Hailey's accusation hung in the air, but Brandon only met it with a calm, measured response. "Evelyn is my mate."
Hailey's face twisted into a mocking sneer, her voice sharp and bitter. "Your mate? And what about me? What are we, Brandon?"
"You said you'd take responsibility for me. Are you backing out now?" she pressed, her eyes flashing. "Have you forgotten? I saved you when we were pups. You swore you'd only ever love me. Those were your words."
Brandon's body tensed, his jaw locked. He couldn't deny it—he'd let down Evelyn, and now he was failing Hailey too. Those promises were real. As a pup, he'd been shoved into a river by bullies, left to drown. When he woke in the hospital, the healers told him a Hartley she-wolf had pulled him from the water. During his recovery, Hailey visite
