“Then let me want you up close,” he rasped. “Give me a chance, Reid. That’s all I’m asking.”
God, how I wanted to jump in with both feet. It was what I normally did. But what he was asking wasn’t just about a relationship or getting to know him. It was about confronting my deepest fears. Deciding if my trauma was going to dictate my future happiness, or if I could confront it and move on.
On paper, Evan was perfect. I didn’t need to know his favourite colour or if he wore socks in bed to know that was the case.
But in real life, he was also a shifter. A member of a clan. Of aninner circle.
That wasn’t something I could ignore.
Ev picked up on my hesitation, his thumbs sneaking under my shirt to rub soothing circles on my lower back. “A chance, Reid. That’s it. Let me show you that our clan lifeisn’t what you believe it is. If you don’t like it, I’ll bring you back here and never mention it again.”
“Promise?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” he murmured. “I’ll even tell Logan if ye like. He’ll bring you home if you don’t trust me to keep my word.”
“I do,” I said quickly. The words came easily, taking with them a weight I’d been carrying for far too long. I did trust Evan.
When had that happened?
“I don’t need you to involve Logan or anyone else,” I added. “I trust you, Ev.”
Silver lined his eyes as his throat bobbed. “Thank ye, Reid. You’ve no idea what that means to me.”
Emotion bubbled up in me, too thick to articulate. Instead, I instinctively buried my face in his neck.
He stroked my back for a minute before his hands froze. “Hey, you were right! It’s snowing.”
Evan spun me around and I smiled at the white fluffy flakes drifting to the ground. “I love snow. It makes everything look fresh and new.”
He pressed his lips just below my ear. “Feels like a good omen, wouldn’t you say?”
I leaned back against him, letting go of the fear. Some clung on, refusing to depart just yet, but enough lifted for me to be able to respond. “Yeah. It does.”
Chapter 24
Evan
The snow was falling thick and fast by the time we passed Brodie. Hamish was with him this time, the two of them making lewd gestures as we shuttled past. Hopefully my speed was high enough for Reid to have missed it.
From the giggle he gave, I’d failed. “I take it they’re friends of yours?”
I lowered my window, shooting a middle finger behind us. Even with the distance, I could hear their ribald responses. “If by ‘friends’ you mean people who give me shit but I’d still die for, then yeah, they’re my friends.”
“Those are the best kind.”
The sad note had my wolf howling. “You can see yours too, Reid. I can protect all of you.”
That was assuming the Clarksons even bothered with him after what we’d subjected them to overnight. They were still there now, chained up in the basement of the clan house with only Logan for company.
Finn had messaged while Reid had been packing. He didintend on releasing them, but not until we were back. Behind many wards with all of our warriors on standby.
“It’s not just that,” Reid said heavily, resting his head against the window. “They might not want to see me now.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged, sinking further down in his seat. “I kind of ghosted them. I’ve been ignoring their messages and calls recently. Even got Chester to cover for me when they called at the shop.”
His sadness and exhaustion were almost palpable. I reached over to squeeze his knee. “They’ll forgive you, Reid. That’s what friends do.”
