Page 5

I trembled at the thought of breaking out of it. My nerves were all over the place. My own fear butting against the fact that it was time.

I was never going to find myself if I didn’t take the chance.

It was both terrifying and exhilarating.

Thank God Trevan was coming with me.

Or maybe it was the worst thing that could happen.

Having him right there and knowing there’d still be a cavern the size of Montana carved between us.

“You are my business,” Silas grunted with his eyes the same color as mine swimming with both mirth and concern.

“I know you worry about me, but I’ll be fine. I promise.” That came on a whisper. A pledge that I’d be careful and not make any of the reckless choices I had in the past that had put me in jeopardy.

Some that he didn’t even know about.

Ones that had scarred me so deeply that part of me wanted to tuck tail and march right back to the family’s house at the back of the property and barricade myself behind the safety of my door.

But I couldn’t really discover how to make the right choices without being given independence.

I was twenty-two, for God’s sake.

I had to take a leap.

“That’s right, you will be. Because Trevan isn’t letting you out of his sight.”

Right. Then there was that.

I didn’t fight the roll of my eyes. “Great. I’m trading one grizzly for another.”

Trevan let go of a sound akin to a growl. Clearly, he had no shame affirming it.

My eyes flicked back to his overbearing shape.

He looked like the kind of sanctuary only a fool would take refuge in.

A dark, hulking boulder covered in ink.

Face hewn of sharp lines and chiseled edges. Dark brown scruff making his strong jaw appear even more rugged.

Muscle bulged beneath his tight black tee, fabric stretched so thin across his chest and shoulders I could almost see the threads fraying.

His cut was slung over the top of it.

Leather armor that warned he was not to be toyed with.

“Come now, Elena, I’m as docile as a koala. You won’t even know I’m there.” Trevan’s full, red lips twisted into an easy grin.

It did nothing to hide the sharp excoriation of his brown eyes. As rich as the damp earth you could dig up in the surrounding woods and littered with just as many secrets.

I cocked my head. “In my one-bedroom apartment?”

Silas had promised the Trevan situation would be temporary. Until they ensured there were no extraneous threats within the boundaries of Crimson Creek, the small town where we lived in the mountains in Southern Oregon.

Which meant I was sharing the small space with Trevan until then.

“I’ll be sure to stay out of your way.” It was a low grumble. “You don’t need to worry about that.”