“It sucks,” I said. “And I’m sorry.” I ran my fingers along his jawline, just because I could. “And I wish I could say something to make you feel better or do something to help, but I can’t.” His answering smile was faint, but it was there. “What I can do is offer you a break.” I tipped my head to the couch. “There’s a seat right there with our names on it. I think we’ve both earned a little time out, don’t you?”

I spent then next half an hour with my feet up on the coffee table, Declan’s head in my lap, his arms wrapped around my middle, as we watched a wildlife documentary. Sitting with him felt easy and comfortable. Touching him made my body hum, like we resonated on the same frequency, and I liked it so much—was getting used to it so fast—that I was already wondering how I would do without it when this whole storm blew past. Or whether I’d have to. We hadn’t really talked about what came next.

The narrator finished telling us about sea birds, the screen shifting to panning shots of forest scenes.

“How do you think Van’s doing?” Declan asked.

I ran my fingers absently through his hair, enjoying the feel of it as I thought about his question. “She’ll probably put on a brave face. Dealing with her dad…she’ll have a rough couple of days.”

“I’m sorry that I brought her dad here.”

I yanked his hair playfully. “Hey, he brought himself here. I thought his kind had to be invited to cross the threshold.”

“You’re thinking of vampires,” Declan said. “Which is a myth.”

“Same thing,” I said as he nudged my hand with his head so I’d go back to petting him. “I’m glad Will was here. He’ll make her feel better, and he won’t let her avoid processing it for too long.”

“Hmm.”

We watched the show for several more minutes before Declan looked up at me. “Why did you choose this show?”

“I don’t know—I like nature documentaries.” I picked up the remote, holding it out for him. “Did you want to watch something else?”

Declan ignored the remote, turning his attention to the idyllic forest shots moving across the screen. “I was just wondering if I was influencing you though the bond somehow. I’m overdue for a run.”

He’d been putting it off in case Eva was getting close. “How’s your wolf handling it?”

“He’s getting antsy.” He trailed off as a bunny hopped across the screen.

“What happens if you don’t let the wolf out?”

The bunny was carried off by a hawk and Declan rolled so he could look up at me. “I’ll start to get short-tempered. Grouchy. Right now I decide when we shift. If I wait too long, he’ll decide.”

I brushed the hair away from his face. “Do you want forest? Or does it matter?”

He considered my question, his gaze soft. “I just need nature and you,” he said quietly.