Chapter 4

I waited up for Marcus until my eyes could barely stay open. He still hadn't come home.

Fine. If he wouldn't come to me, I'd go to him.

I drove to Pack Administration and pushed open his office door. Marcus looked up, startled.

He recovered quickly, but his hands never stopped moving over the keyboard. "Marcus."

He gave me one unreadable glance, then rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's late, Mia. Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow."

He was already reaching for his phone to have his Beta drive me home, but I cut him off.

"I'm not here about the dissolution."

He looked at me again. The distrust in his eyes hadn't moved an inch.

I bit my lip, stepped forward, and wrapped both hands around his wrist. I leaned my head against his shoulder. I felt his body go stiff, just for a second.

I almost laughed. Five years of marriage and a little physical contact still made him tense up.

"I can't sleep. I just want you near me."

He turned his face away, refusing to meet my eyes. "I'll be working late."

"That's fine. I'll sleep on your couch. I won't make a sound."

I was already curling up on the leather sofa before he could object.

Marcus didn't say anything. But I caught the subtle bob of his throat as he swallowed.

He let me stay.

I lay there, taking in the details of his office. My old photo, framed on his desk. The small ceramic vase on the side table, the one I'd given him five years ago, still holding fresh flowers.

The whole room was full of traces of me.

The only sound was the rhythmic click of his keyboard. I wanted to stay awake a little longer, just to be near him, but my eyelids had other plans.

Somewhere in the haze of half-sleep, I felt myself being lifted. Marcus's voice was close, warm against my ear, almost tender. "Mia, let's get you home to bed."

He carried me back and set me down gently on the mattress.

But the moment my body touched the sheets, I was wide awake. I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him toward me.

He lost his balance. His full weight came down on top of me, and for a heartbeat neither of us moved.

He tried to push himself up. I locked my arms tighter.

"Let go." There was a warning edge in his voice.

I looked up at him through half-lidded eyes. "Stay with me tonight."

He turned his face away. When he spoke, his voice was raw. "Is this the same play as last time, Mia? Get me worked up and then shove another woman into my bed?"

He closed his eyes, fighting to keep his composure. "You'll try anything to dissolve this bond. Is he really that much better than me?"

I didn't know what to say. How do you explain time-travel to a man who already thinks you're a liar?

I didn't understand what could have driven my future self to hurt him this badly.

The pain in his eyes cracked something inside my chest.

"Marcus, please believe me. I don't want to dissolve the bond."

"We're having a baby. If I really wanted out, I wouldn't have given up the dissolution potion just to protect this child."

I should have known better. That was exactly the wrong thing to say.

He wrenched my hands away. "That's because it's his child. Not mine."

The air left my lungs.

What did he just say?