Overwhelmed by the feeling of rightness filling him, it took Matt a moment to realize he hadn’t responded to Jesse’s statement.
Jesse had obviously given up on waiting for an answer and was pursuing his own line of thought. “What’s it mean to be mates?”
He wasn’t asking in general—Matt had already explained that to him, his first day here. He wanted to know what it meant forthem.Matt held his gaze and hoped Jesse would see his sincerity.
“It means I want you to stay.”
For an instant, Jesse’s eyes glowed with pure, uncomplicated happiness, and Matt’s heart flipped unevenly in his chest. Jesse should look like that always. But then, as fast as it had come, the glow vanished. A mask slammed into place—quick and practiced, like he’d been doing it all his life.
Jesse tipped his head back and narrowed his eyes. “To join your pack, you mean?”
Grappling with how to answer that, Matt hesitated. Just for a second, but Jesse saw it.
His short, sharp huff masked something brittle.He shoved his chair back and stood. “Thought so.”
“Jesse.” Matt rose from his chair on instinct, but before he could reach for Jesse, he remembered last night. He forced himself to go still, fists unclenching by sheer will. He would never be yet another thing Jesse had to defend himself against.
He had to find words, and quickly. But Matt had always been better at action than words.
Meanwhile, Jesse had pivoted and was watching him warily. At least he wasn’t running. Not yet.
“I want you to stay as my mate,” Matt said, the words a pale reflection of the feelings inside him. The feelings he’d spent so long denying, and now he didn’t know why. Couldn’t remember what had seemed so important. Nothing was more important than Jesse. “And yes, I want you to be part of my pack too.”
Jesse didn’t speak. He didn’t even blink.
Matt’s heart pounded as the silence stretched.
“It’s a lot, I get it,” Matt added, his voice tightening, “But don’t shut the door on it without even thinking about it.”
JESSE
All Jesse could do wasbreathe. Try to, anyway.
Matt wanted him. Not for a night. Not for a quick fuck. He wanted Jesse tostay.
It slammed into Jesse. This man—this bossy,good, sexy as hell man—was offering him something Jesse had never had. A place. A future.Himself.
The temptation burned inside him, bright and seductive. Flames promising warmth—and ready to eat him alive. Matt wanted him as part of his pack. That meant rules. It meant giving over control of every part of him.
He wouldn’t be Jesse Turner any more, drifting on his own, answering to no one. He’d be claimed. He’d lose himself. His pride and independence were all he had.
“So, what?” he bit out, voice hoarse. “I say yes, and you’re gonna slap a collar on me? Tell me to sit and stay?”
Matt flinched. “No.”
Maybe he was flinging harder words than he meant, but he was reminding himself as much as challenging Matt. He couldn’t do this. He mustn’t do this, and he didn’t know why he was even tempted.
“Pack’s just a leash,” he threw at Matt.
“It’s not,” Matt said. “At least, it shouldn’t be.”
“Yeah?” Jesse’s voice dropped. “Then why’s it feel like saying yes means givin’ up who I am?”
He hadn’t meant to say that much. But it slipped out, raw and jagged, because he was hurting. HewantedMatt, but he couldn’t pay the cost of having him, and it wasn’t fuckingfair.
The back door opened, and Jason walked in.
Frustration flickered over Matt’s face. “Can we finish this later?” he asked.
