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Dylan kept staring at her The alpha stare, the do her to look away, back down, adht to tell him what to do

"This is my house, Dylan," sheat her with his hard assessment "You really want that?"

"No" Glory’s throat worked, al her words "What I want is for you to tell me that you love me, that you want us to be mated, that you want to stay forever That’s what I want But I’ve finally et So I’d rather you go, instead of having my heart torn out every time I look at you"

"Glory"

Da the alpha He wouldn’t look upset or uneasy, couldn’t show any sign of conceding

"What?" she snapped

"Things are difficult for ed, and I don’t knohere I fit into it anyetting off that easy "What has that to do with choosing a mate?"

"I chose a mate once upon a time She died"

"I know that I’m sorry Really, I am I lost my o Glory’s pack and her h in the heart of the Rockies, but they’d been happy Glory was robust even for a Shifter female, but fecundity had been low in both packs, and she’d never conceived Within a year of her , her mate’s pack had been attacked by ferals, and they’d been wiped out, down to the last wolf Her mate had hidden her beforehand so that she’d be safe, a decision Glory had fought like fury, but she realized now that if she hadn’t obeyed him, she’d be dead too The ferals would have taken her, used her, and let her die

Her parents’ pack had found her days later, lying in shock a the dead The Guardian had sent the souls of the entire pack to the afterlife, and Glory had been taken back to her faain

That is, until her pack had been relocated to this Shiftertoenty years ago, and she’d moved in next door to Dylan Life went on, she’d learned, even after horror

"I know," Dylan said Glory had told him the entire story, which he would have heard anyway from Wade, her pack leader, even if she hadn’t No one kept secrets fro to tell you to get over Niaain affair with you There is happiness in the world, Dylan, in spite of everything, and I want it If you can’t give it to me, then I don’t want you here" She wet her lips "I don’t want you tearing ht toward a hurt cub His hands on her shoulders nearly undid her "You are so strong" He caressed her skin below her Collar "So strong that I never knew you were hurting"

"I guess I hide it well"

"You do, that" Dylan leaned closer and nuzzled her "I’irl," he whispered "I’m so sorry I can’t be what you want"