Paige was shaking her head. “Conleth?—”
“One summer,” he interrupted, trying not to let his voice betray the panic closing round his throat. “One summer, that’s all I ask. You don’t have to work with me in the office, if you’d prefer to go back to your original assignment as a counselor. But at least agree to spend some time together.”
“I wish I could, Conleth.” Maybe it was his own wishful thinking, but he thought there was genuine regret in her hazel eyes. “But I can’t. Not now, of all times. You saw how Archie reacted to you. If he thought we might get together, he’d spend all his time trying to interfere rather than concentrating on his shifting. And hehasto get better control over his bear this summer.”
His attention snagged on her phrasing. “Why this summer in particular?”
For the briefest instant, Paige froze. Other people might have missed that fractional pause, but not him. She hadn’t meant to let that piece of information slip out.
“He just can’t keep shifting all the time.” Paige’s gaze slid away a little, not quite meeting his. “He’s already had some close calls at school. And if he falls behind any further, he’s in danger of getting expelled. We can’t explain to his teachers that he can’t pay attention in class because he’s struggling to remain human. My mom’s sick with worry. He needs to learn how to repress his animal, and fast. This is the only place he can do that.”
It was a plausible explanation. It might even be true. Yet Conleth’s intuition told him that there was something more going on here.
But this wasn’t the time to try to uncover the truth. Right now, she had no reason to trust him at all, let alone confide her deepest secrets.
“Then maybe this is why fate brought us together this summer,” he said. “So I can help.”
Paige’s wary expression cracked, revealing a flash of desperate hope. “Did you have trouble controlling your animal when you were younger, too?”
If she’d been anyone else, he would have put on a confident smile and assured her that of course he was an expert on the matter and would have Archie’s bear tamed in a matter of days. One did not get far in business without mastering the subtle art of talking complete bullshit.
But he’d promised her the truth. And he’d never had trouble controlling his shifting.
Just everything else.
“Well…no,” he admitted, and saw the hope die in her eyes. He rushed on, “But I’m a shifter. Archie and I have that much in common, at least. Let me spend more time with him, too. Maybe I can get to the root cause of his problem.”
Paige let out a brief, humorous laugh. “Conleth, Archie hates your guts. You’re the last person he’d be willing to listen to, especially under the circumstances.”
“Then I’ll find someone else to mentor him. Or come up with a different plan. I’m your mate, Paige. No matter what, I’m not going to leave you face this problem alone.” Remembering the way she’d looked at him earlier, he risked a step closer. “I understand you want what’s best for your brother. But is that trulyallyou want?”
It was a mistake. He could practically see her walls slamming up. He’d gone too far, too fast. And it was going to cost him everything.
Stupid, impulsive idiot.
“My brother has to be my only priority right now.” Paige retreated, jaw firming. “He has to concentrate on his shifting, and he isn’t going to do that if he’s worrying that I might get together with someone he despises. So from now on, we have to keep our distance from each other. Archie will settle down once he realizes nothing’s going to happen between us.”
“Paige, I’m your mate. You might not fully understand what that means, but Archie does. Even if you’re working as a counselor and I’m in the office, he’s going to be watching my every move from now on.”
Paige groaned. “Which means he’ll be trying to slip away from his counselors at every opportunity instead of concentrating on his shifting. This is a disaster. There has to besomeway to reassure him we’re not getting up to anything while his back is turned.”
Therewasa way. A plan was already coalescing in his head, coming into focus. He just didn’t like it.
And Paige was going to like it even less.
“I have an idea about handling that particular problem.” He held up a hand to forestall any questions. “But I need to figure out some details. For now, go to Leonie. Tell her you can’t work with me, and that you want to go back to your original assignment as a pack counselor. Leave the rest to me.”
“Okay.” Paige hesitated, expression softening. “I’m sorry, Conleth. I know this isn’t what you wanted. Thanks for understanding.”
“I’m your mate,” he said simply. “I’d do anything for you.”
She touched the back of his hand; only for an instant, but he felt it all the way to his heart. “For what it’s worth, I really do wish things could be different. I…just wanted you to know.”
She turned, heading back to camp. Conleth watched her go, nerves still tingling with that brief, grateful touch.
And he knew that in a few short hours, she wasn’t going to feel the same way.
CHAPTER 9
