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“I got this for you.”
“You ‘got it’?” Caden asked, smiling a little and running his fingers over the edges of the device.
Dare tipped his head to the side. “Borrowed it.”
Caden decided not to ask if the owner knew that it had been borrowed and simply murmured a quick thank-you.
“It’s already hooked up to the Wi-Fi. You can watch something.”
That got Caden’s attention, his excitement spiking. Goddess. When was the last time he’d been able to watch something just for fun? Just to relax and turn his brain off?
He expressed his gratitude again as he clicked it on and started going through the apps, picking one and then a sitcom he’d heard about but never had a chance to watch. He was settling in, his back propped up against the pillows and the tablet on his raised legs, when he realized that Dare had settled into a chair in the corner.
“Do you want to come watch?” Caden pointed toward all of the empty space next to him.
Dare shook his head. “Can’t. Go ahead and relax.”
Caden nibbled on his lip, wanting to ask why he couldn’t. He wondered if that was just an excuse and what he’d meant was he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to be that close. He didn’t want to share scents like pack mates.
He tried not to take it personally. Just because Caden was feeling connected to Quinten and his people and would’ve found comfort in the wolf’s closeness didn’t mean Dare felt the same way. Sharing space, scents, and comfort like that was usually reserved for pack, and they weren’t that.
No matter how much he wished otherwise.
No matter how much he wished he could just sink into the safety of Quinten and Dare’s pack and never leave.
Instead, he watched the show by himself, the only company in the room a silent wolf with a scarred face, who’d at least come inside to offer what he could.
He wasn’t sure when he fell back asleep, but when he woke again, the tablet was sitting on the bedside table and the sun coming in through the windows. The chair that Dare had been sitting in was empty. He rubbed at his eyes and ignored the way his cheeks were heating.
Even on the other side of the room, Dare had been close enough to help settle Caden’s restless jaguar and allow him to sleep, knowing that someone he could trust with his life was keeping watch over him. It was embarrassing and comforting at the same time. He knew he was getting overly attached to Quinten and Dare.
But he didn’t want to stop it.
Well, part of him did. The part that was sure this wouldn’t last. There was no way Quinten would keep him around after Caden was all healed up.
And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to care all that much. All he wanted was to wrap himself in the scent of orange blossoms and never leave. It probably should have made him run. It definitely should have made him choose to stay with the Kincaids, at least until he was healed fully. But just the idea had his stomach turning.
Maybe it was because Quinten had been there when he’d been rescued. Or because he’d taken him into his home. Or that he’d brought him to a pack that didn’t like or respect him to save Caden’s life.
Maybe he’d just imprinted onto his human like a baby duckling, and the intense feelings inside him would fade as he grew stronger.
One thing Kai had said the night before had been true. How could he ever be satisfied living outside of a pack? He didn’t know how Dare did it. Wolves were even more social than cats were, but even he and his jaguar needed it. Needed the bonds of pack mates to be strong and healthy, to feel safe and secure.
So it wasn’t like he could stay with Quinten long-term. If he tried to, his jaguar would grow weak, and Caden would become resentful, wishing he could get things from Quinten that were impossible. That wouldn’t be fair to either of them.
He promised himself that as soon as he was able to, as soon as his instincts weren’t latching on to the first safe thing they’d seen, he’d walk away and spare them both the inevitable bad feelings.
And hopefully, his own heartbreak.
He found folded clothes on the end of his bed, another pair of sweats and a plain gray T-shirt. Picking them up, he scurried out of the room and into the bathroom, taking the longest, hottest shower of his life.
As he pulled on the new clothes and sniffed at them, he frowned. They didn’t have a hint of orange blossom. At least they didn’t smell like anyone else, just laundry detergent, but not the kind they used in the Kincaid house. He was familiar with that scent after sleeping on their sheets last night.
When he stepped out of the steamy bathroom, he found Dare leaning against the wall across the hallway, a cup of coffee in his hand.
Caden looked at him in surprise. “When you weren’t outside my bedroom, I thought maybe you were getting some rest before we left.”
Dare shook his head and lifted the mug. “Just needed some fuel.”
