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“My parents won’t come looking for me. Business deal or not, they don’t care enough.” The words hurt more than I expected, and I swallow hard. “No one is looking for me, Pyrce. No one is after me. So there’s no reason I can’t leave.”

Pyrce shakes his head and grabs my backpack before I can stop him.

“Hey!”

“You’re staying.” He hangs it on the hook by the front door. “We’re not arguing about this.”

I stare at him. “Seems like we are.”

“Come on.” He walks over to the couch, drops onto it, and pats the cushion beside him.

I lick my lips, my eyes bouncing between Pyrce and the front door as I debate what to do. I really don’t want to leave, but I can’t keep taking advantage of him.

I shift uncertainly on my feet. Maybe I can find some way to pay him back. Help around the house or something. Anything that makes me feel less like a charity case.

Pyrce doesn’t push. He just sits there, watching me patiently while I wage an entire war with myself.

I’ll stay. For as long as I can without falling any harder for this man who’s given me everything I’ve ever wanted without a second thought.

Because I am falling for him. I can feel it happening, and that scares me almost as much as leaving does. For the first time in my life, I feel wanted, cared for, and safe.

Finally, I take a deep breath.

“Do you have a washing machine?”

5

Pyrce

I stand in the doorway, glaring at the pile of clean clothes folded on my dresser.

It’s depressingly small. A few shirts, a couple of pairs of pants, one bra, and some underwear. That’s it. All faded and threadbare. Her shoes are even worse, with holes in the toes, and one sole is held together by duct tape. I honestly have no idea how she’s made it so far without them falling apart on her.

My wolf growls, feeling the need to provide for our mate. Take her to get things, he orders.

You’ve met her, right? I don’t think she’s going to let me buy her anything.

He grumbles, unconcerned with minor details like Elsie’s cooperation.

I let him sulk and go looking for her.

She’s in the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water, and she smiles as I join her at the counter.

“Do you want to go into town? I could show you around?”

“Oh. Um, sure. If you want.”

Her hesitation tells me that she wants to stay here. She still looks tired, even after sleeping in.

“Want to take a nap?”

She bites her lip, looking uncertain. “No, I want to help out around here. Isn’t there something I can do? I can clean or do your laundry or⁠—”

“Nope, you can sleep.” Before she can come up with another chore, I steer her out of the kitchen and toward my bedroom. “I’m going to run into town for a few things. I’ll be back before you wake up.”

I get her into bed and tuck the blanket tight around her.

Elsie blinks up at me. “I, uh, I’m not sure I can move.”