me know they find my non-rogue behavior perplexing.
“Can you tell me who it is?” I ask again when we begin walking.
The guard tugs me down the hall. “A woman, and a very beautiful one.”
My stomach plummets. Brianna.
The other week I finally broke down and asked the guards to tell me Brianna’s history. In court it was revealed she was half-werewolf, but nobody ever told me how that was possible during my trial.
But here, one of the guards finally took pity on me and told me the whole story, about her mother, her fake death, and Brianna’s werewolf origins. Her story has spread like wildfire throughout the packs, so everyone knows about her.
Looking back, it makes so much sense that Brianna’s a wolf. My mind floods with an image of her kneeling on all fours, her pussy dripping and ready for me, as she looks over her shoulder and begs me to enter her.
Fuck. Remembering those times with her is enough to make me crazy again. I’ll never be able to be with her, see her, touch her, smell her, fuck her.
But I won’t subject her to a life with me trapped behind bars, so I growl and say, “She’s not supposed to be here.”
The guard shrugs. “I’ll visit with her if you don’t want to.”
I snarl as rage tears from me and my wolf.
The guard laughs. “Just messing with you, Ward. I know how possessive you wolves are about your women.”
But Brianna isn’t my woman anymore. Every time I realize that, it feels as though my chest has been crushed all over again.
I haven’t seen my mate since that godawful day I cut her from my life. Every night I lie in bed wondering what she’s doing, dreaming of the life we could have had, and cursing myself for hurting her like I did.
But it was the only way. I knew she wouldn’t leave me. I knew she wouldn’t move on unless I convinced her that I never loved her, which means that I can’t see her now.
My footsteps slow. “Can you make an excuse and say I’m busy?”
The guard stops and eyes me. “Are you really telling me you don’t want to see that petite blond bombshell in there?”
Petite? My head cocks. Even if Brianna dyed her hair, she wouldn’t fit the “petite” part of that description. Curious, I continue following the guard and the woman I see seated at the table in the visitor’s room has me grounding to a halt.
“Daria?”
The healer stands from the table as the guard secures my restraints to the magical bolts on the floor. “Hi, Collin.”
She’s thin again, her pregnant belly gone. When she sees me eyeing her stomach, she laughs and pats her tummy. “She was born four weeks ago, the day after your trial ended actually.”
“You’re a mom now? Congratulations.” I sit on my chair, stunned that she’s here. Daria and I have never been friends, but I owe her my life.
She sits again while the guard moves to stand watch by the wall. “Thanks. Logan’s smitten. He’s become a very protective and doting papa, and her arrival is also the reason I didn’t come sooner. Giving birth and breastfeeding around the clock have been quite time consuming.”
“I can only imagine.” I take a deep breath and before I can stop myself, I ask, “How’s Brianna? Have you seen her? Do you know if she got safely back to Quintin Valley and school?”
Daria’s lips part. “Oh my. You don’t know.”
My stomach drops. “Don’t know what?”
“She never went back to Quintin Valley. She’s living in Crescent Crossing now so she can be close to her grandparents and her mom’s family. In fact, she’s transferred to the University of Montana and is now looking at apartments in Crescent Crossing because she plans to permanently stay there.”
My mouth slackens. “She’s now living in her pack’s town?” Coming to terms with Brianna being a werewolf is one thing, but to know she’s surrounded by horny single werewolves?
My hands curl into fists.
“Collin?” Daria says softly, as if sensing what I’m thinking.
I force my fingers to uncurl. “Sorry.”
“I imagine this news can be upsetting, but she’s adjusting well to her new life. She fits in as if she was born there.”
I smile sadly. “I bet she does.”
I’m happy that she’s doing well and now has a family that supports her. I really am. But it also tears me apart. Living in the community also means she’ll probably marry in the community. Fuck me. I don’t know if