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Not as he’d lost sounder the pitiless regi, noHe remembered each and every face, each and every nahost to their number

When he opened his mouth, however, what came out was, "I’m fine," and it was a response fed by the decades he’d lived in the cage of Silence, his mind still on autopilot "I’d like to see hi her on a visceral level

Lara folded her arms

Every muscle in his body froze, and he barely heard her say, "Tyler would enjoy a visit," through the rush of blood in his ears

"What’s wrong?" Only once before - during their turbulent courtship - had Lara pulled away from him That day, he’d drowned in bleak despair; today, a hot flaer licked at hi like that if she was hurting

And still she didn’t speak, didn’t tell hiain," she whispered at last, the sier in her tone seeded with a fine vein of pain that cut like a razor "I know you’re angry, and yet here" - she thu Just thisyou" A single tear rolled down her cheek "Why would you do that, Walker?"

He’d gone motionless at her first words, welcoainst his leg Jerking, he kicked it back and gripped Lara’s forearm when she would’ve turned and walked away

"You kneho I hen you accepted my courtship" If she couldn’t take him as he was, the fractures inside him would be permanent and irreversible

"And you kneho I was" Wolf aainst the lush hue of her skin "I’ile I won’t break if you let me see your pain, your fury, your worry"

It felt as if she’d kicked his I’ve told no one else on this earth" He wanted to yell, but his voice came out deadly cal to a whisper, "Itthat you invited led to recede under her passionate vow, hit a snag "Then why?" Why was she walking away froh to allow me into your past if you shut me out of your present Our present," she said softly "I need to walk beside you, to be your shield as you’recut off when I know you’re in pain"

His heart thudded in hishot then cold "If I can’t be that open?" He’d learned too young how to keep his h-stress situations

"No, Walker" Her voice was fierce, the curls that had escaped the clip at the back of her head catching the fading red-orange sunlight as she shook her head "You don’t get an easy pass, don’t get to give in without even trying I know the strength of your will better than anyone!"

Texture of Intimacy Chapter 10

WALKER WASN’T CERTAIN what to expect fro with packmates whose responsibilities in the den were either sined with his own Maternals, teachers, coaches, other "wranglers," they got together regularly to ensure no pup missed out on the attention he or she needed to thrive His head hadn’t been in the ga at him, but he’d leashed his chaotic es were even more important now than they had been before the battle

As a result of all they’d had to discuss, thehad run late, and the apart into Marlee’s roos thrown every which way It made him want to smile She’d been like that since she was a babe Silence hadn’t ed up her blanket, kissed a soft, sleep-war only when Toby called out The boy was now of an age where he needed his privacy, so Walker had to make a conscious effort to remember - to hiiven to him in trust

"Hi" His nephew put down the spy novel he’d been reading, the digital cover displayed on his reader a garish orange with black silhouettes

Walker took a seat on the edge of the bed "Are you sure you’re old enough to be reading that?"

Toby’s response was a grin

They talked for a few e of a junior soccer teaestions" He rolled his eyes, but Walker could tell he was pleased by the responsibility

Ruffling the boy’s hair, Walker rose "You’ll do well" The words said so

A steady look "I know, I just copy the things I see you doing I want to be like you"