Secrets Beneath the Fur

Chapter 24:- Seeking Forgiveness

Emma's Pov:-

The days after my confession dragged on like years. Every moment I spent in the packhouse was a reminder of what I'd done, of the damage I had caused. I could feel the eyes of the pack members on me whenever I passed them, a mix of suspicion, anger, and confusion. Some of them wouldn't even acknowledge my presence anymore. Others whispered in corners, and I knew exactly what they were talking about.

But none of that hurt as much as the distance between me and Evelyn.

I stayed in the room they'd given me, though I felt like an intruder more than ever. I knew this was where I belonged now-caught between the organization that had raised me and the pack that had shown me kindness and trust. My betrayal had shattered everything, and I was left standing among the broken pieces, unsure how to fix anything.

Each night, I would find myself standing outside Evelyn's door, my heart aching to go in and talk to her, to see her face, to just be near her. But I never had the courage. Every time I thought of knocking, I would stop, reminded of the hurt I had caused her. She hadn't asked me to leave, but I knew I had no place in her life anymore, not as things stood.

Instead, I stayed in the shadows, watching her from a distance. I saw how the weight of the attack pressed on her shoulders, how she tried to maintain her strength for the pack even though I could see the cracks forming beneath the surface. The guilt gnawed at me constantly. I had done this to her, the one person I cared about more than anything.

I wanted to help, but how could I? Every time I approached her, the tension was palpable. Evelyn wasn't cold to me, but she wasn't warm either. It was as if she had put up an impenetrable wall between us, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break through.

And yet, I couldn't leave. I couldn't walk away from her. Not when I still had hope that maybe, somehow, I could earn her forgiveness.

One afternoon, I found her by the river that ran through the pack's territory. She was sitting on a rock, her knees drawn up to her chest, her eyes locked on the rushing water. I knew she was trying to find some semblance of peace, but I could see the strain in her posture, the heaviness in her expression.

Taking a deep breath, I cautiously approached her. She didn't look up at first, and I hesitated, unsure if I should disturb her. But I couldn't keep avoiding this. I couldn't keep running from the truth.

"Evelyn," I said softly, my voice trembling. "Can we talk?"

She didn't respond for a long moment, her gaze still fixed on the water. But eventually, she sighed and shifted slightly, making room for me on the rock. It wasn't much of an invitation, but it was more than I had expected. I took a seat beside her, careful to leave a little space between us.

"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I need to tell you that I'm sorry. Truly sorry. I never wanted any of this to happen."

She didn't say anything right away. Instead, she stared out at the river, her face unreadable. I could see the conflict in her eyes, though. I knew she was grappling with her own emotions just as much as I was.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke. "It's not that simple, Emma."

Her voice was quiet but firm. There was no anger in it, just a deep sadness that made my heart ache.

"I know," I said quickly. "I know it's not. And I don't expect you to just... forgive me overnight. But I want to make things right. I want to help the pack. I want to help you. I don't know how yet, but I'll do whatever it takes."

Evelyn turned to look at me then, her eyes softening just a fraction. "Why did you stay?" she asked. "After everything, why didn't you just leave?"

"Because I love you," I replied without hesitation, the words spilling out of me before I could stop them. "I know I hurt you. I know I broke your trust. But that doesn't change how I feel about you. I couldn't walk away from that. Not now. Not ever."