Beneath The Skin ~Book 2~

Jared

“Melissa, come on. Talk to me.”

I glanced at her again, then forced my attention back to the road.

She was sitting beside me, wrapped in a blanket despite the warm June evening. I'd turned the heater up as high as it would go, and the air inside the truck had become almost unbearable, but she was still shivering.

“Mel?”

“Mhm.”

“Are you getting any warmer?”

Another few seconds passed before she gave me a faint nod.

“Yeah?”

“Mhm.”

“Okay. Good. That's good, baby.”

I wasn't sure whether she was telling me the truth or simply answering because I wouldn't stop asking.

Her head rested against the seat, turned slightly toward the passenger window. Her eyes were barely open, and the wooden wolf I'd made her was held between both hands in her lap. Every now and then, her fingers shifted around it, as though she needed to make sure it was still there.

I looked at the road ahead and pressed harder on the accelerator.

We still had a long fucking way to go.

“Melissa, look at me for a second.”

She didn't move.

“Baby, please.”

Her eyelids lifted a little.

“There you go.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “How are you feeling?”

She swallowed.

“Tired.”

“I know. You've told me that.”

“So tired,” she whispered.

“I know, Mel. But I need you to stay awake until we get home. Can you do that for me?”

She didn't answer.

I reached across the console and touched her hand. Her skin was so cold that I instinctively tightened my fingers around hers.

Jesus Christ.

I couldn't understand it. The heater had been running since we'd left Buchanan, blowing hot air directly toward her. I'd tucked the blanket around her as carefully as I could, and she still felt like she'd been sitting outside in the middle of winter.

And then there was her heartbeat.

I could hear it even over the engine and the sound of the tires against the road. I knew the rhythm of Melissa's heart almost as well as I knew my own. I'd fallen asleep listening to it more times than I could count, with her lying against me, warm and comfortable, completely unaware that I was paying attention.

But the sound coming from the passenger seat wasn't the one I remembered.

Something was wrong with it.

I'd noticed it by the river, and I'd been listening to it ever since.

I had no idea what it meant.

That was the part frightening me the most.

I could hear something wrong, but I didn't know what the fuck I was supposed to do about it.

“Mel, can you squeeze my hand?”

Her fingers moved weakly against mine.

“Good girl,” I murmured. “That's it.”

She let go almost immediately.

I looked over at her again.

Her face was pale, her cheeks had lost some of their fullness, and there were dark circles beneath her swollen eyes. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, but even that seemed different somehow. She'd always taken such good care of it, and now it looked as though she'd barely had the energy to brush it.

Her pale pink dress hung more loosely around her than I remembered.

I'd noticed she'd lost weight when I found her. I'd felt it when I'd wrapped my arms around her waist. But seeing her sitting there, practically swallowed by the blanket, made it even harder to ignore.

How long had she been like this?

How long had she been sleeping in that fucking car?

Had she been eating? Drinking enough water? Getting any sleep at all?

I hadn't asked her any of those questions.

I hadn't even given her the chance.

I'd been too busy trying to make her understand how sorry I was.

And she'd stood there listening to me when she could barely keep herself on her feet.

“Fuck,” I whispered.

I checked the road, passed a slower vehicle, and settled back into my lane.

“Jared?”

I turned toward her immediately.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Cold.”

“I know.” I rubbed her hand gently with mine before returning my hand to the wheel. “I've got the heat on. We'll get you warm when we get home, okay?”

She gave the smallest nod.

Her eyes drifted shut again.

“Melissa.”

Nothing.

“Hey. Open your eyes for me.”

She obeyed, but it took an effort I could see in her face.

She looked as though life itself were slowly slipping out of her, and I was fucking terrified.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

Less than an hour earlier, I'd been kneeling in front of her beside the river, crying like a fucking idiot because she'd finally put her arms around me.

For one brief moment, I'd believed I might still have a chance to make things right.

Then everything had gone wrong.

***

Her fingers had been in my hair when I first felt her knees give.

At first, I thought she'd simply shifted her weight. She'd been standing for a long time, and I knew she was tired. I tightened my arms around her waist to steady her, ready to help her sit down.

But then her legs buckled again.

“Mel?”

I lifted my head.

She was looking down at me.

For a second, she tried to smile. It was a small, strange smile, crooked at one corner, and there was something about her expression that made my stomach tighten.

“Melissa, what's—”

Her eyes rolled back.

Her entire body went limp.

I caught her before she could fall.

“Melissa!”

I was already getting to my feet, holding her against my chest.

“Hey. Baby, open your eyes.”

Her head rested against my arm, her long blonde hair spilling over my wrist. I could hear her breathing, could hear her heart, but she wasn't responding.

“Mel?”

I touched her cheek.

Nothing.

“Melissa, please. Come on.”

I shifted her higher in my arms and looked at her face again.

Her eyes were closed.

“Fuck. Fuck, baby, wake up.”

