Compelled (Shadow Beast Shifters, #5)

by Jaymin Eve

A leader should never disregard the wants and needs of their people. Never.

If I had to choose my battles, then I also had to respect my allies. He was the only one I had here, and I would take him over these assholes any day.

“You must love Mera a lot,” I finally choked out, accepting his words, “to offer yourself in the selection to save her friend.” To my surprise he said, “I’m not doing this for her.”

Instead, all I’d found was pain, grief, and the realization that I was better off sticking to the fantasy stories in my books. There was no huge destiny out there for me, no matter how much my soul craved it.

Life was short, so I would focus on fighting to enjoy every second I had.

“And between you and me, I’m really hoping you win this thing.”

“You asked me what I’d talk about if I was truly looking for a mate,” he said. “And the truth is, I would tell them that I’m a broken, damaged being. That I don’t know if I can be a great mate, but that if I found the one who called to my blood, I’d destroy worlds to keep them safe.”