Free A Mate's Sacrifice: (Hot Paranormal Romance) (Ozark Mountain Shifters Book 2) by P. Jameson Page B

hair and narrow face. Neither had round cheeks. But looking at her through the medium of the mirror, and with that expression of sadness on her features, he was reminded of a much younger version of Besh.
    Besh before she found Cael. Besh who was shackled under their mother’s brutal rule. Besh who was desired by all their mother’s customers. So many of them, but only one of her to go around. Oh how he’d wanted to save her back then. He’d wished to take her place so many times just to give her a break, to ease her burden.
    But he hadn’t saved her. No, and later, when she’d finally found happiness with Cael, he’d done the opposite of saving her. He’d betrayed her. Sure, his reasons were innocent enough, but that didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
    Barely young enough to still be called a wolfling, he’d let fear rule him. Fear that one day the alpha would hunt her down and kill her. Fear that if she left, he’d be all alone. For so long, they’d been partners in their misery. If she found happiness, Vesh would have no one to share the pain with. And all that shit on one person’s shoulders… he couldn’t do it.
    What a stupid, stupid way to be.
    He sighed.
    He’d been working to make it right ever since. Becoming Jax’s right hand was the first stepping stone to liberating Besh. What he’d never been able to understand though, was why she’d publicly denied Cael and claimed Jax. They’d never spoken of the Ravendale alpha since that day in the great hall when she declared him a traitor.
    Vesh blinked, and his mate’s face came into focus. Quickly, she lowered her eyes. Their bond was exceptionally weak, but he was smart enough to know that she was deeply upset. The idea that he’d caused her to feel that way rubbed him raw, but fuck, what could he do?
    “Do you need my help healing, or what?” she murmured.
    “No, it’s fine. They’ll heal quick enough.”
    She nodded and walked back into the bedroom.
    Vesh followed, leaning against a wall while she stuffed clothing into the two bottom dresser drawers.
    “So… Remy, huh? Interesting name. But then again so is Vesh. Then again so is Braeh.”
    “What about her?”
    She shut the drawer with a little too much force. “You’ll be with her tonight.”
    “It’s not a done deal.”
    She stood brushing dust off her jeans and meeting his eyes. “But you want to.”
    He shrugged.
    Several seconds passed before her expression became uncertain, and she asked, “Why?”
    Staring at her, his reasons didn’t seem the slightest bit important anymore but he answered anyway. “She’s my type.”
    “Your type.” She shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. “Someone with a little meat on her bones? With the right curves and soft spots? Someone like my sister.” She laughed. “Geez, you must be so disappointed that fate gave you an ‘anorexic’ mate, huh?”
    “You don’t understand.”
    “No. No, I really don’t. But you know what? It’s none of my business who you sleep with. You go on, do what you want. I’m taking a shower and getting some sleep.”
    In a flurry, she’d grabbed her things and shut her herself in the bathroom.
    Vesh didn’t know what to do, what he needed. The air in the cabin was stifling and he knew he couldn’t stay there. He was pulled in different directions, wanting to run, wanting to stay. Wanting Braeh, which would be thrilling and exhilarating and heartbreaking and more than he could possibly bear. And wanting Remy. Safe, meaningless sex that would make him feel good for a few hours. Wanting to run and hide. Wanting to stay and be seen.
    In the end, Vesh did the only thing he knew to do. He walked out of the cabin and didn’t look back.
    ***
    Braeh waited, not able to breathe, until she heard the cabin door slam. The hollow sound of wood against wood echoed in her chest.
    He was gone.
    She shouldn’t be surprised. It wasn’t like they were… anything. Sure, they were mates, but now