Jaxson hated seeing the tension rivet her body, so he rushed through the rest of the explanation. “She wanted me for sex. It’s a thing with some female witches, I don’t know why, but they’re attracted to male shifters and want to turn them into sexual slaves. The witch’s magic is powerful enough to make it possible. Typically, the wolf doesn’t survive. She uses him for sex until she’s bored, then she bleeds him of his magic-filled blood. It’s a degrading and horrible way to die.” He took a breath, but pressed on. The look on Olivia’s face was becoming more horrified by the moment. “Anyway, I was young and stupid, and I didn’t know I was playing with fire. I slept with her a few times because… I couldn’t help myself. I was a horny young wolf and witches are preternaturally hot—their beauty spells are unbelievable. Anyway, when she said she wanted to keep me—as in keep me for a sex toy—I finally wised up and told her no. Only, by that point, I think she was in love with me. Or something. Maybe she just really didn’t like her pet talking back.” He paused. “She said I was too pretty to kill, so she cursed me instead. The spell poisoned the magic in my blood. If I ever take a mate, if I ever complete the mating ritual with a bite that transfers my magic to the woman I love… she’ll die.”
He had hoped the horror would fade once Olivia realized what that meant—that he could never have a mate and that all of this search for a shifter female was just a ruse—but the look of revulsion just solidified into a deep sadness.
“That’s horrible,” she said quietly, staring at his chest. “How could someone do that to a another person?”
“I told you before: witches aren’t normal people. They’re basically evil walking around on sexy-hot legs.”
Olivia looked up at that, but her lips were trembling. “Are they all that way?”
He frowned. “All the ones I’ve met. Or heard of.” It was an odd question, though—and not the one he expected. “But don’t you see? This means I can’t have a mate. I’m never going to be with another shifter, no matter how much my inner wolf wants that to happen.”
“Jaxson, I’m… I’m sorry.” Her voice was so laden with heartbreak, he could hardly stand it.
He pulled her closer into his arms. “It not your fault, sweet, sweet Olivia,” he whispered into her hair. Then he pulled back and smiled, trying to lift her out of this despair she seemed to have fallen into. “And I’m finally realizing that, even if I can’t have a mate, maybe I can still have something just as precious.”
His smile wasn’t having any effect on her.
“Why haven’t you told anyone about this?” she asked. “I mean, it’s not your fault you can’t have a mate. People should understand.”
His smile faded. “Sure. They’ll understand. They’ll see immediately that I’m an alpha who can never take a mate. And an alpha without a mate is one who can’t have pups. Can’t carry on the line of the pack. And that’s an alpha who can’t lead.”
“Can’t lead?” Olivia scrunched up her nose. “Why? You’re this amazing, brave, selfless man. Why would they care if you have a mate or not?”
The tension in Jaxson’s shoulders released. Damn, he loved this woman. She saw straight to the heart of things and wasn’t afraid to speak it.
“I know,” he said softly. “But it’s how the pack operates. The mating ritual isn’t just taking a wife—it’s a magical bond that literally makes the alpha stronger. And the pack is stronger for it, too. If I can’t fulfill that role, I should step aside and let someone else do it. The only problem has been…”
Her eyes widened with understanding. “Jared. He can’t take a mate either.”
“Right.” Jaxson shrugged. “He has a good reason, but the fact remains just the same.”
“What about Jace?” Her eyes were alive with hope now.
Jaxson sucked in a breath. “Jace has his own issue. One that… well, let’s just say it would be extremely difficult for him to take a mate. And Jace would never risk it. Never. And I can’t blame him there.” He shrugged. “Three brothers, and not one of us able to deliver the goods.”
Olivia’s frown was back, and her gaze dropped to her hands, which were wringing each other. “This is why everyone wants you to take a mate.” She looked up at him. “Because they don’t know about the curse. And you’re the only brother who can.”