He strode over to Matt, steps quick and jerky, his hand biting into Matt’s shoulder. “YouknowWeaver made you out to be responsible for the whole goddamn mess because, otherwise, everyone would blame him. Youknowthose things he said about you were ass-coveringlies.”
Wasn’t so much what he’d saidaboutMatt astohim. How Matt, who’d been groomed for years to take over from Weaver as Cheyenne alpha when the time came, had been reckless, hotheaded, possessive, temperamental, stubborn, andtoo proud.All things Matt knew he was. He’d just never seen them as faults. Definitely not flaws bad enough to lead to the devastation that followed.
Weaver had flayed him verbally, had left him in anguish, raw and unprotected, and he’d run. That way, he didn’t have to face the accusation in grieving pack members’ eyes. It had taken him months to understand that running had compounded his offense. He should have faced up to the consequences of his actions, even if that meant someone tearing out his throat one dark night.
Bryce had refused to let him go back. Told him straight up he’d been officially shunned, that if he returned, they’d kill him. And maybe that didn’t sound like a punishment to Matt at the time. Maybe it even felt like a mercy. But Bryce had looked him in the eye and called it what it was—self-indulgent. Said it wouldn’t change anything. That if Matt truly owed a debt, he’d pay it by living. By doing something that mattered.
And Matt, for once in his goddamn stubborn life, had been shaken enough to listen to Bryce.
Bryce, who was standing in his den, glaring at Matt. “You’re nothearingme.” His voice had gone flat, and that was the only warning that Matt got. He waved his phone at Matt. “Maybe you’ll hear it from Lindsey.”
A cold knot of dread settled in Matt’s gut. He’d faced death, faced enemies, faced his own pack turning their backs on him, and somehow he’d weathered it all. But this? Not this.
“No.” Matt’s voice was rough, low, too close to a plea.
Bryce’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t pull back. “I haven’t done this before because—” A muscle jumped in his cheek. “You know why. We don’t talk about Cheyenne.” He breathed out steadily before fixing Matt with a look that felt like a goddamnverdict.
“But today?” Bryce shook his head, his voice going taut. “Today, I can see what it’s still doing to you. What it’s now doing to Jesse. And I can’t—” He cut himself off, his lips twisting as if the words tasted sour. “I should have done this a long time ago.”
Matt’s breath caught.
Bryce scrolled his phone. “I wasn’t shunned alongside you,” he said at last, quietly. “I found Lindsey on Insta a few months back.” He closed his eyes briefly. “We got talking.”
Matt’s pulse roared in his ears. But Bryce didn’t give him time to do anything, to say anything.
“Hey, Linz. How’s it going?” he asked cheerfully, his voice light even as the world closed in on Matt. “I’ve got Matt here to talk to you.”
He held the phone against his shirt, muffling the sound. His eyes met Matt’s, steady and relentless. Not giving Matt an out. “Hate me all you want after, but you have to do this.”
Matt took the phone like it was a live grenade.
Bryce gave a nod and silently left the room.
Chapter Nineteen
JESSE
He wasn’t jealous. Matt had a pack to run. Bryce was his beta. Of course they’d be off doing pack stuff. And Jesse wasn’t a member of the pack, so it was none of his business.
But it wasn’t that which was nagging at Jesse. It was the way Bryce and Matt had seemed to have a whole conversation just with their eyes. It was a level of closeness that Jesse, who had touched almost every inch of Matt’s body,didn’thave with him.
There was nothing in Matt’s gaze that was just for Jesse. He was as sincere with every member of his pack. And the heat in his eyes? That was about nothing more than a quick fuck. Jesse had forgotten the reality and lost himself in fantasy during an afternoon that might as well have been wrenched from some fairy tale.
He emerged from the mudroom on Tristan’s heels, having washed up after dealing with the horses. Bryce was in the kitchen, a glass of whiskey in his hand. Perking up at the realization Matt andBryce must have finished their conversation, Jesse looked around, but Matt wasn’t there. Just Jason, Tristan and Bryce.
“Jesse.” Bryce’s voice, but deeper than usual. Something new thrummed through it.
Jesse was tense, ready to do whatever the moment was going to call for. Fight or flee—or maybe Bryce was simply about to tell him to set the table.
But Bryce said nothing further. He stood looking at Jesse, eyes taking in every single part of him before returning to his face. And it was like his gaze was digging into Jesse, looking for something.
Jesse wasn’t the only one to think Bryce was acting weird. Tristan was watching him closely, too.
Bryce put down his glass and walked right over to Jesse, looming into his space. No way was Jesse going to give ground, but he thought punching Bryce might not go down too well with the rest of his pack. His heart rate kicked up a gear, his palms grew damp, and he tried desperately not to move as Bryce stared into his eyes.
“If you’re lookin’ for a bug to put under your microscope, there’s plenty in the barn,” he said, shifting his weight slightly, ready to cut and run.
Uncomprehending, he watched Bryce’s lips twitch slightly before he sighed, long and low. “Makes sense,” he said, but seemingly was talking to himself. Then he leaned forward, his voice very low and close to Jesse’s ear. “Matt’s going to need you. Go to him.”
