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I stared at Dylan. “Do you have a secret career as a therapist or am I just really easy to read?”

He smiled, his dimples flashing. Then he sobered. “I’ve lost people…and I know how it feels to walk away from a mate. You’re never going to forget Alex, whether you’re with Brooke or not. But he’s gone, Hugh. I guess you have to ask yourself what he would have said about this. Would he have told you to reject your fated mate and spend the rest of your life alone? Or would he have told you to seize happiness when you find it?”

“I don’t have to speculate,” I said quietly. “I know the answer.”

“Then I think you have your answer.”

I grimaced. “Now I just have to hope Brooke is willing to give me another chance.”

He heaved a good-natured sigh. “Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Aristotle?”

“Thanos.”

“Who?”

“You’ve never seen Avengers: Infinity War?”

I shook my head.

He rolled his eyes. “We really have to get you out more.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

BROOKE

I listened to Tanner point out the differences between squirrel and chipmunk tracks and did my best to look like I wasn’t slowly losing my mind. We knelt side by side in the forest, his dark head several inches above mine.

It wasn’t his fault tracking was the most boring thing in the universe. He claimed every werewolf had a natural instinct for it, but I was clearly an exception. He’d spent the past two days showing me how to spot trails, identify animals tracks, and pick up scents—and I was a miserable failure at everything. I still couldn’t use telepathy, either.

“Brooke? Are you listening?”

Tanner was staring at me, the look on his face telling me he knew the answer to his question.

“Sorry,” I said sheepishly. “Got lost in my thoughts there for a second.”

“What, you’re not riveted by my squirrel tracks lecture?”

For a brief moment, I thought he might be serious. Then he snorted, and we both started laughing.

“Come on.” He stood and extended a hand. “There’s a creek just a little ways ahead.”

The same one Hugh and I went to. My throat tightened, but I forced myself to nod and let him help me up. I’d resolved to put Hugh Dalton firmly out of my mind. I didn’t want to see him or talk to him or think about him.

As far as the first two went, I had a perfect score. The third one? Not so much. The problem, I thought as I fell into step beside Tanner, was my body still craved Hugh’s touch. It hadn’t forgotten his skilled hands or his firm mouth. His thick shoulders or that incredible, sexy ass. His dominant streak that had set me on fire.

He’d plagued my dreams night after night, leaving me to twist and turn in lonely sheets, my body aching for his touch. Each dream had been more intense than the last, until I’d woken so wet and needy I’d plunged a hand between my legs and stroked myself, imagining it was his fingers between my legs. Wishing it was his tongue driving me to the brink.

I stumbled over a tree root.

Tanner caught my elbow and steadied me. “You okay?”

“Just distracted.” I forced a smile.

“Trouble with the alpha?”

My cheeks flooded with warmth. Over the past two days in Tanner’s company, I’d learned why Dylan called him “one of the best trackers anywhere.” Tanner’s sharp hazel eyes noticed everything. Including, apparently, my relationship woes.