"Not yet. But I need to find out." He paused. "I didn't tell anyone else about this. Not publicly. If whoever did it finds out we're onto them, they might cover their tracks even better. Or do something worse."
"So you just defended me without explaining why you were so sure."
"Your word should be enough. It was enough for me."
Chloe stopped walking, and he stopped with her, turning to face her on the quiet street.
"Why are you doing this?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Defending me, walking me home, acting like... like I matter to you.”
"You do matter to me," he said quickly. "I thought that was obvious."
He heard her breath falter. For a moment, she just stared at him, those green eyes wide with surprise. She gathered herself quickly thought. “Well, not too long ago you were accusing me it felt like.”
He felt himself flinch at her reminding him of that.
“I know, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intent. I’m just…” Corin didn’t know how to finish that sentence. And, thankfully, he didn’t have to.
She smiled softly, barely visible. Her hand lifted, fingers hovering near his arm but not quite touching. The space between them felt charged.
Then she pulled back.
"I should get home." Her voice was unsteady. "I was supposed to meet Twyla for tea, but I think I'll skip it today. I'm tired."
"I can walk you the rest of the way."
"I'm okay. It's just a few more blocks."
She was retreating. He could feel it, the walls going back up, the distance she was putting between them. His bear growled in frustration, but he held back.
"Okay." He stepped back, giving her space. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Maybe. I'll let you know."
She turned and walked away, her boots crunching on the gravel path. Corin watched her go, his hands shoved in his pockets as he forced himself to bite his tongue.
She'd almost reached for him. Almost.
And then she'd pulled away, the same way she always did. Like she couldn't quite believe that someone might actually want her close.
He understood that. Understood the walls she'd built around herself, the years of whispers and suspicion that had taught her not to trust. He wanted to tear those walls down and show her that she was safe with him, that he would never give her a reason to doubt.
But Elias's words came back through his mind: Vane bears don't rush claims. They wait to be chosen.
So he waited.
He watched until she disappeared around the corner, until even his bear's sharp ears couldn't track her footsteps anymore.
17
CHLOE
The cottage felt too quiet.
Chloe stood at her kitchen window, watching the last light fade from the sky. Dusk painted everything in shades of purple and gray, the bare trees at the very edge of her property turning to silhouettes against the darkening horizon.
Something felt wrong.
Not wrong like the sour soil or the dying plants. This was different. A prickling at the back of her neck, an awareness of being observed. She scanned the tree line, looking for movement.
