Betrayed Forced Mate (Rosecreek Special Ops Wolves #4)

It’s my fault, and I know that, but there’s also nothing I can do to change our circumstances.

“Why would she be pissed?” he asks, slowly, as though he’s afraid of what my reaction might be.

“Oh, it’s just—I mean, she’s been out on missions for months. It’s clear she’s…avoiding being home. I just figured she’d be pissed to be stuck here until the baby is born.”

“She’s not,” Percy says, wrinkling his brow and tilting his head. “She’s probably landing in Minneapolis now.”

“What?” I ask, my brain not comprehending what he’s saying.

In my opinion, Olivia and Veronica didn’t receive nearly enough training to be out in the field. Of course, they’re stronger and faster than humans just by virtue of being shifter and vampire, respectively, but we’re not always—or even usually—going up against humans.

But Aris claimed that the two of them learned the ropes quickly.

I’ve always seen how capable Olivia is, and she and Rosa had taught themselves and Kaila self-defense in case Rosa’s father ever found them—not that it would have done a lot of good—so maybe that’s why she did so well.

Or, maybe she was just determined to get out of Rosecreek as fast as possible.

“She’s doing the Minneapolis mission herself,” Percy says, as though it’s not a big deal, as though him not being there doesn’t change a thing. The only thing that allowed me to relax with her out in the field was Percy, who was there, too, and someone I had worked with multiple times in the past.

Percy had saved my life before. Hell, he had been ready to take his own life if it meant protecting our team. If it meant having Rosa’s antidote tested on him instead of others. I trust him with my life, and with Olivia’s.

“She’s doing a mission by herself?” I ask, rising up out of my chair, holding my can so hard it dents under my fingers. I force myself to take a breath, but it does nothing to quell the rising panic inside me.

“Well, yeah,” Percy says, “just like you or me—”

“Dude, come on,” I say, shaking my head. “You know that’s not true—we had years and years of training before we ever went out on our own.”

“Olivia is smart.”

“I know that!”

I close my eyes and dip my head, putting a hand to my forehead.

“Shit,” I breathe, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice, but…”

“Why don’t you just talk to her, man?” Percy asks, his voice small. He’s only ever brought up the subject of Olivia to me once before, and I shut it down quickly. Something in my chest begs me to tell him, to explain to him why it would never work between Olivia and me, but I can’t.

It’s too painful to think about, let alone talk about, the fact that I can’t be with my mate. That living the rest of her life with me would be the worst thing for her.

That no matter how much she hates me, I’m saving her by refusing to be with her.

“Not an option,” I say, my brain flashing back to what happened last time Olivia and I talked, how royally I had screwed everything up. I try to actively forget that night as much as possible, but it’s like it’s always there, floating in the background, ready to superimpose over my reality at a moment’s notice.

“But I just—” Percy starts, but I shake my head, pacing over to the door. My hair is still sopping wet, and faintly smelling of bleach, and I should wash it before going out, but I can’t be in this apartment with my friend for another second.

Or I might break down and tell him the truth.

“You’re right,” I say, setting down my mostly full can by the front door. “I should go talk to Triste. And maybe you should go see Veronica.”

“Byron,” Percy says, standing and taking a step toward me.

“Off to the wizard,” I joke, not wanting to linger in this conversation, already waiting for the next time Percy and I see each other, when we can pretend none of this ever happened. Without another second of hesitation, I open the door, push through, and jog down the steps to the street.

Aris gifted me an apartment in downtown Rosecreek, and as soon as I’m on the sidewalk, I pull up my hood, stuff my hands in my pockets, and walk with my head down, ignoring the people out and about.

Now that Halloween is finished and Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, it’s like the entire town has shifted gears. Gone are the spooky decorations, and a warm, cozy, inviting ambiance is in their place. The coffee shops advertise pumpkin drinks, the home decor shop has gourds and red cloths in the window, and the bakery is advertising a deal on apple pies.

Apparently, I’ll do anything to avoid talking about Olivia with Percy, even if that means paying a visit to our new resident mage.