Read Online Love, Always, Promise [Wolf Creek Pack 5] by Stormy Glenn - Free Book Online

still mates and always would be.
    “You can’t just leave. He needs you. You’re his mate,” Joe argued.
    “I’m the last thing that he needs, Joe.”
“Jace—”
    “He hates me, Joe.”
    “No, he doesn’t. He’s just mad at you right now. You did leave him with no explanation, remember?” Joe reminded him. Jace knew Joe just wanted to reassure him but nothing would at this point. Everything Ethan went through was his fault.
    “No.” Jace laughed bitterly as he turned to look back at Joe. “He hates me, and he has every right to hate me. I would.”
    “Jace, you’re his mate. He—”
    “I did it, Joe. I’m the one that hurt him,” Jace said quietly.
    As Joe just stared at him, his mouth hanging open in shock, Jace dropped to his knees, his grief overwhelming him. His hands clenched into fists. He pounded them against his thighs as tears fell down his face.
    “I did this to him when I was here last time. I was so busy trying to deny him, I pushed him away, and he got hurt. Is there any wonder that he hates me? I’m his mate. I’m supposed to take care of him. Instead, I’ve caused him unimaginable pain.”
    Joe knelt on the floor next to Jace, rubbing his back. “Jace, it’s going to be okay. We’ll get past this.”
    “How can we get past this, Joe? He hates me,” Jace cried. “First, I claimed him then left him. When I do come back, I don’t remember him and I deny him, hurting him in the process. What’s to get past? He’s better off without me.”
    “Jace, did you explain to him about the silver poisoning? I know it’s not an excuse, but it does explain why you didn’t remember him. And I’ve known you for nearly twenty years. You would never intentionally hurt anyone. If it did happen like you say, it was an accident.”
    “And that makes it all better? That makes it all okay?”
“No, but—”
    “Jace? I need to get ready for bed. Do you think you could come help me?”
    Jace looked up to see Ethan standing in the doorway. An anxious frown covered his lips. Worry made the lines around Ethan’s eyes seem darker.
    “Of course, Ethan,” Jace replied quickly as he wiped the tears from his eyes, jumping to his feet to cross the room to Ethan. He heard Joe’s soft chuckle as he followed Ethan into the bedroom.
    As Ethan sat down on the side of the bed, propping his crutches against the wall, Jace knelt at his feet, pulling his shoes off and setting them beside the nightstand. “What else can I do?”
    “I need those bottles over there on my dresser,” Ethan said as he pointed toward his dresser.
    Jace got to his feet. He could feel Ethan’s eyes on him as he grabbed the three bottles of pills and a bottle of lotion. He quickly turned to go back when he saw Ethan standing in front of him in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs.
    Swallowing hard at the sudden lump in his throat, he walked over and handed Ethan the bottles. He closed his eyes briefly, praying that Ethan wouldn’t notice the hard ridge in his pants or smell the scent of his arousal.
    Opening his eyes, he saw Ethan gazing up at him still. He held up the bottle of lotion. “I need you to rub this into my back. The doctor says it will help with the swelling.”
    Yeah, he just bet it did
.
    He took the bottle from Ethan. Just the thought of rubbing anything on Ethan certainly increased his swelling. He just hoped he would be able to hide it from Ethan. From the little smirk on Ethan’s face, he didn’t think he did a very good job of it, though.
    “How do you want to do this?” he asked, almost swallowing his tongue when Ethan just raised an eyebrow at him. “I mean, how do you—”
    “It’s easiest if I just lie down on the bed and you straddle my legs. Just remember not to push too hard or it will hurt,” Ethan said as he turned around and carefully climbed onto the bed, lying down on his stomach.
    Jace stared down at him, gritting his teeth as he took in all the smooth skin beneath him. Even with Ethan