“Yeah, I don’t think we’re going to find Antonio here, and it’s time Torin decides what his future is going to look like. If we stay, we’re just enabling him not to take the next step.”
Gunnar leans against the wall near us and gives a definitive nod. “Good,” is his only response.
“Aeson will be happy,” I say, instead of admitting how relieved I am to know I could be sleeping in my own bed with a few of my fellas as soon as the morning. Aeson returned home a few days ago, realizing that being here wasn’t getting anything accomplished. We’ve all given up hope of finding the witch here at this point.
“Just Aeson?” Calix smirks at me.
“No, I think Dare probably missed me too.” Calix shakes his head at my answer, never losing the grin. “So now we just wait. How long do you think it will take him to decide?”
“I don’t think it will take long. Did you see Torin’s face when Kim announced Alpha Don?” Gunnar’s brows are high on his forehead.
“I didn’t notice anything unusual,” I admit.
“I don’t think Torin’s quite ready to give it all up. He just needed a little time and some space to see that,” Calix explains.
“That’s good though, right? Everyone in the pack seems to love him.”
“He’s a good leader,” Calix answers, which I take as a yes.
I toy with the inside of my cheek while gathering the courage to ask a question I’ve thought quite a lot about. “Is there a chance he could find another mate?”
Calix’s hazel eyes grow very serious when he meets my gaze. “No,” he says emphatically. “Never another mate, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be happy or find love.”
“But how can you be sure? I have three.” Gunnar shoves off the wall and makes his way over to the chair I’m sitting on, taking my hand in his.
“I guess it could be a possibility,” Calix admits reluctantly.
“I feel like there’s a but coming.”
“If that were the case, Torin would already most likely know. It wasn’t an accident we all came to you at the same time. Call it fate, or what you will, but he would know,” Calix states solemnly.
“So you’re saying I don’t have a number four and five out there somewhere?” I tease to lighten the mood.
Gunnar breaks his quiet spell by growling and hauling me up against his body. I giggle. “I’m kidding. Even I couldn’t handle more of you.” I boop his nose.
“Damn right!” he mutters with a scowl. He’s so adorable.
* * *
The front door opens slowly.I sit up a little and end up spilling some of my yogurt on my shirt. “Damn it.” Using my finger, I scoop it off my boob and stick my finger in my mouth.
“I got something you can swallow.” Gunnar leers at me.
“By my count, you still owe me.” I make sure to give my finger a few more swipes just to show him what he’s missing.
Torin makes an appearance in the doorway of the living room, his head down as he leans against the wall. I watch his chest expand as he draws in a heavy breath. “It’s time for me to take responsibility for my pack,” he declares, sounding a little sad but resigned.
“You need them,” Calix replies, and it’s the first time anyone has mentioned that it’s not just the pack who needs their leader, but an alpha who needs their pack.
Torin nods, acknowledging the words. “Thank you for stepping in and giving me time.” He almost seems embarrassed to say it.
“You did all the work,” Gunnar tells him, and it’s easy to see the reluctant friendship that’s formed between the three men, even Grim, but he’s still not here.
Torin looks over at me then averts his eyes. “Sometimes I still want to run until I can’t remember, until I’m nothing but the animal.”
“I know,” Calix murmurs.
“But then I would have to forget her, and I just can’t.” I swear my heart breaks all over again for him when I see the sheen of tears clouding his eyes. I feel like an intruder, as if I shouldn’t be here while he’s sharing his soul.