I didn't wait any longer.

I turned toward the trail and ran.

The trees blurred past me as I followed the narrow path back through the woods. I knew every turn, every bend, every place where the ground rose or dipped. I'd spent enough time there as a kid to find my way out without thinking about it.

Melissa barely moved in my arms.

I held her close, keeping her head supported against my shoulder, and ran faster.

I could hear her heartbeat.

That should've reassured me.

It didn't.

“Come on, Mel,” I said, looking down at her. “Please wake up.”

She didn't.

By the time I reached the clearing where I'd parked, I was already reaching for my keys.

I opened the passenger door, carefully lowered her onto the seat, and fastened her seat belt.

“Melissa?”

I cupped her face.

“Baby, can you hear me?”

Her eyelids fluttered.

I leaned closer.

“That's it. Come on, open your eyes.”

She stirred, her brow tightening slightly, and then her eyes opened.

“Jared…”

The relief that hit me was so sudden I almost couldn't speak.

“I'm here, baby.” I stroked her cheek with my thumb. “I'm right here.”

She blinked several times, struggling to focus.

Then she looked past me.

At the dashboard. The windshield. The open passenger door.

Her expression changed.

“Mel?”

She grabbed at the seat belt across her chest.

“Hey, hey. It's okay.”

Her breathing quickened. She pulled at the belt again, her hands shaking so badly that she couldn't seem to find the buckle.

“Melissa, look at me.”

She shook her head, trying to sit forward.

“Baby, you're okay. You're in my truck. It's me.”

Her eyes darted toward the open door.

I could see the panic taking hold of her, and the sight of it made my chest ache.

“Mel, listen to my voice. You're safe. I'm right here.”

She looked at me, but she was still gripping the belt.

“I'm taking you home,” I told her quietly. “To the house. Lillian's there, and Elias. Everybody's there.”

Her breathing remained uneven.

“You fainted by the river. Do you remember?”

She stared at me.

“Your legs gave out, baby. I caught you. That's why we're here.”

Slowly, her fingers loosened around the belt.

I kept my hand against her cheek.

“I'm not going to hurt you, Melissa.”

I hadn't meant to say it quite like that.

But the words were out before I could stop them.

And the worst part was that I knew exactly why she might need to hear them.

She lowered her eyes.

I swallowed.

“I'm just trying to get you somewhere warm, okay?”

She nodded faintly.

I waited until her breathing began to settle before moving my hand away.

Then she looked past my shoulder, toward the trees.

“My wolf…”

I knew immediately what she meant.

The wooden wolf.

I'd seen it lying beside her blanket in the back of her car.

“Okay, baby. I'll get him.”

Her fingers curled weakly around the edge of the seat.

“I'll be right back.”

I left the passenger door open and hurried across to her car.

Only when I reached the driver's door did I realize I didn't have her keys.

“Shit.”

I glanced back toward my truck.

Melissa was still sitting where I'd left her.

I tried the handle anyway.

The door opened.

For a moment, I just stared at it.

She'd left her car unlocked.

Her clothes, her pillows, the blanket she'd been sleeping under, everything she'd apparently been living with was inside an unlocked car in the middle of nowhere.

I pushed the thought aside and opened the rear door.

The wooden wolf lay beside her pillow.

I picked it up carefully.

Dark walnut. Smooth edges. The little figure I'd spent so many evenings carving because I wanted to give her something that actually meant something to us.

I turned it over in my hand.

- I found my way back to you.

I'd carved those words into its base for her twenty-first birthday.

Back then, I'd never imagined she would end up sleeping in her car with that fucking thing beside her.

My throat tightened.

I grabbed the blanket from the rear seat, shut the door, and hurried back.

Melissa was watching me when I approached.

Her eyes went straight to the wolf in my hand.

“Here you go, baby.”

I placed it in her lap.

Her fingers closed around it immediately.

I unfolded the blanket and tucked it over her legs and around her shoulders as best I could without disturbing the seat belt.

“Better?”

“Mhm.”

“Okay.”

I brushed a few strands of hair away from her face.

“We're going home.”

She looked down at the wolf.

I wanted to kiss her forehead. I wanted to hold her until she stopped shaking. I wanted to ask her a hundred questions about everything she'd been through.

Instead, I closed the passenger door, hurried around the truck, and climbed behind the wheel.

I started the engine and turned the heater all the way up.

Then I fastened my seat belt and pulled away.

I didn't look back.

***

“Jared…”

Her voice pulled me out of the memory.

I blinked and looked at the road ahead before turning toward her.

“Yeah, Mel?”

She was still holding the wolf, although her fingers had relaxed around it. The blanket had slipped slightly from one shoulder.

I reached over at the next straight stretch of road and pulled it back into place.

“What is it, baby?”

“I'm tired.”

“I know.”

She swallowed.

“Really tired.”

I glanced at the clock on the dashboard.

We still had a while to go.

