talking about perfectly mundane family stuff but it made her
ache.
While she loved her mother and sister, they’d never been a particularly warm
family. Not even close. After she’d run away—and subsequently met Thomas—her
mother had kept a much tighter rein on her. She’d been convinced Nissa needed more
discipline in her life.
Sighing, she pulled out a couple containers and peered inside. When all she found
was different meat products, she frowned.
“Uncle Thomas probably doesn’t have anything you’d like but we can order
takeout if you want,” the young she-wolf said as she slid her book away from her.
“Athena,” Caro murmured, “leave her alone.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure I’ll be able to find something.” She smiled reassuringly at the
young girl who only blushed and returned to her book.
Nissa slid the containers back into the fridge and ignored the emptiness filling her.
The sensation had nothing to do with hunger, either.
It was sadness. Plain and simple.
81
Savannah Stuart
Thomas’ family was hanging out at his house for no other reason than they wanted
to spend time with him. No one in her family ever simply stopped by. And she didn’t
either. Her family always called first and there was usually a purpose to the visit. Never
just to say hi.
It made the differences between their families suddenly and blindingly clear. What
had she been thinking? She’d known from the start this could never work.
Swallowing back the lump in her throat, she mumbled an excuse and hurried back
to her room. Since she hadn’t technically unpacked, it didn’t take long to gather her
things.
No matter what Thomas said, she couldn’t stay here and she couldn’t drag him
back to Europe with her. His family meant too much to him.
It was so obvious. No matter what he said she couldn’t tear him away from his
pack. They were the only family he’d ever known and the thought of bringing him to
meet and live with her distant family was almost laughable.
If it wasn’t so heartbreaking.
She had to get out of here before Thomas came back. No way would she be able to
go through with this in front of him. Fighting back tears, she fished out her cell phone
and called a taxi company. Leaving this way would piss Thomas off but in the end he’d
thank her. Maybe not now, but eventually he’d get over this and realize how right she
was.
Love and attraction weren’t enough sometimes. Not when the real world was
glaring so bright in her face. Besides, real love shouldn’t result in making her mate sad
or endanger his life.
Cutting ties now would be so much easier than dealing with years and years of
resentment. In the end, she knew that’s what would happen.
When the taxi company told her they could pick her up in twenty minutes, she
allowed herself a small moment of relief. By the time she got to the airport and left,
82
Dangerous Craving
Thomas would just be getting home. She’d be able to send someone to pick up Venetia
later so that wasn’t even an issue.
Hating herself for leaving this way, she quickly wrote him a note, then fled the
house like a thief in the night. She knew it was totally the coward’s way out but the
thought of facing him and having the conversation with him was too much. At least this
way she wouldn’t have to take the memory of another argument with her. Or the agony
in his expression before she walked away.
Not that the knowledge was much of a consolation. Her heart was shredded to
ribbons at the thought of never seeing Thomas again.
83
Savannah Stuart
Chapter Eight
Two Weeks Later
Nissa smoothed her hands down her black pants as she exited the elevator to the
fourth floor of the designated building for the treaty meeting. They’d picked New York
City as their destination and chosen neutral ground in the form of a perfectly bland
office building. Located in the middle of Manhattan, it was owned by humans none of
them knew. Despite
ache.
While she loved her mother and sister, they’d never been a particularly warm
family. Not even close. After she’d run away—and subsequently met Thomas—her
mother had kept a much tighter rein on her. She’d been convinced Nissa needed more
discipline in her life.
Sighing, she pulled out a couple containers and peered inside. When all she found
was different meat products, she frowned.
“Uncle Thomas probably doesn’t have anything you’d like but we can order
takeout if you want,” the young she-wolf said as she slid her book away from her.
“Athena,” Caro murmured, “leave her alone.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure I’ll be able to find something.” She smiled reassuringly at the
young girl who only blushed and returned to her book.
Nissa slid the containers back into the fridge and ignored the emptiness filling her.
The sensation had nothing to do with hunger, either.
It was sadness. Plain and simple.
81
Savannah Stuart
Thomas’ family was hanging out at his house for no other reason than they wanted
to spend time with him. No one in her family ever simply stopped by. And she didn’t
either. Her family always called first and there was usually a purpose to the visit. Never
just to say hi.
It made the differences between their families suddenly and blindingly clear. What
had she been thinking? She’d known from the start this could never work.
Swallowing back the lump in her throat, she mumbled an excuse and hurried back
to her room. Since she hadn’t technically unpacked, it didn’t take long to gather her
things.
No matter what Thomas said, she couldn’t stay here and she couldn’t drag him
back to Europe with her. His family meant too much to him.
It was so obvious. No matter what he said she couldn’t tear him away from his
pack. They were the only family he’d ever known and the thought of bringing him to
meet and live with her distant family was almost laughable.
If it wasn’t so heartbreaking.
She had to get out of here before Thomas came back. No way would she be able to
go through with this in front of him. Fighting back tears, she fished out her cell phone
and called a taxi company. Leaving this way would piss Thomas off but in the end he’d
thank her. Maybe not now, but eventually he’d get over this and realize how right she
was.
Love and attraction weren’t enough sometimes. Not when the real world was
glaring so bright in her face. Besides, real love shouldn’t result in making her mate sad
or endanger his life.
Cutting ties now would be so much easier than dealing with years and years of
resentment. In the end, she knew that’s what would happen.
When the taxi company told her they could pick her up in twenty minutes, she
allowed herself a small moment of relief. By the time she got to the airport and left,
82
Dangerous Craving
Thomas would just be getting home. She’d be able to send someone to pick up Venetia
later so that wasn’t even an issue.
Hating herself for leaving this way, she quickly wrote him a note, then fled the
house like a thief in the night. She knew it was totally the coward’s way out but the
thought of facing him and having the conversation with him was too much. At least this
way she wouldn’t have to take the memory of another argument with her. Or the agony
in his expression before she walked away.
Not that the knowledge was much of a consolation. Her heart was shredded to
ribbons at the thought of never seeing Thomas again.
83
Savannah Stuart
Chapter Eight
Two Weeks Later
Nissa smoothed her hands down her black pants as she exited the elevator to the
fourth floor of the designated building for the treaty meeting. They’d picked New York
City as their destination and chosen neutral ground in the form of a perfectly bland
office building. Located in the middle of Manhattan, it was owned by humans none of
them knew. Despite
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