A Mate's Revenge by P. Jameson Page B

questioned me about mating Jax, and he was desperate not to be humiliated further. He promised me he’d let you live, and Vesh too, if I called you out in front of the pack.” Her gaze pleaded with him. “Please understand, I needed you two safe more than I needed to be happy. But there was one more thing Jax agreed to that sealed the deal. He… he swore to never take me during my heat. Not until my final heat, that way he could still have an heir. I agreed, hoping he’d die before my last heat came. I… I guess I got my wish.”
    Cael stared at Isabesh wide-eyed. She’d made a deal for his safety? She’d committed herself to Jax’s abuse for his safety ? So he’d lived. Without her. Broken and half a fucking man. He would’ve rather died fighting for her. She had no right, no fucking right , to make that choice for them.
    He bolted to his feet, but couldn’t figure out where to go.
    “Cael?”
    He turned his broken gaze to her. “Isa, how could you ?” he breathed. His chest felt like it was being crushed in a vice grip.
    She stood too, meeting him eye to eye. “How could I not?”
    “All those years, Isa…”
    Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she tilted her chin up stubbornly. “All those years you were safe and healthy and alive. I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
    The back of Cael’s neck turned hot. He needed to shift. There was too much fury contained in his human body.
    “Do you know what that did to me?”
    “Yes! I know what that did to you,” she cried. “Did I ever, even one time look away during that forum? No. I watched your face, every feature. I saw the heartbreak. The betrayal. And I wished, wished , with everything in me that you would see I was lying. That you would just move on, knowing in your heart that I didn’t mean those awful things I said.”
    Silence stretched between them like a thick sludge. Despite the avalanche of emotions piling on top of them, no words came. Just the breathing of lungs and the rapid beating of hearts and enough pain to fill an ocean. Would they ever be able to get this right?
    “Please,” she whispered. “Say something.”
    Cael shook his head. “I can’t think. I…” He glanced at the door. “I need to run.”
    “Don’t go.”
    “I need to think, and I can’t do that when I’m near you. Just… I’ll stay close.”
    He was out the door before she could argue, the night air hitting him like a much needed punch. He and his wolf had some reckoning to do.

Chapter Seven
    Besh hung her head, letting the tears fall where they may. She was so damn tired of crying. It was all she’d done for the past twenty-four hours. And even though Cael had taken her explanation badly, it felt good to get it all off her chest. Every minute she was away from Jax, another weight was lifted. Having everything out in the open was the biggest relief.
    She dried her tears on the sleeve of her sweatshirt. He’d be back soon, and maybe they could talk more. Maybe he’d hear what she was really saying. Didn’t he understand that her choices were done for love? He’d have done the same to save her.
    Besh busied herself by picking up the place. She put the peanut butter away and washed the spoon. She straightened the bedroom, returning the hiking boots to the closet. Then she returned to the living room to wait for Cael.
    The fire was hypnotizing but it was her only source of company. She added another log before curling on the couch with a blanket. She closed her eyes for only a second, but it was enough to throw her into a nightmare.
    Vesh cried from the corner while mother screamed. She threw a shoe at him, but missed. She made sure the second one made contact before turning her attention back to Besh.
    “You’re disgusting,” she spat. “You have no reason to turn your nose up to him. You’re not better than him. He’s an elder and a good paying customer, you lazy excuse for a whore! You’ll do this, or I’ll make sure the whole pack knows what you