Page 92 of Binding His Fated Mates

Lacey’s expression crumpled. And then she slipped her arm around my body, pulling me close to her until my emotions were fully spent and I felt both useless and scraped raw, even more of a hot mess than I’d been before.

“They’re never going to forgive me.” I pulled back, my stomach lurching at having said the words aloud. “Lacey, I’m going to lose everything.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you see in them.” Lacey studied me intently, her expression still and serious. “I’m not sure I’ll ever understand it. You’re better than both of them put together.” She sighed, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but they both love you, Daniel. I’m pretty sure that hasn’t changed. They’ll forgive you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do, though. Hunter could’ve hurt you. He could’ve said awful things. Lee could’ve, too. But they didn’t. Even after what your brother told them, they still didn’t do that to you.”

“But—”

“Daniel, you belong here. With us. With your pack.” She pursed her lips. “And with them, too. None of that has changed just because some piece of shit you happen to share DNA with decided to try to fuck with you.”

“Well, it worked. I’m officially fucked with.”

“Do you know why I became your friend?”

“We already established it’s because you felt sorry for me.”

“No.” She snorted. “That got you my protection—until you could’ve stood on your own two feet. So, basically, for that first week or two after you first got here.” Lacey’s eyes fixed on mine, holding them in place. “It’s because I respect you, Daniel. You’re patient, even when you shouldn’t be. And you try. You try so damn hard, all the time. No one else in this whole pack tries harder than you do.”

“Lacey—”

“No! I’m not going to sit here and listen to you beat up on yourself.” Lacey shook her head, something hardening and turning furious in her expression. “Daniel Henbane, you’re going to listen to me! I’m pretty sure I’ve earned that from you.”

“Okay,” I said slowly, staring at her. “Deeply frightening, but I guess that’s totally fair.”

“You’re damn right it is! You bust your ass for us. It’s not just because you think you have to, either—I can tell you’re not faking it. I’ve always been able to tell. It’s because you genuinely want to help other people.” The intensity of her expression broke and her lips curved into a tender smile, even if her eyes were still fierce. “You do the right thing, effortlessly, without even thinking about it. And that’s because you care. And even when you don’t know if you can even do something, you still always find a way to make it happen. You’re a fighter and you always have been. That’s why I’m your friend. It’s why I love you. You’re extraordinary, Daniel.”

“I’m going to bawl again and it’s going to be all your fault.”

“No. You’re going to tell me the truth. Do you want to go back to your family?”

“I don’t,” I said immediately.

“And what are you going to do about it?”

I dragged in a breath, pushing myself upright. “I need to tell them no. I—I need to fight.”

Lacey smiled at me, her eyes glittering. “There he is. Yeah, you do. And you’re not going to need to do it alone. We’ll back you up. All of us. The whole pack. We’re still here for you, Daniel.”

“You’re right. You are going to need to fight,” a woman’s voice said from below. “But there’s no time. You’re going to need to do it now.”

I bolted up in bed, alarm coursing through me.

It was Rowan. My sister was here. Which meant I was out of time.

How the hell had she gotten into the cabin without us hearing her?

Lacey let out a low growl and, moving before I could react, tore out of bed and down the ladder.

“Get out!” Lacey snarled at her.

I scrambled down the ladder as well, feeling shaken and afraid. And suddenly needing to stop my best friend from killing my sister.

“I won’t go,” I said, stepping onto the ground and turning to face Rowan. “I don’t want to.”

“I know that!” Rowan was breathing hard, her hand on her chest, as though winded. There was a sheen of sweat on her brow. Had she run here? Why? “That’s not why I came!”