Chapter 83

“I’m sorry, Josh.” Gavin stood so close that Josh could feel the residual heat from his near-transformation. “I can’t be something that I’m not.”

Josh finally understood Elaine, Silverbane, and his own mother. Maybe even himself. He’d tried to run away from who he was, but that was the one thing he would always carry with him. If only he could show Gavin that he was the alpha the pack needed. Nothing would change what Gavin was, but it was up to him to accept it or not.

“You are an alpha.” Josh faced Gavin. “Just as I am an omega. We are what we are, no matter how hard we don’t want to be.”

Gavin shook his head.

“Yes,” Josh said. “The strength within your blood gives you the courage to stand when others would cower, to fight when others would flee, to defend the weak and protect life.”

“I can’t do all that,” Gavin said. “Until yesterday, I didn’t even know I was a werewolf. I don’t know anything about your pack.”

“But you defended me.”