Page 59 of Born in Fire

I grab his arm. “Caleb, wait.”

“I have to go.”

“You’re running to her,” I say, the pieces clicking together.

“She’s in danger.”

“You don’t know that.” Although something in me tells me that he does.

“I can feel it,” he snaps, pulling free. “Something’s wrong.”

He canfeelit? I frown at him.

Fuck. This is looking a lot like mate anxiety. Could it be? With ahuman?

Without waiting for a response, he breaks into a run, heading for the nearest exit.

Goddammit!

Why does he fucking run off like this all the time? I curse under my breath before following, but by the time I reach the parking bay, he’s already speeding away in his car.

I stand there, watching his taillights disappear into the gloom, a strange mix of emotions churning inside me. Envy for his certainty. Fear for what his actions might mean for the clan. And something else—a grudging respect for his willingness to follow his instincts, consequences be damned.

It’s something I need to do, too, because right now, my instincts are screaming at me.

Reaching for my phone, my finger moves over the screen, typing a text.

Can we talk? In person.

Such simple words that could change everything. I stare at them, weighing my options, my responsibilities, my duty to the clan against the pull I feel toward her.

But watching my brother race off to Elena, driven by a connection he can’t control or deny, makes me question everything I thought I knew about duty and priorities.

Maybe there’s room for both—for protecting what matters and pursuing what we want.

Her response comes a minute later, but it feels like a lifetime:

There’s nothing more to say.

Pulling in a breath, I make a decision I pray I’m not going to regret:

There’s plenty to say. I’m going to tell you everything. Now.

There’s another long pause, and then the dots start moving.

How much is everything?

I take another deep breath.

All of it.

This time, her answer is almost immediate.

Fine. I’ll meet you at your place. If I’m going to know who you are, I’d like to know how you live, too.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, a smile tugs at my mouth as I send my address to her. I’ve never taken a woman to my home before, but I like the idea of having her in it. And revealing myself completely.

She deserves the truth.

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