Page 53 of Rough Riding Orc Cowboy

She would’ve attacked; they were known to do that, particularly when it came to defending their young.

“If you hear them in the woods again, go the other way.”

“Oh, I will. I’m not interested in running into another chumble for a very long time.”

She looked down at her arm before her gaze met mine. Something swirled in those wide eyes. A quiet sort of plea. I didn’t understand it, but by the fates, I felt it.Deep and raw and aching and mirroring the feelings floundering around inside me.

My chest tightened. It was too much. Everything I’d shoved down, every moment I’d told myself she could never be mine, gathered up and pressed hard against my ribs.

I needed to move before I did something reckless.

“Thank you for helping me,” she said. “I’m not sure I could’ve tended to the wound as well by myself.”

“You’re welcome.” With a grunt, I backed away.

The space between us swelled, but my insides still churned, still burned.

“You need to be more careful.” My voice came out gruff, strained. I hesitated, daring to let one truth slip free. “You scared me, Breela.” To keep from saying more, I clamped my teeth together so hard I tasted iron. I wasn’t supposed to admit anything. It made me weak. It made this real. But whatever was between us had been real for too long.

I turned, escaping into the midday light. Straightening, I sucked in a deep breath, but the fresh air did nothing to settle the storm lashing around inside me.

Across the clearing, Pete still sat near the fire with Carol beside him. They looked comfortable, like they belonged together. Pete didn’t have to fight for his mate, not in the way I would have to. He didn’t have to hide what he wanted. He didn’t have to live with the certainty that whatever small piece of hope he clung to would slip between his fingers before he truly had thechance to grab onto it.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I strode over to them. Pete must've heard me coming because he peered over his shoulder.

I stopped beside him, avoiding looking at Carol. “Can I ask your advice about something?”

“Oh, sure.” He raised a brow but nodded toward the empty seat opposite him.

I dropped down, making the chair squeak, but I was unable to meet his eyes. Instead, I focused on my hands, running a thumb over a callous, swallowing down my unease.

“What can I help you with?” he finally asked.

I blurted it out. “How can I win the heart of someone I love?”

Chapter 19

Ruugar

Pete blinked, then exchanged a look with Carol. A breath later, he chuckled. “Well, that's a big question.”

I said nothing. Just stared.

His smile faded. He cleared his throat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Right. First thing, you have to be honest. No games. No guessing. If you care about someone, tell them. And don’t just say it.Showthem.”

“Say it? Like…blurt it out? That seems dangerous.”

“There's always danger in love.”

“Shouldn't love mean less danger?”

Pete nodded thoughtfully. “I see where you're going with this. But it's important to at least hint at your feelings. Sometimes, the other person feels the same way but doesn't dare speak up either. If you open the door, so to speak, you mightbe able to step inside.”

“Step inside…” My brow tightened. “What if the other person doesn't feel the same way?”

“Then they'll tell you.” He sighed. “Which sucks, but at least you know, and you can back away, mend your heart, then try for someone new.”

“There will be no one new. They're my mate.” My swallow took forever to go down, but I couldn't shout out that I loved Beth. First, she was disguised as Ben, and I couldn’t let on to anyone that she was female. And he was right that if anyone heard that first, it should be her. “How could I show them instead?”

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