Caine exhales, thoughtful.“Then the bond shouldn’t be affecting you this much yet.”
I don’t respond, because I feel the truth in my ribs, my dire wolf has already accepted her entirely.Long before she ever could.
Caine’s tone softens.“She’s scared of wolves.”
“I know.”
“And of men.”
“I know.”
“You’re both.”
“I.Know.”My anger slips through, and my voice cracks on the last word.
Caine’s head tips slightly.“And you’re still here,” he murmurs.
I look back at Aria, sleeping in a fragile curl on the mattress.“I’m not leaving,” I whisper.
“I didn’t say you should,” Caine replies quietly.Another pause.“You have to be patient with this one, Silas.More patient than you’ve ever been.More patient than I think any male affected by the mate bond has ever been.”
“I can do that.”I don’t have a choice, but I don’t tell him that.
“You also have to be honest with yourself.”
I frown.“About what?”
Caine’s eyes soften, but not with pity, but with understanding.“You’re already in deep.”
My breath leaves me in a slow exhale.“I can’t afford to lose myself,” I say honestly.
“Fate doesn’t care what you can afford,” Caine says gently.“Or what she can.Or what anyone is ready for.”
My chest aches.I look back at Aria, her fragile breathing, the faint tremor still lurking under the surface, even in sleep.
“She doesn’t want a mate,” I say quietly.“She barely tolerates people.”
“She didn’t say no,” Caine answers softly.“She said ‘stay.’Sometimes, that’s bigger than ‘yes.’”
His hand lands on my shoulder, comfort, and a warning.“You’ll have one chance not to fuck this up,” he tells me.“Step wrong, and she’ll run from you for the rest of her life.”
I swallow hard.“I know.”
“And if the bond continues flickering the way it is...”He hesitates, something heavy flickering over his expression.“If her leopard can’t rise ...there’s a chance the bond could destabilize and break completely.”
Cold fear slides down my spine.“Meaning?”
“Meaning the mate link could collapse before it fully forms.Meaning you’d feel it slip out of reach.”
My dire wolf snarls hard enough my skin prickles.
“Meaning you’d lose her.”
The fear hits like a blade to the ribs.I grip the edge of the chair.Caine squeezes my shoulder once more, then straightens.
“We’ll do everything to help her heal.But you need to be steady.Don’t push.Don’t let instinct drive you.Let her lead.”
“I will.”
