Page 62 of Fae Devoted
“I love this spot,” Dylan said, jarring her from the past into the present.
Johnnie crossed her arms and scanned the tranquil surroundings, needing a moment to collect herself. Their romantic relationship may have ended long ago, but her error in judgment when it came to the mating pull and Dylan was still hard to accept.
“It’s beautiful.” And it was. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the tall hardwoods, the rays reflecting on the ripples of the nearby stream. The water glittered like tiny colored diamonds, the light through the fall foliage creating rainbow prisms thatdanced on the gently rolling surface. “The pack must love getting together for a run in the park.”
Including Dylan, there were five males who comprised the Fowler Pack, and all of them were unmated.
“We do.”
“And even though the reasons you decided to leave weren’t the greatest, you’re happy here?” No matter what happened in college, Johnnie cared about Dylan and would never wish him ill.
“Surprisingly enough, I am…or I will be once we discover who’s taking our people and put a stop to it.” He took a hesitant step closer. “I do have one regret.”
“Just one?” she teased.
“Only one that still matters. And after leaving the region the way I did, I didn’t think I’d get a chance to apologize to you in person.”
“Apologize?” His sudden hesitance made her nervous. “For what?”
“How I handled things…back then.”
“Oh,” she said, letting out a slow breath. “Dylan, what happened in college doesn’t matter anymore.” She had Jacob now.
“It matters to me.” He paced away, then spun and came back. “It matters a helluva lot. You deserved better.”
“I never blamed you. You know as well as I do that compatibility is either there, or it’s not. I do wish…” She hugged herself tighter and confessed, “I wish you would have told me sooner your wolf sensed we weren’t meant to be together.”
A shifter male’s primal instincts were more acute than a female’s, and Dylan would have recognized the signs long before Johnnie did. Long before he told her the truth.
“I was such an ass.”
“We were both young.” Considered little more than teenagers in Ferwyn society.
Didn’t mean the breakup hadn’t hurt. At the time, Johnnie was sure Dylan was her truemate. And when it turned out he wasn’t, her faith in her wolf was shaken. The loss of confidence led to doubts and fears concerning her feelings for Jacob. Doubts that weren’t completely laid to rest until last night.
“You don’t understand.” He looked down. “I lied.”
“Lied about what?” She frowned and waited for him to explain.
“I lied.” He raised his chin and met her puzzled gaze. “I lied to you the night we broke up.”
Johnnie shook her head. He couldn’t possibly mean…
“We’d never be able to have a family if it turns out we’re not truemates.” Dylan looked away, whipping off the Cardinal baseball cap he always wore backward and smacking it hard against his thigh.
“The Dance won’t fail, Dylan.” Johnnie laid her palm over his heart. “I can feel it.”
His jaw hardened, and the muscle in his cheek jumped. “I don’t.”
“But you said…” If what he just implied was true, his rejection had been a conscious choice and not a biologically prudent one.
“I know what I said.” His mouth twisted in a grimace. “I was afraid.”
“Of what?” she whispered.
“Ending up as miserable as my uncle.”
“I don’t understand.”
