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“Still tired,” she admits, smothering a yawn. “Hungry.”

“I’ll make us something to eat.”

“You don’t have to. I can go. Get out of your hair.”

“No, you need to rest. Doctor’s orders.”

Elsie frowns, and I hide my grin as I scoop her up in my arms and carry her down the hallway into the kitchen. I settle her in a kitchen chair and grab the fruit bowl I prepared earlier, setting it down in front of her.

She smiles, picking out a blueberry. “Thanks.”

“Sure. What would you like to eat?”

“I’m not fussy.”

I nod and start putting together a couple of sandwiches. I could make her something more substantial, but that would take time I want to spend with Elsie. I need to know more about what happened and who might be after her.

I already talked to Ansel last night and told him I didn’t need him to look after my place after all. Once he finished congratulating me on finding my mate, I told him what she’d said. He promised to alert the Midnight Haven and everyone in town, so I know the Pack will be on the lookout for anyone sketchy asking about my Angel. That helped to ease my wolf and I a bit.

Now that Elsie is awake, though, I need more information so I know how to keep my mate safe.

“Here you go.” I slide a plate with a sandwich and some chips in front of her.

I take the chair beside her and pick up my sandwich. For a minute, neither of us says anything.

Elsie starts off slowly, but after the first few bites, she seems to realize how hungry she is. She finishes her sandwich in a few bites, and I pass her half of mine without a word. She gives me a grateful, slightly embarrassed smile, but doesn’t protest.

I push some more chips onto her plate once she’s finished, clearing my throat.

“Do you want to tell me about what happened?” I ask, trying to sound gentle.

She shrugs. “I fainted.”

I know she’s deflecting. “I mean, why you were running to the point of exhaustion?”

She takes a drink of water, studying me over the rim. I sit still and do my best to look like a man she can trust—which is harder than it sounds when I’m desperate to know everything about her.

Tell her about us, my wolf says.

Not yet.

“I ran away from home,” she finally says.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty.”

I nod, urging her to go on.

She doesn’t, so I push again.

“Why did you run away from home?”

“My parents wanted me to marry one of their creepy friends,” she says softly.

My blood boils. Elsie’s eyes widen as I grip the edge of the table so hard that the wood splinters.

“Good. I’m glad you ran,” I say bluntly. “And you think they’ll come for you? Try to force you to go through with it?”