Chapter 18

• Oaklyn stood in the hall and stared at Zain, asleep on the couch. She’d slept for about two hours, and now her body was wide awake, and she was restless. She still couldn’t believe what he’d told her. What he’d been through as a child was wrong on so many levels, she was barely able to process it. Her life hadn’t been all sunshine and flowers, but what he had to live through made it seem much better.
• Her wolf was hinting to her that she should go over closer to their mate. Oaklyn grimaced. Her animal wasn’t getting the full picture of their future plans. Earlier, when she sat there and listened to him, her animal was all but going bonkers inside her because of the angst in his voice. She wasn’t a cold heart. She felt his pain and was drowning in compassion, but her life wasn’t even close to where she wanted to be, so there was no time for dilly-dallying with a man—mate or not.
• She knew she should go and pack up her belongings and get ready for the early start. Instead, she continued to stand here and watch him like a lovesick puppy. It was taking a lot of internal dialogue to convince her feet to take her back down the hall, and she thought she’d succeeded until his eyes popped open and he looked at her.