Free Lone Wolf Pack 06 - A Future for His Werewolf Warrior by Anya Byrne

rooted in the fact that I could never have romantic feelings toward him—hurt us both deeply, but since he met you, we've finally started to rebuild some of what was broken."
    Ward wasn't sure what to say to that, but he decided that maybe honesty was the best policy. "I'm not sure I did much of anything. I simply ran into him. Literally."
    "Sometimes, that's enough." Will's expression sobered. "Mathias tells me you think you're a replacement for me."
    The sudden change in topic and atmosphere jarred Ward. It embarrassed him to have his personal affairs exposed like that, but he supposed he wasn't surprised Mathias had gone to Will to pour out his troubles. Did that mean Will knew about Ward's past with Peter? God, Ward hoped not.
    As if guessing Ward's thoughts, Will continued. "Mathias said that you had a bad experience, although he hasn't given me the details. I won't press, and anything you do from here on is completely your choice and your call. I just came to explain a few things—things that I wish I'd had someone explain to me when I was younger."
    "What things?" Ward asked, his voice trembling.
    "You see, Mr. Bennett, werewolves and other such beings don't think like we do. Mathias might look human, but he isn't. I'm sure that at an intellectual level, you understand that, since you've seen him shift, but actually grasping what it means is harder. Sometimes, I still have trouble."
    Ward licked his lips nervously. "Is this about the mate thing?" Mathias had mentioned it during their last conversation, and Ward knew enough about wolves to read between the lines and understand what the concept meant for him and Mathias.
    "Indeed. My guess is that you already know how wolves mate in the wild, so I won't prolong this unnecessarily. Basically, many shifters and other such paranormal creatures take mates. Their advanced senses help them identify their other halves. It is as easy as scenting them, or looking at them for the first time."
    Ward scowled and opened his mouth to speak, but Will stopped him before he could utter a single word. "I know what you're going to say. Does it mean anything if it's just chemistry? Does he really want me or is it just his body telling him he does? They're all questions I asked myself at one time, and for many years, I told myself I should have been more cautious. My mate, the father of my child, had left me despite all the promises we'd made to one another. It didn't mean anything. Except it did. I still loved him, and he still loved me—for decades."
    Will sighed. "I suppose ours is not the best example, but what I'm trying to say... Werewolves know . It isn't something we as humans can always rationalize. We experience it to some extent, but not like them."
    "Okay, fair enough," Ward managed to cut in. "But how does that translate into Mathias loving you for so long?"
    "It's because Mathias isn't only a werewolf. He's half-Sidhe. I must admit I had my own doubts about your relationship when he first came to me, but then I understood... His magic is like another sense, and the similarities between the two of us confused it." Much to Ward's surprise, Will reached for his hand. "I know this is very odd for you, Mr. Bennett, but you have to consider... Mathias has been alone for a long time. He's been alive longer than the entire Mulligan line existed. That sort of thing leaves a mark."
    Mathias had already told Ward about his age, but Ward had never taken the time to fully process it. Now that his great-uncle was explaining it, that seemed foolish and selfish.
    Will released his hand and leaned against the back of the couch. "The last thing I want is to pressure you, but I understand how a human's mind works. Mathias... He endures. It's what he's done for decades, for centuries. It's what he knows. And at this point, I think his perception of time is a little warped. He decided to give you some room to breathe, like you asked, and while I respect that choice on his side and yours, it