Mom started to cry.
I’d just sentenced myself to death.
Ten
OLIVIA…
He is the one, the Lady whispered.
“An Elder?” I asked softly, trying not to let any hint of what I wanted to feel surface.
Yes. Son of Strength and imbued with strength. You must not fail.
I watched the man fall to his knees with a sinking feeling in my stomach. If Bethi had disliked the Lady before, she’d hate her now. They all would when they finally understood what this meant.
WINIFRED…
I left the needle in Clay and rushed to Jim. Taking his face in my hands, I forced his gaze to mine.
The pain is telling you that you’re trying to make the wrong choice,I sent him.
How can you know? She smells right. I have no doubt she’s the one.
She might have been before you were an Elder. Not now. She’s Claimed Blake, Jim. We need you. You need to stop.
How do I stop wanting her?he sent not just to me, but Sam and Grey too, proving just how unfocused he was right then.
I stroked my fingers along Jim’s face, sorrow engulfing me. We never should have made him an Elder. How many different types of losses would our race need to suffer? I thought.
You tell yourself every single second of every single day you can’t have her,Sam’s voice cut in.It’s what I do. It keeps the pain at bay.
I looked up and met Sam’s gaze, the pull stirring in my stomach like it always did when I looked at him.
It doesn’t get easier, but I would have done anything to spare Winifred the pain she felt when she saw me. Even to make sure she didn’t have to endure it alone.
The tension in Jim’s clenched jaw and corded neck eased fractionally. From the corner of my eye, I saw Charlene lead Olivia from the room and Grey move to finish with Clay.
We need you, Jim. Blake will not leave these girls alone. He’s waiting, biding his time. He will try again.
Jim closed his eyes, and his breathing slowed. I knew he was fighting to contain what he was feeling for Olivia. Sam and I shared another look. It wouldn’t be easy. Sam hadn’t lied. Even after all these years, it was hard to be so near him.
“I’ll be fine,” Jim said in a rough voice. However, when he opened his eyes, his gaze immediately went to the place where Olivia had stood.
“Come on,” I said, lifting him to his feet. “Let’s get you some pizza.”
“I’m not hungry.”
My stomach twisted with worry. Jim was never not hungry. Since the moment Charlene had given birth, he’d needed to be fed often and a lot.
“Then come sit on the bed.”
He did as I suggested. Thomas watched him closely, worry etching his features. We both knew the risks. If Jim continued to think of Olivia as his Mate instead of an extended member of the pack he needed to protect, he would die.
JIM…
Dad sat beside me. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. The worry poured off of him like cologne gone bad. As much as I wanted to reassure him, I couldn’t. It still felt like I was dying. The pressure inside me had eased enough that I could breathe, but not by much.
I focused on Grey and Clay. Grey worked with quick efficiency, finishing the small, neat stitches needed to close up the first of the three gashes. Clay didn’t move at all, but I could see the glint of his brown eyes from beneath his lowered lids. I wondered if he hurt as much as I did.
