The Mark of Betrayal (by Cooper) novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Samara

Roman

I let her go, watching her walk to the kitchen to get food before returning to my office. There’s another plate of food waiting for me in my office, the breakfast plate having been removed while I was talking to Samantha I need to remember to thank

my pack for looking after me on these days. I know it’s hard for them, feeling my grief. I try to shield it from them as much as

possible, but as their Alpha, there’s no way to shield it from them completely

I ignore the food and pour another glass of whiskey, pushing the information on Theo aside and pulling up the information

on Samara.

I go through everything, frustrated when I can’t find anything new, any new leads that could help me to find her. When I finally stand, frustrated and angry, I realize it’s dark outside. I go pour another glass of whiskey and walk to the windows. staring outside.

“You must be so disappointed in me, my friend. I know I am,” I say to the empty room.

I don’t know how long I’ve been standing there when I hear the knob on my office door turning. I look over, wondering who is

entering my office. Everyone knows to leave me alone today.

Samantha steps in, looking around. Im hidden in the shadows by the window and she

walk over to my desk, seeing the papers strewn across it.

e obviously doesn’t see me. I watch her

As I watch, she begins looking at them, moving more quickly through each of the papers. I hear her gasp and her hand goes

to her mouth.

“What are you doing, Samantha?” I ask.

She spins around, obviously startled that I’m in here.

“What is this? she whispers.

1 laugh, a very dry, humorless laugh.

“That is the sum of my failures,” I say, gesturing to the desk with my glass

“Are you drunk?” she asks.

“I tried my damnedest but being a strong Alpha with a strong Alpha wolf, it’s fucking difficult to get drunk,” I growl, downing

the rest of the drink.

I’m tipsy enough, raw enough, that I begin stalking

ng over to her. She watches me, not

she’s never seen me before.

with fear thankfully, but almost like

“This,” I say, pointing to the right side of my desk, “is my failed attempt to try and find the people responsible for my best

friend’s death and that of his family.”

I set my empty glass down. “And this,” I say, gesturing to the left side of the desk, “is me trying to find his youngest sister who disappeared without a trace and once again failing her and him.”

I lean forward, putting my hands on the desk on either side of her, forcing her to lean against my desk as I get in her face

“I failed them, Samantha, which is why it is so important to me that I get revenge for whoever hurt you. I will never, ever, fail someone like that again,” 1 growl, my voice raw with the emotions that are so close to the surface that I feel like I might break

I see tears well in her eyes. “You really never betrayed us, did you?” she whispers

I jerk as if I’ve been punched. I stand up, staring at the woman in front of me. It can’t be. It can’t be can it?

+25 BONUS

“Samara?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper

Her lips begin to tremble, and she nods.

“Oh my goddess, Samara!” I say, yanking her to me, wrapping my arms tightly around her.

I feel her begin to cry and I pull back, taking her face in my hands. “Is it really you?” I ask.

“It’s me I had to know for sure that you didn’t betray us,” she whispers.

“I would never. Theo was like a brother to me, you knew that, I growl, pulling her into my arms again.

I feel something deep inside me relax, like a vice grip that has been holding on to me for nine long years, finally giving way. I take a deep breath of her scent.

“Samara,” I breathe. I huff a laugh. “No wonder your story reminded me so much of hers. It’s your story. How did I not see it?”

I pull back and look at her. “Wait. Ayla’s a white wolf, isn’t she? That’s why you wouldn’t let Pierce run with her?”

She nods

1 pull her to me again. “All these years, I thought the Moon Goddess was punishing me for not saving you and Theo, when really, she blessed me with the greatest gift of all. Oh, goddess, it explains so much. It explains why you’re so strong, it explains why the pack adores you so much. I knew you were perfect for me, I just didn’t realize how utterly perfect you are.”

We stand there for a long time just holding each other.

“I can’t wait to tell Sawyer. He’ll be so excited that I found you,” I say.

“NO! No, Roman! He betrayed us” she says, pushing back to look at me

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