I reached for him.
He flinched away—but not before I saw it. The flash of raw need in his eyes. The way his body swayed toward me even as he stepped back. He wanted my touch. Craved it. And that was exactly why he couldn't let himself have it.
"Don't," he said. "Please."
"If I lose control again..." He closed his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. "Don't come near me. Promise me. If I break, if I become that thing again—stay away."
"I can't promise that."
"You have to." He opened his eyes. The gold was burning now, desperate. "Because if I hurt you, I won't survive it. I'll let the wolf have me completely. And I won't come back."
The words hit me like a physical blow.
Not a threat.
A plea.
"I'm not afraid of you," I said.
"You should be."
"Well, I'm not." I stepped closer. Held his gaze. "And I'm not giving up on you. Not now. Not ever."
Something cracked in his expression. His hand lifted—trembling—like he wanted to touch my face. He stopped himself. Let it fall.
"Go," he said quietly. "Get some sleep. I'll still be here tomorrow."
"Promise?"
His eyes traced my face like he was memorizing it. Like he might not see it again.
"I promise to try."
It wasn't enough. But it was all he could give.
Chapter two
Imade it through the day on autopilot.
Classes blurred together—I couldn't tell you what Tomlinson lectured about or whether Boone quizzed us. James kept his hand on my knee during Psychology, grounding me, but my mind was back in Stone's room. His voice. His fear.
If I hurt you, I won't survive it.
By the time the last bell rang, I was already walking toward the Healing Center.
Something was wrong with Stone.
I felt it before I reached the east wing—a heaviness through the bond that made my steps slow. Not the sharp edge of crisis, not the wolf surging toward the surface. Something quieter. Deeper.
Like grief.
The corridor was empty when I arrived. Afternoon light filtered through the high windows, catching dust motes thatdrifted through the air. My footsteps echoed against the floor, too loud in the silence.
I knocked on Stone's door.
No answer.
"Stone?" I tried the handle. Unlocked. "I'm coming in."
