Wolf Bite (The Blue Mountain Wolf Pack #5) - Emma Dean Page 0,16

other ideas, but Liam…he didn’t have a choice either.”

“Then we can both pretend like this never happened and move on with our lives.” Zoe turned from the forest and glared up at Noah, ignoring the pang in her chest that didn’t make any sense.

Noah sighed and it was identical to the way Liam did it. He pushed some of the food on the coffee table aside and then sat down so he could face her. “It doesn’t work like that, Zoe. The bond is a mixture of magic and biology. If you just up and leave the pain will start to become unbearable for both of you.”

Fucking great. She ground her teeth together. Zoe would have thought it wasn’t possible to hate this situation even more than she did, but apparently the universe was out to prove her wrong as much as possible lately.

“So, that’s it?” she asked. “I’m stuck spending the rest of my life with a person I didn’t get to choose? I have to give up everything?”

“No.” Noah studied her with a sad expression. “The pain goes away if the bond is accepted or rejected. You have to mean it though, whichever path you choose. A rejected mate bond is rare, but it does happen. Most wolves can’t handle it and end up feral, and then others are fine. It’s impossible to know what will happen.”

Zoe let some of her anger trickle away as she really took in Noah and all the emotions swirling in his eyes.

He was terrified for his twin.

There was still a lot she didn’t understand when it came to this new world. Like, she had no idea what the fuck it meant to go feral, but it didn’t sound good. Noah was scared she was going to break his brother.

“You assume I’m going to break his heart,” she said. For the first time there wasn’t a drop of venom in her voice. “But you said Liam never wanted a mate. It’s more likely that he’ll break mine.”

Even Noah’s smile was sad. He shook his head slightly. “Liam puts on a good show, but I’ve never seen him care about someone who wasn’t pack the way he cared for you. He’s always loved with everything he has. He’d die for anyone in this pack without hesitation. He would do anything for them. Liam cried when Sage almost died on us. It’s a miracle that he wasn’t destroyed after everything that happened over the last decade. But you…”

Instantly Zoe felt the muscles in her shoulders tense up. A strange ache was in her chest as she listened to Noah, not sure what to think or feel. He could be lying to her, but for some reason she knew he wasn’t.

How she knew, Zoe had no idea.

“But you, Zoe, you’re the opposite. I may not know you, but I can see it plain as day. You don’t love anyone. You hurt them first before they can hurt you. It’s why you’re such a bitch.” Somehow Noah managed to say it and make it sound like an endearment while also being extremely obnoxious.

She’d be impressed if he wasn’t so right that it terrified her.

“I don’t know what happened to you, but don’t take it out on my brother just because you’re mad about all this bullshit. You have the right to be angry, but not at him. He’s done nothing to you.”

Zoe didn’t say anything as she took in Liam’s identical twin.

The tattoos on his body were in the same layout as Liam’s, but his art was slightly different. It was just a few tiny details, but she could see them. Their bodies were exactly the same too. Liam had been right about that, and neither of them seemed inclined to wear a shirt when they didn’t have to despite the chilly weather.

It was their eyes and personality that was what set them apart. It was what made it impossible for her to mistake one for the other. Noah looked sad even when he smiled. He was quieter than Liam, and he seemed more even tempered though they were both rather easy going.

Noah had a shorter trigger though. She’d pissed him off and he’d come in ready to do whatever he had to protect his brother whereas Liam had been endlessly patient.

It was fascinating how alike and yet different they were.

“It’s one of my biggest flaws,” Zoe finally said, watching Noah closely. “When I’m having a bad day, I tend to lash out at the people around