“Are you going to let the bond fade? I’m only asking so I know what to expect over the next few weeks. This is yours and Jason’s decision and I’ll support you both whatever you choose to do.”
This was why he’d needed his alpha; knowing Cam was there for him no matter what was everything. “Thank you.” He rubbed his fingers back and forth over his heart, a sigh escaping. In barely more than a whisper, he said, “We’re gonna let the bond fade to nothing.” Breath catching,
Daryl scrunched his eyes shut, hand curled into a fist.
“Do you want to come home?” Cam asked, just as quietly. “Does Jason?”
“No. We want to finish the two weeks, stay till the end.”
A rustling of papers sounded down the line. “Would it help if you finished earlier and all came home?”
“What do you mean? I don’t want you to cut the pack bonding short because of me.”
“According to Jenn and Rachel, things are going well. Better than I’d expected, if I’m honest.
The obstacle course is the final main task Alpha Cornell has planned for you. Looking at her schedule, I don’t think it’d hurt to move it forward a few days and finish early. It’d be easier on you and Jason if you were in your own spaces with more than a thin wall between you.”
Daryl glanced at the wall separating him from Jason. He couldn’t hear him through the soundproofing, but he could feel him. Although leaving early felt like failure, Cam was right. “Thank you.” He blew out a breath, unable to keep the frustration inside.
As usual, Cam read him easily. “Leaving early doesn’t mean you and Jason have failed in any way. On the contrary, the fact that both units seem to be integrating so much better already is a huge success as far as I’m concerned. Now it’s time to see how that holds up back home.”
Daryl grunted in response. He’d had his doubts about coming here, but therehadbeen a tangible change in the way the two units interacted. Nathan and Rob’s fight in the woods seemed to have eradicated a lot of the anger festering between the two. Not that he believed they trusted each other as fully as pack members should, but at least now he could see it was possible. A little weight slipped from his shoulders. Maybe now was a good time to return to London. “Should I tell the others?”
“Let me talk to Alpha Cornell first. I’ve no doubt she’ll want to inform you all of the changes herself.”
Daryl chuckled. “I’m sure she will.”
They lapsed into silence, and Daryl was about to end the call when Cam spoke. “I’d like to talk to Jason though. Can you ask him to call me?”
“Yeah, of course. I’ll text him in a sec.”
They said their goodbyes, and Daryl sat on the floor, head back against the desk, feeling . . .off.
And he hated it.
His gaze wandered back to the wall between his and Jason’s rooms.
What’s he doing now? Does he feel as off-kilter as I do?
Of course he does. Stupid fucking bond.
That voice at the back of his mind, the one he tried so hard to ignore, reminded him that if they completed the bond, he’d know exactly how Jason was feeling.
Always.
Daryl shook it off, rolling his shoulders and forcing himself to breathe slow and deep.
In that scenario, Jason would also know how Daryl felt, without ever needing to ask, and that wasn’t something he wanted anyone to be able to do. Privacy was hard to come by in everyday pack life, but Daryl’s thoughts were his own. Emotions were harder to mask, sometimes impossible with Cam, but he tried hard to keep them to himself. Giving someone complete access to everything he felt was terrifying.
And not something he was ready to do. Probably never would be.
He crossed his arms, as though to hold it all inside.
Protected.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jason glanced up as Daryl entered the living area, watching him walk towards where Jason sat with Rachel and Jenn.
