Shit! He hated to see her upset like this. This wasn’t how he had planned for this to go. “You asked me to help you. You begged. I agreed. I helped you, Candy. I didn’t know that you didn’t know the rules. I wasn’t aware that you hadn’t been informed. I didn’t have to choose you. I could’ve left you to the lesser males. I helped you. I bound myself to you in front of them. I was injured and may not have been able to fight all of them and win. It was the only option left to me, to us, at the time. I chose to help you and now I’m asking you to help me.”

“It was convenient for you.” The anger had left her voice. “You need a mate right? Someone to have your babies? You didn’t do it to help me, you did it because you had to. You did it for you.”

Torrent shook his head. “I didn’t have to take you. There is another hunt in a few weeks.” He shrugged. “I could’ve waited. Maybe I should’ve waited but I didn’t, you begged me to help you. I did it.”

A tear slid down her cheek. Hell! He was making this worse.

“So I’m a charity case.” She swallowed hard. “Look, I know you actually wanted the other woman. That you and that other dark haired guy were fighting over her. Her name is Julie.” Another tear slid free and she sniffed. It was as if she suddenly realized that she was crying because she wiped her face using both hands before looking back at him. “Let’s just forget this. You don’t really want me. Let’s annul this thing and you can start over on the next hunt.” Her lip wobbled like she hated the idea of him hunting for another female.

Torrent shook his head. “The fact of the matter is that I did help you. I wanted to help you. I am bound to you now just as you are bound to me.”

Her big, beautiful eyes were tear soaked even though no more of them fell. Her eyelashes glinted. She held her lip between her teeth. She looked away, keeping her gaze on anything but him.

Torrent huffed out a pent up breath. “Shit, Candy.” He moved over to her and she allowed him to cup her face with his hands. He turned her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I did initially want that dark haired female. I won’t lie to you.”