“Tell me you feel the same, and I’ll spend all night proving how desperately I want you.”
“Why?” Soren’s voice is barely above a whisper. “I don’t get it. You don’t know me.”
Gods, but Ido.I know him better than I know the depths of my heart. If only he knew that.
“I know enough,” I say, lowering my face so our foreheads touch. “I know that you’re loyal to your family. That you’re brave and adventurous. Kind. For now, that’s good enough.”
Soren’s breath quickens, but not from desire. No, he’sscared.Horrified, I step back. My heart drops into my stomach. Shit. What have I done?
“Look, I, uh…” Soren shoves past me and grabs his sweater. “I had fun today, but it’s late. I’ve gotta get home.”
No, no,no.“Why?”
Soren tugs on his sweater. “Early shift at the bar, so—” He disappears into his clothing, arms flailing.
Going to him, I grab his sleeves and help tug them down over his arms. His hair is tousled, his cheeks flushed. “What did I say?” I ask him, giving his wrists a gentle squeeze.
He shakes his head. “Nothing, just… Okay. Lyall, I just got out of a relationship. I had a good feeling about him, but he didn’t feel the same.”
“Then he’s a fool,” I growl.
Soren tugs out of my grip and grabs his coat. “You’re great, okay? But I’m not looking for a relationship right now. Or ever.”
His words make my heart sink. He… doesn’t want me. My mate doesn’t want me.
“I wouldn’t hurt you,” I say.
Soren looks down at the tiled floor, the muscles in his jaw jumping. “I wish I could believe you. But I can’t. I’ve been burned too many times. It’s not your fault. I’m not in a good place right now, and you deserve better.”
Someone has hurt my mate, made him afraid to trust me. I want to hunt them down and rip them limb from limb.
Soren turns away, and I catch the glimmer of unshed tears in his eyes. I can’t stop myself from taking hold of his wrist again. I can’t let him leave when he’s hurting. “Please don’t leave.”
Soren exhales shakily. “Let go.”
I unwind my fingers from his skin, the disappointment heavy enough to crush me. Swallowing hard, I step back. My wolf howls in my soul, asking me why I’m letting him go, why I’m not taking him in my arms. I can’t. I’ve yearned for him all these years, but to him, we’re onlystrangers. I’d only frighten him if I showed how desperate I am to have him.
I can only watch as the man I love walks out on me, taking all the broken pieces of my heart with him.
“He rejected you?” Jamie’s pitiful gaze makes me want to hide behind the kitchen counter.
I stick another spoonful of raw cookie dough into my mouth. This dessert from the future is irresistible. I wonder if I can make it back home. “Must I repeat myself?”
Jamie shakes his head. “No, no, I was just surprised.”
Anders scoffs. “You were too blunt, as always.”
I point my spoon at him. “You’re hardly one to talk about being blunt!”
Jamie elbows Anders. “He’s got a point. I don’t think this has anything to do with you, Lyall. Soren said it himself. He just got out of a relationship. He’s scared of being hurt again. It’s not easy to open yourself to someone after being burned so many times.”
My heart aches as I recall the sadness in Soren’s eyes. The man I knew and loved was a risk-taker. This man is the very opposite. If only I could make him understand I wouldnever hurt him. I would treasure his heart until the end of my days, should I be worthy enough to earn his love.
“While you were together, did you get the sense that he was attracted to you?” Jamie asks.
“Aye. Very. We would have kissed if he hadn’t run from me.”
“So there’s still hope!”
