Needless to say, I spend the next few days in pure and total agony.
I can’t stop thinking about those words Evie said to me: I want you to want to want me. I made fun of her at the time because it sounded so absurd, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I realize that I know exactly what she means.
How many times since my wolf awakened all those years ago have I resented him for picking Evie? How many times have I hung my head and wished that he had chosen literally anyone else?
I do care about her, for the record—and not just because of the mating bond. Like I’ve said before, I choose to protect her not only because I swore to do so, but because it has become a deep, innate part of my identity. Evie’s safety and happiness mean more to me than my own, and they always have.
But w
