Aspen’s face went stormy. “Don’t say that. That boy is in love with you. He’s part of your soul. He’s just been angry for so long. When you carry that kind of hurt for so many years, it just takes a bit to move past it. You’re going to have to let him work it out. He knows anything that happened in that club was against your will, sweetie. He knows.”
Maddie nodded. “He’s filled his life with sad imitations of what love should look like. When you know your mate is out there, there is a void that simply cannot be filled with anyone else. And believe me, there are plenty of women who have wanted to be the one to fill it. But he’d never entertain that. He’s been no saint, but he’s never been with any woman long term. He’s been waiting for you.”
I blinked. “Are you serious?”
Parker laughed. “He’s an ornery idiot a lot of the time, but he’s loyal. If you want him, you won’t be able to keep him away.”
I thought about the look on Jess’s face when he saw me at the airstrip—the way his mouth twisted up like he was fighting back a scream. I thought about the way he’d clenched his fists, like he could squeeze out the poison just by holding me tight. I thought about the note he left me this morning, and how he almost wrote something else.
I wanted to believe them, but a tiny, poisonous part of me whispered that I’d ruined my only chance.
“He seems so enraged,” I said. “I just wish he’d reject me officially, so I could move on. If that’s what he’s going to do.”
Aspen shook her head. “Don’t say that, honey. Your wolf would never forgive you.”
She was right. Even now, the thought made my skin crawl. The idea of being alone—of never feeling the mate bond, was like staring into a black hole.
Parker grinned. “So what are you gonna do?”
I set my jaw. “I’m gonna go home, and I’m gonna tell him the truth. If he still wants to reject me, I’ll take it. But if he doesn’t, I’ll never let him go again.”
Maddie and Aspen whooped, and Oscar let out a high-pitched “Bravo, Miss Harper!” from the corner.
I stood up suddenly lightheaded. The sun was brighter than ever, and for the first time since I was a teenager, I felt like maybe I could survive another day.
“Thank you,” I said, voice catching. “For everything.”
Aspen hugged me again, and this time I let myself lean in, just for a second.
Parker jingled her keys at me. “Ready to go home?”
I nodded. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We said our thank yous and goodbyes to Aspen and Oscar after offering to help clean up. Maddie, Parker and I stepped into the daylight like we belonged there.
Parker drove her sports car like a bat out of hell, so the trip back to the pack house took no time at all. Parker dropped me at the curb and shot me a wink before peeling off, tires chirping on the hot blacktop. The air had shifted while we were at lunch, growing thicker and a few degrees warmer. Stormcoming, maybe, or just the pre-dinner lull that always made Texas afternoons feel heavy as a wet blanket.
I climbed the stairs, clutching the paper sack with the leftover scones, and paused at the landing. I could hear my own breath, fast and shallow. There was a confidence in my stride that hadn’t been there this morning. I thought about what Aspen said about how you can survive anything if you have a reason. I punched in the entry code and listened for the beep before turning the knob.
The apartment was silent.
But the air was wrong. Dense. Every hair on my arms stood up.
I stepped inside, took two steps, and stopped dead.
The place seemed off.
The coffee table was overturned, books scattered here and there.
My legs went cold, then numb. I scanned for blood, for signs of a fight, but there was nothing—just the raw aftermath of something volcanic. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, and, underneath, the copper tang of rage.
“Jess?” I called, voice cracking.
Nothing.
He wasn’t here. Then I remembered that Parker and Maddie had mentioned the bonfire and barbecue that were happening tonight. I figured he must have gone without me. All the good feelings I had felt from the afternoon with the girls vanished.
Chapter 13
