Page 117 of Shaped By Discovery

“It’s never safe!” I shout, stepping up to him. Lyle doesn’t back down, but I didn’t really expect him to. He never has before. “My whole life has been unsafe, yet I’m still here. You guys are my family! I won’t sit back and lose my mind worrying while you all race off to save everyone. I’m not a damsel in distress. I can handle myself, and you know it!”

“Little Rabbit,” Blair says, his tone pleading. Usually, he’s my voice of reason, but not right now. This isn’t something I can be talked out of.

I won’t sit back when they are running off to face their possible death. I can’t.

It’s not fair that they would even ask me to.

“Don’t!” I shout, turning to glare at him. “If this were any of you, you’d be just as pissed as I am. None of you would stay behind and let me leave like you’re asking me to.”

“We’re not asking,” Lyle roars, the tiniest hint of his alpha bark bleeding into his words, making me cringe. Blair glares at him for it but doesn’t say anything.

“The kingdom needs our help. The villages are under attack, innocent people are in danger.”

I turn to look at Lyle again, seeing that Blair won’t be swayed to my side—apparently, none of them will.

“But we won’t put their lives above yours. I won’t put their lives above yours!”

He presses his hand to his chest, taking a step toward me, and while I know he’s no threat to me, it’s still hard to stand my ground.

I do it, but just barely.

“I want to help, but I can only do that if I know you’re here, safe.”

He continues forward until he’s towering over me, but I refuse to back down. Instead, I lift my chin high to meet his gaze and square my shoulders the way he taught me to. Emotions swirl in his eyes, and I couldn’t look away even if I tried. Lyle is usually so in control of everything. He’s hard to read, and even after years of friendship, I sometimes have no idea what he’s thinking. He keeps it well under wraps, only showing you what he wants you to see.

But right now, it’s as if he’s a well of emotions, so much so that I can’t possibly understand it all as it swirls and crashes over him. There’s fear in his eyes, something I don’t often see, but also determination, regret, and so much more. Before I can look into it anymore, his eyes fall closed, and with a sigh, his shoulders deflate as if all the fights drained out of him.

“Don’t make me choose, Serena. These people and the kingdom need our help, but I will not put you at risk to do it.”

I hear his words, but they don’t make sense, and I find myself at a loss for what to say. When I remain silent, he opens his eyes once again, looking down at me. There’s a softness there that I’ve only ever seen a few times. One of those times was the night they found me after Harlow left me to die.

There’s so much concern and warmth written on his face that I gasp, shocked by how quickly this went from a fight to… whatever this is.

Being under his scrutiny like this makes me uncomfortable; my stomach turns, and I’m not sure if I still want to smack him or kiss him.

How did we go from arguing over whether I could handle myself in a fight to Lyle looking at me like I’m the single best thing in his life?

And why don’t I hate it?

Of all the guys, Lyle has always felt the most distant. I thought it was just who he was. I’ve never seen him with a girl, and he isn’t one to cuddle up with us for movie nights in Pike’s self-proclaimed puppy pile by choice. He keeps us in line, watches over us, and plans our futures.

I’ve always dreamed of keeping the guys around forever. Even knowing they would leave one day, I couldn’t stop myself from hoping and dreaming it wouldn’t be true. I have a mate bond with Garrett, Storm, and Blair, and call me crazy, but I’m hoping to have one with Sol and Pike as well. And if I let myself admit it, Lyle, too.

I knew it was stupid. Why would he ever want me?

I drive him crazy ninety-nine percent of the time. Hell, at least half of that is on purpose. We fight, we bicker, but it’s our thing.

Always has been.

Lyle shows he cares by taking care of those around him.

But I’d always assumed he looked at me as more of a burden, like a little sister you get stuck watching. He’s never called me that, but the guys often refer to each other as brothers, so I assumed.

Could I be wrong?

Fuck, I want to be wrong so bad.

It’s all too much and not what I need to worry about right now.

---