Tyler frowns as he meets my eyes again, pausing to take in my anxious expression.
“You don't want them knowing you're a witch?”
I shake my head slowly. “I don't—I can't—”
As I hesitate, Tyler grabs my arms and stares deeply into my eyes, the magnetic energy of our mate bond making it nearly impossible to remain anxious when he's right here, touching me, breathing on my face, his warmth soothing me.
“You have no reason to fear what anyone thinks, Arianna. Being a witch isn't a bad thing.”
“It makes me…different,” I whimper, and Tyler strokes his thumbs in circles on my arm.
“It makes you special, Arianna,” he assures me with a breathless tone that makes me certain he's feeling what I'm feeling.
Blinking at him as I digest what he said, hope is reignited in my chest.
I'm hopeful, but still wary, and it's that wariness that has me pulling away and drawing my arms away from his touch.
He hasn't said a word about anything else, and I'm too afraid to mention something about Noah, or even our mate bond, not wanting to become disappointed again.
Tyler clears his throat again and steps back. “I know you're worried about Noah, but everything's gonna be okay, I promise.”
Nodding tentatively, I stare at Tyler, wondering what he means by that. Is he ready to acknowledge Noah as his son in front of the pack? In front of his parents?
“Why don't you go to bed?” he suggests, changing the subject as if he read my mind. “It's been a long night, and we both could use the rest.”
I nod tentatively, disappointed that he hasn't brought up the elephant in the room, but still assured in the fact that he's brought us to his house, where we're safer than on the outskirts of town at my place.
The rogue has been dealt with, and that's all I ever wanted. For Noah to be safe.
Then why does something still feel like it's missing?
It's that feeling that tugs at my heartstrings as Tyler walks away and disappears into his bedroom, leaving behind an aching void that's noticeable.
I sigh as I drag my feet to the guest bedroom Noah is sleeping in, feeling the heaviness set in as I climb into bed.
I've never felt more like a guest in Tyler's house, like an intruder who shouldn't be here. I'm just his son's mother, and nothing more.
Even though I wish things could have been different, and I would be special enough to mean more to him.
I close my eyes and allow sleep to wash over me, for the first time in weeks, unafraid of the nightmares that have been dealt with by Tyler.
Our hero, who sleeps on the other end of the hallway, doesn't want me. I fight the urge to astral travel into his bedroom, deciding that I should just accept that I'll never be good enough to be his mate.
***
“Everyone's been talking about what happened last night,” Brynta whispers in my ear as she leans in. “I'm so glad Noah's safe.”
“Settle down, everyone,” Brutus speaks into the mic at the front of the hall, where we've gathered for a pack meeting.
I notice Tyler's parents are seated on the stage, back from their trip, along with members of the council who've gathered for today's meeting. I know it's an important one, since the threat that's been looming over the Moonshine Pack has finally been dealt with, and Tyler has a duty to his pack to inform them of last night's events.
Shifting uncomfortably in my seat on the bench at the back, a flicker of dread passes through me. Is this the part when Tyler exposes me as a witch to the pack? Is that the reason for this meeting?
Or has he already informed his parents and the council about my true identity, and how I might attract more danger to the pack because I'm a witch?
That's probably why he wasn't at home this morning. He did leave a note on the fridge that he was going to meet with his parents, but I haven’t seen him all day.
It almost felt like he was avoiding us. I mean, he didn't even wait for Noah to wake up.
