Jason stared at Julia. For several long seconds, he could not bring himself to speak. The words were there.
He knew exactly what the elder expected him to say. He knew what Julia had returned to Silver Fang to hear. He knew Ryker would not leave this territory until the final thread connecting them had been severed.
And yet, every part of him wanted to refuse. He wanted to walk toward Julia. He wanted to fall to his knees in front of her and beg.
Just one more chance. One chance to prove that he could become the mate he should have been from the beginning. One chance to undo the three years he had kept her hidden. One chance to erase the day he stood before Silver Fang and introduced Willow as his Luna while his true mate watched. One chance to make different choices.
But Fang had alre
