He stands, rushes around the table, and snatches me from my chair. His big palm goes to the back of my head and holds me to his neck. My arms wrap over his shoulders and drape down his back while my legs dangle in front of his. “I’m sorry I reacted so badly, but I’m sorrier about how I’ve handled this. When I came home and you blocked me right away, I freaked.”

It's so hard not to comfort him, tell him everything is okay. I hate feeling like I’m disappointing him.

He rounds the corner and takes us to his swing. “You don’t have anything to be embarrassed about, Little One. It’s me that is and should be embarrassed. After the way I’ve continually treated you, I don’t think Michael will ever respect me as your Mate.” I can hear the regret and shame clear in his voice.

My resolve is crumbling as he cradles me to his chest. I lower my walls enough to send him reassuring thoughts but keep my emotion in. I’m here. We’ll be fine. His big body sags the tiniest bit when he hears me. “Masen, I know I’m overly sensitive when it comes to you. I’ll work on that, and I’d like it if you could talk to me more.” It comes out muffled from my face being mashed as he crushes me to him.

He understands fine because he nods his head. “I will, baby. I’m not used to being questioned. It’s not an excuse, it just is. But I will do better.”

I can feel his distress over everything that’s happened today. We are both exhausted, and it’s barely two o’clock. “Let’s go eat. You can tell me if you’re any closer to finding those creeps. Then, we can talk about fun stuff like shopping.” I say the last part dramatically, hoping to lighten the mood.

The corner of his lip lifts. He stands still holding me and goes back inside to the kitchen. “I can walk, you know.”

He grunts in acknowledgment. “Need you close.” He finally puts me down when we enter the kitchen. I make us each a plate while he gets us drinks.

CHAPTER 24

While we eat, Masen tells me they still have some testing to do, but he doesn’t think the rogues left any clues that will help us find them. He also says as of now, I probably shouldn’t go to school. In all honesty, it isn’t even that big of a deal for me anyway. Considering how much has happened in the past week taking a semester off of school is probably for the best.

We’ve just finished lunch when I ask, “Masen, could I use your computer? I need to do some shopping online, and since I don’t have my iPad anymore, I don’t want to use my phone.”

He looks at me skeptically. “You want to shop online?”

“Some things I need to get online, but I would like to go to a couple stores if you’re up for it, or I can ask Nicole if she’d like to go.”