“We ended our trip early, since it was just your dad and I this year.”
“Kasey?” My head snapped up at the sound of his voice, eyes wide before I could stop myself. He took one look at me and his expression softened. “You, okay?”
I nodded because that was the answer he expected, but every part of me ached to be closer to him, to breathe him in and let the world settle.
“Come here, sweetheart.” He held out a hand, but I didn’t even make it that far. My feet moved on their own, too fast, too eager. I bypassed his hand entirely and tucked myself against his side, pressing my face into him to hide from his mother’s gaze. His arm came around me instantly, like he’d been waiting for me to fit there.
“You’re okay,” he murmured, his lips brushing the top of my head in the softest kiss. “I see you made my bed. Thank you.”
I nodded against him, drawing in a deep breath of his scent as he wrapped both arms around me. The tension in my chest loosened, just a little, as he held me close, shielding me without even trying.
And for the first time since his mother walked in, I felt like I could breathe again.
“Evander,” Maren said gently, right as my shirt fell down my arm, again. This time, I didn’t bother to fix it, content to be in the Alpha’s arms. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him in such a short amount of time.
Something had to be wrong with me.
“We need to talk.” The way his mother said it made my stomach drop.
“I know. Just…can you give me a minute. I’ll meet you on the porch.”
“After I put the casserole in the oven to keep warm. You both must be hungry.”
Evander waited until the back door clicked shut before he turned back to me. He didn’t pull away completely, justenough to cradle my face between both of his palms. His thumbs brushed my cheeks, guiding my gaze up to him with almost no effort at all.
And like every time before, he didn’t look disappointed. He didn’t look frustrated. He didn’t look confused by the mess I was.
He looked at me the way he always did.
Like I belonged. Like I was something precious. Like I mattered to him in a way, I didn’t understand.
The intensity of it made my eyes sting, tears gathering before I could blink them away.
How could he look at me like that already? How could a few days undo me this completely? How could his kindness feel like something I couldn’t live without?
A shaky breath escaped me, and Evander leaned in just a little, his forehead nearly touching mine.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
I wasn’t sure how to put emotions into words.
“She didn’t scare you too badly, did she?” His hands stayed on my cheeks, warm and grounding.
I shook my head, unable to form words.
Evander’s expression softened even more, so much like his mother’s had. “You did good. I’m so proud of you.”
The words hit harder than they should have. My breath hitched, and he brushed away a tear with this thumb like it was nothing, like I wasn’t embarrassing myself in front of him.
“You don’t have to explain anything to her. Or to anyone. You’re with me and that’s all that matters. Mom means well, and she is the only mother I have. So, I kind of have to deal with her often. But you aren’t expected to cater to her.”
I leaned into his touch without thinking, letting his palms hold me steadily. Because right now, he was the only thing that felt steady.
“I…didn’t tell her much. She knows….Lockswell…and that I’m…. well…yours?I don’t know. I kind of word vomited and she looks a lot like you. She…she’s nice.”
“And you are becoming more adorable every moment I get to know you.”
A deep heat crept up my spine, and it ended on my cheeks.
