“It’s agoodthing, the best thing in the world,” he protested. “It’s not like I said I’m quitting school to find Bigfoot, or adopting another goat. This is good news, Bryce.”
And he didn’t understand why Bryce was reactingthisbadly.
“You’re supposed to be happy for me,” he said, his voice small, confused, and hurt.
“Fuck,” Bryce said.
“Wow. Okay.” His voice wobbled a little. “Starting strong.”
After drawing a long, deep breath, Bryce turned back around, his eyes dark with distress. “You’re too young. You’re not ready for this and definitely not withhim.”
Tristan shook with fury, sudden and shocking. For the first time ever, his wolf snarled at Bryce. “Don’t you say that,” he flung the words. “Don’t you dare. Colby’samazing.”
Bryce’s fists clenched as if he were trying to control himself. He took several deep breaths before he spoke, and that was fine because that was exactly what Tristan was doing, too, attempting to calm himself. Bryce hadn’t met his own mate. Bryce didn’t understand.
“You don’t get it, Tris. You should have years ahead of you for having fun and falling in and out of love,” Bryce said. “You need to find out what you like, what youwant,before you have to settle down and be with just one person.”
Tristan was shaking his head. How could Bryce, usually so clear-sighted, understand so little?
“You saysettle downlike it’s a bad thing,” he said. “It’s the most wonderful thing in the world, Bryce. I wasn’t eventhinkingabout meeting my mate yet, but now I wouldn’t want to be without him foranything.You’ll understand when you meet yours.”
Bryce’s lip curled. “And that’s the one thing I hope I never do, but nice try at deflection. The point is, if youdomeet someone, you should be, I don’t know, texting in lectures or talking trash on game night. Doing all the things people your age do, not having to deal with the emotional fallout of all the crap he’s been through. How old is he, anyway?”
“Colby’s twenty-four,” Tristan said tightly, anger still burning steadily in him. “And I’m not a kid, not anymore. I’ve seen more than some peopleeverwill, and I know what I want.”
“Maybe,” Bryce conceded. “But Tris, look at him. He’s been put through hell, and he hasn’t made it back. And the thing is, he’s gonna drag you there right alongside him. You have to walk away now, while you still can.”
Tristan stared at Bryce, wondering if he even knew him anymore. “How can yousaythat? You’re always the first to help someone, always the first to care, and you—you—” He broke off, too angry and hurt to continue.
“But this isyou,” Bryce said, as if it was obvious. “I wish him well, I really do, but I don’t want to see you trying over and over to mend something that can’t be made better. I don’t want what that will do to you. I want you to be happy, Tris.”
Tears burned hot and furious in Tristan’s eyes. “You just don’t get it, do you?” he said through an aching throat. “Colbymakes me happy, and you’re going to have to get used to that.”
He turned and walked away, hollow with disillusionment and hurt. And the worst of it was, for the first time ever, Bryce didn’t come after him and soothe him or joke him out of it. He just stood there silently and watched him go.
Chapter Eighteen
COLBY
Urban sat quietly as Colby stumbled through his explanation. The only thing that gave away the fact he was listening was the way his fist clenched when Colby told him where Cale had gone to meet the prospective buyer for the silver wolf.
“You’re sure?” he asked. His voice was low and threatening, though the menace wasn’t aimed at Colby.
“It’s what Nico said, and he was pleased, so I don’t think he made it up.”
“You’ve no idea who?”
Colby shook his head regretfully. “Nico was the only one Cale told about going to Washington. He just said the buyer was someone rich and high up on the Shifter National Council. That’s all I ever heard.”
Urban was silent for a long moment, and a weight seemed to have descended on his shoulders. “Damn it,” he said finally. Helooked at Colby and seemed to see him again. “And you’ve decided to tell me this now because…?”
Colby hesitated. “I don’t really know what it means, but if Cale wants it, then someone’s going to get hurt. That’s how it always goes,” he said. “You might be able to stop it, and that’s not something I believed anyone could do. Not until now.”
“Is there anything else you know, even if you don’t feel like sharing it?” Urban’s eyes were steady on his.
Colby shook his head. “I’ve told you everything now. Everything that could be relevant to the silver wolf, anyway.”
“I have one more question for you.” Urban leaned forward, giving away how important this was. And oddly, Colby felt like that was a moment of trust. Until now, Urban had been so careful not to give away what he was thinking or feeling.
