“How is it physically possible?” Dalton asked flatly.
“Are you asking if it hurts?”
“Iknowit hurts.”
I just looked at him.
“How in the hell are you leaving her every day for hours at a time?”
“It’s not fucking comfortable,” I snapped, becoming frustrated with the questions. “Obviously.”
“You’re not in pain?”
“Yeah, it’s painful. I feel like shit.”
“But it’s manageable,” he mused, his brows drawing together in thought.
“He’s got a high pain tolerance,” Chance said conversationally, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Doesn’t really feel things like the rest of us.”
“No, I don’t,” I argued, waving him off.
“Yes, you do.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You fell and broke your collarbone when we were kids and didn’t say anything. Walked around with it for a week before anyone noticed. Mom finally saw you with your shirt off and lost her mind.”
“It wasn’t a bad break.”
“You were deformed.”
“Would you shut up for a minute?” I turned back to Dalton.
“You also pulled a bullet out of your own leg, what…” Chance paused, counting off on his fingers. “Eight years ago.”
“It wasn’t deep,” I shot back.
“It was in your thigh,” Chance said with a chuckle. “You’re lucky you didn’t lose your balls.”
“Shut—”
“Didn’t mention that one either,” Chance drawled.
“Gods dammit,” I muttered under my breath.
“Oh, and you’ve torn off every fingernail you have at least twice.”
“On a scale of one to ten,” Dalton said, cutting in before I lunged for Chance. “What would you rate the pain when you’re separated from Rosemary?”
“Six,” I replied, lying through my teeth.
Did it hurt to leave her? Fuck yes. It felt like I was coming out of my skin. I loathed it when we were apart.
But I’d made a decision when Zeke died that I’d take care of my family. I’d hold them together however I could. I’d help find my brothers’ mates, and I’d protect them once they were found. Leaving Rosemary where she was safe while I did so was the only option open to me.
I refused to put my mate in danger for any reason.
The consequences would be catastrophic.
“That’s fucking fantastic,” Rosemary said from behind me. I spun to face her.
She’d showered. Her hair was in a sleek fall down her back. She’d changed into a matching set of pajamas, and her feet were covered in a pair of thick hiking socks.
