Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 42

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
**By R. Joseph**

**50 Shades of Candy**

**Jarek**

As I trudged home through the relentless downpour, a persistent voice echoed in my mind, a cacophony of self-reproach.

It wasn’t merely a whisper; it was more akin to a relentless scream, berating me for the chaos I had just unleashed.

The line I had crossed with Leilani loomed large in my thoughts.

From the very moment I crossed the threshold of her home, I sensed that I was in over my head. The intoxicating scent of blueberries wrapped around me like a warm, inviting cloak, and I knew I was doomed to a night fraught with turmoil.

Throughout the evening, I had tried to maintain a semblance of distance, pushing down the wild instincts that clawed at the edges of my consciousness. And believe me, my wolf was not just restless; it was on the brink of going feral. If I didn’t find a solution soon, I feared I might lose control entirely before the leaves turned again next autumn.

But back to the matter at hand. As we prepared dinner together, I fought to keep space between us, even though my true desire was to pull her close, to savor her presence, to have her as the main course of my evening.

Laughter was a constant melody in the air, her joyous giggles ringing out like bells. She found humor in everything, her eyes sparkling as she threw her head back, a sound so pure that it tightened my chest.

Every laugh sent my nerves into a spiral, coiling tighter and tighter. She was utterly captivating, a blend of sweetness and allure that was impossible to resist, with a hint of everything else that made my heart race.

That kiss… oh, that kiss had been a monumental error. A fleeting moment when I had crossed a boundary I never intended to breach. Now, I found myself wishing I could rewind time, not because I regretted the kiss itself, but because I dreaded the way she would perceive me moving forward.

Would she see me as just another man who sought to exploit her, just another face in a crowd of those who had wronged her? After all, she had always regarded me as a ‘brother’ or a ‘savior,’ and I couldn’t shake the fear that I had tainted that perception forever.

My heart raced as I sprinted into the nearest refuge I could find in this desolate area—a high-end diner adorned with low-hanging chandeliers, where dim golden lights cast a cozy glow, and the shutters shielded me from the storm outside.

My gaze was drawn to a petite waitress whose name tag read ‘Annie’ in bold letters. She frowned at my bedraggled appearance, but when her eyes landed on the Patek Philippe gleaming on my wrist, her expression transformed into a warm, welcoming smile.

“How may I assist you today, sir? Would you like to leave your coat with me to dry while you enjoy our services?” she asked, her voice bright and cheerful.

I glanced down at my drenched coat and then back at her. Reluctantly, I shrugged it off and handed it over while scanning the diner for a secluded spot where I could gather my thoughts.

I craved space—space to think, space to plan my next move with Leilani, and space to draft the apology letter I knew I owed her by tomorrow.

“I need a warm spot, please. Somewhere a bit quieter,” I mumbled, and her smile widened in response. As I turned to look at her again, I noticed that two of her top buttons had mysteriously come undone.

“Oh yes, right this way, sir!” she chirped, leading me through the half-empty diner to a more tranquil corner. I shook my head as I followed her, unable to ignore the way she exaggerated her movements, swaying her hips a bit too much, glancing back at me as if seeking approval.

She had just shown me to a seat and taken my order when a sudden burst of auburn hair bounced into my line of sight, jolting me from my thoughts.

Heavens above!

My already sour mood plunged even further.

“Alpha Frostclaw!” Chalice, Leilani’s twin, shrieked in delight upon spotting me, and her loud proclamation drew the attention of several patrons around us. Even Annie, the waitress, looked as though she had just stumbled upon a hidden treasure.

I didn’t smile. I had no interest in pretending to be excited or familiar as I turned to Chalice and drawled, “Ms. Blackthorne.”

Without waiting for an invitation, she plopped herself into the chair opposite me, her demeanor brimming with enthusiasm.

“It’s so wonderful to see you here!”

‘Well, I can’t say the same,’ I thought bitterly, though I merely nodded in acknowledgment. For a fleeting moment, I couldn’t help but notice that despite her off-putting attitude and strikingly different hair color, there was an uncanny resemblance to the woman who haunted my dreams.

The very woman who had drawn me to this place in the first place.

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