when this was the moment I softened.

I would take it as proof that he cared about me after all.

He only had to take one step toward me, and I would run the other ninety-nine.

But this time, I didn't want to run.

"It's late. I'm going to bed."

The smile froze on Lorenzo's lips. He stared at me in disbelief.

"Chloe, I'm standing right under your window and you're not coming down?"

I made a small sound of agreement.

Lorenzo's face darkened again.

"Chloe, quit it!"

Was I the one throwing a fit?

Every time, he was the one who set me aside and turned his smile on someone else.

Every time, I was the one who backed down first.

I used to think love didn't keep score of who backed down first.

But enough time went by.

And backing down turned into something I simply had to do.

I get tired too.

I sighed.

"Tell the guests tomorrow that the mating ceremony is off."

Lorenzo gave me a mocking little smile.

"Chloe, are you sure you want to say something like that just to spite me?"

I didn't answer.

"Fine. I'll give you two more days to think it over. Come find me when you've come to your senses."

The crystal went dark.

I watched Lorenzo stand at the door a while longer, and then a figure came around the corner of the street.

It was Anna.

I watched her rub her arms, and Lorenzo took off his own coat and draped it over her.

Anna tilted her face up, glanced toward my bedroom window, and smiled smugly.

Lorenzo followed her gaze up.

Then he reached out, put his arm around her waist, and pulled her in against him.

He made sure I saw it.

Then the two of them turned and left.

The crystal flickered once.

It was a message from Anna.

"Chloe, how many days do you think you can hold out this time?"