Page 33 of Sigma
This right here is why shifters are left alone when they first mate.
I watch the swallow work down Jared’s throat as his eyes hit mine, emotion rippling there, hitting me square in the feels where there’s already pain. Mine. His. But so much of his.
How can he think I’d ever walk away when he looks at me like this? He needs me.
As Ronnie’s hands touch down, Vivi and Erica behind her, his body tenses and his mouth contorts like he doesn’t want anything to do with it. His eyes stay focused on my face. It feelslike there’s static in my veins as I hold myself still and will my heartrate to normalize.
It’s not working. It works even less when her relaxed posture changes, and her back straightens. It’s probably only four or five seconds that feel like as many minutes before her palms slide to the floor as her body bucks and she releases a horrible choking sound before bursting into tears.
Jared stares down at her, forehead crinkled, pouty mouth looking even sadder. Like he feels bad for what she feels.
And I’m angry. Angrier. Because she sees it all and it shouldn’t be hers to have. Even more than that, it shouldn’t be his to feel, whatever it is. I don’t know why his wolf is broken, but I somehow know he doesn’t deserve this.
Vivi and Erica wrap arms around their sister and help her to her feet.
Ronnie’s eyes hit me, overflowing with tears.
“What is it?” I demand, unable to sound remotely friendly or gentle.
“I… n-need a minute,” she rasps, walking past with her sisters. “S-sorry…”
Grey follows them outside leaving just Jared and me.
His eyes have gone stone cold. He stares into space for a minute before his eyes flit up to my face again. “Request they end it.”
Before I’m able to ask, he clarifies, “A mate bond severing.” He almost immediately says, “Forget it.Iwill.”
“You…no,” I whisper. “You’d better not!” Tears fill my eyes, and I refuse to blink, refuse to let them fall. He sees them. He has the decency to look contrite, but not enough, not enough that I know he doesn’t mean what he just said. I think he does mean it.
He thinks it’s what I need. What he needs so he can forget about me, ignoring that he deserves more than a lonely and bleak existence where he doesn’t let anyone get close.
Voices along with my own heartbeat fill my head like static to the degree I don’t comprehend words, but I see Riley, Linc, and Grey in a huddle outside with the three Young sisters. Tyson and Mase move in. All council members are here except Jase and Joel. Grey suddenly moves back in toward us, squatting in front of Jared.
“I’m gonna channel Ronnie’s gift. She’s having trouble talking and wants my help. Yeah?”
Jared’s mouth contorts but he gives Grey a swift nod and Grey closes his eyes and puts one hand on Jared’s shoulder. Erica and Vivi come back in and flank him. A few red sparks dance briefly around Grey’s head and then burn brighter for a heartbeat or two before disintegrating.
Crazy. I’m in absolute awe of this magic stuff Grey is learning to channel. Of course I know we’re all made with magic, but witchcraft isn’t something I’m accustomed to seeing right in front of me.
New scents hit my nose, and I realize we have an even larger audience standing just outside the door.
Cat Savage is one. My father is another. Dad’s concerned eyes are on me.
Grey lets go of Jared and his eyes flit to my face. “Can you give us a minute, Sis?”
“No,” I say simply.
Jared has the nerve to roll his eyes.
Grey fails to fight a smirk. “I’ll close the door then.”
I lift one shoulder in a shrug.
Grey closes both doors and looks at Jared. “You left your pack soon after your mother and sister died, yeah?”
“Immediately after the monster in me killed them, yes,” Jared forces out, staring at the floor.
Fuck, that’s hard to hear. I can’t imagine how hard it is to live with. To say aloud.
