She kissed his forehead. “Now go to your mate. He went upstairs. I’m sure he’s worried about you.”
/~/~/~/~/
Leyden found Connor in their bedroom, standing at the window with his arms crossed tight over his chest. The rigid set of his shoulders screamed tension.
“Connor…”
“You should go after him. Work things out.”
The flat tone sent alarm through Leyden’s chest. He moved closer, reaching for Connor’s arm. Connor shifted away before contact, the small movement cutting deeper than a blade.
“I don’t want to work things out with my father right now,” Leyden said carefully. “I want to talk to you.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” Connor kept his gaze fixed on the window. “You should get some rest. You have a few enforcer interviews tomorrow.”
Professional words of caring with no emotion.
Leyden’s wolf snarled at the distance Connor was creating. Through their bond, he felt confusion, hurt, something dark and painful Connor was trying to hide.
“Er…Connor. In case you forgot, we only just got up. We haven’t even had breakfast yet. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.” Leyden moved around to face Connor, blocking his view of the window. “You’re pulling away from me. I can feel it through the bond.”
Connor’s jaw tightened. He looked past Leyden rather than at him. “I’m just tired.”
“Connor.” Leyden gentled his voice. “Don’t lie. Talk to me. Please.”
“I need to shower.”
Connor tried to slip past, but Leyden caught his arm. Connor went rigid under his touch, muscles locked.
“Let me go.”
“Not until you tell me what happened.” Leyden kept his grip light, ready to release if Connor truly needed it. “One minute you’re fine, concerned but fine. The next minute you’re shutting down completely. What changed?”
“Nothing changed.” Connor stared at Leyden’s chest rather than his face. “I just realized some things.”
“What things?”
Silence stretched. Through the bond, Leyden felt Connor’s internal struggle, the way he wrestled with whether to speak or not.
“I heard,” Connor said finally, voice barely above a whisper.
“Heard what?” A lump formed in Leyden’s stomach.
“Everything.” Connor’s throat worked. “Your conversation with your father. Through the bond, I heard it all.”
Oh, Shit. “You heard…”
“You defending me. Him saying I’m not good enough.” Connor’s voice cracked slightly. “Him being right.”
“He wasn’t right.” Anger flared hot in Leyden’s chest. “My father is a stubborn, narrow-minded…”
“He loves you.” Connor finally met Leyden’s eyes, and the raw pain there stole Leyden’s breath. “He wants what’s best for you. And what’s best isn’t a mate who can’t even…” Connor’s voicebroke. “Who can’t give you the most basic thing mates are supposed to share.”
“Connor, don’t…”
