How many hours had we been sitting here in silence? It felt like forever, even if in reality it was only a few minutes. Izzy continued to take an interest in the hem of her shirt, while simultaneously biting her lip raw. I hated how I could feel such anger and hurt towards her and yet, it took every fibre of my being not to take her into my arms and show her how much I desired her.

She finally glanced up at me her eyes seemed impossibly sad. It took a few minutes before she said anything but the words that she uttered broke my heart.

"I'm sorry. This is all my fault, and I know no matter what I say or what I do nothing can undo the damage I caused." Tears were brimming in her eyes now as she bit down on her lip, trying not to cry.

It wasn't until that moment that it dawned on me, my anger wasn't at her or even caused by her. I was angry because I had left her on that battlefield only thinking of my hurt and loss not of what she might be going through.

"What do you mean? How could any of this be your fault?"

"If I hadn't demanded I take Eric back home this would never have happened. None of this." Her words held a pain, the same pain I felt for the decisions I made that lead to the fight.

"This is in no way your fault," I stated as I knelt on the floor before her. "You just wanted to do the right thing and bring your brother home to his family. What this was was a failure of two alphas to see past their own anger and do what was right for their packs," the truth of those words made me want to pull away from her. I didn't feel I deserved the comfort of her touch. I had failed her, worse yet my action caused her pain.

As I started to pull away from her, Izzy grasped my hand firmly. That small contact caused my eyes to find her's. The sympathetic smile that somehow still managed to reach her tear-filled eyes, left me mesmerized. She was the epitome of beauty.

Before I could comprehend what I was doing my hands were sliding up her thighs and grasping her sides. As I leaned into her, she left out a soft sigh. As my lips met hers the sparks that radiated through me, through us, had me forgetting what we came here to talk about.

At that moment we were completely engulfed in each other. The feeling of her body under mine as our kiss intensified. Her hands pulled at my hair as my fingers slipped under the thin material of her shirt. There was a discernible change in her breathing as my hand travel farther north, nearing her bra. Pulling my lips from hers as I began the deliberate path down her neck, taking a few playful nips as I went along. Izzy steadily started to move beneath me, grinding her body against mine. I looked at her beneath me, chest heaving, hair splayed out around her head. Suddenly Olivia's face was all I could see, chest heaving hair splayed out skin pail and blood trickling from her parted lips. Within seconds I was across the room, my back slamming into my dresser.

"Olivia," the whisper of her name came out before I could stop it. I had hoped Izzy hadn't heard it but I could seem from the wounded look she gave me she had. I didn't know how to even begin explaining. I knew what she must have thought, how could anyone blame her.

"I....I um I'm sorry. I don't think this is the right time to be doing this," I managed to utter. Still trying to erase the image of my dead mate from my mind.

"It's okay, I get it. You loved her, still love her. How do I compete with the years of memories, the history between you two?" I wasn't sure if that question was directed at me or if she was genuinely asking herself that question.

"Izzy, it's not like that. I just, well, it's complicated. I'm sorry." I knew my words were little comfort but they were all I had to offer at that moment. I wanted to encompass her in my arms but I wasn't sure my touch would be welcomed now.

"Can we just maybe go for a walk. I could show you around the pack house. I have never given you an official tour. Some host I am." I offered to try to lighten the mood and hope a change of scene would make things better somehow.

She gave a slight nod as she slid off my bed. Following her out of my room, I realized where I needed to take, the place I rarely visited in the presence of others. I needed to show her my ghosts. Izzy deserved to know me, all of me. I knew she wouldn't look at me the same after this, she might not even want to be with me once I laid my past bear, my weakness, my self-loathing. How could any woman look past how I failed my mate, my pack, my family's legacy. With a deep breath and my heart hammering in my chest, I led her to the garden. 

***********Author's Note*****************

Hello, I know it's been FOREVER. I can't apologize enough but sadly life happens. I am already working on the next chapter and fingers crossed Fractured might be finished before the month's end. Then I can put some focus into Departed (Olivia's Story). Please leave me a comment let me know if you're still following Fractured or interested in its completion.