Page 22 of Wicked Wolf

“Get out, Gina. We can do this another time. Or better yet, you and Lorenzo can.”

She shook her head. “You feel it, don’t you?”

“Feel what?” He ran a hand over his head and clenched his jaw. When he met her gaze, the tears in them surprised him.

“We’re mates, Quinn.”

He let out a breath and took a step back. His head whirled, and he tried to swallow. “What?”

No. Hell no. This couldn’t be happening.

She shook her head, a single tear sliding down her cheek. She gave a small laugh, only it sounded hollow.

“Maybe you didn’t know. My wolf though? She wants you as her own. I know the Talons and Redwoods haven’t mated since the treaty, but apparently fate changed her mind.”

He didn’t know what to say. What to think. What the hell? He wasn’t supposed to have another mate. He’d already had a mate. One that left him, broke him, and almost killed him and his son.

Instead of thinking, he said the first thing that came to mind.

“Fuck fate.”

Her eyes widened, and she took a step back as though he’d slapped her. “Fuck fate?” she whispered.

“Fuck it. You don’t get it, Gina. I don’t care what fate says because I’m not mating again. I already had one. I’m not doing it again.”

Tears filled her eyes, but she nodded. “I…I get it. When my uncle Adam lost his mate, he refused to mate Bay. It was only an accident they were mated in the first place.”

He shook his head. “I’m not like your uncle Adam. His mate died. I know the story. My mate? She’s alive, Gina.”

She scrunched her face. “How can that be?”

He let out a hollow laugh. “How? Because that stupid bitch went to a goddamn witch and broke our mating bond. She also almost killed our son in the process.”

“Oh, Quinn, I’m so sorry.” Tears were flowing freely now, but he ignored them.

“Jesse is hanging by a thread, and there’s nothing I can do about it. You think I want another mate when I already had my chance? I lost it because she found greener pastures or some shit. She chose that life over what she had and broke my soul. I don’t want another freaking mate, let alone a witch I will never trust.”

She froze, her face going deathly pale.

“So go and find yourself another mate if that’s what you want. You know you’ll find another since apparently fate is a fickle bitch. But I don’t want a mate. Not now. And if I did, it wouldn’t be you, a witch. A witch was the reason my bond was broken, and I could never trust you. You’re the epitome of everything I hate.”

As soon as he said it, he wanted to take it back.

He didn’t hate Gina.

He hated the women who had hurt him.

Yet he’d put five years of hate in those words, and now he had to deal with the look on her face.

“Gina…”

She held up her hand. “You said enough.” Her voice was low, devoid of any emotion. Her cheeks were dry but red. “I’m going to leave. I can get out of the wards through the front entrance without having an anchor. The guards there know I’m here by now and will know that I’m leaving. I’ll see you at the next meeting.”

She turned then froze. “I never said I wanted to be your mate, Quinn. I only said that there was the potential. I’m sorry those women hurt you. I’m not them, but you’ll never believe that.” She took a shaky breath, and Quinn wanted to hold her and tell her he was sorry.

He knew if he did that he’d never stop, and she had to get out of his house. If she stayed, he didn’t know what he’d do.

“I hope your little boy is okay. You should call Hannah to see if she can help.”