Chapter 0230

Seraphina

I anticipated his dark eyes would widen at my revelation.

He simply stared at me as if I'd asked about the weather.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" I demanded sharply.

"What would you like me to say?"

"This isn't some situation where you wait for my commands! I just explained everything! Why I refuse to shift! Why I mentioned losing control! Why killing Rogues comes so easily to me! And now you're just staring!"

He continued watching me without reaction.

"There were clues for months! You were too blind to see them!" I snapped, sudden fury boiling through my veins. This was exactly why I never let anyone close. I never wanted them to discover the truth, but Julian had been here for months without figuring it out.

"Blind?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Forget it. Just pack your things and leave." I concealed every emotion raging inside me. I knew this would happen eventually. I had prepared for this moment since he wormed his way into my heart.

He stood up but didn't move further. He shoved his hands into his pockets. I expected his heart to be pounding violently. A Rogue had killed his mate. That's what brought him to me.

"I knew the moment you detected Zachary. I've been waiting for you to tell me yourself."

"What? That was months ago!"

"Zachary once mentioned being Rogue heightens your senses. It lets you detect other Lycans, distinguishing them from regular Wolves. You sniffed him out when he followed me. You knew he was there when I didn't. I realized then that you'd been a Rogue at some point."

It takes much to surprise me, but he left my jaw hanging open.

"If I hadn't known about Lycans and lacked information about Rogues, I wouldn't have connected the dots. But you're right about one thing. Little hints slipped through. That probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't fallen for you and stayed. I've been waiting for you to tell me, Seraphina. For you to feel safe enough with me to finally confess it."

My own heart rampaged as I clutched the rolled yoga mat to my chest. He had known all along. He hadn't said a word. He let me keep my secret. He let me decide when to share.

"You...you still want to claim me?" I felt certain that if the window were open, a passing breeze would knock me over. No one had ever wanted anything from me except killing. They showed no interest in my life whatsoever.

"I'm still here, aren't I?"

"Why?" I sputtered, still in complete shock.

"You're the first person I've ever loved."

"But we're not mated."

"So? Why should that stop us? If I claim you, you're mine and I'm yours. I don't care about your past as a Rogue."

I turned away because he clearly didn't understand the severity of what being a Rogue meant.

"That's why I don't shift, Julian. I told you I lose control. You thought that bastard was bad? When I was Rogue, I was a hundred times worse. That's why I made it my mission to hunt them down and eliminate them. Not shifting helps me maintain control."

"Okay."

"A Rogue killed your mate." I didn't even know why I was pushing him away. He was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. Even if he annoyed me half the time.

"You didn't. Maybe that's a sign. If he hadn't, I never would've met you."

It was too much. I walked to the hooks by the door and grabbed my keys. His hand seized mine, spinning me around and pressing me against the wall. His warm body flush against mine. "Don't run away."

"I'm not. I just..." I didn't know what I needed anymore. To kill, to drown in wine, a good fuck. I didn't know. I just needed to clear my head.