“You can’t just take my pack members.” Jaxon’s voice grows louder.
“He’s my mate. I get to make those decisions.”
“You can’t?—”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not even here,” I call out over them both.
Their heads twist towards me.
“You’re right,” Caleb says with a nod. “You can talk for yourself.”
“What do you want to do, Evan?” Jaxon asks curiously.
I purse my lips and study Caleb for a moment. His eyes are heavy from exhaustion after what happened tonight, but being with him might help. I’ve never felt like I fit in with this pack, but maybe I’ll fit in with him. It might be the fresh start I need.
As much as I love Ava and Jaxon for letting me stay, my trauma will always linger when I’m around Ava. It’s a permanentreminder of all the other girls I didn’t manage to save. I swallow back the lump in my throat as Caleb watches me carefully.
“I want to go with Caleb,” I state.
Jaxon nods, and Ava places a hand on his arm. “He has every right to go with Caleb, Jax,” Ava whispers. “If it’s what he wants, then we have to respect it.”
“He belongs with me,” Caleb murmurs deeply.
“Fine,” Jaxon huffs. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is,” I say with my whole heart.
When Jaxon leaves, I glance at Ava, who steps to my bed. “As sad as it will be to see you go, if it’s what you need, then I support it.”
“I need a change, Ava,” I croak. “I’m not thriving here.”
Ava’s eyes lower. “I get it. I just want the best for you.”
“Me, too.”
She leans forward and presses a kiss to my head. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do. We’ll make sure there are lots of visits.”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
Ava exits the room quietly, and my eyes float to Caleb. “The doctors are going to know about us,” I murmur.
“I don’t care,” he states simply. “Jaxon said he’s going to try to keep things quiet and talk to them. Are you sure about leaving?”
“They might have taken me in, but I’ve never felt part of this pack. Hopefully with you, it’ll be different, and I’ll finally find somewhere to belong because I’ve been so lost, Caleb.”
He scoots closer and takes my hand in both of his softly. “You will always find home in me.”
My eyes burn as I stare at his handsome face. A face I used to fear and loathe has suddenly become my favourite sight.
“I didn’t really want to die,” I rasp, because dying means I never get to see him again, and I don’t want that. “I just wanted it to stop.”
Caleb inhales as he watches me. “Even if you didn’t want to die, you need to talk to me. Let it out, okay? I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay.”
“Get some rest,” he says before standing and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“Will you stay?”
