I love her. I’minlove with her.
I push my plate aside, rubbing my hands along my face.
“Are you going to eat that?”
It takes me a second to process that Tyler is talking to me. “Huh? Oh, no. Here.” I extend the plate to Tyler across the table and without hesitation, he takes it.
“Sweet,” he says. His cutlery clinks at the stabbing of his fork and takes a bite. Chewing, he asks, “You good, man?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” I lie.
Tyler swallows his food and then waves his fork around, trying to recall her name. “Does it have to do with Jay?”
I twirl my napkin in my hand, folding and twisting it. I sigh. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m thinking about Jay.”
He nods, confirming his suspicion. “If the witches hadn’t said you needed to be with Medein, would you have marked Jay?”
“Without hesitation.”
“But she left. I... I blew it with her.”
“So?” He shrugs, chewing. He swallows hard and stabs his plate again. “I say fuck the witches. Go get her back and fix things.” He shoves another bite into his mouth.
“She’s better off with someone else. The pack already doesn’t love having her around. What do you think they’re going to do when they find out what she did?”
His forearms rest on either side of his plate as he chews. Tyler gestures with his fork as he speaks. “Who says they need to love her? Leaders who were feared are, historically-speaking, more successful. Besides, who’s going to challenge her?You?Hell, us?”
“Us?”
“Yeah, us,” he says like it should be common knowledge. “A challenge to either one of you is a fight for all three of us.”
After helping me execute the pack members who hurt Jay, he proved he’d remain loyal as my beta—but I didn’t think he accepted her.
“Even so, she shouldn’t have to spend her life in fear.”
“I think with you is probably the safest she’s ever felt.”
Shit. Since when did Tyler become insightful?
“I also think anyone who can kick my ass like that is someone I don’t want to get on the bad side of.” He looks around, checking to make sure no one’s listening, he lowers his voice. “Why don’t you two just sneak away and mark each other?”
There’s the old Tyler I know. Asking for forgiveness instead of permission.
I chuckle. Sarcastically I say, “Yeah and put the entire realm at risk of a war. I’ll get right on that.”
“You know”—my mother sits beside me—“the Queen’s mother was a rogue. Your father took her in, gave her a chance to join us.”
“Sure, but she didn’t kill the alpha.”
She hums. “That’s true, but... I think your father would’ve liked Jay.”
My jaw practically drops to the floor. I whip my head toward her, searching her face for any sign of sarcasm, but I find none.
“He always liked a strong woman who could put him in his place.” My mom nudges my shoulder with hers. “She’s kindhearted, a survivor who doesn’t gloat but can and will handle herself if she needs to.”
She can’t be serious.
“You went off on me when I wanted to be with her. What changed?”
