"Okay, well I'm working right now..." It's hard to keep my voice sounding unfazed by his closeness to me as he takes a step into my room.

"Josie..." Just the way my name sounds on his lips makes my lower core tremble. Soon he'll be calling another female in the same way...I can do this...I can get past this first meeting. They always say the first meeting since breaking up is the worse...then it gets easier. But I really can't see why I would ever see him again, unless he comes to Jaxon's Alpha ceremony, whenever that will be. But I've got months to prepare for that, Dad is nowhere near ready to hand over the pack to Jaxon yet.

"Don't you think the time for talking has passed us now. You said all you needed to say..." I keep my voice to a pleasant tone, I really didn't want to argue anymore.

"You caught me off guard, I wasn't expecting..."novelbin

"In my experience that's when the truth comes out, when you are at your most vulnerable."

"I wasn't vulnerable." He seethes through gritted teeth, the change in him taking me off guard.

"I didn't say you were vulnerable, I meant the situation...with you not having a chance to prepare your answers." He didn't like to show a weakness, I found that early on with Knox. Dad was right, why did I not realise what a complicated person he is. "What time do you finish?"

"Depends..."

"Depends on what?"

"Depends when Doctor Abel's meeting is over and if I need to stay behind to help him catch up." I shrug because it's the truth and nothing Incan do about it. I had already had time off and was already behind.

"You've been here all day." His forehead furrows slightly, as concern edges upon his face.

"I imagine by the time I'm finished you'll be at the pack run tonight, so might be best for us to talk in the morning."

"Okay, tomorrow then. But look Josie, I know I hurt you, I'm sorry I shouldn't have walked away. If I could go back and do it differently, I would."

"You would?" A vague level of hope ignites within me, did he have a chance to rethink us. Was he going to take back all that he said...

"Not that, I stand by what I said...I can't do commitment. But I wouldn't have left you in the meadow, your father said you were there all night?" No...no chance of that, I really am a fool.

Pity, there is pity in his eyes. I don't know what is worse the fact he has yet again been told something private or that he feels sorry for me.

"You need to leave." I order out, my hand pressing against his chest as I push him away from me and slam the door in his face.

Still reeling from Knox and the nerve he has for coming to my work place only to piss me off even more, I avoided everyone in the alpha house at all costs before the pack run.

Skipping dinner I headed straight to my cabin in the meadows, but managed to pass through the back door to collect Lobo and my gun from the vault on my way through.

I needed this. My body was exhausted but my mind was pent up with frustration again. Three days I had worked on my mental health only for him to be back to unravel all my efforts within a few hours. And the thing that makes me even more mad...he doesn't even realise, doesn't even care.

Placing my exercise playlist on through the stereo sound system, I start stretching out before giving my body the work out it needs.

An hour in, I pause for water when I can hear howls in the distance... the pack run has started.

Putting my drink back down I turn the volume dial of my stereo player up...a new song almost vibrating through the wooden walls. I didn't need a reminder right now of what every other pack member was doing, without me.

Even now, it never gets any easier but knowing they aren't allowed to come this way means I can ride out the pack event, yet again, in solace.