The silence stretches, heavy as stone. Tobias clicks away on the computer, finger tracing over the trackpad like it hadn’t just been trembling a few moments ago.
When he realizes I’m still staring, he jerks his chin up, jaw set. “Rowen, I said I’m fine, okay?”
He isn’t. Every instinct is telling me he isn’t.
I open my mouth—ready to press, to demand the truth—but a knock at the door cuts through the tension.
“Toby!” My mother’s voice floats in from somewhere behind me. “You wanted some of the fresh sourdough. It’s ready.”
“Ooh! Yes.” Tobias hops up in an instant, setting the laptop aside. His smile is genuine this time. “Time for carbs,” he jokes lightly.
I don’t smile back.
He walks past me toward the door, brushing my arm as he goes. The touch is light, too light, like he’s testing whether I’ll stop him. I don’t. I can’t.
Not yet.
I turn out of habit to follow him, my chest tight. From behind, he looks steady, sure, every inch the man I’m falling in love with—but I can still hear the echo of his voice from minutes ago.
Please, just stop.
I know what I heard.
And no amount of pretending will make it disappear.
My mate is suffering, and he doesn’t want me to know about it.
Downstairs, laughter fills the kitchen, the easy kind that fills a room. Tobias slips into it effortlessly, smiling at something Sage says. Two loaves of warm sourdough bread are on a cutting board beside a dish of fresh butter. Tobias is practically bouncing on his toes as he cuts himself a slice, beaming from ear to ear.
I stay in the doorway a moment longer. My hands are still shaking as I watch him, the warmth of the room brushing against the cold still lodged in my chest.
If this is what his mother went through… whathewent through… then no wonder he’s been so haunted all his life. It’s like I witnessed a ghost come back to life.
How can I stop this? Is there any hope?
I stop Red on his way by.
His brows furrow as he looks at me.
“Are you still looking into half-bloods?”
He nods slowly, concern deepening. “Why do you ask?”
I fold my arms over my chest and watch my mate. Fear rattles me. “How do I keep him safe, Red?”
“Did something happen?”
I open my mouth to tell him, but nothing comes out. How can I explain what I saw?
Red touches my arm. “Give me time.”
That’s just it though. It feels like I’m out of time… and I only just found him.
Irefuseto lose him. Time or not, I amnotlosing my mate.
Not to his past.
Not to the mark.
