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Not really comfortable with the conversation, she simply said, "Okay" She hoped he’d end it there He didn’t

"Even if I had wanted iven it to nize his ht that he held his sexual partners at a distance, reasoning that letting the he wanted more He did it out of loyalty to a mate he hadn’t yet found--or, as it turns out, who he hadn’t consciously known he’d found For Trick, there’s only ever been you No one else counted"

War deterti the fuck out of others But it’s been at least four , wondered ifrestless and sour by watching others find their mates while he remained alone He wouldn’t talk about it Wouldn’t even ad you See, Trick comes across as sooes on in his head; he just keeps it to himself He does that for the same reason that he pushes--or did push--people’s hot buttons and deliberately stirs things up"

"To keep a part of hi occurred to her "Is it because of Jana?"

Marcus rocked back on his heels "He told you about her? Good It shows he’s holding nothing back froenuinely pleased by it This wasn’t sohtly discomfited by her connection to Trick, she an to ebb Even her wolf began to relax a little

"To answer your question, yes, I think it is because of Jana No one’s going to crush hard on a person who goads them, taunts theh he’s not malicious about it He wasn’t like that until the Jana incident"

"What was he like?" she asked, curious

"More euarded Oh, he still teased people, but he did it in a lighthearted way He did it to lift the h, not to piss them off I’ve seen hi of the old Trick left in hiood to watch it resurface I’lad he has you back"

Frankie felt a smile curve her mouth This as easy to like "I can’t really bla your itches" Especially since Marcus was hot

Marcus laughed "Thanks So things aren’t going to be weird between you andto be weird," she assured hio see what Trey’s called afor"

They parted ways, and Frankie soon arrived at the kitchen It was kind of odd walking inside on her own Sure, this was technically her pack, but she still felt like a visitor at times Grief marred the air, but there was an unexpected hint of warmth there too

Jaime smiled the moment she spotted her "Hey, Frankie" She patted the chair beside her in invitation "Lydia was just telling us about all the crazy shit that Iris did whenever she was drunk Lydia, tell her about the tier"

Lydia did, and Frankie couldn’t help but chuckle As she listened to each of Iris’s drunken incidents, she felt the grief’s tight grip loosen

Sniffling, Greta rubbed at her nose with a tissue "I’ll ether "You called her fit to burn a week ago"

"I did not," stated Greta, affronted

Behind the old woman, Grace mouthed "She totally did," and then placed another platter of food on the table