Phoebe closed the link as Reed spoke, “Well, this is unexpected.”
“I’ll say,” Jason seconded.
“No. You don’t understand. Lily…”
“Was rejected by her first mate,” Phoebe nodded.
“How did you…”
“Wolves recognize their own.”
Reed blinked, slowly understanding, “You were also rejected.”
Phoebe nodded, feeling Jason’s embrace tighten. He hated any sort of reference to her first mate, but the memory barely stung now. His love and care overshadowed anything she felt before meeting him. She was far more interested in Lily’s story.
“Her first mate was one of our warriors,” Reed explained. “She met him on her eighteenth birthday. He was a bit of a playboy, but he was also two years older, which means…”
“He already knew she was his mate,” Phoebe surmised.
“And he still carried on with hi
