I squeezed her gently. "Of course. I’d be honored to know about your mother. I think it's important for you to know about her. And if your dad's not ready to talk about her yet, we can find other ways to learn more." One day, I’d tell her about my Faith, too. Not yet. She needed this to be about her, not me. But I’d give her that trust, to confide in her. She deserved it.
A sniffle escaped her as she nodded, leaning into my side. "I'd like that."
We sat together, the gap between us beginning to close. It wasn't complete, but it was a start. A silent acceptance of the growing bond we shared.
As the minutes ticked by, Elle's weight grew heavier against me. Her breathing evened out, the exhaustion from the long night finally catching up to her.
Carefully, I eased her down onto the pillows, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She looked so young insleep, the weight of her abilities and the loss of her mother temporarily lifted from her shoulders.
I brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, my heart swelling with a fierce protectiveness. I might not have asked for this bond, but I'd be damned if I didn't do everything in my power to be there for Elle. For all of them.
With a final glance, I slipped out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind me. Tomorrow was a new day. A chance to start fresh, to build on the tentative connection we'd forged tonight.
I stepped out of Elle's room, gently closing the door behind me, and nearly collided with Nathan. He stood in the hallway, an unreadable expression on his face as he studied me for a long moment.
"She's asleep," I whispered. "We talked."
Nathan nodded, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "I heard. I couldn’t help but catch the end of the conversation. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I came up to check on you both and caught the bit about her mom. Thank you." Something about the way he said it, the raw sincerity in his tone, made warmth spread through my chest.
"Of course." I offered a small smile, the weight of the night's events still heavy on my shoulders. "She's a great kid. She just needs time."
He exhaled, his broad shoulders sagging slightly. "I know. It's just hard, talking about her mom, reliving those memories..." He trailed off, his gaze distant.
I reached out, my hand hovering just shy of his arm before I let it drop. "I get it. But she needs to know about her mother, to feel connected to her, from you if possible. And when you're ready, I'll be here to help in any way I can."
Nathan's eyes met mine, a flicker of something intense and unguarded passing between us. "I appreciate that, Rissa. More than you know."
The air felt charged, the pull between us almost tangible. I swallowed, my heart hammering against my ribs as I forced myself to step back. To put some distance between us before I did something reckless.
"I should go." I moved past him, my steps quickening as I headed for the front door.
But before I could reach for the handle, Nathan's voice stopped me. "Rissa."
I glanced over my shoulder, my breath catching at the sight of him. He'd followed me, closing the distance between us in a few strides.
And then he kissed me, his lips firm and insistent against mine. I melted into him, my hands fisting in the fabric of his shirt as the kiss deepened, months of pent-up longing pouring out of us.
But reality crashed back in, the weight of our responsibilities, the complicated tangle of our lives, and I forced myself to break the kiss, my breath coming in shallow pants.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I managed, my voice unsteady.
Nathan's gaze was heated, his eyes dark with surprise. He chuckled low. “If you think you’re going anywhere after what Gavin found at your place, you’ve lost your mind. He's even staying at the pack house with the enforcers and Ula.”
I laughed at his directness but faded at the heat in his eyes. He was serious.
“Okay, then,” I said. “I guess I’m staying here.”
And as Nathan took my hand and led me toward his bedroom, how could I be mad?
Chapter 28
Nathan
I ledRissa into my bedroom, exhaustion weighing down my limbs. Tension from the failed trap still coiled tightly under my skin.
Rissa moved about the room, her presence soothing my wolf in a way I couldn't ignore. Satisfied. Protective. This rightness, this sense of mate and family and home, it was what I'd been missing for so long.
Part of me ached, unsure how to move forward after everything. But watching Rissa, having her here in my space like this, stirred something powerful inside me. My heart clenched with an emotion I wasn't ready to name.
