Then the room goes quiet in that unnatural way, like the world stepped back and left me alone with him.
A hand snakes around my waist, lifting me to my feet. It’sDean who keeps me steady once I’m up, still staring at my dead dog.
“You can’t let him see you like this.” He moves to face me, erasing my tears with his thumb. “Look at me.” Dean’s voice sounds so gentle, luring me into settling my eyes on him, rather than on Bear, but I still can’t do that. “Summer...”
One of his hands stays on my waist, while the other sweeps my hair back, settling on the small of my neck, but my gaze stays pinned on my dog. Before I can realize what’s happening, Dean’s lips are on mine, his body pressed firmly against my own.
I don’t know how many seconds pass by before I register what’s happening and actually react. Pushing him away, the sadness that was overwhelming me a moment ago dissipates and is now a full-blown madness, forming into a fist, pointed at Dean for daring to kiss me. I don’t get to land a blow on his face because he intercepts it with his hand.
“That’s it. Get angry! You can’t let him see your tears.” Oh! This is his bizarre way of helping? “If he sees weakness, he’ll use it against you.”
“Sis, Ace is distracting him, but you have to—”
“I’ll take care of her. Get back in there!” Dean cuts Carter off, who’s at the doorway, eyes full of worry. He nods before leaving.
My focus shifts back to Bear’s lifeless body, and a confession claws its way out of my throat.
“He keeps taking everything from me.”
Dean pulls me into his embrace, pressing a kiss atop my head.
“I know... We know. But you have to pull yourself together. Summon that inner freak of yours, my fire! Show him what you’re made of!”
There’s so much warmth in the way he looks at me when his thumb sweeps gently under my eyes, and he tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
They all keep telling me not to show weakness, to pull myself together. That, I can do!
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath.
“That’s it.” Dean holds my chin up, forcing my gaze to meet his. “Good girl!”
“Don’t insult me!”
The corners of his lips tilt in amusement before he leans in, nuzzling his mouth against my ear as he whispers.
“I’m not gonna let him lay a finger on you. None of us will.”
But instead of pulling away, he kisses my cheek.
What the fuck is happening?
Connor has kissed my cheeks, and so has Carter a hundred times already, but Dean never does that.
“Go get started on the cooking to distract yourself,” he says, letting his hands fall down, releasing me from his embrace.
I sidestep him, but then I stop before I’m out of the room.
“Thank you,” I utter over my shoulder, forcing myself not to glance at Bear.
Dean turns to face me, lips parting but staying silent when his gaze shifts away from me.
Heading for the kitchen, I notice Jacob is there at the table, along with the guys. I was too preoccupied staring at Mason to see anything else, but Atlas’s cousin gracing us with his company is a shocker on its own.
My boyfriend’s eyes find mine in a silent question of whether I’m holding on. I offer a reassuring nod, a lie I could never sell. He’s standing next to the table, but I know his eyes are following me unremittingly. I refuse to look at him again, too scared he might see how not okay I am, though I’m sure he knows it.
Mason orders Atlas to sit, but he doesn’t obey. When I look back at the table, the monster turns his attention to me. That act alone makes my boyfriend pull out a chair, submitting to his father’s demand.
Gripping the countertop with my shaky hands, I try to steady myself, drag my thoughts away from the current grim reality, andfigure out a quick meal, in hopes of getting Mason out of this place fast. But I know this is no ordinary dinner, and not all of us might be walking out in one piece.
