Page 91 of Trusting Her Bear
“I will be safe with my mate,” I say quietly.
“You have to believe in Quinn. He would not want you to come. Heath and Micah are there, right?”
“Yes,” I sigh.
“He had a plan. Is Heath being nice?”
“Can Heath be nice?” I ask. She hisses. “No, he’s fine. I just meant…I don’t know.” I drop my head to the glass door. “Nothing can happen to Quinn.”
“It won’t. He will make sure of it.”
“Breeane, I need him,” I say softly. “He’s brought me back to life in a way I never thought would happen.”
“I know. I was hesitant at first. I wasn’t sure he could be patient. I didn’t want you to feel any pain again,” she whispers.
“He’s the most patient person I know. He’s been amazing.”
“I couldn’t believe he built you a bed,” she laughs. “I didn’t understand what was wrong with the one he had, but he was on a mission.”
“He built it so I would sleep.” I take a deep breath. “He knew I wouldn’t sleep in his bed. Breeane, since I got back home, I slept in the closet,” I confess and ignore her gasp. “Once I got here, it was no different. I was happy the closet was so big.”
“Steph,” she cries.
“Every night since we met, he slept in there with me, never questioning my need.” I rub my chest. “I tried to be brave. I plastered a smile on my face in front of my family, knowing they needed to know I was alright. I realized they felt helpless. They didn’t know how to help me deal with the aftermath. Quinn hasn’t treated me differently. He knew about the games when we met, and he just quietly gave me what I needed. I feel like, since we met, he has been the strong one, the patient one, the one who always conceded to me and what I needed. I need to be brave for him. I need to face this and help him.”
“Jesus, Steph. I had no idea you were still going through so much. I wish I could have been there for you how you needed.”
“I hid it from you. You helped by being my friend and taking my mind off of it. I needed that from you.” She allowed me to act normal.
“I’m happy for you. I don’t know Quinn well, but I think he holds back from the people around him.”
“Yes, he does,” I say with a laugh.
“It’s beautiful what he gives you,” she says.
“It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced.” I feel as if a piece of me is missing. “I have to find him.”
“Steph, I don’t think my mates will tell me.”
“Probably not,” I grimace. “If I got out of the house, I could probably track him by scent and emotions.”
“How are you going to get past the guards?” she says.
“I don’t know.” My hand goes back to my chest. “Something feels wrong.”
“Did you bond? Mark each other?” she asks.
“No, but we’ve been close, and the bond is strong without the bite.” I can’t get past the feeling that something is very wrong. “Do you have Bash’s number?”
“Yes, my mates filled my phone with all the numbers. I’ll text it.”
“Thank you.”
“Just promise me you won’t go alone,” she says firmly.
“I promise.”
“Keep me informed, especially if you are going to run off by yourself,” she demands.