Page 31 of Wicked Wolf

Gideon stood slowly so they were almost eye-to-eye. “Yes, he had to. Hannah is a Healer as well. She might be able to see something Walker can’t. Or maybe the two of them together can work on a different level than they can alone. The fact that she’s also a witch adds another layer to her powers.”

Witch.

Something must have shown on his face because Gideon cursed then threw a punch.

The right side of Quinn’s face burned, and he blinked but refused to touch the place where Gideon’s fist had connected.

“You’re kidding me, right?” Gideon yelled. “That’s why you threw Gina away? That? I always knew you had some issues with powers outside of being a wolf, but I never knew you were a bigot. She’s a half witch, you asshole. Half. She’s learning her powers at Hannah’s side. And even if she was a full witch, she could have been your mate. That trumps any preconceived notions you have about something you don’t truly understand. I’ve never been more disappointed in you. Never.”

Quinn lowered his head, his shoulders dropping. His wolf howled, but he didn’t make a sound. He’d disappointed his Alpha, himself, and anyone who had relied on him.

He knew that, yet he’d thrown away his chance because he was goddamn scared.

Scared of what could happen, scared of the unknown, scared of a blue-eyed wolf who haunted him.

“I’m sorry, my Alpha.”

Gideon gripped the back of his neck, and Quinn lowered himself further. “You don’t need to be sorry to me, Quinn. You need to apologize to Gina and actually mean it. You need to get over what Helena did to you. Yeah, I’m a prick for saying it, but it needs to be said. She hurt you. She hurt Jesse. She hurt all of us. But if you don’t learn to break through that pain and find some peace on the other side, you’re no good to us.”

“I don’t know if I can,” he said honestly.

“Look at me, Quinn.”

Quinn raised his head and looked at his Alpha’s face, though he didn’t meet his eyes. There were only so many dominance games a wolf could play, and this was not one of them. Not today.

“You messed up. You need to fix it. Also, if you ever treat a witch the way you did Gina, there will be consequences you can’t get out of. You understand me?”

Quinn sucked in a breath but nodded. “I do. I screwed up. Bad. I just…” He shook his head. “No excuses. There was more than one reason I said no to Gina, but I used the one I shouldn’t have to be cruel. For that I will apologize the next time I see her.”

Gideon searched his face. “Good, because you’re about to see her real soon.”

Quinn took a step back. “What?”

“She’s coming with Hannah as her aide. In fact, they might already be there. You calm enough to see her? Or do you need that run?”

Quinn blinked then ran a hand over his head. “I’m good. I think I just needed to get out of the house.” And to be near his Alpha, but that was understood.

“Good. Don’t screw up again. I’ll be with you. We’re not leaving you alone with Gina right now. I hope you get that.”

Quinn nodded. It hurt for some reason, yet he knew it was deserved. “I just want Jesse to be healthy. I’ll do anything, Gideon.”

Gideon’s face fell. “I know. Come on. Let’s see what we can do to save your little boy.”

They ran back to Quinn’s place, each in their own head. He didn’t know what Gideon was thinking about, but Quinn’s thoughts were running the gamut. Between Jesse, Gideon’s disappointment, and Gina, his mind whirled. He hadn’t slept in two days, but he was energized on the idea that there would be people here to try to help his son.

That was worth any pain he might have from seeing the woman his wolf wanted but couldn’t have.

The fact that he couldn’t have her because he’d pushed her away was his own damn fault.

When they walked into his house, he scented her. That sweetness filled his nostrils and sent his wolf on edge. He pushed it away though. He didn’t deserve any bliss that came from her presence. Instead, he deserved the torture and pain that it brought.

Three other scents mingled together alongside Gina’s wolf, and his wolf perked. They were not Talons. No, those were Redwoods. Gideon hadn’t mentioned more than Gina and Hannah, but he shouldn’t have been surprised at who had come with them. Where Hannah went, her two mates, Reed and Josh, followed. She might have been allowed to leave with just one of them on her own, but coming to a different Pack den wouldn’t have allowed either man to stay behind.

He understood that devotion and love, even envied it.

He pushed all of that away though when he stepped into his master bedroom. Jesse had apparently been moved there when he’d been out, but it made sense. There were far too many wolves to fit into Jesse’s room now.

“Thank you for coming,” Quinn said when he walked into the room. He was surprised his voice didn’t shake or turn into a growl, but he knew he needed to keep up his control.