Page 55 (1/2)

What worried her was that thereanother feically lost Torrie, it would be different She would have only existed in his ive yourself foranother when you had never known your true mate--or, at least, that was hoas for Harley But Jesse had known Torrie She’d been a flesh-and-blood person to him, and her death had wrecked him, left a black mark on his soul Harley had sensed that mark the second she’d met hi that he’d had years to coleah it was rare And he’d actually found enough life in hih hope in all of that to accept his claim But to claim him in return, she neededbond

There were couples that chose not to imprint on each other, but those relationships never worked because their inner ani et it, they withdrew from the relationshipand their human side then had to do the same As such, her worries about his enificant

He’d said Torrie’s death had shaped him into a different person Maybe it had Or maybe he’d become a different person to protect the boy who’d lost his mate Maybe his hard personality was uarded his real self

Harley knew all about building another personality to protect who you truly were and to escape the pain People did it all the time But if a part of him deep inside--no uilt, io their separate ways and look at each other’s clai day, and reht; Harley needed to talk to hiently as possible, she said, "Tell me about Torrie"

Noas he who tensed "Why?"

"You never talk about her You can, you know I’ your trueto say"

Harley tried not to bristle at his icy dismissal, but it was hard Her cat really didn’t like it "What was she like?"

Jaw grinding, Jesse merely said, "I told you Passive Timid"

"Yes, but I find it difficult to believe any person could ever be su her gaze "If there is ever anything you want I’ll give it to you No liive you whatever you want Any question you have I’ll answer But she’s a subject on’t touch," he clipped "I told you about her once so I could ot it We don’t need to speak of her again"

Irritation and hurt rushed through Harley and her cat in a powerful wave "Why is she a subject on’t touch?" Did he think she’d be bitchy about Torrie? Did he really think that little of her?

His nostrils flared "She has nothing to do with us"