Free Sondrae Bennett - Alpine Woods Shifters 4 by Worth Fighting For Page B

if he’d never returned her romantic feelings, she figured they’d still be friends. Had thought he cared for her at least that much.
    But the things he’d said today…
    Anger and hurt swirled within her as she replayed the words in her head. Damn him for taking that little bit of hope away from her. Damn him for making her feel unwanted and useless for the first time in her life.
    The worst part was she still wanted him. Despite everything. She wanted to run after him and apologize–although for what, she hadn’t the faintest idea.
    The fox inside her still longed for him, tried to push her toward Cody. She bit her lip as the tears threatened to fall again. Her fox was downright desperate, and she knew her other half would always long for him. The realization that she would never get over him punched her in the gut. Loving a man who viewed her as an obligation. All the times he’d avoided her in the past few months took on a whole new meaning.
    Misty shook her head and thrust all thoughts from her head. A deep breath helped steady her nerves. When she felt she had a measure of control, she picked up the phone.
    Right now, she needed to talk to someone she knew loved her unconditionally. But she would not cry on the phone with her dad. Last year, he’d gone to visit his sister who’d mated into a New York fox skulk. The trip was supposed to last for two weeks, but he’d met someone–not another mate, but a companion–and decided to stay. For the first time since her mother’s death, he seemed happy. But if he thought she needed him, he would come running back to town. Would put her above his happiness without question.
    She wouldn’t let that happen. She wasn’t anyone’s obligation.
    She thought she had control of her emotions. Was positive she could hold it together. But when her dad picked up the phone, his deep baritone saying, “Hi princess,” with such happiness, she lost it.
    The tears rushed forth, flowing in an endless trail down her cheeks as the sobs poured from her soul. Somehow, she managed to confess everything between sobs. Her father remained silent the entire time, and didn’t speak for a long moment after the story had finished.
    Finally, after what seemed like ages but was probably only seconds, her father said, “Pack up whatever you want to keep. I’m coming to get you.”
    * * * *
    Every time Cody closed his eyes, he saw Misty’s face, filled with pain. Pain he’d caused with his careless words. And the tears she’d valiantly tried to hold back.
    An hour had passed as he stood on her back porch knocking on her door. After he’d given up, he’d called a dozen times and got her voicemail every time. Two hours later, he’d decided she’d had enough time to calm down, and had gone back, pounding on her door with no more luck than before.
    Over and over, he replayed the cruel things he’d said. Even as he’d railed at her, he’d known how cruel he was being. But as if a demon had possessed him, he couldn’t halt the words. He’d been so determined to push her away, to keep their friendship intact, he’d been ruthless, hurting the one person who meant the world to him. And probably damaging their relationship anyway. He’d never been more ashamed. Misty had never been an obligation to him.
    Snarling at the reflection in the bathroom mirror, Cody headed toward the kitchen to make coffee and plan his next course of action. No matter what, he would repair their friendship.
    The phone rang as he poured over a list of things he could do to earn her forgiveness. Distracted, Cody grabbed the receiver and said hello, still staring at the piece of paper.
    “Cody. It’s Bobby Alexander. How’s it going?” The name dragged Cody out of his musings as he focused on the conversation. He’d met Bobby a few times at various shifter functions over the years. If he remembered correctly, Bobby was Premier of a skulk operating out of New York.
    “All right. What’s going on with you?” he