“Jake,” Mom said.
I shook my head, already stopping her before she could say more. I didn’t want to hear anything else. There was nothing in the world she could say that would convince me.
I could never live with myself if I allowed personal distractions to steal my attention, and with that focus diverted, something happened to Amelia. Again.
No. Someday, I’d find my own mate and have my own children. But all of that could wait. For now, Amelia had to be my top priority, if only because of how I had failed her in the past.
Never again would she know that fear. That pain.
That was my promise to her.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I said, apologizing but with a firm tone.
Mom was disappointed. I could tell with the way she sighed and her eyes fell away. But she did not fight me on this any furth
