“I c-can’t,” I say, my words muffled in my arms.
“I know. I get it. No one is going to make you come down, okay? Did you see the human next to him, though? The blond guy? That’s Evan. His mate.”
I lift my head. “He’s... The human is dating a vampire?”
Rowen gives me a weak smile. “Yeah. So if Jer is going to feed from anyone, it’ll be him. It’s kind of a cool story, actually, if you want to hear it.”
Rowen is trying to distract me, but I don’t want to hear about the vampire. I don’t even want tothinkabout him. Or his human. How stupid can the man be to date a vampire?
I shake my head.
“Okay. Not now. I get that. But maybe someday?”
I don’t reply.
My stomach growls painfully, making me wrap an arm around my middle.
“How about I get you some food?” Rowen starts to get up, but I panic and clutch at his arm.
“Don’t.”
His warm eyes hold mine for a long beat, then he gently covers my hand with his. “I’ll come right back, then I’ll sit with you for as long as you want, okay? Just let me get you some food.”
His words feel like a promise. I sink back against the dusty corner of the closet.
“I’ll be right back.”
Fear slams into me the moment he leaves, and my whole body shakes. I want to close the closet again, but I can’t bring myself to move.
It’s stupid. I’m stupid. I shouldn’t be acting this way, hiding in a fucking closet! I’m twenty-four years old! The pack probably thinks I’m pathetic now, and they probably regret taking me in at all.
Finally, Rowen returns with a large wooden tray. He sets it carefully on the floor in front of me before turning to sit against the wall inside the closet. “Wasn’t sure what toppings you’d like, so I brought you a little of everything,” he says softly. “There’s fresh butter for the cornbread too. Oh, and milk. Can’t have chili without milk.”
I pull the tray onto my lap and take a bite. It’s just as delicious as everything else I’ve had here.
“I also brought this.” Rowen holds a tablet up. “Thought we could watch something. You know, to get your mind off things. Is that okay?”
I stare at him. I don’t remember the last time I saw a movie. Before the club, I had been living in a hospital room for over a month, but even then I had been too out of it to turn on the TV, spending most of my time sleeping or staring out the window. And before that?
My heart sinks.
Before that, I never had time for TV. God, I miss that time of my life. I’d give anything to go back to it.
Rowen turns the tablet on, and after finding a movie, props it against the door. He says nothing while I eat, doesn’t push me to make conversation. He doesn’t move any closer either. But his presence fills every centimeter of the small space, wrapping around me like a warm blanket.
When I’m finished eating, he slides the tray out of the closet, but still doesn’t move. Like he knows I’m not ready to come out yet.
I pull my knees up, hugging them to my chest. I end up watching more of Rowen than I do the movie. If he notices, he doesn’t let on.
All I can think about is the vampire, Jericho. Foxx wanted him for his own, but he was also afraid of him. These shifters aren’t. Rowen had even said he trusted him.
“He’s…” I try, but the words come out like shards of glass. My stomach twists. Rowen waits patiently. “The vampire, I mean. Je-Jericho. He’s—he’s really a friend?”
Rowen nods slowly. “He is. He’s a good guy. Evan too. They won’t hurt you.”
I chew my lip. I don’t understand how they can trust a vampire, but… something inside me trusts Rowen, so maybe if nothing else, I can trust him to keep me safe.
We don’t talk for the rest of the movie.
