Ty pulled one of my hands from my lap and kissed it tenderly. “You don’t need to apologize. I just hope that you trust me enough to tell me if something is bothering you.”
I cleared my throat and turned, tucking one leg underneath my body. It was the guilt of keeping something from him that made the talking start. “I ran into Stone today. Well, I guess it’s more accurate to sayheran intome.He was leaning against my car at the gas station.”
Ty’s body tensed, and his eyes narrowed. He was on edge at the mere mention of Stone. There was something more than business going on.
I didn’t want to upset Ty, but I deserved to know what relationship he and Stone had. “What’s your history with him?”
Ty fidgeted in his seat, obviously uncomfortable with the subject. He hesitated for a few moments, looking everywhere but at me, then answered. “Stone has some unresolved business with my father, and my father is using me as a middleman for negotiations. We’re struggling to find common ground, though.”
Oh. That made sense, so I didn’t push for more details, even though part of me knew there was more to it.
Plus, I was still confused about Stone’s interest in me. Ty’s father having business with Stone had nothing to do with me or whether or not I waswaking up.
“Am I in some kind of danger, Ty? Does Stone want to use me to get your father to do what he wants?”
Ty sighed and squeezed my hand. “I don’t believe Stone wants to harm you. Even if he tried, I would never letanyonetouch a hair on your head.”
His words were reassuring, but that was all they were: words.
I took a moment to weigh the pros and cons of telling Ty what I’d experienced when Stone’s scent had reached me. It was better for him to know.
“There was a moment at the gas station when Stone felt familiar to me.”
Ty stiffened. I was onto something. Not that I had any idea what it could be.
“I swear I’ve never met him prior to our first run-in at the farmers’ market.” I paused and studied Ty’s face, which had gone sickly pale. “I can’t explain it, but when he walked past me, his scent even caused my wolf to sit up at attention.”
Ty didn’t respond, just stared straight ahead. The muscles in his jaws flexed, and I wished I could read his mind.
“There’s more,” I admitted softly, almost afraid of how he would react.
He released my hand and turned to face me.
“Stone mentioned something about mewaking up. It all seems odd to me because I have no idea what he’s talking about.” I was hoping Ty had some answers for me.
He ran a hand through his hair and stood. “It’s probably best for you to stay away from Stone.” It wasn’t a suggestion. His words were forceful, and he waited for me to nod before he continued. “And you make sure you always have your phone with you so you can call me if you ever feel like you’re in danger. I don’t care what time of day or night it is.”
I followed his lead and stood, gathering my drink and purse. “Of course.”
He grabbed the popcorn bucket from the floor. “I think it’s also best if I put some security around your place until we’re mated and we decide where we’ll be living.”
Hearing Ty talk about us creating a life together made the butterflies in my stomach flutter. “I like that you didn’t just assume we’d move to the estate.”
“Of course, we’ll have to spend some time there. It’ll be expected since it is the family estate, and that’s where pack business is conducted.” He laced our fingers together and smiled at me. “But we’re partners, Liza, and that means making important decisions together.”
An odd expression crossed his face, something that certainly resembled guilt or regret, and I wished I knew the cause, but then Ty kissed my hand, and the look vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
He insisted on staying the night with me—and by insisted, I meant he kissed me into a submission he didn’t honestly have to work so hard to secure—and I didn’t argue. I loved having his warm body against mine, and his strong arms wrapped under my neck and over my waist as we slept.
With him beside me, it didn’t take long at all for me to drift off into a deep sleep. I experienced the most vivid dream I’d ever had. Vivid, terrifying, and familiar.
Smoke filled the house as people shouted from outside. “Protect the alpha! Protect the princess!”
I glanced at my hand. I was holding onto the hand of a woman, looking up into her face as she smiled sadly at me.
A man with my coloring and my facial structure spoke quietly and urgently. “We won’t be able to hold them off. Get the baby out.”
I wanted to protest, to tell them that I was hardly a baby, but I couldn’t do more than watch what was happening.
