“Speak to me like an adult, or don’t speak to me at all, Cazz,” she snarled and it was such an unexpected reaction from her I drew up short, gaping at her. She was standing behind the couch in nothing but sweats and a tank top, but then she was in motion, marching around the furniture towards me, her eyes narrowed and hands clenched, and ranting at me.
“I misjudged that, and I know it, and I told you I was sorry—and I am. Rake explained how that felt for you and them and… and I would do anything to go back and handle this differently. But don’t you dare come growling in here like you took some kind of interest and I hid it from you. You threw me at Rake, you threw me at Maya, and you didn’t think I was capable of… anything! This was supposed to be me showing you—and them—that I’m more than just a fucking womb. And I guess I did at least achieve that, so
~ CASIMIR ~There was a hush in her voice that made the bond clang so dissonantly that the words I’d had prepared just died on my tongue. Something in my chest shifted, and even though I was still furious, something muzzled me.Warning shrilled in the bond. I felt it shiver between us and I snapped my mouth closed, clenching my hands to fists and trying desperately to leash myself, because I needed to think. But having her standing there, staring at me like I’d betrayed her…It made my heart crack. And made me rail inside.“Jesse… this isn’t about us.”“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Cazz. Of course it is.”For a moment I didn’t move, didn’t say anything, made myself breathe and think and focus.You call this love?The implied accusation stung, because I did love her. And every wolf in the pac
~ JESSE ~I woke up the next morning on the couch with a crick in my neck and a heart hammering in my chest.It took a second to remember what had happened, and why I felt like a pit was opening in my stomach. But when I did…I sat up, pushing my hair back and looking around. The chamber was empty and even though there was no sunlight here, somehow I could tell that I had overslept.Or rather, that I had slept late.I’d sat on that couch for at least an hour after Cazz walked out, just in case he changed his mind and came back. But I refused to ask him to. And even though he didn’t shut off the bond—which kept me sane—he also didn’t use it.
~ JESSE ~I gaped at Maya, stunned, but also with laughter bubbling into my throat, though I was pretty sure it was more hysterical than amused.“You’re laughing?” I asked, breathlessly.“That was the funniest and most dangerous thing I’ve seen anyone do for generations,” Maya cackled, leaning back in her chair and wiping her eyes. “Cazz’s face… I don’t think I’ve ever seen my nephew so obviously taken by surprise before.” She giggled again, then sighed and straightened herself up, smoothing out her skirts, and wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes. “Of course, it was quite a serious misstep—and Cazz’s meeting with the elders was… well, there’s nothing to laugh about there,” she said, widening her eyes. &l
~ JESSE ~When I left Maya, Sven was waiting to walk me back, which was sweet since I hadn’t even thought about asking him to.I was deep in thought, so we walked in silence for a minute, while I got frustrated because I was too far away to link with Cazz—not that I was sure what I’d say, since he hadn’t spoken this morning—and I couldn’t reach any of the others either.Then it hit me… I had been so consumed with Cazz I hadn’t even checked in on Reeca!Shit.“Sven… are you able to link with the packmind and see where Reeca is right now and if she’s free to speak with me when I get back?”“Sure.
~ JESSE ~Reeca nodded quickly, but her expression was wary. “I mean… I knew that you would choose me and there would be disruption. I knew it was right to… to just follow this path. I didn’t know… I couldn’t see how it would all come together. And I had no sight on what the males’ reactions would be. I was just waiting to see…”“You’re a prophetess?” I said breathlessly. “Rake told me. I had no idea… That’s why the others listen when you talk, right? Why didn’t you tell me?”Her face kind of pinched as she winced. “I’m sorry about that. Truly. At first I was just nervous. I’m still learning—I can still misread situations or… or just see nothing. But even once I knew that you shared my
Cold Heart – Part 1~ CASIMIR ~When Jesse awoke, I was alone in my office reading reports and forming a strategy for watching over the challenges that would inevitably happen in the packs. I’d spent hours looking for any way that the humans might use this as a distraction, or exploit the conflicts between wolves against us. And had tried to identify any way the wolves in the packs who weren’t happy with my leadership might try to use it against me or even Jesse.I’d been at the end of my tether, unable to see any new strategies we could employ to prevent problems before they started, when the bond hummed because was coming awake, and my stomach plummeted.I had set my p
~ JESSE ~It was so strange not to be linking with Cazz. Having him open in the bond, but not feeling free to speak to him there…I wasn’t sure if his undisturbed awareness was a bad sign or not.Ghere had explained how busy he was, and I understood that he couldn’t hold serious conversations and make decisions with other wolves while also arguing with me in our minds. I knew he was right to keep his focus on the things that were under deadlines, and would help the wolves not to overreact to the adjustments in the hierarchy. So I had stayed away. But when it was almost midnight and I could feel him in the Palace, but he still hadn’t even said a word to me…
~ JESSE ~Rake sighed and wrapped his arms around me, dropping his chin to the top of my head, and stroking my back.“I know it’s rough, but he will get over it. He always does,” he murmured quietly.“I know. I mean, I guess I know. I just… things had been so good…”“Is he still telling you what went wrong? Or is he—”“He’s not talking to me at all—he linked me when I arrived in that room to tell me that he couldn’t take time to talk with you all there. And I get that. But… it was the first words we exchanged today.”