Page 50 of Into the Dawn

I tied him to my headboard and called my father to take him away. Anything could have gone wrong. At no point have I shown myself to be trustworthy or reliable. The memory of his betrayed expression that night still haunts me.

"That's not for you to decide. That's for Ben to choose. And he chose you years ago," Holly says. "Do you trust him?"

"Yes," I answer quickly, not even needing to think about it. My beast chuffs in agreement. "I'd trust Ben with my life."

"Then trust him to make his own decision. He's a big boy, he knows what he wants." She stands with a tired groan that turns into a soft laugh. "Maybe this time, let yourself choose him back."

After she leaves, I creep down the hallway to the now empty bathroom and eye the steaming warm water with something akin to lust. The scent of lavender and vanilla rises with the steam.

Undressing faster than I thought my exhausted body could, I step in and let myself sink beneath the bubbles with a contented sigh. The warm water helps ease some of the tension from my muscles.

Ben stays away, though I hear his voice in the distance, making phone calls and speaking with Evan. The mate bond thrums steadily, letting me know he's near, even when I can't see him.

Dawn creeps in through the windows, painting the room in soft grays and pinks. I’ve processed Holly’s words, and I finally think I've made my decision. My beast purrs in agreement.

The water cools, and I’ve topped it up multiple times before I hear Ben's footsteps halt outside the bathroom. When I see the shadow under the door move away again, panic grips me, telling me all I need to know.

The thought of him leaving, even just moving a few feet away, is unbearable. I need to tell him that and let him decide whether he wants to keep me.

27

VANESSA

After wrapping myself up in the fluffiest dressing gown ever, I pad along the corridor quietly, my bare feet silent on the wooden floor. The house is peaceful in these pre-dawn hours with only the faint sounds of nature filtering through the windows.

When I get a blast of his scent, it’s enough to make my heart skip, and my steps falter. And I know I'm at the right door. His presence calls from somewhere deep within me. Swallowing hard, I rest my palm against the cold surface and push, peering through the door before I slip inside.

Ben’s sprawled across the bed with one arm thrown over his eyes, and the other, dangling toward the floor. Even in sleep, his body is oriented toward the door. Toward me.

My heart swells at the sight of him, this powerful man who found a way to save me from my father's plans. The mate bond pulses stronger with proximity.

I settle on the floor beside him, unable to resist reaching out to trace the strong line of his jaw, rough with stubble.

His eyes flutter open instantly, alert despite the late hour. The amber glow of his beast shows through momentarily before fading. "Nessie? What's wrong?"

The concern in his voice nearly undoes me.

"Nothing," I whisper, forcing myself to hold his gaze.

"I must have nodded off, sorry." He sits up and sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. "Let me show you the guest room."

A pang of hurt pierces me in the chest until I remember what Holly said. He's going above and beyond to give me space to process what's just happened. My mate is too much of a gentleman to pressure me so quickly with conversations about us and what he'd like to happen next.

Scared as I am, it's going to have to be me.

"I don't want the guest room, but I'll stay there if that's what you want or need right now."

I catch his arm and stop him from standing, moving closer as he stares at me with a mixture of surprise and trepidation.

"I love you, Ben. Always have. And I messed things up before, and probably this time, too. But if there's any way you think we can work past this, I'll do whatever it takes."

He lifts his head to look at me properly, his amber eyes staring straight into mine. "We were too young. You needed time."

With a gentle shake of my head, I move closer until I can feel the warmth radiating from him.

"I was scared. But I'm not now. Not anymore."

The mate bond thrums between us, now, stronger than ever.

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