She squeezes my hand tighter.Just a little.Her skin is cold.Too cold.My dire wolf whines, wanting to pull her into my arms.Not yet.
I guide her hand to rest on her own lap slowly and sit at the edge of the bed, not touching her, but near.
She breathes unevenly.“Silas?”
“Yes?”
“You came back.”
My chest aches.“Of course I came back.”
She nods, but she doesn’t look convinced.
“Do you want to rest again?”I ask softly.
“No.”She pulls her knees up, hugging them.“If I sleep, I’ll dream.”
I swallow hard.“Then I’ll stay awake with you.”
Her eyes flick to me, wide and vulnerable.“Won’t you be tired?”
“I’ll sleep when you’re safe.”
She frowns.“But I am safe.”
I shake my head.“You may be physically safe, but it won’t count until you feel safe.”
Her breath catches.A tear slips down her cheek.She doesn’t seem to notice.Or maybe she’s gotten used to it.
“Silas,” she whispers again.
“Yeah?”
“You didn’t leave when I panicked.”
“No,” I say quietly.“I won’t leave because of that.”
“Or when I couldn’t shift.”
“Never.”
“Or when I...”Her voice cracks.
“Aria.”I lean in slightly.“I’m not leaving.”
She stares at me for a long, trembling moment.
Then, very slowly, she lifts her hand and reaches toward me.She doesn’t touch me.Not really.Her fingertips brush the sleeve of my shirt.A feather-light contact.Barely there.But it hits like lightning.
My heart stops.My breath stops.My dire wolf stops.Her hand shakes, but she keeps it there.
“I don’t...”she whispers, voice breaking.“I don’t want to be afraid of you.”
Something fractures inside me.Painful.Beautiful.Terrifying.
“You don’t have to be,” I say, voice low.“I’ll earn your trust.Every day.”
Her lips tremble.“Even if it takes a long time?”
