Page 77 of Can't Be Love

When Zach left the room and we were finally alone, I turned on Thomas with my most burning questions.

“Who’s Jessie, Thomas, and who is she to you exactly?”

He turned worried eyes my way. “She’s Syd’s kid sister.”

Within the hour, Zach had arranged for us to meet with Jessie. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the small child who hadn’t yet grown into her features was far from it. She was just a kid. How was I supposed to kill this pup? It wasn’t right, and I didn’t know if I had it in me. What if she kept pushing back, like that kid from the New York Pack that Kyle had to face? It had affected my brother being forced to do that, and let’s face it, he was a million times stronger than I was.

“Hi, you must be Jessie,” I said, trying to keep my concern from my voice and take her seriously as an equal. Her waif-like features made it difficult.

Her eyes widened. “You’re Lily?”

I nodded.

“You’re prettier than I expected,” she said, like that mattered any.

“Thanks, you’re very pretty, too.”

“What’s all this about, kiddo?” Thomas asked, cutting to the chase.

She glared at me, wanting to hate me, but it fell short like she didn’t know what to think now.

“How could you, Thomas?” she asked. “Syd won’t challenge her, so someone had to step up and do it. That should be Sydney by your side. You know that.”

“And if you beat her, Jess, if you kill her, it still won’t be Syd by my side. You do realize that right?” Thomas said calmly. “You know I love you and Sydney. That’s never going to change, but I’m not in love with Sydney. I haven’t been for a long time. She knows that, kiddo. Lily’s my one true mate. To challenge her, hurts me. Is that what you really want?”

It didn’t hurt me to hear him say he loved them, not even Sydney. Something in our time away had shifted things. I was secure in my relationship with Thomas. Maybe it was the bond, but I thought it had more to do with our trip and truly getting to know each other.

I remembered Kelsey had still struggled heavily with other she-wolves near Kyle during their challenge period, even after they had completed their bond, not that I’d ever compare myself to Kelsey. With her Alpha witchy powers, she had plenty of additional things she was dealing with, too.

Thomas had taken a seat directly across from the girl, so I took the chair next to him. I thought it would be best if I were on the same level as her. A part of me wanted to scare the shit out of her so she’d come to her senses and drop the challenge; but the other part of me didn’t want to provoke her further. Taking my seat and allowing my leg to rest against my mate’s, helped keep my wolf calm.

“Jessie, you understand what happens if you were to beat me, right?” I asked.

She looked at me. “Of course. You’ll be dead, and Thomas will be free.”

“Sorry kiddo, it doesn’t quite work that way. If you beat Lily, you take her place as my mate,” he informed her.

I bit back a smile at the look of disgust on her face.

“No, I’ll be in charge and then and I can decide. I can give Sydney to you in my place.”

“Technically, only if she kills you to take your place in pack order,” I chimed in to the girl’s horror.

“You mean I’d have to . . .” She gulped heavily as she turned her wide eyes toward Thomas.

“Afraid so, kiddo. You would become my mate, in every way,” he added.

“But I’m only seventeen. That’s not even legal!”

Sydney had walked in during the conversation and stood at the door just behind her sister. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed to me. Aloud, she finally spoke. “Hey Jessie, what’s this really all about?”

The girl turned to face her sister with tears in her eyes. “It’s supposed to be you. You’re supposed to be our Pack Mother. You’re supposed to be Thomas’s mate. He always comes back to you. She’s just an outsider. She doesn’t belong here. Someone has to stop her.”

Sydney hugged her little sister. “I love you, Jess, and I love that you’re so worried about me and our pack, but you have to drop this.” She pulled back and I saw the shock on Jessie’s face. Sydney reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “Jess, this is my friend. Lily is a good person. She’s going to be a great Pack Mother.”

“But . . . ”

“No but’s, kiddo. Thomas was never really mine. All I’ve ever wanted was for him to be happy. Look at him. He can’t even glance her way without smiling. I barely recognize him because he practically glows when Lily’s around. I deserve to have a man that looks at me the way he does her. Don’t you think? I’m not his true mate, she is. I’m begging you to pull out of this challenge and really give her a chance.”

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