Dayton sat up straight, every nerve in his body suddenly wired. Something was wrong in her voice. The words seemed fine but there was a hint of finality about her last statement that seeped into his brain and had him on alert status in the blink of an eye.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, his heart kicking up a beat as worry started to flood him. “I’ve only been gone a few days. What kind of trouble could you get yourself into in that short a period?” It was a stupid question. It was Rayne he was talking to. She was unpredictable at the best of times.
“It’s time for me to move on,” she answered after a brief pause. “I don’t know when I’ll be back this way or even if I will be. I’m just glad I got to witness you moving on with your life, Day. I can’t tell you how much joy that brings me, knowing you will be fine without me hovering over you every five minutes.”
He uttered a choked cry, unable to help himself. She couldn’t be leaving for good. Not Rayne. She had always been there for him even if he hadn’t wanted her to be. Something really bad must have happened.
“You can’t!” He blurted the words out even as he knew there was nothing he could do to stop her. She came and went as she pleased, always had and always would.
He swallowed hard and tried to dampen down the pain he was feeling. “Rayne, listen to me. Please don’t leave until we’ve had the chance to have a proper talk. I don’t know what’s happened but I’m sure whatever it is we can work through it together. Let me help.”
“You can’t fix this, Day.” Rayne’s voice was so sad it almost brought a tear to his eye. “I appreciate you want to but it can’t be done.”
Anger replaced his pain, a fierce rush of fury so hot he thought he’d explode with it. “Coward!” He literally hissed the word at her.
“Fifty fucking years you refused to let me drown and at the first hint of trouble you’re running away? What about the Alpha bond, Rayne? How far do you think you can run from that? You’re pack now. We need you. The children need you. Are you going to leave them to their fate? You know none of us can help them the way you can. I thought that was what you did, help people who need it?”
The connection went dead and he cursed loudly, struggling not to damage the phone. With exaggerated carefulness, he placed it on the table in front of him, his thoughts whirling madly.
Rayne couldn’t run away. It was just wrong. She didn’t take the coward’s way out, she was stronger than that. He had no idea if his words had gotten through to her or not. No idea if he would ever see her again. That thought hurt him more than he thought possible.
“Do you love her?” Freya’s calm words broke through his whirling thoughts and he turned his head to see her standing looking down at him. He could hear a trace of fear in her voice even though her expression was blank. His wolf growled loudly and he ran a weary hand through his hair.
“Sit down, Freya.” There was a hint of command in his tone. He hadn’t meant it to be there but he was feeling so frazzled at the moment he couldn’t help it. He was surprised when she did as he asked, taking the chair next to him.
“Yes, I love her,” he admitted out loud for the first time ever. “But I’m not in love with her,” he clarified at the sudden intake of breath that told him this mattered greatly to his vampire.
“Rayne is… hard to explain. I suppose she’s my best friend. I’ve known her for what feels like forever. She’s kept me sane when all I wanted to do was crawl in a hole and never come out again. She’s important to me, Freya, but as a friend not as a woman. I’ve never kissed her or ever wanted to. I don’t think of her that way. You’re the only woman I’ve kissed since I lost Faith.”
Freya swallowed hard, her tumultuous emotions having her so off balance she didn’t know how to react to them. Hearing the anguish in Dayton’s voice as he spoke to the cat had ripped her apart inside. It was obvious he cared for her greatly. She’d had to ask the question because she needed to know the answer.
Now he was telling her that the cat was just a friend, someone he was close to and didn’t want to lose. He was a very caring man when he let himself feel. She also felt he was an honest man too. He’d certainly never hid any of his erratic emotions from her. She was the only woman he had kissed? Was he trying to tell her something she wasn’t fully hearing? Or was it just wishful thinking on her part?
“You need to go back,” she finally said. It was obvious he was concerned for this Rayne, that his need to protect his friend was very strong. She couldn’t stand in the way of that need. It was who he was as a person, the old Dayton coming to the fore as he shed the last of his grief.
“Come with me.” He didn’t deny that he needed to leave because he did. He had to find Rayne and help her through whatever was troubling her. But he couldn’t leave Freya either. He didn’t want to be without her and she wasn’t ready to be alone yet. She needed him whether she knew it or not.
Her long thick lashes covered her eyes for a brief moment, hiding whatever was lurking inside them before fluttering back up to meet his gaze. She nodded once, rising from her chair.
“It will be quicker if we run. I can carry your clothes for you if you want.”
He rose too and reached for her, brushing her lips gently with his in a soothing kiss. He knew this was hard for her and he was proud of her strength. He was surprised she had agreed so easily but overjoyed that she had.
He’d set himself a monumental task, trying to save the two women who meant the world to him. He only hoped he was up to the task after being so closed off for so long.
His hands went to his shirt and he started unbuttoning it as she turned away and quickly gathered her papers into a canvas pack she produced from the kitchen. The way she deliberately avoided looking at him as he stripped naked made his lips curl in a small smile.
“Promise you won’t try to ravish me,” he teased lightly, causing her to look at him with a startled expression on her face before the most adorable blush fanned across her cheeks as she took in his nudity.
“I think I can contain myself,” she remarked dryly, averting her gaze to take his clothes and put them in her pack.
“Bummer,” he muttered under his breath knowing full well she could hear him. Her reaction to his light teasing was delightful. It completely threw her and he realised this was the direction he needed to take with her. Freya didn’t know how to play. He was going to teach her just how much fun it was. Once he’d found Rayne and worked out just what the hell was going on.