Page 102 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“I've checked your blood three times,” she explained. “There are no black filaments.” His wolf surged. Mayhem looked at his arms and saw no black veins. There was no burning or numbness, like he felt before. He knew that he felt better, but he hadn't trusted it.

“Is there any trace of silver?” he asked.

“Just normal levels of silver for a shifter who's had recent exposure,” she said.

“Any wolfsbane?” he asked, covering all his bases.

“Nothing outside expected trace levels after everything you've been through,” she said.

“How about the ritual shit?”

Moon almost smiled. “I don't have a test for ritual shit.”

“Seems like an oversight,” he breathed.

“I'll work on it,” she promised.

Mayhem smiled. “So I'm cured.”

“Yes.” The word should have felt like victory. Instead, Mayhem watched a tear slide down Moon's cheek, and his smile disappeared.

“Then why are you crying?” he asked.

“I'm not,” she insisted.

He pointed to her face. “I've got evidence that you are.”

She wiped the tears away angrily. “I'm tired.”

“Bullshit,” he said, calling her on her lie.

“Stop saying that,” she spat.

“Stop lying to me.” Her eyes flashed, and Mayhem waited her out.

Finally, she whispered, “You almost died.” There it was. He stepped closer, and Moon didn't retreat this time.

“I didn't die, though,” he reminded.

“You could have,” she countered.

“You could have died too, Moon, but we’re both still here,” he said.

“You told me to let you die,” Moon whispered.

Mayhem winced. “I don't remember wording it exactly like that.”

“I do,” she said. Of course she did. “You begged me to let go.”

“I was trying to protect you,” he defended.

“I know.” Her voice cracked. “That made it worse.” Mayhem didn't know what to say. Moon looked down at her hands. “I spent most of my life thinking a mate would take something from me.” He remained quiet. “My mother's mate did.”

“I know,” he whispered.

“She loved him, trusted him, and when he had to choose between her and his pack, he chose them,” she said. Mayhem's jaw tightened. He still wished the bastard were alive so he could kill him again. Moon continued. “I thought that was what the bond did. I thought eventually one person had to become less so the other one could have everything.”

“Not with me,” he growled.