“Never,” I mutter.
Her gaze flicks to Trinity, sharp but not unkind.“You did well tonight.”Trinity flinches like she’s been struck.“You’re not the first ghost whisperer, girl.”
“What?”she asks in shock.
“There have been others before you.They were hurt as you were and they never found a pack to accept them.”
Sadness seeps into my mate like poison and Xavia leaves without another word.
The infirmary empties gradually as the rescued are settled and the pack disperses, exhaustion finally catching up to adrenaline.Caine pauses in the doorway, his gaze moving between Trinity and me.
“Get some rest,” he says simply.“We’ll talk later.”
I nod but Trinity doesn’t move.When the door closes behind him, silence settles thick and heavy around us.The bond hums, tense and uncertain, like it doesn’t know which direction to lean.
“I should...”Trinity starts, turning toward the door.
“Don’t you dare,” I say quietly.
She stops.I push myself carefully to my feet, ignoring the protest from my ribs.“Come with me.”
She follows without question.We don’t go to my cabin.
I don’t trust myself with that space right now, with the memory of her in my bed, the softness of this morning before our world turned to shit, the way I thought we were building something simple and honest.
Instead, we walk to the edge of the compound where the trees press close, and the air smells like damp earth and pine.A place meant for hard conversations.I stop and turn to face her.She looks wrecked.
Blood stains her hands where she tried to hold pressure on my wound.Dirt smudges her cheek.Her eyes are too bright, too alert, like she’s bracing for a blow she can’t see coming.
I don’t raise my voice.That would be easy.Satisfying, even.I don’t do easy.
“You lied to me,” I say.
Her shoulders tense.“Yes.”
“You let me believe you were just ...intuitive.Observant.”
“Yes.”
“You let me bring you into danger without knowing the full truth.”
Her breath shudders.“I never meant for you to get hurt.”
“I know,” I say.And I do.That’s the problem.
The bond pulses, carrying her fear and regret straight into my chest.It hurts but not because it’s sharp.Because it’s sincere.
“Why?”I ask.One word.Heavy as stone.
She looks away, jaw trembling.“Because every time I’ve told the truth, I’ve lost everything.”
I step closer, not crowding, but not distant either.“You think I would’ve sent you away.”
“I thought you’d look at me differently,” she whispers.“Like I was ...wrong.Dangerous.Something to manage instead of someone to choose.”
The words hit hard and I drag a hand through my hair, frustration coiling tight.“Trinity, I felt the bond the moment I saw you.I accepted it without hesitation.Do you really think some ghosts would change that?”
She lets out a broken laugh.“That’s easy to say when you haven’t watched an entire pack turn on you.When ghosts have made people turn their backs on you or treat you differently.”
