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“If you try and tell me about Knox’s grand plan to save us all, I swear to God, I will lose it.”

Ruby held up her hands. Theo ignored the low growl emanating from Rafe.

“I won’t. But Lena’s fine. She wanted to stay with Knox.”

“She what!” Has everyone lost their damn minds?

“She wanted to stay. He’s going to help her with her visions.”

A laugh burst from his mouth. “Are you kidding me?” He shook his head. “Wow. That’s very trusting of you, Ruby. I hope Lena doesn’t become his next meal.”

Ruby sucked in a sharp breath.

“Jesus, Theo. That’s outta line,” Rafe stepped closer.

“Fuck you, man. I didn’t ask you to come here.”

“And I’m already regretting that I did.”

“So why don’t you leave, then?”

“Because we’re trying to help you!” Rafe rarely raised his voice, but his frustration was growing and so was his volume. “You can’t fight it.”

“Fight what?” Theo snapped.

“You’re the one who told me, remember? You’ll go mad with it, Theo. You can’t deny your Mate.”

“Don’t speak that fucking word to me again.”

“Theo…” Ruby’s voice broke.

“I don’t have a Mate.”

He sighed, slumping down onto the couch. Ruby sat next to him.

An old episode of The Joy of Painting played on the TV. Public broadcasting was one of the few channels he got out here, but he’d be lying if he said Bob Ross didn’t have a soothing effect on him.

They watched a few minutes of Bob talking about happy little trees before Ruby spoke again.

“Just come with us. Please. It will make you feel better.”

He highly doubted that. He’d rather watch Bob and eat takeout alone in the dark, but judging by the look on Ruby’s face and the scowl on Rafe’s, they weren’t going to let this go.

“Fine. One hour.”

“Great!” Ruby said, her gaze running over him. “Do you … uh … maybe want to shower or change or anything first?”

“Nope.” He stood up and grabbed his coat, ignoring the worried look Ruby exchanged with Rafe. They wanted him to come out; this was as good as they were going to get.

The bar was in full celebration-mode when they walked in. Townsfolk were crammed into the overly warm space, drinking and congratulating themselves on a job well done.

A banner over the bar exclaimed “Welcome Home Lena!”

“I thought you said Lena stayed with Knox,” Theo grumbled as they made their way through the crowd.

“Well, the town needed proof of life. And they did so much to look for her, she wanted to come say thanks,” Ruby explained.

“What did you tell them about where she was?”