Roan's surprise was palpable. "What?" he exclaimed.
In the past, the very idea of eating food prepared by the maids was beneath him. I had been the one to cater to his every meal, meticulously preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My devotion had been total, unquestioning.
"Is there a problem?" I asked, my tone laced with a hint of challenge.
There was a pause before he responded, his voice softer, uncertain. "No. Just... take care of yourself."
"Thank you," I replied flatly, the words devoid of warmth.
The silence stretched between us, heavy and uncomfortable. Then Roan's voice broke through again, hesitant and searching. "Lori, are you angry?"
His question, so late in coming, stirred a flicker of something within me. Anger, perhaps, but mostly a profound disappointment. Was he truly this oblivious, or did he simply not care about my feelings? Yet, I realized with strange clarity that it no longer mattered. The anger had dissipated, leaving behind nothing but coldness.
"I’m not angry," I said, more to myself than to him. Anger was a luxury I could no longer afford.
In a tone tinged with apology, Roan reached out through our mind link. "Lori, it's not easy for Tracy to raise a child alone. She doesn’t know anyone else here. She only has me."
His words struck me like a slap. He seemed to forget that I, too, only had him. Of course, he didn't care.
"I understand already, okay? She must have been through a lot," I replied, striving for calmness.
However, upon hearing my sarcasm, my mate's response was immediate and defensive. "Lori, what’s that supposed to mean? What's with your attitude?"
"I said I already understand," I repeated, my voice now edged with a growing bitterness. "Is there a problem with that?"
"Do you have to talk to me like that?" he snapped, frustration creeping into his voice.
I sighed. "What do you want me to say?" I countered, feeling the frustration rise within me.
Silence fell between us, thick and oppressive. Finally, the Alpha muttered a defeated, "Fine! Do as you wish," before abruptly ending the mind link.
The irony was not lost on me. When I questioned his visits to Tracy, he found me annoying. When I asked when he would return from her place, I was still the bothersome one. Now, even trying to be understanding seemed to irritate him.