Chapter 10: Lucas

I didn’t go straight back to Sutton, despite desperately wanting to. I figured she would need some space after our painful conversation. I also needed some time to refocus. I went to the spare room across the hall and changed my clothes. I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt before pouring myself a drink.

I wanted to be with Sutton. I missed her scent. I missed just being near her, even if I couldn’t touch her.

The sun was starting to set and I contemplated drinking until I fell asleep, allowing her the time to herself. But it was pointless to even consider. The more I drank, the harder it would be to stay away. And approaching her in a drunken state would not go well. She’d reject me the second she found out we were mates.

Discarding the glass, I left the room, knocking gently on the door across the hall.  I opened it to see Sutton covering herself with her robe. She was sitting next to the medical tray. She had been trying to change her bandages.

I crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed. I pulled the collar aside and off her arm. She flinched but didn’t protest or pull away. Gently removing the old bandages that covered the bite wound on her arm and shoulder, I grabbed the cleansing wipes and began to clean the area.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “Talking about what you went through must be painful. Just know that I did not ask out of some morbid curiosity. However, I should have handled my response better. And I shouldn’t have left you here to relive it on your own.”

“I’m fine being alone,” Sutton insisted. Rather unconvincingly. It was more so her way of saying she was fine without me. “You don’t need to bother worrying about me.”

I sighed, continuing my task. Despite her words, I started to feel her relax in my hands. Her eyes even fell shut as I massaged the healing ointment into her shoulder. Her head tilted toward me and she took a deep breath. I swore she was seeking my scent. My heart rate increased.

She was feeling our bond. She was taking comfort in it. My hand went to her chin, lifting it until her eyes opened to meet mine. My thumb caressed her cheek, indulging in the tingling sensation she invoked.

“Sutton, I need you to believe me when I say no one here — especially me — will ever hurt you,” I said with conviction.

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly, but she was considering whether to believe my words. Questions and doubts still swirled in her mind. She wasn’t ready to trust me yet. But what was important was that she wanted to. I could see it. I could feel it in my gut.

My thumb grazed her lip. I leaned in, my body acting on its own. We were a breath apart when Sutton gasped, her hand going to my chest firmly. I froze, swallowing my disappointment.

“I’m sorry, Sutton,” I said, sitting back. “That was inappropriate.”

I went back to reapplying her bandage. She went back to avoiding looking at me.

“I still don’t understand why you’re doing this,” she said quietly.

I finished the last bandage and replaced her robe. I, again, ignored Rhonen’s demands to tell her the truth. It still didn’t feel like the right time. Even if she was sensing our bond.

“We’ll talk about that another time,” I told her. “I promise. For now, just know that I want you to get better. Once you are fully healed, we can talk about what you want to do next.”

Her head snapped to me, a look of utter confusion on her face. “What are you saying?”

“What?”

“You said we’d talk about what I want to do next,” she repeated. “What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said,” I confirmed. “I didn’t plan to keep you locked up in this room forever, Sutton. You’re not locked in here now. I’ll give you a tour of the house in the morning. You’re free to go wherever you want if you’re up for it. Your life is your own, Sutton.”

Her mouth parted as if she was going to say something but then closed. Then she started to chew on her lip, looking off absently as she contemplated what I had told her. Her hands fidgeted with each other and she picked at the cast. Her brow furrowed, then smoothed, then furrowed again. I don’t know how I managed to suppress the smile her reaction inspired.

“Perhaps there’s someone you’d like to contact?” I offered. “Someone you can call and let them know you’re safe? Your family maybe?”

“Oh… um, yes…” She grimaced. “I mean, no…” She stood up, running a hand through her hair. “Um… no, there isn’t anyone.”

“You said you had family once, Sutton,” I recalled. “I know what your father did was painful, but they should at least know you’re alive. If you don’t want to call them, I could reach out on your…”

“No,” she insisted. “No, that won’t be necessary. In fact… it… it’s probably better if they think I’m dead.”

“Sutton,” I protested.

“They don’t need to know,” she stated loudly. Her breathing had quickened and her hands were shaking. She was distressed.

‘Father pathetic,’ Rhonen snapped. ‘Father hurt mate.’

I was not impressed by what her father had done myself, but the way she spoke of it, he hadn’t done anything maliciously. And I saw the flash of excitement that first crossed her face when I mentioned family.

“Sutton, tell me why you don’t want to tell your family you’re safe,” I pushed.

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Alpha Lucas,” she said. “But truly… it’s better for everyone if I just disappear.”

A vice gripped my gut at the thought. My chest burned as I tried to imagine never seeing her again. Rhonen growled in my head. It was too late for that. She couldn’t just disappear. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to know what she was so afraid of.

“I will help you with that, Sutton,” I lied. “But only if you tell me why.”