Chapter 53
Jake stared at the door long after it had shut. Part of him wanted to run after her, to say something, anything, to make her stay. But his legs wouldn’t move.
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He sank into the chair behind the desk, elbows braced on his knees, and dropped his head into his hands. His chest ached like something was being ripped in two.
How had someone he’d only really spent a week with come to mean so damn much?
“f*****g mate bond,” he muttered, dragging his hands down his face. “Makes no f*****g sense.”
She hadn’t told him about the witch.
She hadn’t let him help hide the journals.
She hadn’t trusted him. Not really.
And maybe he didn’t blame her.
He exhaled sharply and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. His knuckles still throbbed from hitting his father, but surprisingly, he didn’t regret it. Not even a little. Christian had pushed too far.
Still, none of it solved the real problem.
The pack.
They didn’t want Lyra. They never had. And now, with witches involved and whatever the hell she was… they’d fight him on her. On their bond. On everything.
And if he forced them to accept her, would they ever truly follow her?
He sat in silence for several more minutes, the room quiet except for the faint hum of the lights and the chaos still ringing in his skull.
Finally, he stood and headed for the door.
**
James lived in an apartment near the packhouse. Technically, as an unmated warrior, he should have been in the barracks, but being the Alpha’s brother had earned him a few privileges. And James had never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Jake didn’t bother knocking. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
James stood at the stove, cooking something that smelled faintly like bacon. He turned slightly,
eyebrows raised.
“Well, you look like shit.”
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“Appreciate the welcome,” Jake muttered, letting the door fall shut behind him.
James tilted his head, studying Jake, his gaze landing on the bruised knuckles.
“Who’d you beat the s**t out of?”
“Dad.”
James snorted. “No s**t? Wish I’d been there to see it.”
Jake dropped into a chair at the small kitchen table
“Heard your mate went out to see a witch?”
Jake winced. “Who told you?”
“f*****g everyone,” James scoffed. “Kylie wasn’t about to keep her mouth shut. She’s pissed, you
know.”
“She can add her name to the list.” Jake waved a hand.
“So why’d you punch Dad?” James turned back to the stove.
“He ran his mouth to Lyra. In front of the elders.” Jake rubbed his face.
“Why’d she go see a witch anyway?” James flipped off the burner and grabbed two plates from the
cabinet.
Jake traced the grain of the table with his finger. “She found out the witch knew something about
her mother. What she was.”
“Wow. Okay.” James nodded, setting the plates down before grabbing two beers from the fridge. Did she get any answers?”
“I think so.” Jake took the can from his brother.
“You think so?” James raised a brow. “She didn’t tell you?”
”
Jake shook his head. “She didn’t get the chance. Kylie ratted her out, and the elders were waiting in my office when we got back. She started to explain but Dad cut her off. Told her the Moon Goddess was punishing him by making her my mate.”
James stared at him, mouth agape. “Yeah… and then you beat the s**t out of him. Makes perfect sense. Now I really wish I’d been there to help.”
Jake gave a small smile. “Thanks.”
James took a sip of beer. “You okay?”
“No.” Jake rubbed his eyes. “I feel like I’m losing her. And I don’t even know if I really had her in the
first place.”
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James didn’t say anything right away. He just waited, which Jake appreciated more than he could
say.
“She didn’t tell me she was going to see the witch,” Jake said after a while. “Didn’t trust me to help her figure things out. When she needed to hide her mother’s journals, she didn’t come to me. She
went to Megan.”
“That piss you off?”
“Yeah.” Jake paused. “No. I don’t know.”
James leaned back in his chair. “Has Lyra really had the chance to trust anyone in this pack?”
Jake looked up, unsure how to answer.
“I mean, think about it, Jake.” James rubbed his chin. “She grew up treated like s**t. And you weren’t exactly the guy stepping in to defend her. Not until a week ago. She never had any reason to trust you or anyone outside of Russ and Megan.
“I’m her mate.”
“Yeah, but being her mate doesn’t magically erase years of pain and mistrust.” James leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “And think about what being your mate means for her.”
“What do you mean?”
James shrugged. “She’s not dumb. Choosing you means choosing this pack. It means staying in a place where she was never accepted. Where people hated her mother. Where they’ll never stop looking for reasons to doubt her.”
Jake stared down at the table. “I don’t know if the pack will ever accept her.”
“They might not,” James said plainly. “But they’ll follow you. If you stand by her, really stand by her, then they’ll learn to shut the hell up. Or they can leave.”
Jake looked up. “This could split the pack.”
“Maybe it needs to,” James said. “Dad and Drew have kept control for too long by making people afraid. You’re not like them. That’s why the Moon Goddess gave you someone like Lyra.”
Jake let the words sink in. For the first time all day, something in his chest loosened.
“She’s more than just a mate,” he said quietly. “She’s this… force. I don’t even know how to explain
it.”
“You don’t have to explain it.” James smiled. “Just show her she’s safe with you. That you’re not going anywhere.”
Jake nodded slowly. “Yeah. I think I needed to hear that.”
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“Good. Now eat something.” James picked up his fork. “You look like you got tossed into a blender.
Jake let out a soft laugh, tension easing a little. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.” James paused with his fork mid–air. “And next time you punch Dad? Aim lower. He
deserves to limp a little.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
