When Tobias finally turns to me, his eyes glisten in the low light. “I didn’t mean for Ivy to get hurt.”
“I know.”
His voice cracks. “If I’d gone with Rip—”
“Don’t,” I cut in sharply. “Don’t even finish thatsentence.”
He blinks, startled.
“You leaving with him wouldn’t have stopped this. You’d be dead, Toby. Or worse.”
He looks away, jaw trembling. “Maybe that would’ve been easier.”
The growl rips out of me before I can stop it. The air between us vibrates with it—not anger at him, but at the thought. At the sheer hopelessness I hear in his voice.
I grab his face, forcing him to look at me. “Don’teversay that again.”
He stares back at me, wide-eyed.
“You hear me?” My voice drops lower, rougher. “You don’t get to talk about being better off gone. Not when you’ve got a pack, a family, me—all fighting to keep you here.”
“I know. I didn’t mean it.” His throat bobs, and for a second, I think he’s going to pull away. But he doesn’t. He leans into my palm, closing his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I want to fight with you. I’ve been sitting here thinking how this is the only place I’ve ever truly belonged, and I failed you. But I’m just… I’m me, Ro. A human. What hope do I possibly have in this? I’m a danger to you.”
I let go of his face but stay close. The bond between us hums steadily now, softer, calmer. Not whole, but not fractured either.
“You’re not human,” I say. “You’re a half-blood.”
He wipes at his eyes with the back of his hand, exhaling shakily. “And?”
“And, it means you have some fight in you. You might not shift, but you are stronger than a normal human.”
He scoffs. “Now you sound like Red.”
“What has Red been saying?”
“That I should lean in. Embrace my shifter side. He even thought my whispers were my animal instincts getting stronger or something. I don’t know.” He shakes his head. “Clearly, it wasn’t.”
The anger in his tone is unmistakable, but I’m too caught up on the other thing. “He thinks you can shift?”
Tobias shrugs, like the idea is laughable. “He found evidence that my dad was a shifter,” he says softly.
My eyes widen. “What?”
“I wanted to tell you, but I just… I’ve been so overwhelmed with all of this, Rowen.” He sighs.
Tobias’ dad was a shifter too? Moons above, if that’s true… the chances of him shifting are even more likely now. He might still struggle with his animal side, but we can help him. Plus, we’re fated. His animal would know mine instantly. Why haven’t I considered it before?
I pull Tobias closer. To my relief, he sags against me, resting his head against the hollow of my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he whispers again.
“I know.” I close my eyes. “I am too.”
After a long silence, Tobias says, “Do you really think we can fight him?”
“Rip?”
He nods.
I meet his gaze. “Yes.”
