Page 95 of Wolf's Providence

He snorted, his eyes back on the hall. “Asshole.”

“Why did you keep tabs on me for ten years?”

Eamon gave a half shrug. “Truthfully? Habit?” He stood suddenly, brushing the snow off his pants. “As time went on, I thought you’d find your way back. But you kept drifting farther.”He stood back as I got to my feet. “And then, as the years passed, I guess I accepted you died that day too.”

The truth in his words made me flinch, and I took a breath, letting the weight of them settle. “After I was done killing Jonah, and knowing what I had done to them all…it was easier to push everyone away than to face it. Face anyone.”

Eamon’s expression softened, just a hint. “Loss does that to a man. But we all lost something that day. You weren’t the only one grieving. Or left with the scars that a loss of that magnitude does to you.”

“I know.” I met his gaze, the memory of everything we’d been through flashing between us. Eamon hadn’t just been a beta; he’d been one of my closest friends, my brother in arms. And in my grief, I’d shut him out, just like I’d shut out everyone else.

He exhaled, finally letting his arms drop to his sides. “And now?”

“Now…” I hesitated, then took a step closer. “Now, I’ve found something worth holding on to again. And I’m done hiding.” My chest felt tight, but I pushed on. “I shouldn’t have exacted the justice to them that I did. I should have waited for you. For the others. I should have let you all grieve. I took your revenge from you, from them, and I owe you an apology.”

He nodded, sucking his teeth. “And Jonah?”

A rueful laugh left me. “I should have listened to you when you told me he was a backstabbing bastard.”

“Cunt.” Eamon didn’t flinch. “I told you he was a backstabbing cunt. I told you when we were sixteen, I reminded you when we were eighteen, and I told you the night you found him balls deep in Kelly after you asked her to the Luna Ball. Friends don’t do that to friends. I hope whatever you did to him was drawn out and painful.”

“It was,” I confirmed, my mind racing. “I forgot all about Kelly,” I mused.

“She’s in a pack in northern Canada. Got three kids and a husband that strays too far from home if you’re interested.”

“I’m not,” I said with a tight smile. “Her family was never settled here. It was better when they left.”

“So…what’s the point of this? You purging your soul or some shit?” Eamon folded his arms across his chest. He jerked his head towards the cabins in the trees. “She’s human.”

I mirrored his pose. “You have a problem with that?” I knew some shifters would. I would deal with them just like I would any other hater. Swiftly and painfully.

“No.” He snorted. “Not when I see you together. There’s more than just attraction. Have you seen what she draws?” When I nodded, he turned serious. “She’s Luna-touched,” he said, his voice low. “Right? Has to be.”

“I did something,” I blurted. Seeing his eyebrows shoot to his hairline, I hurried on before he could speak. “I hurt her, gouged out her insides when I was deep in the darkness.” Eamon was glaring at me as I spoke. “I used blood magic to bring her back.”

His jaw dropped. “Blood… Are you fuckinginsane?” he hissed, stepping closer. “That old mumbo jumbo your gran used to spout?” He was seething with rage.

When I nodded, his punch landed me flat on my ass in the snow.

“You reckless, selfish bastard!” He stood over me, his fists clenched at his sides. “She could have died? Have you not got enough blood on your hands?”

“Fuck you,” I growled, pushing myself to my feet. “Shewasdying!”

“So you bound her to you with blood magic?” he asked me incredulously. “Did you even know if it was going to work?”

“We’re already bound by Luna!” I defended myself, but I think Eamon knew I was riddled with guilt.

“Goddess, Caleb, she isn’t your mate. She canneverbe your mate!” he growled at me.

“Then tell me why I can feel her inside me? Tell me why I know what she’s thinking, feeling. I canfeelher through the bond.”

“Or you can feel what you want to feel because you are a fucked-up, crazy dick.”

I was going to argue. Instead, I sighed. “Or I’m a fucked-up, crazy dick.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Or…Luna found my mate?”

“A human mate?” He gave me a flat look. “Insanity.”

“You just reminded me I’m crazy…”

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