I can tell Cobryn's been fighting inside. He may not think I can see because he's become so good at hiding what's going on inside that handsome head of his but I observe, even from a distance when he doesn't know I'm watching. I see him in pain, in inner turmoil, in the midst of the greatest battle of his life. He's never told me who attacked him that day I found him after the meteor strike. I never got up the nerve to ask afterwards for I feared it would drag hm even deeper into the hole he's been trying to dig himself out of. Whoever did it, it hurt him worse than anything. The only thing I can think of is family. Cobryn has always been 110 percent about family so if family hurt him, it would kill him inside, probably enough to cause the sort of mental damage this seems to have caused for him. I don't want to ask, not any time soon. He needs more time to heal.
I don't want to talk about Jaidah because I don't want to breach that tender subject and yet I do wonder what he thinks of her now. Does he still think of her? Does he still want to be with her? Deep down, I want to know but I don't have the guts to ask. If it's not the answer I want to hear, I don't know how it will affect me. I know that it will hurt...a lot. It will cut me deeper than any knife could. I'd rather not know, at least for now.
A familiar tone calls out my name and I perk up my attention, momentarily distracted from the scorching heat under my fur at Cobryn's touch as he buries his nose in my fur. I know he's doing this for me. He can sense my tension and I appreciate that. I smile, turning my head around to gently touch my nose to his cheek. I could touch him like this forever but I try to stay strong for him. If I fall apart, what's to keep him from completely losing it? He's barely holding on and I feel like if I let go, he'll let go too. I can't risk that. He's too important to me, to the world. I look up at the sound of Sulan's voice. I remember running into him in the free lands a long time ago, before the meteor strike. He was mysterious but he was friendly. I remember being skeptical of him and his motives but look at him now. He's an alpha now and a good one from what I hear.
He looks at Cobryn and I can tell he doesn't recognize him. At his question, I nod and offer a humble smile. I certainly hope so, Sulan. We would like to join your pack, if you'll have us. This is Cobryn, my....friend. I hate having to hesitate but I would feel bad trying to define what we are. It's obvious to anyone when they see the way I look at him that I care for him deeply. But I refuse to make that decision for him. I won't take advantage of him like that. He'll make the decision on whether to move forward to not when he gets over this. And he will get over this. I have faith in him. I will always have faith in him.
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