“What emotions are you ignoring?”
“None, right now. What about you?”
There was a moment of silence. “Guilt,” he finally said. “Confusion. More of that fucking fear. Regret. What if my wolf was never insane? What if I kept him trapped and treated him like shit just because I was nervous?”
“I don’t think wondering what-if has ever fixed anything for anyone.”
“Maybe not.”
“Or maybe you’re just asking the wrong questions. What if your wolf was never insane, but he was never going to calm down enough to live peacefully with you until he found something else to focus on?” I suggested. “What if he’s started playing nice because he has a reason to now?”
“That’s a valid point.” He went quiet again. “I don’t know how I would tell my brothers that he’s not crazy and violent anymore.”
“I already told them for you. And they agreed to try being around him while I’m there, to see if he still wants to attack them.”
“Really?”
“Mmhm. They don’t want you to suffer, Savage.”
“I know that. I just didn’t think there was a way out, I guess. Now that it’s here, I’m not sure what to do. Or what to think.”
“It’s going to take more than a day to wrap your mind around it,” I said gently.
“I guess.”
“If you need a distraction, just let me know.”
“I will. Thanks.” He kissed my forehead and tucked my face against his neck as he pulled me closer. “I love you.”
“Love you too,” I mumbled.
His hand stroked my back lightly, and I fell asleep ridiculously fast.
Clay orderedgroceries in the morning, so we had to meet the delivery driver at the gate before breakfast, but that was fine.
I didn’t ask how much it cost. I was pretty damn sure I didn’t want to know.
Clay was still quieter than usual, but I understood. And honestly, I didn’t mind the quiet.
We spent the rest of the day working on the tattoo again, continuing late into the night once more.
The pattern repeated over the next few days as well.
I finally felt the tingle that warned me heat was twenty-four hours away in the early part of the morning, as I was finishing up the final details of Clay’s tattoo.
I shivered.
Clay eyed me from the bed. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
Though he had seemed lost in his thoughts for much of it, he spent most of his time with his eyes on me while I worked on his skin.
“You shivered, Gorgeous.”
“It’s just heat.”
His eyes darkened. “Now?”