Passion by Bonnie Vanak

Author:Bonnie Vanak
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2015-05-19T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

She’d know the truth, how he’d failed to protect his intended. But deep inside, he longed for connection. Too long he’d lived without pack and walked in loneliness. Molly deserved the truth.

“I was engaged more than a year ago. Her name was Karlene. She was amazing. I fell hard, fast and deep. Every male in the Mitchell pack who lacked a mate longed to be with her. Except Aiden, that sly bastard. Leader of our pack.” Jake’s mouth twitched in smiling remembrance. “Aiden always harbored feelings for Nikita Blakemore, alpha female of a rival pack. He tried to keep it a secret, but we knew from the way he acted around her.”

Removing his arm, Jake moved away from Molly, but she laced her fingers through his, refusing to let go. He stared down at their joined hands. Connection. Bonding. Molly was his friend.

He wanted more than friendship.

“When Karlene chose me to be her mate, I was ecstatic. And then…” He struggled to form the words, feeling them claw his throat. “I should have been with her every moment, knowing my friend Garth wanted her and wouldn’t let anyone else have her. I left her alone and she went to the cabin. It’s my fault I wasn’t watching over her.”

He drew in a deep breath. “Garth killed her. I’m certain of it. He’d left a note, warning if he couldn’t have her, no one could. I reached the cabin and it was too late. It’s my fault she died in the flames. After, the entire pack started drawing sides, some with him, some believing me that Garth killed Karlene. That’s why I left. I was the one who was dividing my people in half and I nearly caused a pack war.”

Molly said nothing. She listened.

When he finished, he hung his head, relief and deep shame crawling over him. Then she flung her arms around him.

“It’s easier being alone, isn’t it? Alone, you don’t have to worry about getting hurt again. About wanting someone so badly and then they’re gone in a split second, and you’re left wondering if you could have done something different.”

Jake’s chest tightened as she hugged him close, not judging him. The horrid guilt filling him since that awful day lifted a little. Just a little.

“Karlene was very special to you,” she said quietly. “You loved her.”

He had lusted after her, had been obsessed. But was that love? He didn’t harbor the feelings for Karlene he had for Molly. Losing Karlene had left him riddled with guilt. The thought of losing Molly left him utterly crushed.

“I don’t think I loved her,” he finally admitted. “But she was so damn alluring. I wanted her, like a kid wants a new toy in the store window. I couldn’t think of anything else. It felt like she possessed me. And the other males…”

His voice drifted off as he reflected on the sexual effect Karlene had on the pack.

“Did she tease them?”

Anger surfaced and he removed his arm from her waist. “Karlene would never do that.

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