Page 77 of Devoted

Sinking to the floor, I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes. Hearing him suffer and activelynotgoing to him was killing me. My heart was yelling at me to kick down the doors and offer him some comfort.

But my brain and my instincts were saying the opposite. They were reminding me that I’d reassured Sam repeatedly that I was here if he needed or wanted me. That he clearly wanted to be left alone.

He wasn’t in the shower—I could tell from the sound of the water. The fact that he’d gone to the trouble of locking himself in another room and try to drown out the noise told me everything I needed to know.

Sam didn’t want me to comfort him right now. Whatever he was going through, he wanted to do it alone.

That didn’t make it any easier for me to weather. Every hitch in his breath, every sob, each one pierced me deep, creating wounds I wasn’t sure would ever heal.

He needs time,I reminded myself.You have to show him that you’ll be there for him no matter what. He needs to learn that he can rely on you.

I hadn’t quite wrapped my head around the fact that Sam, the man I’d been slowly falling for over the past few weeks, was my fated mate. Rami and Micah had been right—all that time wasted, worrying that he wasn’t meant to be mine.

All along, he had been.

There was a soft hiccup and my muscles went rigid. Fuck this. Sam wasn’t the only one in need of some reassurance.

Picking up my phone, I debated who would be best for this. Really, there was one obvious candidate.

Ezekiel

Sam is here. He’s upset.

Nox

okay, and you’re messaging me out of everyone because…?

I blew out an exasperated breath, reminding myself that Micah would be pissed if I killed his mate.

Even temporarily.

Ezekiel

because you went through something similar with Micah and I thought MAYBE you might be able to offer me some advice

but if you’re going to be a twat about it, I’ll go to someone else

Nox

back up, sunshine

it was a legitimate question

Sunshine.I rolled my eyes at his ironic nickname.

Ezekiel

so are you going to help me or not?

Nox

what exactly is the issue?

Sam’s upset and he doesn’t want me to comfort him

ah. I see. And it’s tearing you up because your mate is suffering.

My breath caught, my chest constricting.

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