Page 19 of Cost of Courting

He ducks down as if he’s going to kiss me and then freezes, no doubt remembering who I am. He slowly draws back. Our eyes are locked, and I feel like I might pass out.

“You went and grew up without us. I missed you.”

“Lie,” I hiss and struggle, trying to buck him off.

“Every damn day.”

“Two lies.”

“We were coming back for you.”

I let out a wail and smother it by pressing my mouth against my upper arm.

“We were coming back. I promise, Sel.”

He lowers his weight and then rolls, pulling me into a hug that I’m too tired and heartsore to escape from.

I bury my nose in the familiar scent of the darkest part of night. Whenever I smell it, I go outside and stand there thinking of Pack Dread. Every. Damn. Time. I have missed them. I have waited for them.

I lied.

But I don’t think he’s back for me.

Eventually, I get too tired to care, and then I fall asleep on the alpha I have loved since before I knew what love was.

An eerie wail tearsme out of sleep. I jerk away, only to suddenly be lifted and thrown across the room. I hit the wall hard and drop into a crouch, scanning the room for the threat.

There’s only my bed, the dresser, and Mael. He is the only person in here, and he’s thrashing in the bed. Muttering, he looks distraught.

“Let go!” he hisses, but it’s filled with so much desperation that my heart just about stops in my chest.

I pause, straightening slowly, rapidly going through my options. I could go get help, but I would die before I left him. Especially when he’s like this.

“Don’t touch me. Let go of me! I don’t know anything!”

I edge closer, staring down at him. The moonlight is shining in through the window with enough strength that I can see the scars on his chest. His top has clearly been ripped open by him or me.

With no hesitation, I flick the light on and move back to the bed, standing over him.

He is crisscrossed with scars. Some are surface, but most of them are deep furrows. He reaches out, snagging my wrist, but I rip it free and slap his hand away from me.

“Wake up, Morrow.”

He shudders and starts to cry.

Fuck. I’m not strong enough for this. I blink a few times and swallow hard, mentally pulling myself together.

I inch closer, but, as soon as I’m within reach, he grabs me and pulls me close, burying his face in my stomach.

“Don’t leave me.”

I frown and stroke his hair. “You’re safe here, Mael. If anything tries to hurt you, I will cut them to pieces.”

I wince, wishing I could rephrase my words, but I don’t need to. He relaxes in my arms like I’m the balm to his terrors. I reach out hesitantly. I just want to comfort him, but it’s not my place.

He needs it.

Just for tonight.

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