His Killer, His Mate

What She Remembers

Sable

I didn't knock.

I pushed open the door to Darius's study and walked in.

He stood near the windows with his back to me, staring out at the trees at the back of the pack.

He didn't turn.

"You came."

My hands curled into fists.

"You knew I would."

"Yes."

That single word irritated me.

I stepped farther into the room.

"How are you alive?"

Nothing.

He didn't even look at me.

I moved closer.

"I asked you a question."

"I heard you."

"Then answer me."

He finally turned.

Those black eyes met mine.

They looked so empty.

There was no surprise in them.

No warmth.

No relief.

Just something cold and unreadable.

"You want answers?"

"Yes."

"Then tell me what happened."

I frowned.

"What?"

"That night."

My stomach tightened.

"I want you to tell me."

"And I want to know what you remember."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because apparently, you remember killing me."

The words hit harder than they should have.

My jaw clenched.

"I thought you were dead."

"You thought."

"No, I actually killed you, or so I thought."

"You didn't bother finding out."

My chest tightened.

"I saw you lying there!"

"And then you ran."

His voice was sharper now.

I flinched.

"I was terrified."

"So was I."

Silence.

He looked away.

For some reason, that hurt more than if he had shouted.

I swallowed.

"We fought that morning."

His eyes returned to me.

"What about?"

"I don't remember."

A humorless smile touched his lips.

"You don't remember?"

"It was something stupid."

"Convenient."

My eyes narrowed.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You tell me."

I took a step toward him.

"I came here for answers, Darius. Not accusations."

"And apparently, I'm the only one who remembers what really happened."

My breath caught.

Somehow, between the back and forth, he had circled me, and I didn't even notice.

He walked past me, heading toward his desk.

"Start from the beginning."

I hesitated.

Then I spoke.

"We had a fight that morning."

"About?"

"I told you. I don't remember."

"Then what do you remember?"

I closed my eyes.

The memory came in flashes.

Darius.

His angry voice.

Mine.

Something about pressure.

Something about expectations.

But the actual reason for the argument was gone.

"I remember the pack being attacked that night."

Darius's expression hardened.

"Go on."

"There were people everywhere. Fighting. Screaming."

"Who attacked us?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I was separated from everyone."

"How?"

"I don't know."

His jaw tightened.

"Try harder."

I glared at him.

"I am trying."

I looked away.

Then I remembered.

A hand around my arm.

Darkness.

A voice.

"Someone caught me."

Darius went still.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"Male or female?"

"Male."

"Did you see him?"

"No."

"Then how do you know?"

"I heard his voice."

"What did he say?"

"I don't remember."

"Did he give you something?"

I looked at him.

"A drink."

His expression changed.

Only slightly.

"What happened after?"

"I felt weak."

I pressed a hand against my temple.

"My body felt heavy. I couldn't stay awake."

"And then?"

"Nothing."

I paused.

"No."

Something flickered through my mind.

Cold ground.

Blood.

A growl.

Darius.

"I woke up somewhere else."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"You're very good at not knowing."

My head snapped up.

"Do you think I'm lying?"

"I think you ran."

"That's not the truth, and you know it. I'm not a quitter."

"You had me fooled."

Anger flashed through me.

"You don't get to blame me for running when I thought I had killed you!"

His eyes darkened.

"You didn't think about coming back."

"I thought you were dead!"

"And that was enough for you?"

I stared at him.

"What was I supposed to do?"

"Stay."

The word landed between us.

Simple.

Bitter.

I looked away.

"I couldn't."

"You could have tried."

"I was scared!"

"So was I."

His voice cracked slightly this time.

For the first time, I saw something beneath the anger.

Pain.

Then it disappeared.

He straightened.

"What happened after you woke up?"

I swallowed.

"I saw you."

"Where?"

"I don't know. I think you had fought a lot of people because you were already bleeding"

"You were bleeding."

"Yes."

"Who were you fighting?"

"I don't remember."

His eyes narrowed.

"You fought me."

"I know."

"You attacked me."

"I know!"

"And then?"

I closed my eyes.

The memory came rushing back.

Claws.

Blood.

His body.

My hands shaking.

His eyes closing.

"No..."

My breathing quickened.

"I hurt you."

"Yes."

"You were bleeding so much."

"Yes."

"You fell."

Darius said nothing.

"You weren't moving."

Still nothing.

"I thought you were dead."

His gaze remained fixed on me.

"And you ran."

I opened my eyes.

"What else was I supposed to do?"

He stepped closer.

"You could have stayed."

"You keep saying that like I knew you were going to survive!"

"You didn't stay long enough to find out."

My eyes burned.

"You're alive now, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Then why won't you just tell me what happened?"

His face hardened.

"Because you want me to give you an answer you aren't ready to hear."

I stared at him.

"Then tell me anyway."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not going to make this easy for you."

My heart pounded.

I looked at him in disbelief

"You're doing this on purpose."

"Yes."

The honesty stunned me.

"Why?"

His eyes held mine.

"Because you left me with the aftermath of that night."

My throat tightened.

"And now you want me to make them easier for you?"

I shook my head.

"You're cruel."

"Maybe."

He stepped back.

"But at least I'm staying."

I froze.

Before I could answer, the study door opened.

Xavier appeared in the doorway.

His eyes moved between us.

"Oh."

He paused.

"This looks... heated."

"Get her out," Darius said.

I turned toward him.

"No."

Xavier sighed.

"Sable-"

"I am not finished."

Darius's expression didn't change.

"You are."

Something inside me snapped.

"You don't get to decide that!"

His eyes flashed.

"I already did."

Xavier stepped between us.

"Okay. Wonderful. Fantastic. We're all very emotionally unstable right now."

I shoved past him.

"I want answers!"

"And you're not getting them tonight," Xavier said, catching my arm before I could turn back.

I looked at Darius one last time.

He was already looking away.

And somehow, that hurt more than his anger.

Xavier pulled me toward the door.

I fought him for another second before finally letting him lead me out.

But as the study door closed behind me, one thought refused to leave my mind.

Something was wrong with my memory.

I didn't know what.

And Darius knew.

He knew everything.