Riley swallowed, his throat raw. “I’m not planning to.”
Jesse gave a short nod, like that settled it, before turning and walking away without a backward glance.
Riley stared after him for a while before he finally turned the key in the ignition. Gunning the engine, he got out of there.
JASON
Jason made it around the corner of the house, out of sight of Riley, of everyone, before collapsing against the wall, trembling. How could Riley expect him to believe he loved him after everything he’d done? He didn’t know what game Riley was playing now, other than to humiliate Jason completely.
Heat burned behind his eyes. Anger or shame—he couldn’t tell the difference anymore. And if he didn’t keep moving, it would all come flooding out. He pushed away from the wall and rounded the back of the house.
Bryce was waiting for him in the yard, leaning against the picnic table. Jason hesitated, then changed course and headed toward him. However much he craved the escape of shifting and running in the wilderness again, he had to make sure he’d told Matt and Bryce everything. The pack had to be protected.
Bryce’s eyes were warm and steady on his, the way they’d been since the very first time he’d walked into the diner and seen Jason. Bryce was probably the kindest person Jason had ever known, except for his mom.
“We’ve got you, Jase,” he said quietly, and Jason’s eyes flooded.
Fuck it. He couldn’t do this. He roughly wiped his arm across his face and cleared his throat, knowing his chin was quivering and giving him away.
Swallowing hard, he forced the words out past the tightness in his throat. “He thinks Matt wants political power and that he’s keeping Jesse secret only to unveil him at the right moment.” His voice wobbled perilously, and he clamped his mouth shut again.
Message delivered, he turned sharply away. But Bryce held him in place, his hand grasping Jason’s arm.
Jason slumped. All he wanted was to get away from everyone who’d seen his humiliation, but Bryce wouldn’t let him have even that.
“I get you want to lick your wounds in private,” Bryce said, and his voice was so understanding that Jason had to sniff hard, holding back the tears. “But we’re pack creatures for a reason. Sometimes we need not to be alone.”
Jason kept his face averted. “Why?” he blurted out at last, the question spilling from him in hurt and incomprehension. “Why ishemy mate?” His voice broke on the last word. “I thought—I thought I was finally allowed to have something good.”
“Oh, God, Jason.” Bryce pulled him into a rough hug.
Jason had been rigid, trembling with the effort of holding himself together, but when Bryce pulled him close, he shattered. Bryce’s arms were strong and safe andpack, and Jason buried his face in his beta’s shoulder.
“You didn’t doanythingwrong. I don’t know why, but it’s not your fault your mate turned out to be—it’s not your fault, you hear me?”
Jason nodded as he gulped back his sobs. Maybe it helped to know that. Or maybe nothing could help how it felt to have found his mate, only to realize he was so untrustworthy, so without conscience or scruples that Jason could never love him.
Bryce’s arms tightened around him as Jason’s breath came unevenly.
“You want to come inside?” Bryce asked at last. His voice was low, like he knew how fragile Jason still was. “We’re your pack, Jason. Whatever else, you still have us.” His hand cupped Jason’s head, cradling him close. “You always will.”
Jason nodded, but he wasn’t ready to let go of Bryce yet. Because once he did, he’d have to face the world again. Face a world where Riley had never truly been his.
Chapter Twenty-six
RILEY
Riley hadn’t made it back to town before he pulled over onto the side of the road. He cut the engine and leaned his head on the steering wheel, shaking with delayed shock from what had happened.
He’d expected anger from Jason’s pack, but somehow, he hadn’t expected fangs. He didn’t think he’d ever forget the heat of a wolf’s breath on his throat, the sharp edge of death closer than it had ever been.
And the worst part? Some dark, ugly part of him hadn’t been shocked. Some part had said,this is what shifters do.This is why they’re dangerous.
But that wasn’t true and it wasn’t fair. They hadn’t come at him because he was human. They’d come at him because he’d hurt one of theirs. Because in a world where too many people saw shifters as monsters, he’d proven them right to be wary of outsiders. They’d reacted with loyalty, protecting their own. Hedidn’t think humans would’ve done any different, faced with Riley’s betrayal.
Somehow, he’d made things even worse, and he hadn’t thought that was possible. Jason hadn’t believed him. He guessed he couldn’t really blame him for that.
All that was left for Riley was to leave this damned town behind him, file his story, and move on with his life. The hurt and shame would fade eventually. It always did, every time he fucked up. But he didn’t think he’d ever fucked up this badly, not since the time he was seventeen and his dad had walked in on him making out with Toby Anderson.
