Page 90 of Taming of a Wolf

Jess smiles. “You must really love the guy if you’re this torn up about him.”

“I do.” My heart clenches. I love Anders more than anything or anyone. But do I love him more than my guilt? Do I love him more than my own self-loathing?

Of course I do.

Even if I never forgive myself, I want to be better. For Anders. For Jace. And maybe a little bit for me too.

Jess gives me a knowing smile. “You’ve got that I’m-gonna-make-things-right look.”

HowdoI make things right? I have no idea where Anders is. He couldn’t have gone back to his time without my necklace. He could be anywhere, and if he went berserk, can he even come back? Oh god. Have I lost him forever?

I won’t know unless I try.

We say goodbye, and I end the call. Jace continues to sleep beside me. Exhaustion wears at me, so I snuggle in close and put my arm around him. “I’ll fix this, bud. I promise.”

When I open my eyes, the sky outside is stained with red and orange as the sun sets. Shit. I must have been really tired if I slept the day away. I sit up and realize I fell onto my side while I was sleeping because my Jace-sized prop left at some point.

I stretch out an ache in my neck as I cross the room and knock on his bedroom door. “Jace? You want dinner?”

No answer.

The door squeaks when I open it, light spilling in through the gap and pooling on an empty bed. Something doesn’t feel right. He’s probably in the bathroom. With a heavy feeling in my stomach, I knock on the bathroom door and try the handle when nobody responds. The door opens, revealing an empty bathroom.

My chest tightens.

“Jace?” My voice echoes through the apartment as I jog to my bedroom and throw open the door. He isn’t here. “Jace, comeout, now!” I check under the bed. Look in all the closets. Behind the shower curtain.

An iron band wraps around my lungs. I can’t find him. He’s not in the apartment. With shaking hands, I dial the police, stammering and panting my way through the conversation. Jace is gone. I don’t know where he is or when he left. Where would he go? Was he really so angry that he’d storm out without telling me?

The operator assures me that the police will be there soon, but the ringing in my ears drowns her out as my knees buckle.

Where is he?

Where’s my baby brother?

Is he hurt? Is he safe?

I grip at my chest, pulling at my shirt to try and ease the pressure on my chest.

And then, I notice it.

My necklace is gone, and I understand.

Jace took it.

My little brother has gone to bring Anders back himself.

Chapter 24

Anders

Waves roar and gullscry out as I come to, lying on hard stones. Cold seawater sloshes over my boots, making me jolt up onto my elbows.

I’d recognize these shores anywhere. I’m on Ulfheim, and I’m not alone. I direct a glare at Arlo. He sighs with relief. “Perfect, you’re back to your regular snarly self.”

The rage has indeed lost its grip on me, but my berserker still lurks close to the surface, making my fangs and claws sharp. Filling the void of my heart, however, is a bone-deep ache. Jamie rejected me. Remembering makes me want to roar my rage and heartache to the skies, as cold and gray as steel.

“Sorry to whisk you away like that. Couldn’t have you taking bites out of the locals.”

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