Page 65 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

twelve

NOVA

Twenty minutes after I left,I was sitting on the far end of the garden with Sydney. She hadn’t asked me for details about anything. I knew she’d wait until I decided to share what was on my mind.

Syd hummed as she slowly pruned leaves and branches off some kind of fruit tree. I sat on a plastic tarp she had pulled off a few veggies, with my head tipped back toward the sun.

We both heard Aspen’s footsteps as she approached, but neither of us called out to her.

She plopped down next to me on the tarp. Both of our asses would be wet when we got up, but it was what it was.

“You look cold,” Aspen remarked.

“Bet you’ve never seen this many goosebumps before, huh? Must be nice to have a strong wolf,” I drawled.

“Your wolf is strong in her own way.”

“So strong that even Clay’s insane, bloodthirsty wolf didn’t want to kill her.”

“That’s not why he left you alive,” Syd countered.

“He thinks it is.”

“I know insane wolves better than most people, and I think he’s wrong,” she said firmly.

“Why do you think he didn’t kill her?” Aspen asked.

“If Clay’s wolf was as insane as he says, the wolf would’ve broken out a long time ago. But he lets himself be subdued. That suggests he can respond to reason. Every rogue wolf I’ve met is mindless.”

“That’s why the guys call him insane, not rogue. It’s why Clay isn’t trapped in his mind, too,” Aspen countered.

“Right. But he chose not to kill Nova, probably because he knew his human was attached to her in some way. I would guess that if the Savages really thought about it, they could come up with more times where he’s made choices not to kill them, too,” Sydney said.

“So you think he left me alive because his human thinks of me as a friend?” I checked.

Sydney looked back at me, lifting her eyebrow. “A friend?”

I reddened. “Yes, Syd.”

“Hmm. It’s an idea.” Aspen didn’t sound particularly convinced. “But Enzo was legitimately afraid for my life, so I’m not sure.”

I made a face. “It doesn’t matter. Clay’s not going to mate with me, and I have to pick a mate.”

Aspen scowled. “You don’t have to mate with someone just to help Hunter keep his shit together. His wolf is his problem.” Hergaze grew distant for a moment before her expression cleared. “Something came up, and Enzo needs me. Rain check on the rest of this conversation?”

I waved a hand. “No worries. My problems will still be here when you’re done.”

Aspen gave me a small smile before she got up and jogged back toward the Lodge.

Syd and I were both quiet for a few minutes before I spoke up again, curiosity driving my question.

“What does it feel like when you’re with Fletcher?”

She sighed happily. “Home.”

I’d never felt that kind of comfort with anyone. Including my own family. What would it be like to have a relationship like that?

I had no idea.

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