Chapter 30: Trust

-Nova-

The next morning, I woke up, as I heard someone move around in the room. I didn’t really want to open my eyes. I felt so good. Sore, but good. After that first time, Rhys had definitely not held back. He had made me come again before he had fucked me from behind, and then we had gone out into the bathroom to get clean up, but I had ended up pressed to the wall, as he fucked me again. We had been so desperate for each other, and when we got back to bed, I had sucked him off, before we had both gone to sleep. I had thought I wouldn’t have to wake up until … noon! But when I opened my eyes, I noticed it was still sort of dark.

“Hey,” Rhys said as he appeared beside me, sitting down on the bed.

“Leaving?” I asked.

I knew it was a stupid question. He was all dressed and armed, and he looked so serious now.

“Yes, I have to.”

I nodded, and he reached out, stroking my arm. I took his hand and held it tightly.

“I wish you didn’t,” I said.

I felt like I could speak more honestly right now. Time was not quite up yet. I could still act like we actually had a chance.

“I wish I didn’t have to either. I would much rather get back into bed with you,” he said.

“Then get into bed,” I said and pulled him closer.

He chuckled but shook his head.

“You know I can’t.”

I sighed and nodded.

“Stay warm for me,” he told me.

I sighed and he leaned closer to kiss me, but I saw my opportunity and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him closer. It just made him laugh a little.

“You have been pushing me away for quite some time now, and now you won’t let me go?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“I changed my mind.”

“About me?”

I nodded and smiled.

“I can’t let you go now that I have changed my mind.”

He smiled.

“I love to hear it, little mate, but I got duties not even this hot little body can keep me from,” he said and lifted the blanket, so he could see all of me.

“Hey!”

I grabbed the blanket and pulled it from him, but it also made me let go of him, and he sat up again, smiling smugly.

“It will keep me warm to think about,” he said.

I rolled my eyes and he reached out, stroking my cheek.

“You should sleep some more.”

“How can I when I know you are leaving for a dangerous mission?” I asked him.

He sighed and looked down.

“I will come back,” he said.

“I don’t want you to leave at all. Why not just let it go?” I asked.

“We can’t. They are hurting people,” he said.

“But it has always been like this,” I said. “Why bother? They would never dare come after you.”

“Is that something you know for sure?” he asked.

I bit my lower lip, and he could see I was not going to answer that. Rhys shook his head a little.

“It isn’t just about us, Nova,” he said. “It is about everyone. We need to stand together. I understand these people are your friends …”

I laughed.

“What?” he asked.

“They aren’t my friends. They can’t stand me,” I whispered and looked away.

“And still you want to protect them?” he asked and grabbed my chin, making me look at him.

He looked at me for a long time, studying me, and it made me a little nervous. What could he see in my eyes?

“Or is it *someone* you wish to protect?” he asked. “Someone, you care about?”

“Rhys …”

I pushed his hand away.

“You can tell me, Nova. I would never judge you,” he said.

“You would though.”

He shook his head.

“Has last night not proven anything to you?” he asked. “Don’t you see I want to be with you?”

“And yet you are leaving.”

“It’s my job to protect people,” he said. “Not just my pack.”

“Why do you have to be so good?” I whispered, but more to myself.

Rhys smiled, and just took my hand.

“I am never going to press you for any information, but I hope you one day see how well you fit in here too, and what you can do to make sure we are all safe,” he said.

I shook my head.

“I’m sorry … I can’t.”

“So, there is someone you are trying to protect,” he said.

“I can’t tell you.”

He sighed again, looking so disappointed, but it also looked like he understood.

“Very well,” he said and let go of me, but just as he was about to get up, I reached out, grabbing his hand.

He turned to look at me, and I gave him a little smile.

“I trust you,” I whispered.

He looked at me shocked.

“I trust you, but there are just some things I can’t tell you.”

“Then you don’t really trust me,” he said.

I shook my head.

“I do, but there are other people I care about,” I told him. “People that I cannot risk losing.”

He looked at me confused but also intrigued.

“Who?”

I shook my head.

“I can’t tell you,” I told him. “I just … can’t. You would never spare their lives.”

“How do you know this?” he asked.

“Because they are not like me,” I said and looked down.

He grabbed my hand harder, and I looked up at him again.

“I would never hurt you,” he said.

“You might not have a choice,” I said.

He looked at me scared, but then shook his head and quickly leaned down to kiss me. It was almost like a goodbye kiss, at least for me, when he pulled back, he smiled at me.

“I have to go, but this conversation is not over. When I get back, you and I will share everything, and then we can finally complete the marking process, okay?”

“You seem to demand an awful lot,” I joked.

He just winked at me.

“Get used to it little rogue,” he said and then finally let go of me.

I watched as he walked over to the door, grabbing his jacket on the way and a bag, I wasn’t sure what it contained. He smiled at me once more before he left the room, not locking the door behind him. He trusted me too.

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