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That’s why I ran with her the moment I felt him return. I thought for sure she would be another show of power.

That he might kill her.

Oh, how wrong I was.

With her, he would have control overeverything,and somehow, I fear that might be worse than death, not only for her, but for all of us.

I mean, that’s why he’s spent all this time looking for her. We both did…but now.

I don’t know; ever since I met her, I can’t imagine letting him have her.

That’s why I’ve stayed away even though I want to do anything but.

“How is your cat?” I force the words out, feeling like my mouth is full of cotton.

What is wrong with me?

Serena pulls back enough to look up at me. Her brows crease, her lips tug down in confusion, making her look even more adorable than before, which I didn’t think was possible.

“My cat?”

“Ugh, yes, the shifter that got hit. Did he survive?” I cringe at the memory of him going down and the way Serena reacted.

It’s something I’ve thought about a lot these last few weeks, wondering if he was okay, if she was okay.

She loves them; there’s no denying it. She went after my father, after all, and that either makes her crazy or a force to be reckoned with, maybe both.

Her eyes light up and her lips turn up in a smile. I feel her laughter as much as I hear it before she takes a step back. The second her arms drop, I want to pull her back to me.

Never in my life have I craved contact. Once upon a time, I read a fairy tale that spoke of parents who cared, and I’d dreamed of that, but that was a long time ago. I knew that was never going to happen for me and gave up on that and everyone else.

So why is she different?

How does her mere smile make my brain short-circuit?

“Sol,” she says with a chuckle. “His name is Sol, and he’s good now.”

Something flashes in her eyes, and I get the feeling there’s much more to that story, but I don’t dare ask. Whatever that emotion was—fear, anger, sadness—I don’t want to see more of it. I much prefer her smile.

I nod, unsure of what to say, but that’s not really that crazy. Ineverknow what to say, especially not with her.

Once again, her brows pull together, and she looks confused. Maybe?

“How did you know I was here?”

It’s a good question, one I’m surprised she didn’t ask sooner.

“I didn’t. I was tracking Lyle.”

I might not be good at reading people, or with people in general, but it’s impossible to miss the sadness in her eyes at the mention of her bear shifter mate.

Serena drops her gaze to the ground and remains quiet for so long I worry I said the wrong thing. Maybe I upset her.

“I—”

“Why?”

We both talk at the same time, but I quickly snap my mouth closed, unsure what I was even going to say to begin with.