Chapter 0446


    “She told me Nichs was the only one for her.”


    My heart cracked down the middle, just as my stomach churned. I ached for Julian’s pain, while my


    wolf stirred within me, jealousy raging.


    “I’m sorry,” I told him.


    “I shouldn’t feel so surprised,” Julian said. Both sets of fingersbed through his hair this time. “It


    was so simr tost time, I thought perhaps for a moment that I was trapped in some kind of curse.”


    The curse had a name: Bridget.


    “I feel so uncertain. So… confused. Heartbroken. I don’t understand.” Julian began to ramble his


    words, another action so unlike him. “I hate feeling this way. I’m always so sure. But I don’t understand.


    Piper, help me understand.”


    He looked at me and the intensity in his gaze gave me pause.


    “Why would she change her mind so quickly?” he asked.


    He wanted an honest answer, but I held myself back. To tell him what I honestly thought would be to


    tantly badmouth the woman he loved. And though I certainly thought her deserving of it, I wasn’t so


    certain that Julian was ready to hear the words.


    The truth of it was, I thought Bridget knew from the start which of the two brothers she had desired, and


    merely strung Julian along. What I didn’t know was why?


    It could be something simple. Julian was a handsome man, and very charismatic. He was so clearly in


    love with Bridget, or what he thought was love. It would be so easy to pretend for a while, simply to


    make out with someone handsome.


    But. She was an ultra–beautiful movie star. She could have anyone she wanted: movie actors,


    musicians… anyone. Why mess around with Julian at all?


    A dark voice whispered in my mind, she’s doing it to mess with you. But how could that be true? I


    wasn’t even around when they were younger.


    “I don’t know, Julian,” I said. I wouldn’t badmouth Bridget for his sake, but I would tell him the truth of


    what I felt for him. That felt safer, and maybe was more of what he needed to hear anyway. “But I do


    know that you deserve better. True love doesn’t y these games.”


    1/2


    +15 BONUS


    “I don’t know. I don’t know anymore. For it to happen twice…”


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    “I don’t know what she told youst night, and I don’t want to know. It’s none of my business. But she’s


    not treating you right, Julian. That I promise you.”


    Julian sighed loud and low. “I know that, Piper. You think I don’t know that? But I’m in love with her!


    What am I supposed to do?”


    “Have you tried not being in love with her?” I asked. His defeated tone was triggering my own


    impatience. “You know she treats you bad, and you are allowing it. You are enabling it, Julian! How can


    you continue to love her?”


    “I don’t know, okay? I don’t know…”


    I didn’t know what else to do or say, and he didn’t know either. We both turned back to the railing and


    looked up at the stars.


    “I’m sorry,” I said again, in the quiet of the night.


    “Me, too,” he said.


    And though Julian’s heart was breaking, things between us felt whole again.


    After leaving Julian, I couldn’t wait to see Nichs, so I rushed to his room. I walked so quickly, I was


    nearly running, but it was midnight now. Most everyone had retired. I didn’t want to draw attention to


    myself so I had to move slowly.


    At his door, I knocked lightly. I heard shuffling within.


    After a moment, the door opened slightly, and Nichs’s face appeared.


    His face was drawn, seeing me.


    “Go back to your room, Piper,” he said, and closed the door in


    my