I knew it all along, but I was in denial.
I think this is why.
I’d locked up the memory of that hunter’s murder until now-but the five-year-old in me still fears for Aubrey’s life if I claim her.
In my mind, the hunter is replaced by Aubrey.
I see my father circling her with a knife.
Her legs broken.
Flesh torn from her by wolf jaws.
Her screams cutting through the forest.
Look how weak she is.
Don’t look away while I end her, Billy.
No!
I almost shift to wolf form to save her.
“Not here.”
I hear Sully’s calm, efficient voice through the screaming in my head.
I blink.
I’m not in the woods.
Not five years old watching Aubrey die.
“You’re scaring Aubrey.”
I suck in a sharp breath and look over my shoulder.
She’s frozen where I left her, in a blood red dress, holding our two glasses of champagne.
Her eyes are wide with horror.
He’s going to kill her.
I deliver four more punches in rapid succession, reveling in the sound of his ribs cracking.
“Not.
Here.”
Sully growls between clenched teeth.
Right.
Not here.
He, Vance, and Jake stand behind me.
They have my back-not that I need it.
I’m bigger now.
The days of my father’s torment are over.
I could snap his neck right here.
But Aubrey’s watching.
I didn’t want my father anywhere near her.
I definitely didn’t want her to see this.
And Sully’s right.
It’s my alpha’s wedding.
Our luna would be horrified.
Vance and Sully each grasp one of my dad’s arms.
Jake tilts his head toward another hallway.
“Back door.”
“You can deal with him later.
Go to your mate-she’s scared,” Sully says.
Your mate.
They know already.
I haven’t marked her, but everyone knows.
I’m the only fool still denying it.
I turn slowly to face my beautiful female.
Pearls are scattered across the floor.
I can’t quite remember how they got there.
Aubrey swallows.
“Billy?”
She sounds unsure.
Like she’s scared of me.
Like my mom was when my father raged.
Fuck.
Shame floods me.
I’m just like him.
It’s my deepest fear.
Far worse than the instinctual terror he’ll kill Aubrey because my logical brain knows I won’t let that happen.
But I just reenacted the violence I saw as a pup on the man who delivered it in front of the female I love.
The female who I’ve been denying was mine.
Somehow I make my feet move.
I make them arrive in front of her.
My lips move, and a rusty sound comes out.
“Fuck, Aubrey.
I’m sorry.”
Her chest heaves, full breasts spilling from the strapless bodice.
“Are you okay?”
Very lightly, I brush my thumb across her neck.
There’s a scrape there.
What happened?
I’d thought he was going to choke her, but he’d had restraint.
He’d yanked off her necklace.
She nods.
“Are you?” she whispers.
Her hands find my face.
One part of me wants to pull away.
It’s not safe to be touched.
But I catch her scent, and it soothes my wolf.
I lean my cheek into her hand.
“Billy…am I your mate?”
My body goes rigid, ice stiffening my spine.
I glance at the direction they took my father.
Did he hear?
If he knows she’s my mate, he’ll try to kill her.
Once more, I’m in the woods.
The hunter’s on his knees.
My father presses a knife into my hand.
I’m supposed to stab Aubrey.
No, not Aubrey.
It’s a wedding.
She’s safe.
She’s not in the woods on her knees.
“I think…I think things are really complicated.”
I see a depth of sorrow in Aubrey’s eyes, but I don’t understand it.
I barely know where I am.
“Billy, I don’t even know if we’re in a relationship.
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