Chapter 225. She’s Not Your Mate

Caleb’s POV

“I’m going to say this as your brother and not as the future Alpha,” I said, folding my arms and leaning back against the nearest tree, my eyes locked onto Jade who now stood slouched, his shoulders sagging under the weight of our investigation.

The fading light him cast a soft glow over his hair, highlighting the way he kept running his fingers through it, like he was trying to soothe the mess in his mind. “You’re nineteen now, Jade. You’re not some clueless pup fumbling around trying to figure out who you are. You know damn well what the mating bond is. If you don’t feel it with Maggie, then you have no right—none whatsoever—to give her false hope.”

Jade sighed, that kind of long, weary exhale that made it sound like the weight of the entire pack was on his shoulders instead of just his teenage confusion. He glanced at me, jaw clenched and eyes flickering with a hint of irritation and something softer—regret, maybe. “This is exactly why I didn’