Page 107 of Awakened
Seth sighed, and I could imagine his shoulders sagging.
I really need to open my eyes and send these fools away. My body hurts way too much to listen to their bullshit.
“Please don’t start. It’s not like that, and you know it.”
“You said this week wouldn’t be me watching my mate pine over hisfriend.”
“Who’s pining? I’m sitting here with a comatose body.”
Becca snorted. “Come on, Seth, you can’t keep your eyes off her.”
I willed my foot to move, to escape the melodrama occurring within earshot.
“When she showed up in the dining hall, I thought I’d have to remind you to breathe. And this morning? You’ve only ever had that problem once before . . .”
“So, I couldn’t get it up? It happens. You pointing it out is pretty shitty.”
There was a long silence, the tension crushing what little hope I had of healing in peace.
I should have bled out on the field. That would’ve been a sweeter release. Hearing about Seth’s erectile issues is the last fucking thing I need.
Heavy footsteps came toward the bed. “I’m sorry, that was wrong of me to bring up, but you have to see this from my perspective. She’s the reason I went without my mate for years, and you still haven’t completely let her go. The last time you saw her, you left me for a month. I just don’t want to lose you again. I gave up everything for you, for the pack. I need you to prove I did the right thing.”
“I never asked you to give up anything. You left Brian. I didn’t tell you to. In fact, I asked you repeatedly if you were sure.”
There was a loud thud accompanied by a low growl.
“Fuck you, Seth. Do you even love me? I’m starting to think I will only ever be a poor imitation of the real thing to you. I’m not her. I’ll never be her.”
“Of course I love you. You’re my fucking mate.” Seth let out a rough breath. “Please don’t do this right now. I need to be here. Go back to the pack house, and I’ll be there as soon as I can. We’ll talk.”
Quiet sobs answered Seth. “Whatever. Do what you want, like always.”
The front door slammed, and Seth let out a heavy sigh as the side of the bed dipped under his weight. My heart constricted with worry. I didn’t want to cause him any trouble with Becca. I uselessly tried to mind link with him, but that connection had been severed long ago.
A warm hand brushed my hair back.
“I don’t know what to do, Les. I’m trying, but nothing has been right since you left Denver. I do love her. I really do, but it’s not the same. I never knew there were levels of love, but fuck . . . I still love you, Les. You’re the first thing I think about in the morning, the last thing I think about at night. I keep tabs on you like a fucking creep. I hate that Zach gets to hold you and hear you say you love him, but then I’m happy he makes you happy. You deserve it. You deserve everything.”
His fingers traced my jaw, and my skin tingled, begging for more. He wasn’t supposed to still want me, but who was I to talk when my skin reacted to him as if it had never been touched before? My brain chanted “Zach” as my body craved Seth. My heart? It was fucking useless, sitting there being pulled in two directions.
“I wish I hadn’t been such a fucking coward and gave you the space you needed. That’s my greatest regret.” He laughed, blowing a hot, whiskey-soaked breath across my face. “There, it’s in the universe now.”
The fucker’s drunk as a skunk. Oh, when I get up, I’m going to beat some sense into him.
The front door squeaked open.
“Sorry that took so long. I needed to check in on Hope.”
“No problem.”
I wondered how only a few hours turned Zach and Seth into a team. My bloodshed must’ve been pretty fucking magical.
“I passed Becca storming up to the pack house. If you need to go, I understand.” A bottle glugged, and Zach’s deep laugh filledthe room. “Or not. Feel free to crash here. She’s got the cabin to herself.”
“Oh, that would go over like a lead balloon.” Seth sighed. “No, I have to go back, but I’m getting shit-faced first. I haven’t had a real drink in almost a year.”
“What? That’s fucking wild. How do you deal with your pack? It sounds kind of terrible—no offense.”
