Page 41 of Bonds and Beasts

"Sweetheart, this is—" I can't grasp the words, so she finds one for me.

"Yours."

I turn sharply and stare at her. She has the most pleased smile on her face and the apples of her cheeks flush slightly pink.

"I'm sorry?" I ask, because I genuinely cannot think of anything else to say. I've always dreamed of having a library like this, but with work, I never had the ability to build or curate one. I love reading, but I’ve hardly had time for it since our first big movie.

Adison looks a little nervous now. "I thought, if you guys are staying, then this is your home now too. You should have your own spaces. This study was my grandfather's, and though it's been cleaned and maintained since his passing fifteen years ago, it hasn't really gotten any use. I saw you like books. You carry them with you everywhere. I thought—oomph!"

She gasps as I gather her up into my arms and squeeze her close, spinning her. She giggles bright and clear as we spin. I take a breath and tighten my hug one more time before setting her back on her feet.

She sighs as though she'd been holding her breath. "You like it then?" she asks as thunder from the storm outside rumbles through the room.

Both palms find her cheeks. She relaxes into my hold, resting her hands on my wrists. "I love this. I could not have designed a better space." I scrutinize the very old books. "Though I might update the literature a bit."

She smiles. "We can donate anything you don't want to the library in town."

I raise an eyebrow at her. "Some of these may be worth a lot of money."

She shrugs. "I have money, you have money. We don't need it. I hope the library uses it for whatever they need." My purr starts up in my chest and Adison tips her head forward, resting it on my chest. My mate is generous and thoughtful of her community's needs. I never expected it in a mate and didn't know it would mean so much to me.

I look around the space and dwell in the knowledge that this is ours. The manor is our home now. Adison melts against me and I can't help but feel a rush of excitement at the thought.

Dean

The storm is still raging as I stand under the little porch overhang on the side of the house, watching lightning strike after lightning strike hit the water in the distance. The house feels like a foreign thing at my back.

The house.

The door opens and closes, and I don't even need to turn. Rose petal scent drifts over to me, mixing with the petrichor and ozone of the storm to make a scent that's alluring and dangerous.

But I'm the danger here.

"Dean?" Her light voice is right behind me now. I don't turn around.

"I don't know if I can do this," I admit.

"Do what?"

I take a deep breath and turn. I see her curly red hair and her slim eyebrows. I see her left ear, but I don't see her face. I can't meet her gaze. "Be here. I can’t live here with you. With the pack. Bonding isn't in the cards for me."

Her small gasp drags my gaze down involuntarily, which is a massive mistake. Her eyes are glassy and wounded. Her arms are wrapped around her middle and she looks small.

I open my mouth to explain that it's not her. That it has nothing to do with her. But then I snap it shut. Nothing I say matters. It never has.

So I mutter, "I'm sorry," and stride out into the rain.

The call of my name is swiftly cut off by a roll of thunder.

I'm so sorry, Sweet Girl.

Adison

“Dean!” I call his name over and over. I’ve stumbled down the side porch steps and out into the rain.

The rain pounds the ground and the thunder rolls over my voice.

A large hand closing around my shoulder makes me screech and spin, stumbling back. The dark outline of a man stands before me. An alpha, from how tall he is. I scream, but then the lightning flashes and lights up Bello’s alarmed face.