"What are you doing back here?" Tanner's voice is low and sharp, his posture stiff and rigid.
Every muscle in his body seems locked in place, though inside, his wolf claws at him relentlessly, urging him forward.
He resists the primal pull, but his skin burns with the presence of Jess standing before him.
Jess swallows hard, acutely aware of the intensity in Tanner's gaze. Every movement he makes is like glass under a hammer- fragile, measured, caught between pain of standing before this man and determination.
"I'm only here to tell you one thing. After that, I'll leave," he says quietly. "You might not believe me, but... I would have helped, in whatever way I could."
Tanner narrows his eyes, his brows knitting together with curiosity. "What are you talking about?"
Jess hesitates, voice barely above a whisper. "Something's happening. I don't know all the details, but I know it... Charlotte is involved. So is her father. Even Kyle..." His words trail off, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
The moment Jess utters the name, Tanner's wolf lashes out violently, claws digging into his chest, causing pain. He cuts Jess off sharply. "Kyle?! That man again?"
Jess meets his gaze briefly, unsure of what to say next. Tanner chuckles bitterly, a hollow, humorless sound. "You already..."
"If you're going to judge me with whatever you are thinking, and not hear me out then just say it, so that I don't waste my time," Jess snaps suddenly, finally daring to look Tanner in the eye.
His stare is raw, full of pain, confusion, desperation. Tears shimmer unfallen in his pupils.
The chill running down Tanner's spine deepens, and he says nothing.
"Kyle and Charlotte... they know each other. They used to work together. I don't know what exactly. The day I left, Charlotte followed me. She caught me. There were two men with her. She tried to forced me to drink something, she said it was abortion herbs. That I'm carrying your child. I don't know how she knew. Or how it could even be possible..."
Jess's voice breaks on the last word. Before he can finish, Tanner lets out a low, almost mocking laugh that makes Jess flinch.
"Do you even hear yourself?" Tanner asks, his laughter fading. "I thought you were naive, sure, but I never thought you were this... shallow. You really think this pathetic story will make me bend? Couldn't you have come up with something believable? Something an alpha would believe? That you're what...? Carrying my baby?" He laughs again, harder and emptier this time. "Are you here to remind me I slept with a man or what?"
Jess watches in silence as Tanner's mocking cuts deeper than any blade.
"What exactly did you say about Charlotte and Alpha Phen? That they're plotting something?" Tanner demands. "What is it? Why aren't you answering? What are they planning?"
Jess still says nothing.
"Do you know how close our families are? My father and hers have been friends since childhood. So what nonsense are you trying to sell me?" Tanner's voice rises, sharp with disbelief. "You were around, you heard I was marrying Charlotte. That disturbed you so much, you thought up this fantasy to stop me?"
His voice drops. "Jess, even if I don't marry her, you'll never be the one. I told you, I'm not bent. I am not attracted to men like you are. I'm only attracted to you, and it's not natural, it's a manipulation of this so called mate bond."
He moves closer, there's a cold understanding in his eyes as he continues. "But I get it. I know the mate bond is driving you mad, pushing you toward me. It's pushing me too. But don't worry, I've thought about how to break it, how to get rid of it. I will find a way. So be patient and stop trying these pathetic tricks to get to me. They only make you look desperate and pathetic yourself."
Jess stares at him in seconds, and then without a word he turns to leave, but Tanner grabs his wrist, pulling him back against the wall.
"What? You're just going to walk away like that? Like you didn't come here for a reason?" Tanner's voice drops to a whisper, thick with heat and tension. He leans in, breath warm on Jess's skin. "I know how hard this bond is. And I'm willing to satisfy the need you have, after all we're still mates, aren't we?"
His lips brush against Jess's lips, the touch fleeting but electric. Jess jerks back, breaking free.
He swallows hard, blinking rapidly as if to regain control. "I'd rather let that need kill me than let you satisfy it."
He says firmly before turning around to leave, fingers tremble as they grip the door handle.
As he pulls it open, Tanner catches his left hand, stopping him, but the moment the door swings wide, Jess freezes. Standing in the doorway is someone neither expected.
Tanner releases his grip from Jess's wrist immediately.