Page 54 of Blade's Battle
A large hand landed on his shoulder, dragging him back toward the door. Callen leaned in really close, not to whisper exactly, more like to ensure he had Blade’s attention.
“I don’t know what’s going through your head, but get dressed and get in there,” Callen said.
“Didn’t you hear her?”
“We all did,” Callen said. “But you’ve never been one to run from a fight.”
“I don’t want to fight her.”
“There are all types of fights, Blade. I’m not going to tell you what to do, except to face it, like you’ve faced every other challenge ever thrown at you.”
Blade dressed, sliding the jeans on, buttoning and zipping them up, all with his eyes focused on the woods. His wolf was as confused as he was and wanted to retreat to safety.
The next Blade knew, he was being hauled into the house, with Callen on one side of him, Frank on the other, and Hayden behind him. His pack brothers always had his back, but they were pushing him inside where he clearly wasn’t wanted.
“Blade?” Anna’s voice lifted as he entered.
She was wearing jeans and hiking boots, with a simple white t-shirt. Her hair had been cut just above her shoulders. Cute, modern, like the rest of her. His Anna was all decked out like she belonged in the woods. Maybe she did belong in the woods, just not with him apparently.
“Why?” It was the only thing he managed to say, and yet it earned him an elbow in the ribs from Frank.
“Real smooth, asshole,” Callen said.
Damien slipped behind Tess and drew her back against him to kiss the side of her neck.
Blade pictured himself doing the same to Anna, except she didn’t want him. Her dead husband was her world and Blade was only the shifter who had rescued her. He’d fallen for her fast and hard when apparently he’d had no right to do so.
Maybe it had been his wolf’s desperation to blood-bond. Hell, he knew that was a lie even before he had finished the thought. It didn’t matter how perfect she was for him; she didn’t want him. She had said so herself only seconds ago.
“Do I need to be here?” Blade asked.
Damien focused on Anna who met his gaze. So brave, his Anna. She’d taken on three separate alphas within a month and stood tall before each and every one of them.
“Are you sure—” Damien started, then Tess put her hand on his arm, a signal between mates, a silent language he longed for with a mate of his own. “Wait outside, Blade.”
Without even glancing at Anna, Blade headed outside. He sat down on the steps. Frank joined him. While he’d rather be alone, having Frank with him was better than Hayden or Callen at the moment. He didn’t want a lecture, and Frank had always been the patient one of the group, even before he went to prison. Blade envied Frank and his ability to move forward, to not get caught up in the past.
“She’s cute,” Frank said.
“Yeah.”
“And Callen’s right.”
“About what?”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Didn’t you hear her? She said she’d never blood-bond me.”
“I heard. We all did. What I didn’t hear was why. Do you know the answer?”
“Her dead husband. She’s still in love with him.”
“That’s rough.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“I meant for her, not you. Especially if she was blood-bonded.”
