BRIAR’S POV
I walk away from Sebastian, heading in the direction I came from but taking a different path, avoiding the slope I fell from, until I stumble across a small rushing river.
The faint pull of my mate bond tells me I’m getting closer before I hear Tavian calling out.
“Briar!”
“I’m here,” I reply calmly, forcing a small smile as he emerges through the bushes with that same concerned look on his face—the one that tugs painfully at my heart.
He looks me over, eyes scanning the mud stains and dirt, checking for injuries. His hands gently caress my face, brushing away some dirt with his thumb.
It feels too close, too intimate. Suddenly, Sebastian’s words echo in my mind: "You can’t call yourselves mated if he’s still clinging to his ex."
Does that mean he still misses Irene?
