“Hayes made it very clear that they want someone… or something. If they’re persisting still, then obviously they aren’t over it.”
My teeth clench together at the implication. He doesn’t even need to say her name for us to both know.
Instead of touching that topic, I keep walking.
For as well as he usually reads me, Jack continues anyway. “Speaking of someone…”
“No.”
He huffs out a breath and follows along. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“Yes, I do. And no.”
“Fine, but I’m saying it anyway.”
I glance at him then, gaze thoroughly unimpressed. “Jack.”
“Caleb,” he returns with a grin. “You’re already in deep. I know you’ve been thinking about her all morning. You may know how to block the rest of us out of your head, but I can still feel how active your thoughts are.”
My glare only deepens, but he doesn’t look repentant in the slightest. “I didn’t ask for your observations on my personal life.”
“And I’m calling it as I see it.”
I inhale slowly, trying to maintain as much patience as I can. “What does it matter? She’s my mate—of course I think about her.”
That seems to stir a hint of amusement in him, but he eases up on the teasing. “I’m just saying, you let her go back to work, and you’re letting her walk around like she isn’t presumably a target. Obviously, it’s doing something to you.”
My inner wolf reacts immediately to that, burning with violence beneath my skin. Even mentioning her vulnerability is enough to set me off. Out of everyone, Jack is the last person I should be losing my cool to, given how loyal he has been to me since the very beginning, but in this state, anyone is a target.
“Look, I’m not judging. I’m just concerned,” he says with placating hands. “You’ve been acting differently, and it won’t take long for the others to notice.”
“Good,” I snap, barely keeping the tension hidden beneath the surface. “I need to be different for her.”
“Why?”
“Because of everything,” I say with an exhale, running a frustrated hand down my face. “Because of the pack, this transition, and everything that happened between Lila and me before. I’m trying not to screw everything up.”
“Caleb Graves… capable of screwing up? I never thought I’d live to see the day.”
Annoyed by his relentlessness, especially now, I give him a warning look. “Hilarious.”
Jack grins to himself, but nudges me as we continue walking through the trees. “You know what I’m getting at. People are still talking, and some of them think you chose wrong.”
“Don’t remind me,” I bite back.
“Some are saying you should’ve picked someone more familiar with the role. Someone—”
“Enough,” I utter, voice dropping lower before I can stop it.
He sighs. “I’m just saying what they’re too scared to say to your face. I don’t want them thinking like this either.”
“They can think whatever they want. I don’t care.”
As harsh and dismissive as it sounds, it’s the truth.
I don’t care what they think of her, and I don’t care what they think of me as a result.
I need their loyalty, yes, but this is one decision they can’t shake me out of. They’ll fall in line eventually, or I’ll force them to.
