His words stabbed deeper than the hunger pangs. My throat was raw, my voice hoarse when I whispered, “How generous of her.”
His expression hardened, but I caught the flicker of discomfort before it disappeared. “She pleaded for your release,” he continued. “For the sake of your friendship.”
I almost laughed, but the sound that came out was dry and bitter. “Friendship,” I echoed, forcing a smile that hurt my cracked lips. “Truly noble of her.”
He didn’t reply. He just stared at me as if waiting for gratitude. I pushed myself up from the cold floor, my body trembling under the strain. My knees nearly gave out, but he didn’t reach for me. Not even when I stumbled. His hands stayed buried in his pockets, his eyes cold.
“Make sure you clear out everything from the master bedroom,” he said, turning his back on me. “Hannah will be moving there.”
He left before I could say anything. The door clicked shut behind him, and my wolf whimpered again, quieter this time. I stayed there for a long while, my heart pounding dully in my chest. When I finally forced myself to move, every step felt like dragging broken bones.
Hours later, the door opened again. This time, it was Hannah.