Chapter 234: Hidden Wounds

ZADE I could see him withdrawing even as we spoke, pulling back into that guarded space where he'd learned to protect himself from disappointment and rejection. The sight made panic claw at my throat. I felt like I was losing him again and I had no idea how to stop it.   "That's not true," I said, moving closer despite his obvious desire for distance. "You're my mate. My chosen partner. The person I love more than anyone else in this world."   "Am I?" he asked, and the quiet devastation in his voice was worse than shouting would have been.   "Because Andy showed me something interesting while she had me. She showed me pack records, official documents from councils and meetings. Do you know how many times my name appears in those records as your mate?"   I felt the blood drain from my face as I realized what he was getting at.   "Zero," he continued, his voice gaining strength as he spoke. "In every official capacity, Lynn is listed as your Luna. Your chosen partner. Your mate. I don't