"The real question here, Tanner, is: are you really willing to do anything to get him back?" Kyle asks.
"What the hell do you want? Just speak up already," Tanner snaps impatiently.
"Okay. Know that what I'm about to ask you to do isn't my idea, it's Jess's. When he told me yesterday that he loves you but would never forgive you for what you did to him, I insisted. I asked him, if there was absolutely no other option, what would he make you do in order to forgive you? And he said this..."
Kyle pauses briefly, watching Tanner's expression harden.
"He said he would have you call all the pack members and tell them you love a man, and that it's none of their business. That whoever you choose to love isn't up for their judgment. And from that moment, he said everyone should be free to love whoever they want. He said, when you do that, he'll know you aren't going to be hiding him in the shadows anymore. That you're not just saying you love him while keeping him tucked away in shame."
Kyle steps closer. "So that's what I want you to do. Especially in front of those officials who are always the first to judge, tell them, face to face, that you love a man. And that man is none other than the very person you once condemned, Jess Wolfe."
"Just shut up already! You have no idea what you're saying!" Tanner explodes, as if unable to hold it inside anymore, he cuts Kyle off.
But Kyle cuts him back, his voice firm. "When you're ready to do that, call this number." He hands Tanner a small slip of paper. "Until then, I'm leaving."
He turns to walk away, but Tanner yanks him back and slams him against the wall.
"You think I'll just let you walk away like that?!"
Kyle doesn't flinch. "What are you gonna do? Hmm? Go ahead. Cut me to pieces. Make me bleed. I won't talk. You have no idea how much I endured in that place you sent me. And even if the pain was worse than what I've already gone through, I still wouldn't tell you where Jess is, unless you prove that you really want him. That you need him. That you're willing to do anything for him. That you won't keep hiding him like a secret you're ashamed of!"
He pushes Tanner off him, breathing hard.
"And let me make one thing clear," Kyle continues, "no matter how hard you search for him, you'll never find him..."
He walks off, and disappears into thin air.
Tanner stares at the empty space, stunned. It's true. He's searched almost everywhere, and there's no trace of Jess.
Three long, exhausting days pass before he returns to the pack house, completely drained.
The moment Charlotte sees him, she rushes to his side. But Tanner doesn't even spare her a glance.
"I already know what you're up to," he says coldly. "So why don't you drop the act, save your energy, and disappear from this place!"
His voice is low, laced with rage and exhaustion. The servants nearby stare, their faces wide with surprise.
Charlotte, who had rushed over with fake concern, now stands frozen in shame. The way the servants look at her pierces deeper than she expects.
Shame sticks on her like a second skin.
Still, she follows Tanner inside and finds him entering the study. When he sees her, he tries to slam the door in her face, but she holds it and pushes her way in.
"What are you talking about?" she asks, trying to keep calm, as if testing the waters to see just how much Tanner really knows.
"I'm very tired. And the last thing I need right now is your irritating voice in my ears. So turn around and leave," he mutters, trying to suppress his boiling anger.
"Oh? So this is how you're going to treat me? After you asked me to marry you? This is how you treat women?! I should have known when you sent away your first wife that you'd do the same to me!"
"By 'first wife'... do you mean Jess?" Tanner asks quietly.
Charlotte's face goes pale. "How did you know I knew that?!"
Tanner slams his fist on the desk, startling her. "That's the stupidest question I've ever heard. Get out of my sight, Charlotte, before I do something I'll regret immediately after. And let me make something very clear- if anything happens to Jess or my child, I will make your life a living hell. And you know I don't make empty threats."
"Tanner, how could you do this to me?! I was being used! My brother and father are the ones who wanted Jess, they wanted him to carry the heir of their family. I'm not involved! Why would I want him?! I'm not even a man!"
Tears well up in her eyes. "They threatened me to help them keep you away from Jess, but that's not why I married you. You know how much I've always loved y..."
"Enough!" Tanner roars.
Charlotte flinches, her panic setting in. She can pretend she doesn't care. Pretend she's ready to destroy Tanner. But deep down, she loves him. She always has.
But the realization that Tanner will never truly love her, that he only ever saw her as second best, is what breaks her. It's why she agreed to everything. To help bring him down.
But the thought of Tanner hating her completely now that he has found out_ makes her Punic.
"You can't do this to me!" she suddenly cries. "I'm carrying your child too!"
_--__--
Hey guys, hope you're all doing great! Just a quick update... I'll be locking chapters soon. But please don't stop reading; there's still plenty of spice yet to come! I'll be uploading three chapters every day. And...Don't forget to send me some gifts and golden tickets🥹
Love you all and thank you so much for your support.