"You should go back." His eyes open, fixing on me with intensity that makes my breath catch. "To your career. To your life."
"What?"
"I've been thinking." He pushes to his feet, putting space between us like he can't trust himself too close. "This is insane. We barely know each other. Three days ago you didn't even know shifters existed, and now I'm asking you to tie yourself to me permanently. To risk your life. To give up your humanity."
"I thought we already decided?—"
"I decided. I pushed you into this because I'm selfish and desperate and I want to live." His voice cracks. "But you should have more time. You should have the chance to really think about what you're giving up."
"Jonah Hayes, are you seriously trying to push me away right now?" Anger flares hot in my chest. "After everything we've said to each other?"
"I'm trying to give you a choice."
"I already made my choice. Multiple times. I chose you in the cabin. I chose you at the convergence point. I'm choosing younow." I step closer despite his attempt to retreat. "Unless you've changed your mind. Unless you don't want?—"
"Don't want you?" He closes the distance between us in two strides, cupping my face. "I've wanted you since the moment my bear recognized you. I've thought about nothing but you for days... months. The idea of losing you now?—"
He breaks off, breathing hard.
"Then what's this about?"
"Your friend. The guy in the rental car." He steps back. "I saw you talking to him. Saw the way he looked at you. Like he knows you. Like he has history with you."
Oh. "Derek."
"Is that his name?" Jonah's voice is carefully neutral. "He came to bring you back?"
"He came to try."
"And?"
"And I told him no." I reach for Jonah's hand, lacing our fingers together. "I told him I found something worth staying for."
Some of the tension leaves his shoulders. "He said something that upset you. I could feel it through the bond."
"He said I'm running. That staying here is just another way of hiding from my problems." The admission tastes bitter. "He's not entirely wrong. I have run before. I've left things behind rather than risk being hurt."
"Is that what this is?" Jonah's eyes search mine. "Are you running to me or away from something else?"
The question sits heavy between us.
"Maybe both," I say honestly. "And maybe that's okay."
"It's not okay if you're making this choice for the wrong reasons." He squeezes my hand once, then releases it. "I need to know you want this. Want me."
"I am afraid of everything else." My voice comes out raw. "I'm terrified. Of the ritual. Of dying. Of becoming something different. Of finally having something permanent and losing it anyway."
"Then maybe we should wait?—"
"But I'm more terrified of walking away." I step into his space, palms flat against his chest, feeling his heart hammer. "Of going back to my old life. Of never knowing what we could have been. Of playing it safe and ending up alone."
He covers my hands with his, holding them against his heart. His forehead drops to mine. "Even if it all goes wrong?"
"Especially then."
He exhales. "What did I do to deserve you?"
"You fought your way home. That counts for something."
