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She narrowed her eyes as the silence dragged out. I was blocking her exit, but I couldn’t make my knotted tongue move or shift my huge ass out of her way. I didn’t take sugar with my coffee, but I might have to in the future. If only to chase the sweetness Tully threaded through my coffee hazelnut.

“I’m sorry, tr—Tully,” I apologized.

It would be rude to call her treasure. But I let it echo in my mind.Treasure. Treasure. Treasure.

The most precious part of my life stood just out of reach.

“I just wondered if you had some pain meds?” Tully tugged the gaping collar up as I raked my gaze over her.

“You’re hurting?”

Tully clicked her tongue. “Do you have any or not?”

“Tully.” It took everything in me not to step closer and inspect her like I wanted.

My alpha instincts gnashed under my skin.

“Just some bruises and a headache. Don’t go all alpha on me.” Her lip quirked, tired. “I had enough of that with Walden.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Walden is an idiot. We all are. You’re not ours, but we’re yours. That was what he was trying to say.”

She nodded. “I wish I could give you the answer you wanted.”

Inside me, pain throbbed, so familiar it was like a companion.

“Do you regret coming here?”

Tully’s crystal gaze turned sharp. “I made my choice, Ajax. I have to live with that.”

A feather could have knocked me over, and the brush of her harsh exhale almost did. Tully didn’t have to say it out loud. The space between us was twisted and guarded. My swelling throat strangled my voice. I had to live with my choices, too. The white lies that washed away, darker and more sinister than we intended.

“It’s not because of the pack. I just liked who I was becoming on my own.”

I cradled my stomach despite her words. Wondering how I was going to face what the day had ahead, especially with this revelation like a stone in my gut. I missed her like a hole through the heart, and she preferred to be alone.

“Ajax?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s get you something for your head,” I amended, my stomach a pit of nerves. “I can bring it up to you, if you prefer? My parents are visiting soon, and I wanted to let you know, so you weren’t surprised if you heard strange voices.”

“That would be nice, thank you.” Tully turned to go back in the nest and my heart crashed against my ribs as she hesitated. “Wait. Did they come to see you, or Pan?”

“Pan.” I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

Of course, they were here for Pan, not me. Never me. Tully flicked a look over my shoulder. She chewed on her lip like she was trying to digest something bitter.

“Will the rest of the pack be there?”

I shook my head. I wouldn’t subject my parents to anyone unless completely unavoidable. “They never visit for long, if you’re worried about that.”

“You know what? I’ve changed my mind. I need to stretch my legs a bit.”

“Whatever you need.” I brushed my arm against hers, unable to smother the bright smile.

Was Tully coming for me? I let myself believe it, clutching my shirt to my chest. No. She wanted a distraction from her thoughts. I wouldn’t let my emotions get the best of me, like Walden.

My parents were already sitting in the lounge area while a wan Pan avoided their barrage of questions.

He turned white and green as Tully and I walked into the room. My mother slid me a quick look, while my dad didn’t even pause speaking. Their dismissal would have stung, but the warmth of Tully soothed the scar of their favoritism.