What in the hell had happened since he’d left me last night? He’d been so happy only hours ago.
“Lanche,” he breathed out before jumping to his feet and stepping up to me. He stared at me like he didn’t know what to do or say.
For a few seconds, I didn’t know what to do or say either, but I really wanted to comfort him. So I gingerly leaned down and pulled the werewolf into my arms. He let out a shuddering breath as he clung to me, and for a moment, I was afraid he was crying. I heard a few sniffles, so he might’ve been.
What the hell? Did someone hurt him?
“Hey, Dain,” I whispered into his fluffy hair. “I’ve got you.”
He let out a little hiccup noise, sniffled again, and cleared his throat, but he didn’t pull away.
After a few seconds, I asked, “What’s wrong, sweet little wolf?”
He snorted, then sighed. “I… I’m afraid to tell you.”
My brow furrowed. “Why in the world would you be afraid to tell me? You can tell me anything.”
With another long sigh, he pushed away and moved back to his seat, gesturing across the table. “Have a seat, okay?”
We both sat, and Dain picked up his menu, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.
“You wanna tell me what’s wrong? You’re kind of freaking me out over here.”
He set his menu down and took a deep breath. “Someone broke into my apartment last night.”
My entire body went rigid. “What? Why didn’t you call me? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
He shook his head. “I’m fine. They broke in while we were on our date. They were already gone by the time I got home.”
When I realized he was fidgeting with a napkin, I reached across the table and covered his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Is your apartment okay? Did a lot get taken?”
His eyes met mine, and I could see a mixture of pain and fear in them. “Lanche… I… I had… I had your icicle there. They… they stole it.” He looked like he was about to cry again.
But I froze. My icicle. Someone stole my icicle from him.
My chest tightened as true fear rushed through me.
Some… some stranger, some thief, had my icicle. They could access my magic any time they wanted. They couldcontrol me.
Holy shit. Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.
They could control me and my magic.
What the hell was I going to do?
What the hellcouldI do?
Shit, shit, shit, shit.
“Lanche?”
Fuck. Oh great Ice Goddess, please help me. Please save me from this evil.
“Lanche?”
How could I stop this? How could I keep my autonomy?
“Lanche!”
