Chapter 24

Twenty-Four

"Hands upwhere I can see them! On your knees!" one of them yelled.

I didn't hesitate to comply. I got on my knees with my hands raised. My heart felt like it was in a million pieces already, yet it was somehow pounding so hard I thought it might burst right through my chest.

Another guy, dressed in fatigues like he was a damn soldier, pushed me forward until I was face-down on the ground. He put his knee in my back and was yanking my arms, placing cuffs on me. I felt the pain of it, but it was a distant pain.

Nothing could compare to the way my chest felt. Nothing could compare with the guilt I was carrying.

I could think of nothing but Remi and how heartbroken he would be.

My Remi.

But he wasn't going to be mine for much longer, was he?

That was the worst part of it.

He was going to be hurting, and it was all my fault.

He was going to leave me, and I couldn't blame him one bit.

My poor, sweet, amazing, kind, generous wolf shifter.

Mother of All, I didn't want to hurt him.

After we were all in handcuffs, the men sat us on our asses and took all of our phones—we'd all left our wallets in the car Terrell drove, and I hoped he'd gotten away—and asked our names. I gave mine because there was no point in holding back anymore. I was well and truly caught.

I heard Remi's name being thrown around. I heard the leader of the group make a phone call. I heard him tell the others that someone was comin'.

And all I could do was wait as my heart shriveled up more with each passing second.

I could tell when he arrived. The men stood straighter, waiting for their boss to enter. And as soon as I saw him, I couldn't help but finally let my tears fall.

Remi walked into the room, looking pissed and murderous, and the moment he saw me, he froze. He stared hard at me for a few long seconds, as if he was trying to read my mind or something, and then he continued on without a word.

I couldn't help it, I had to… I had to say something.

"I'm so sorry, Remi. I didn't want to, I swear. I didn't have a choice. Mother of All, please, please forgive me. I'm so fucking sorry, wolf boy. I'm so fucking sorry." Sobs fell from my mouth, coming from my chest that felt like it was being cracked open.

I'd ruined the best thing that'd ever happened to me. I'd betrayed the one man who'd made me feel safe. I lied to him. I betrayed his trust.

And now he was going to hate me and never speak to me again.

I cried harder as my heart broke into a million pieces.

I'd ruined what could've been a great love. Because I'd been falling for this man since the day he'd hunted me down in that alleyway. Every day I'd fallen harder, deeper, and now I'd ruined it.

I. Ruined. It.

Like I ruined everything else.

"I'm so sorry."

The hard expression on his face didn't waver as he stared at me for a long moment before turning to his employee and saying, "Leave this one"—he pointed at me—"with me. Take the rest to our holding cell and contact the authorities."

"Yes, sir," the leader said before gesturing to the rest of his men to grab the others.

It took a few minutes for them to leave the room, but sooner than expected, it was only Remi and me in there.

Remi turned to me and stared for a long moment, before he sort of shook his head and walked closer. He didn't stop in front of me. He walked behind me, and to my surprise, he unhooked the handcuffs.

Then he came back to my front as I rubbed my wrists and asked me, "What happened?"

More tears fell, and I angrily wiped them away. "I… I…" I started sobbing again so hard I couldn't even speak.

Strong arms wrapped around me and pulled me to my feet, and then they pulled me into a strong chest that felt and smelt so familiar to me. Remi's arms tightened around me, his hand going into my hair as he rocked me and held me tight.

It only made me cry harder. "I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

"I know you are," he whispered, his voice calm and soothing.

I managed to move my arms out from where they were trapped between us, and I hugged him so hard I was surprised I didn't break his ribs. But he didn't complain.

Maybe he realized this would probably be the last hug we ever shared. Maybe he wanted to savor it as badly as I did.

We stood there like that for a long time. Probably twenty minutes or more before he leaned back and gently tilted my chin up to catch my gaze. "What happened, Bel? I know you wouldn't do this to me. I know you, so tell me what happened."

I sniffled. "I have a—" The second I went to say obligation, everything seized up, and I was unable to speak. It hurt, but I was determined to tell him. He needed to know. I needed him to understand before I was sent off to prison. "I have a—fuck. I can't say… it won't let me… tell you."

He stared at me for several long beats before he stiffened and breathed out, "An obligation?"

I tried to nod, but it wouldn't let me do that either. But I didn't shake my head no, so hopefully he understood.

"Shit. You have an obligation." He leaned down and rested our foreheads together. "Oh, may'ezza, I'm so sorry. We're going to figure this out. We'll get you out of it, okay? I wish you would've told me before all of this, but we'll figure it out."

I took a shaky breath. "We?"

He jerked back. "Yes. Of course we. We're in this together now, Bel. I wish you would remember that when you have a problem."

Tears leaked from my eyes, but this time they were hopeful ones. "I didn't think… I mean… I thought I was going to prison."

"Do you really think I'd ever allow that?" His voice got all growly and did funny things to my belly. "I would never allow them to take you, may'ezza. Never."

