“Yeah.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can tell he doesn’t belong in your pack. He’s weak. His wolf is barely there.” My anger starts to bubble because if he ever gets himself into a situation like that again, he won’t be able to get himself out of it.
“He’s a lot stronger than you think,” Jaxon says, which takes me by surprise. “He’s been through a lot.”
“Has he?” I pretend to act nonchalant as I glance at Jaxon’s bookshelf.
“Yes.”
“How so?”
My curiosity gets the better of me, and I can’t stop the question from falling from my lips. I know nothing about him, and yet I should keep it that way, but I can’t help myself.
Jaxon releases a soft sigh as he presses his back into his chair. “Ava was kidnapped by a wolf called Lucien a few years ago. He believed she was his mate and treated her in ways I can’t even put into words.” Jaxon’s voice strains. “Evan is Lucien’s brother. He let Ava go. If he never did that, I don’t know if I would have ever met her. I gave him a rough time at the startbecause he’s Lucien’s blood, but I’ve come to realise they’re not alike. Whatsoever. He’s good, even if he doesn’t believe it.”
I allow myself time to digest his words. “I see.”
“He’s had a tough life. He has no family. He was mistreated. And what he did today proves how brave he is. He might be physically weak, but he has courage, and I know he’d do anything for anyone.”
“Did he get checked over?” I ask.
Even if he has, I already have an itching feeling to go downstairs and make sure he’s okay. But why? I shouldn’t care. I don’t know him. I don’t have an emotional connection to him.
The bond says otherwise.
I’m losing my fucking mind when I thought this would be easier than it is. But no one can prepare you for pushing away your fated mate.
He raises his eyes to me after a few moments. “Yes, the pack doctors took a look at him, but the best thing he can do is rest. He’ll be tired from the silver.”
I merely nod.
“Why are you asking about him?”
“No reason.” I clear my throat. “Just didn’t know he had it in him.”
“We need to figure out if these two guys were alone, and how the hell they got onto our territory without being noticed,” Jaxon states. “We couldn’t find any sign of human scents around our perimeter.”
“Something isn’t right.”
“So we need to involve the district ruler, alert others, and see if they have any information,” Jaxon says as he stands. “Because I’m not allowing anyone to threaten my family and get away with it.”
I stare at him from across the room. “Me, neither.”
10
EVAN
The second I find safety in my bathroom after reassuring the pack doctors I’m okay to be on my own for five minutes, I press my back against the door and lock it behind me. It takes a few seconds to catch my breath before slipping beneath the water and washing my body thoroughly, trying to avoid the sore, tender parts of my skin that have been sizzled by the silver.
The memories of pain linger, but what dangles over my head is the sensation of Caleb’s touch, our bodies close to one another. My wolf craves it, knowing he took away my agony until I forgot I wasn’t healed.
I rest my forehead against the tiles and wish I didn’t feel this way.
For the first time since I can remember, I don’t reach for my metal box of rice in my drawer when I return from my shower. There is pride in my heart over what happened today, and my injuries are bad enough.
After throwing on an oversized hoodie and some tracksuit bottoms, I head downstairs to grab some food for my aching muscles and beaten body.
