He nodded. “Want me to go with you?”
I always wanted him around, but for this, I just wanted to be home with my family. “Seems like you’re busy.”
“Are you okay?”
No. “Yes.”
He stepped closer to me. “You’re lying.”
“I don’t think I’ll be okay until all of this is over.” That was the truth. I wanted to get back to my life and not have to worry about defending it. “Don’t keep things from me, okay?”
“I didn’t—”
“You sort of did.” I waved off his protest. “It’s fine, but I need to know what I’m dealing with. I feel like I’m in the dark all the time and you’re only giving me half the story.” If I’d known all this last night, I might’ve made a different call. Whatever the consequences, I doubted I could’ve stopped the bonding ceremony if I’d known Dastien’s life was at risk.
“I’m not keeping anything from you. Every time I brought it up, you changed the subject.”
He had a point. In his defense, he’d brought it up almost daily. “Well, I’m ready now. So no holding back. Even if I don’t want to hear it. Promise?”
“I promise.” He pressed his lips to mine. “Come back here when you’re done.”
Where else would I go? “Okay.”
“Call me if you need me.”
“Sure.” He was looking at me so intently, I knew something was up. “Are you okay?”
He stared up at the sky. “I don’t want you to go.”
I laughed. “I can tell.” I yanked him down for a kiss that he quickly deepened, but I pulled away before I got too breathless. “I’ll see you in a couple hours. Meet me for lunch?”
“D’accord.”
When I looked back at him, he was watching me walk away. The expression on his face was one of love, but also longing. I knew exactly how he was feeling. I’d been planning on spending the day snuggling with him, and now I needed to prepare a defense. Definitely not as fun.
Soon, he said.
Can’t wait.
***
It was still hot outside, but I drove with the AC off and the windows down. My hair was tied back in a messy bun, but a few loose pieces of hair whipped against my face. There was no more time for quiet reflection. Even in the odd spare moments I’d had alone in the dorms, I could hear the conversations in the rooms around me.
The overwhelming lack of privacy had only gotten worse. And now, if I concentrated, I could feel the pack. It was faint, but I’d borrowed energy from the wolves to help break Meredith’s curse, and my awareness of the pack bonds had never fully disappeared since then. With the mate bond getting stronger every day, I felt like there was no room in my head for my own thoughts. After a lifetime of visions, I should’ve been used to it, but those few heavenly weeks of peace—before I realized what being in the pack and mated really meant—had spoiled me.
A few months ago—hell, a few days ago—I couldn’t figure out why Dastien was with me. He had the pick of any girl. But now I knew. Being an alpha weighed on him more than anything else. Having me around kept him grounded. Helped him keep control.
The more I found out about him, the more I realized that the two of us were a good match. Luck wasn’t my thing, but I was starting to think that fate was.
I saw the turn off for my parents’ house and kept on going. I wasn’t ready to end the drive yet.
When I pulled up to the yellow house, I couldn’t believe it’d been nearly an hour. My dad stepped onto the porch as I pulled up, and I turned down the music. My ears were ringing, but it was worth it. I felt a million times better. Music really did soothe my soul.
“You trying to kill your eardrums? I could hear you about a mile out.”
“Eh. They’ll heal.”
“How about sparing the rest of us, then?”
Funny, Dad. “I’m sure from a mile away, you’re safe.”
“That’s what you’d think, but with your music…” He hugged me, and I smelled his aftershave. He’d used the same one since I was a little girl. It was one of my favorite smells. “How’re you doing?”
“I’ve been better.” I pulled away from him. “I wanted your legal advice. Plus, I figure your PR spin could help, too.”
He nodded. “I heard there was a little trouble last night. This Tribunal thing sounds not good.” He put his arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go in the kitchen and we can talk about it.”
