The white Jeep stops and so does my heart. It’s her. Dear God, it’s her, my Mate after all the years I’ve spent looking for her. She’s sitting in my driveway with my lovesick fucking brother, but how? Everything Cass said to me hits me like a bullet. The pain in my chest nearly drops me to my knees. Losing her parents, foster care, alone. Abandoned by her Mate… what have I done!

Her cries break through the fog, and I see her on my brother’s lap. All rational thought is gone. “MINE,” roars my wolf.

Leaping over the porch rail, I rip the door open and grab her from my enraged brother. He jumps from the car and closes in on me. “If you try to take her from me, I will kill you,” I growl.

Realization dawns, and he knows I’m the bastard that ruined this poor girl’s life. He’s rightfully horrified. He doesn’t understand how I could do it. “Mate,” I say aloud.

Her tiny body falls limp in my arms, and I want to rip my own throat out. She’ll never forgive me. My wolf doesn’t care she passed out. He wants what’s his. Mark now, can’t leave us, he says. I almost do it. I’m so close my face is buried behind her ear. Her scent is intoxicating. The only thing that stops me is the look on Casper’s face. Like he knows what I’m about to do, and he’s disgusted with me.

“I didn’t know. I’ll fix it,” I implore him to believe me. “I didn’t know little one, please forgive me.” A few tears leak out before I can stop them.

Cass finally speaks. “Why?” is all he says.

“I’ll explain everything I can, Cass, I promise,” I say defeated.

I turn to carry her to our home when I see Roxanne still as a statue staring at me holding her. The tears she held before now fall freely from her lashes. Now it’s real. She knows I’ll never again be hers. So much has happened I can’t even feel bad for her.

“You were here, with her.” Cass sneers at Roxanne. “While she was alone?”

“Casper, please let me get her comfortable. I’ll explain. It’s not what you think.” I’m exhausted. I’d like to lock us both in my room and make her understand why I left her, but my brother knows her. My wolf doesn’t like the sound of that.

“Roxanne you need to leave. Don’t come back without permission again.” I see the hurt in her eyes.

She tries to recover. “Mase, what’s going on? I can help.”

“If you think your fuck buddy is still gonna be coming around, then hand her over now, and we’ll leave. You won’t ever have to see either of us again,” Casper says angrily.

That’s all it takes for my tenuous hold to break. I pull her soft body even closer to mine. “She is MY MATE! MINE! You will not be taking her anywhere. I’m trying very hard not to break your arms and legs for touching her, let alone having her on your lap. If you say another word about her, I don’t know if I will stop myself from doing it... do you get me?” I’ve used my Alpha tone, so I hope he knows how serious I am. He drops his head submissively. “I know she’s your friend. I know you care… for her. I will tell you how this happened, but please don’t test me again brother,” I add a little gentler.