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“I don’t understand?—”
“Maia!” Alex calls, and his voice shatters this ethereal moment between Ryan and I, startling me. He reminds me that my future is still uncertain, that Ryan… where does Ryan fit in now? I turn to see where Alex is coming from before I feel a gust of wind, and when I turn back, Ryan is gone. Alex appears at the back door, and I can see the tension in his face. He’s such a sharp contrast to the peaceful aura that Ryan had that it only sends my emotions into a larger tailspin.
“What are you doing out here?” he asks, a rough edge to his tone, but the concern rings clear. He sniffs the air, and his eyes widen as a deep growl leaves his throat. “Who the fuck was here?”
“Nobody.” I don’t know why I lied. I could’ve… I could’ve just told him the truth.
“Someone has been here. I can smell them.”
I shake my head. “Nobody has been here, Alex.” Stop doubling down, Maia.
Surely, in a world full of werewolves, seeing the dead isn’t that big of a stretch. Right?
They’d be able to help me.
But deep down, I get the feeling this is something I can’t share, so I zip my mouth, giving him a tense smile.
“I see. Let’s head inside and get Phoebe into her car seat. I’ve got a meeting in forty-five minutes and need to get you both home.”
Once upon a time, this was our home.
But nothing ever lasts.
10
CHRISTOPHER
Her scent is everywhere. The sugary vanilla and tantalisingly fizzy orange is like ecstasy to my soul.
It’s on the sofa.
The blanket she used yesterday is saturated with it.
The bannister that she’s touched has little whiffs of her.
The washing basket with her dirty clothes that I want to steal and rub all over myself.
Fuck.
“Are you good?” Alex asks as I clench my jaw. “You can’t hold yourself this rigorously, Toph, or you will snap. It won’t be pretty—especially if you continue denying Orion what he needs.”
“I’ll handle myself, and you just worry about you.”
“We don’t have the luxury of only worrying about ourselves now, Toph,” he says far too softly for my liking. “We’ve got a mate and daughter now. They’re the first and second priority. Always.”
“Mhm.” His words are irking me because they’re right.
“You know he’s right,” Orion lectures. “Stop being a prick and go love on our mate. She’s so perfect, and she thinks you hate her.”
“I don’t hate her.”
“You’re barely convincing me, and I can feel every emotion you do, I hear your thoughts, I am you.” Orion’s voice lacks any of the usual emotional inflictions. Somehow, that makes his words hurt me that much more.
Surely, she doesn’t think I hate her. I’ve protected her. I’ve given her space to come to terms with what we’ve done. I know I took a choice from her, but I explained why and how it kept her and Phoebe safe.
“You’re hopeless.”
“Did you bring the boxes over?” I ask, ignoring Orion and burying this doubt away. I don’t have the time to indulge in my feelings right now, not when we’re working against a clock.
