Page 8 of Deception

Without thinking, he bolted up the stairs to the little apartment over the garage where Summer was staying. He’d been staying in one of the spare rooms above the saloon, and even the fact that his window faced the street and not Summer’s side hadn’t stopped him from dreaming about her every night.

Was she his mate? He told himself it didn’t matter. He’d keep her safe even if she was someone else’s mate. Even if it killed him.

“Summer.” He grabbed the banister at the top of the stairs to keep from bursting into the room.

She was sitting on the couch, slumped over and shaking, and it wrecked him to see her like that.

She stood up quickly, trying to cover up her tears.

“Coming. I was just, um…”

You were just crying,he nearly said. It didn’t matter that she’d brushed her cheeks quickly. He saw the shine on her skin.

His bear cried, too, and before he knew it, he’d rushed to her side. And whoa — he hugged her, too, holding her close for the first time.

They stood in a tight knot, speechless, letting their hearts beat against each other. Desperately. Fearfully. But bit by bit, the pain and anger receded. Everything turned warm and fuzzy, and the outside world gradually receded to someplace miles away. He breathed in her scent and petted her hair.

Nice,his bear hummed. It was as silky as he thought. Silky and soft and so beautiful to behold, like the sight of her closing her eyes and hugging him back.

Then Luke beeped his horn outside, and fuck. The real world came blaring back.

Drew took a deep breath. Even if the occasion was all wrong, holding her felt so right.

“You don’t have to go,” he whispered, smoothing her hair. He tucked her head under his chin and squeezed, because fate was lurking nearby, ready to drag her away.

“I have to go,” she sniffled. Her arms, though, wound around his waist and held him as hard as he held her.

Mate,his bear growled.My mate.

“Don’t force yourself to do this, Summer. Don’t. Everyone will understand.”

She shook her head. “I have to go. Don’t you see? I have to go.”

The shake in her shoulders told him she was looking at her past. All those ghosts, grappling with her in a war he couldn’t fight.

Trust,a deep, ancient voice whispered in the back of his mind.You have to trust.

Trust what? Trust Summer to some cruel fate? If that voice had come with a face, he would have been tempted to punch it. Everyone knew fate messed around with innocent souls, and God knew fate had messed around with Summer. She’d been through so much already.

Trust that she has to do this alone,the voice said, echoing in the darkest corners of his mind.

Hell, no. Why should Summer face the rogues alone?

It’s not just the rogues she has to face,the voice murmured.

He sucked in his lips, not wanting to agree. But, damn. It was true. He had to force himself to let her go, didn’t he?

Trust me,the voice said, fading away.

He hated the idea. Fate let so many terrible things happen. History was full of examples of suffering and loss. Every day, somebody suffered somewhere. Why the hell should he trust fate?

I don’t want to let her go,his bear mourned.

But, shit. Maybe he had to.

She looked up at him with her chocolate brown eyes, making his breath catch. She wasn’t looking at him. She was looking at his lips.

Kiss her,his bear whispered.Kiss her good-bye.

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