Page 54 of Taming of a Wolf

“Good. Try that the next time someone bullies you, and they should leave you alone.” Returning to the stove, I stir the broccoli. “Why not simply tell Jamie you’re being bullied?”

Lips wobbling, Jace hangs his head. “He has enough going on.” Despite the wetness in his eyes, his glare is fiery. “And you can’t tell him, okay? You can’t. I want to be a man and deal with it on my own! Like Jamie does.”

“But you don’t have to, lad. You’re part of a pack, and pack means you’re never alone.”

Jace’s mouth lifts. “Really? I’m your pack?”

A chuckle bubbles up from my chest. It’s rusty, but it feels good to laugh. Tousling his mop of hair, I say, “Aye, lad. You and Jamie.”

Jace flashes his teeth in a radiant grin. “Does this mean I can shift?”

“Not yet.” Another laugh bursts out of me when he pouts. “Lad, you ought to apologize for what you said.”

Color crawls up Jace’s ears as he drops his chin to his chest. “What did I say?”

“That comment about wishing your parents were here instead.”

Jace balls his hands into fists. “I’m not sorry. Ididmean that.”

The steak hisses as I flip it, and I wince as hot grease spatters my arm. “He is doing the best he can!”

My own words slap me in the face, and all the anger flows out of me. As I stare into Jace’s seething face, it’s like a mirror into my own anger atmybrother. My brother, who I criticized endlessly, who I challenged at every opportunity.

Wasn’t Wulfric also doing the best he could, as an Alpha to our pack, as a brother to my siblings and me? I remember how hard our father worked for our pack, constantly tending to the needsof others, often at the expense of his own. I remember Wulfric surrounded by our people during one of our meetings, everyone vying for his attention. All the times I’d mocked him in front of our people, challenged him—humiliated him.

There’s a sour feeling in my stomach, and I realize it’sshame.I was… horrible to him. I was so consumed by my own jealousy for everything he had that I lacked that I didn’t see, didn’tcareto see, the immense burden being an Alpha at such a young age put on him. I took it all out on him.

I wish Wulfric were here now so I could say how sorry I am.

Clearing the emotion from my throat, I say, “Jamie is struggling too. Just… try to understand that he is doing the best he can. Be frustrated, but do not be cruel or say things you’ll regret. Otherwise, you may push him away and lose him for good.” I dump the steak on a plate.

Jace’s face has gone pale, his eyes bright with worry. “I… I didn’t mean it. He knows that, right?”

“Hard to say unless you tell him yourself.” Cutting the steak into strips, I divide the pieces between three plates, then add some broccoli. “Come, let’s eat.”

Just as we’ve set the table, the lock clicks in the front door. Jamie’s sweet scent makes my wolf howl in delight as he walks in. Parsing through his aroma, I detect notes of apprehension, guilt, and sadness. Mustering up a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, Jamie holds up a grocery bag. “I bought some ice cream. Anders, you’ll love this stuff. It’s just what a bad day calls for.” His smile wobbles when Jace approaches slowly, head down.

The lad’s shoulders heave as a choked noise bursts from him, and he throws his arms around Jamie’s waist and hides his face in his stomach. “Please don’t leave me, Jamie. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Tears flood Jamie’s eyes, and he wraps his brother in his arms, holding him tight. “Never. I’ll never leave you, kiddo. I promise.It’s okay. We can do some fun stuff this weekend together, just us. Okay?”

Jace bobs his head, still clinging to Jamie.

My eyes sting, and I look away, surprised by how emotional I’m getting… and by how much I suddenly wish I could say similar words to all my brothers.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please, take me back. Please, let me be your pack again.”

But I know in my heart, it will never happen.

“Something smells good!” Jamie’s smile is genuine as he guides Jace to the table. “That looks so tasty! Who made this?”

I motion at Jace. “Your lad did. He’s a talented cook.”

Jace laughs, wiping his eyes and sniffling. “Yeah. Totally made all of this.”

Eyes soft and tender, Jamie meets my gaze. “Thank you.” His words send a shiver of delight down my spine. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.” We gather around the table and tuck in. Jamie’s eyes widen. “This steak is so undercooked it should be mooing.”

I moan around a buttery-soft mouthful. “Just the way I like it.”

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