Ahm’s mouth was set in grim lines as he gazed into Bryce’s eyes. “Ruling a tribe is not an easy task, especially when my people refuse to allow any outsiders in.”
Bryce knew this about Ahm’s people, but to hear his mate tell him that he had stayed away because his tribe was a prejudiced, narrow-minded group felt like a knife was plunging into his heart.
Dropping his hand, Bryce turned away. “That’s still not telling me why you are here.” He wanted to hear Ahm say he had made a grave mistake and beg Bryce to forgive him. But Bryce wasn’t foolish enough to believe the strong and powerful Ahm would grovel to anyone, least of all him.
“Don’t you dare fall for that load of crap.”
Bryce turned, letting a low growl rumble through his chest. “Go play with the cows, Chauncey.”
Instead, Chauncey rode toward them and dismounted. “Fuck that. He made it pretty damn clear you weren’t good enough for his uppity ass.”
It was true. Bryce turned toward Ahm, waiting for him to defend himself.
“This does not concern you, bear.”
Chauncey took a menacing step forward. “Hurting my brother will always concern me. It’s called family and us Lakelands stick by our own. If I didn’t think Bryce would hate me I would kill you.”
He was shocked at Chauncey’s venomous tone. His brother meant every word he spoke. Bryce turned back to Ahm. “Make a choice, Ahm. Either be my mate, or never bother me again.” God, those words cut into Bryce like a heated knife, but he was tired of seeing his mate, but never being allowed to touch, to claim.
The kiss had been explosive, but Bryce needed more than that. He needed commitment.
“It isn’t that easy, Bryce.”
“Yes, it is.” Bryce could feel that Ahm’s choice wasn’t going to be in his favor. He threw up his defenses, blocking the pain he knew was coming. He could already see the rejection forming in Ahm’s gorgeous eyes.
“I need time.”
Bryce gave a bitter laugh. “You’ve had plenty of time. You’ve made me wait for years, Ahm. I’m not waiting any longer. If you don’t choose to be my mate, then I want you to release all claim to me and leave me the hell alone. No more showing up at the club and pulling another man off of me. You won’t have a say in who I sleep with.”
The anger flared in Ahm’s eyes. Even though Bryce was inwardly amused at the idea of Ahm getting pissed when Bryce mentioned another man, he wanted it all. He wanted the whole package or he wanted nothing.
Bryce stood there, holding his breath as he waited. His very future rode on Ahm’s response. Never before had an answer meant so much to him, and Bryce prayed to fate that Ahm chose him.
Ahm looked Bryce directly in his eyes…and then slowly shimmered away.
A fissure split inside Bryce as he watched his mate leave him standing there, taking his world, his happiness, and his love with him.
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, but Bryce moved away, mounted his horse, and took off. He didn’t want anyone around when he fell apart. There should be no one there when Bryce released the rage gripping him like an iron fist.
Bryce was so far from gone in his head that he feared going rogue. He pushed Hell Raiser, outrunning Ahm’s decision, the look of regret in the elf’s eyes, and the loneliness pulling him under.
This couldn’t be real. Bryce didn’t want to be without his mate. He didn’t want to feel the suffocation in his heart as it slowly encased itself in a protective layer of ice.
“Bryce!”
He ignored Chauncey as he raced to nowhere, raced from the fact that his mate had released his claim on Bryce.
“Bryce!”
Chauncey cut him off, making Hell Raiser slow, and then his brother tackled Bryce from his saddle. They landed on the ground, Bryce fighting to get free as the pain tore him apart and made him bleed.
Strong hands held him down as Bryce shifted, fighting Chauncey, determined to get free.
“I got you, bro.” Chauncey grabbed Bryce around his neck. “We’ll get through this, I promise.”
Bryce knew there was no getting through this. Having Ahm avoid him was one thing. His mate had finally made a concrete decision about them, and Bryce had lost. He didn’t want to be in another man’s arms. He didn’t want go on without Ahm.
And Bryce didn’t want the emptiness that was consuming him and bleeding away his humanity.
* * * *
When Bryce grew still, Chauncey pulled his phone free. He walked away from his brother as he dialed his pa. He just couldn’t believe the fairy bastard had chosen to release Bryce from his claim. He just knew Ahm would pick his brother.
“Lakelands.”