Tears came unbidden, and I clung to him, gasping out, "I'm… so… sorry."

"I know you are." He pulled me into another tight hug. "You don't need to keep apologizing. I just want you to stop lying and come to me in the future, okay?"

I nodded against him and cried for another few minutes. Never in my life had I expected to find someone who cared about me, and I certainly hadn't expected the man holding me to forgive me so easily.

I didn't deserve him, I knew that. But I was too selfish to let him go.

For a moment tonight, I'd thought I'd lost him forever, and I couldn't ever go through that again.

"Remi?" I whispered.

"Yeah, may'ezza?"

Mother of All, I loved it when he called me that. I'd never even asked what it meant, but I still loved it.

I licked my lips as I leaned back to look him in the eyes. "I don't know how t-to get away from him."

"Who is he?"

I opened my mouth to tell him, but pain started in my gut, and I shut it again. "C-can't say."

"Shit. Okay, we'll figure this out." He stared at me for a second before his eyes widened. "It's Purtham Luynore, isn't it?"

Swallowing thickly, I held myself still, hopin' my lack of response was answer enough.

"That fucker." The curl of his lip showed how distasteful he found Luynore. "I'm going to keep you safe from him."

He couldn't, not really, but I couldn't help but melt a little for him anyway.

The fact that Remi wanted to protect me was more than I deserved. He was just… so perfect.

"I'm not perfect," he whispered, and I jerked back.

"How did you know what I was thinking?"

His brow furrowed. "I… you said it out loud."

I shook my head. "I didn't."

His mouth fell open before a slow smile spread over his lips. "I heard your thoughts. Holy shit. I've been wondering when that would happen."

"What? Is that a shifter thing?"

He let out a small laugh. "No. It's an us thing."

"What does that mean?"

He glanced around as if remembering we were still in the museum—the one I'd just tried to rob. "We need to leave. Let me take you home, and I'll explain everything."

After everything, he still wanted me in his home? Trusted me to be there?

I gave the only answer I could. "Yes."

We got to the bottom floor, and he exited the building straight into the parking garage. Once we were in his car and on the way, he took one of my hands in his.

He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed the skin there, making me smile even though I was feeling overwhelmed and full of too many emotions. I couldn't believe he knew what was going on and still wanted anything to do with me. Still wanted me to go home with him.

After he parked, and we exited the car, he held my hand all the way up and into his apartment. He led me to the couch, and I sat down while he went to get us glasses of water. I drank half mine down in one go before facing him expectantly.

He sat beside me and took both my hands in his, then met my eyes, lookin' a bit nervous. "May'ezza, you're my viramore."

It took a few seconds for his words to register. "I'm your what? No. There's no way I could be…" I trailed off as I stared at him and the small smile on his face.

He leaned forward and brushed a kiss across my lips. "You're my viramore. I've suspected since we met, but I heard your thoughts earlier. That cements it. You're my viramore, Belryn Bixidor." He kissed the knuckles of one hand, then the other. "And I'm yours."

"Are you… are you serious?"

"Yes. Just…" He trailed off and stared at me intensely for a moment before I heard his voice in my head say, "We're viramores, may'ezza. We belong together."

My eyes widened as I stared at him. Holy shit, I'd heard him in my head.

"You heard that, didn't you?"

I nodded silently, shocked.

He stared at me for a few moments before clearing his throat. "Are you… okay with that?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I tried three times before my voice finally worked. "Am I okay with it? Holy shit, Remi, I… I'm blown away. I… I didn't think this was possible, and I…"

"It's possible, my little may'ezza. We were brought together for a reason."

I shook my head in shock, and he tilted his to the side, studying me.

"Are you upset?"

I jerked back at the question. "What? No! I'm shocked, but I'm… holy shit, Rem, I'm… I think I'm just… relieved you still want me at all, and…" I took a shuddering breath, tears threatening to leak again. "I'm really yours?"

"Yes. Forever."

I sucked in air. "You mean it?"

"With every part of me. You're mine, my sweet Bel, and I'm never letting you go."

I stared at him for a few seconds, letting his words settle inside me and ease my earlier fear. And then I threw my arms around him, clinging to him for dear life.

He let out a happy laugh before capturing my lips with his in a bruising kiss that made me forget about all our problems.

He broke the kiss and nudged my nose with his before placing the softest, sweetest kiss to my lips. "My viramore."

My chest tightened with something that felt like hope, and I fell a little harder for this man. He truly thought I was his viramore? How in the world was that possible? Why would fate align me with this beautiful, kind-hearted man? What in the world was he gettin' out of the deal?

Remi… my viramore?

Something in my chest shifted, and it was like I could feel how right that was.

Remi was my viramore.

My heart sang in a way I didn't know was possible.

"You're my viramore," I whispered against his lips.

His answering smile was happy and sweet, and I wanted to taste it on my lips, so I did.