Opposition: Montana Wolves, Book Four (Montana Wolves series 4) by Chloe Cole

stood by him when he left for that year. She’d covered for him when he’d snuck out. And he’d repaid her by not trusting her enough to be honest.
    He stared down at Maggie’s pale face and stroked her cheek gently. Looked like he was two for two on that front.
    What a fuck-up.
    As if waking up just in time to concur with that sentiment, Maggie stirred and he stared from Chandra to the patient. “Can you give us a minute?” he asked.
    She quietly exited the room, and he listened as her footfalls grew faint and vanished.
    He’d had a lot of time to think things through while Maggie had slept and healed, and, with any luck, this would be his chance to share those thoughts with her now. And with a whole lot of luck, she might listen without mauling him again.
    His chest tightened, and she blinked once, twice, and three times until her eyes narrowed and she swallowed a yawn.
    “Hey there,” he said. “How are you feeling?”
    She glanced from him to the heavy gauze that covered her shoulder and neck, and then back at him again. “Sore. And tired.”
    “That was a nasty bite.”
    “I’ve had worse from better.” She shrugged and then winced at the movement. She might be groggy, but he could still see the outline of hurt etched across her face, and wondered when she would strike.
    “Does your mate know you’re here?” she asked, looking bored, her voice ice-cold now.
    And there it was. The other shoe landed with a thunk .
    “I hope so. I’m looking right at her.”
    She tried to keep her face expressionless, but he could see the color rising in her cheeks.
    “Grey—”
    “It was an old family agreement. Maggie. Before I left Montana last year, I told her I couldn’t marry her. She assumed when I came back that things would progress the way our families had planned when I became alpha. I was wrong for not telling her otherwise. But I do care about her.” Maggie stiffened and he touched her arm gently. “Because she’s a good person and an even better friend. I didn’t want to hurt her standing in the pack under my father’s rule, and hoped she’d find someone before it became an issue. Then, when I became alpha, I would free her from her obligation. We never loved one another. Hell, we never even slept together. I do need to find a way to make things right with her, but we were never going to be together, whether I met you or not. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you from the start.”
    Confusion filled her eyes now and he pressed on, hoping the fact that she didn’t stop him cold was a positive sign.
    “It’s going to be a shit storm when I get back—the Big Sky old guard believes very strongly in arranged marriages—but I’m hoping to change all that.” He took a deep breath, gearing up for what he was sure would be their biggest fight yet. “My father is under lock and key for his actions last night in battle and, according to some correspondence that was sent here early this morning, I’m to be named the new alpha. I want you to come with me.”
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    “ I—” She choked on the words. Her heart thrummed in her throat, but she swallowed hard, staring at him. Now that she knew the truth and that his relationship with Willa wasn’t one of love, she could see her way to forgiveness, but her giving up her pack?
    “Grey, you know I can’t do that.”
    “You can. The Pray pack is thriving with Liam, but we need you in Big Sky. I need you.”
    She tried to keep it together, forcing herself to remain calm. Surely, this could never work…
    “This is my home.”
    He stroked her cheek and she closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his knuckles as they brushed her skin.
    “Your home is with me, and mine with you. The pack needs us to lead them into the future. To teach them the right way to live. You have all that knowledge from your time here, Maggie. Bring that with you as my mate. Stand by my side and help me rule so we can become worthy allies of the Pray pack. I love you.”
    She stared up