Page 102 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

“Probably because you were determined to die alone in this apartment.”

“You didn’t respond to the postcard I sent. I wasn’t going to send another just to tell you I was sick.”

My throat swelled. “It wasn’t safe for me to answer. I’ll explain while we’re headed back to Crimson River. Did you decide whether or not you’re going to let me change you?”

Her smile faded, but she nodded. “Dad would kill me if I let myself die rather than become a werewolf. I always wanted tosprout fur, any—” a deep cough rattled her chest, and my grip on her arm tightened as she hacked.

Her face was paler when the cough subsided. “Sorry. The cancer’s in my lungs too. Not sure where itisn’tat this point.”

“We’ll get rid of it.” I gestured to Syd. “This is my friend, Sydney. She’s also a turned female wolf.”

Syd gave her a small smile. “It’s more fun to change than it sounds.”

“How bad does it hurt?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t feel anything?”

“Feeling nothing sounds glorious right about now,” Oli mumbled. “I tried to pack my shit, but only managed to get a few things in the suitcase before I had to sit back down. Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it, and then we’ll leave,” I promised. “If you care about the furniture, I can come back for it another time.”

“Nah. It probably smells like cancer.”

“Does cancer have a scent?” I tried to joke.

Oli managed another small smile. “Fuck yeah. Fire and brimstone, like hell.”

I laughed softly, and Syd joined in.

Olive fell back asleep while me and Syd packed everything. It didn’t take long. She didn’t have many nicknacks. Oli had never been very sentimental, which I guess we had in common.

We just brought her clothes, toiletries, and a heap of medications. I wanted to bite her there and then to be done with it, so I knew she would survive, but I knew I couldn’t do that. I’d need medical attention to pull me through the process of changing her, and I couldn’t leave Syd to drive the entire way back on her own.

So, after we packed, we eased Olive out of the apartment and into the Jeep before getting her settled.

“How much did this thing cost?” Oli asked, eyeing the interior of the vehicle.

“A lot, probably,” I admitted as I pulled out of the parking lot.

“Is it yours?” she looked at Sydney, who shook her head.

“It’s Nova’s.”

“Do you have a sugar daddy or something?”

I grimaced at the question. “Or something.”

“Have you heard of the Alpha King?” Sydney asked her.

“Of course. Everyone in Crimson River knows about the monster who runs the city.”

“Well, Nova’s dating his brother.”

Oli blinked.

“Not technically dating,” I corrected quickly. “We’re friends with benefits. The reason he gave me the Jeep is a long story.”

“We’ve got at least twenty-one hours,” Olive mumbled. “Spill it.”

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