The Howling Heart's Forgiveness

Chapter 98

Watching Brynlee in the corner of the training room talking with Odette as the two she-wolves work out, I find myself smiling and thinking about how this is how life should be. I spent years under my father’s grasp scared for the destruction of my Pack if I went against his wishes and nearly lost the best damn thing ever placed into my life because of this.

“Need a sparing partner?” Jumping, I whirl around intending to punch the person that snuck up on me only to stop my fist from colliding with Quincy’s nose. The Head Warrior smiles at me sheepishly, neither flinching nor retaliating from my sudden attack.

“Sorry, Quincy. I didn’t hit you, did I?” I mutter out awkwardly, lowering my fist as Milan slinks around me, amusement in her eyes while she walks towards my Mate and her friend.

“It’s fine man. Besides, I think I deserve the beating with how I have treated you these last few weeks.” Quincy replies, shrugging as he leans against the wall beside us. We stand there awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to say or do. Since the moment I stepped off that bus in front of the Pack House, Quincy and I have been rivals. We have thrown many punches against one another without thinking, always being scolded by my Aunt in the end for our pettiness even after rescuing Brynlee from Shadow Rose. This is the first time in weeks that we have stood across from one another without any animosity.

“I just wanted-”

“I could use-”

We both stop as we speak at the same time, the awkward atmosphere growing. I can feel the curious gazes of the others in the room on us, watching and waiting to see if we will come to blows with one another again. With a sigh, I motion for Quincy to go first, He approached me peacefully first, albeit scaring the crap out of me, and a good man would hear him out.

“I wanted to apologize for how I have been acting towards you.” He begins, shocking me. I never thought I would see the day Quincy would apologize to me.

The bond hums and Brynlee’s gaze lands on me, making me shiver. I can feel her curiosity through our bond and link her that everything is fine. Quincy and I aren’t going to try and kill each other right now.

“When Brynlee came here, she was cautious of us and we of her and Gale. It wasn’t until they helped us with the aftermath that I realized Brynlee was a strong spitfire and it drew me in.” Quincy continues to explain, his words making me smile. I can just picture Brynlee and my Aunt taking over in helping this Pack after the attack and wonder what job she took over.

“It wasn’t until moments before we held the funeral pyre that I learned of her being rejected and I realized that is what drew me in. She was like me, rejected and abandoned by our Goddess given Mates. At the time I thought maybe, just maybe, the two of us could grow close as friends and help each other out. Then I grew feelings for her.” I hold back the snarl that threatens to spill from my lips. I knew from the moment I met Quincy that he was in love with Brynlee, and was even ready to compete with him while I won her heart back. I know Quincy is only saying this to me because of the guilt I see written clearly on his face. It’s why I haven’t punched him yet.

“I thought she deserved better, deserved a man who could love her. I would have fought you for her if it ever came to that. Then I met Milan three days ago and realized that I could never be the man Brynlee needs because I couldn’t love her the way a Mate could.” Quincy looks up at me, his eyes staring into mine with such sincerity that all the anger I had for him vanishes.

“So I am sorry for how I treated you. Brynlee is important to me, but now I see she is like a little sister. So take care of her. She needs her Mate, she needs you.” With his words said, Quincy begins to walk away from me. Without thinking, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder, stopping him from walking away further.

“How about we put the past few weeks behind us and start over as friends.” I say, feeling Quincy tense under my hand.

“Besides, I could use a sparing partner since Ashton took Caspian into one of the rings.” I chuckle out. Quincy turns around to face me, relief in his eyes as he smiles at me.

“I’m not going to hold back as we spar.” He jokes, shrugging my hand off him.

“Neither will I.” With that, the two of us make our way to the closest empty sparing ring.

[Thank you.] Brynlee links me, her voice filled with relief.

[For what?] I ask, turning to find her staring at me as Milan and Odette work on lifting weights.

[For accepting Quincy’s apology and for turning over a new leaf with him. The old you would have torn him to shreds.] Her words have me pausing and I think back to how I acted in the past before finding Brynlee as my Mate. She is right. Had a male been hostile to me and then tried to apologize weeks later, I would have torn them apart without a second thought. Would have reminded them that their hostility and disrespect towards me would lead to their downfall. It wasn’t until after rejecting Brynlee that I began doubting my actions and started to change.

[I told you, baby, I would do anything to be with you again. That means changing to be a better man, a better Alpha.] I reply, smiling at Brynlee who looks away blushing. Turning back to face Quincy, I see him rolling his eyes at me as he bounces on the balls of his feet.

“Are you done flirting?” He asks making me roll my eyes.

“Yes. Are you ready to get your ass kicked?” I ask back, getting a playful growl from Quincy before he takes a step towards me. Our sparing has begun and I find myself excited to grow this new friendship as my fist moves to intersect Quincy’s first punch.