“Can you stay awake a little longer?”

Her eyes closed.

“Mel?”

“I can't.”

Something in her voice made me look at her again.

She wasn't complaining. She wasn't being stubborn or trying to argue with me.

She sounded utterly defeated.

“Baby, I know you're exhausted, but I need you to try.”

She shook her head faintly.

“Please…”

“Melissa.”

“Just wanna sleep.”

I looked at her, then back at the road.

I didn't know what to do.

Everything in me wanted to keep talking to her, keep making her answer, keep hearing her voice so I knew she was still there. But every time she forced her eyes open, I could see how much it was taking out of her.

And the more I watched her struggle, the more I hated myself for letting things get this far.

Six weeks.

Six fucking weeks since I'd stood in front of her and told her I didn't love her anymore.

I'd been so sure she'd betrayed me that I hadn't even let her explain.

I remembered the look on her face when I'd said those words.

I remembered her crying.

I remembered walking away.

And now she was sitting beside me, barely able to speak, while I tried to figure out how much damage those six weeks had done.

“Jared?”

“I'm here.”

“Please… I can't stay awake.”

I swallowed hard.

My first instinct was to tell her no.

To ask her to keep talking, to look at me, to do anything except close her eyes again.

But I couldn't keep asking her to fight sleep when she had almost nothing left.

“Okay, baby,” I whispered. “Sleep. I'm here.”

Her eyes closed.

A few seconds later, her breathing began to settle.

I kept my eyes on the road, listening.

One breath.

Another.

And beneath them, the same unfamiliar rhythm I'd heard beside the river.

I wanted to believe Lillian would take one look at her and know exactly what was wrong. That she'd tell me Melissa was exhausted and needed food, warmth, and a good night's sleep. That tomorrow she'd wake up feeling better, and I'd have a chance to talk to her properly.

But I didn't know any of that.

All I knew was that she'd collapsed in my arms, and I hadn't been able to wake her.

I glanced at her again.

She was asleep, her head resting against the seat, both hands still loosely surrounding the wooden wolf.

I thought about the way she'd panicked when she realized where she was.

How she'd grabbed at her seat belt.

How I'd had to tell her I wasn't going to hurt her.

My stomach twisted.

I'd spent the last six weeks thinking about how much I hated missing her.

I hadn't spent nearly enough time thinking about what I'd done to her.

I looked at the road and kept driving.

The heater continued blowing warm air through the truck.

Melissa slept beside me.

And I listened to her heart all the way home.

By the time I turned onto the driveway, it was completely dark.

The lights were on downstairs, spilling through the windows as the house came into view. I'd never been so fucking relieved to see that place in my life.

Melissa hadn't moved in almost an hour.

I'd spent most of the drive listening to her breathing and that strange, uneven rhythm of her heart, checking on her whenever the road allowed it. Every time I looked over, I wanted to wake her. Every time I saw how exhausted she was, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I pulled up in front of the house and put the truck in park.

“Mel?”

She didn't answer.

“Baby, we're home.”

Nothing.

Her breathing was steady, and I could hear her heart, but I needed to see those dark brown eyes open again.

“Melissa?”

She shifted her head slightly against the seat.

That was enough for now.

I killed the engine, grabbed my keys, and hurried around to the passenger side.

When I opened the door, the cooler night air slipped inside. Melissa was curled slightly toward the window, the blanket still covering most of her body. The wooden wolf rested between her hands, its little head sticking out from beneath the edge of the blanket.

“Come on, baby. Let's get you inside.”

I reached across her to release the seat belt, then pulled the blanket away so I could lift her properly.

As I slipped one arm behind her back and the other beneath her knees, her fingers loosened.

The wolf fell.

I heard it hit the passenger-side floor and looked down.

“Shit.”

For a second, I considered reaching for it, but Melissa's head had settled against my shoulder, and I wasn't about to put her down again.

I'd come back for it.

I lifted her out of the truck and headed toward the house, leaving the passenger door open behind me.

She felt smaller in my arms than she should have.

I'd always been able to lift Melissa without the slightest effort. That hadn't changed. What bothered me was how different she felt against me. I'd held her enough times to notice, and the loose fabric of her dress only made it more obvious that she'd lost weight.

I looked down at her face.

Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted. She hadn't even stirred when I'd picked her up.

“Almost there, Mel,” I murmured.

I climbed the porch steps and turned toward the front door. With both arms occupied, I caught the handle with my elbow and managed to push it open.

A little too hard.

The door slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

“Fuck!”

Melissa jerked in my arms.

I immediately looked down at her.

“Hey, baby. It's okay. I'm sorry.”

Her face tightened for a moment, but her eyes remained closed. She settled against me again.

Damn it.

I should've been more careful.

I stepped inside, already hearing footsteps coming from several directions.

Lillian appeared first, hurrying out of the kitchen.

“Jared? What on earth—”

She stopped when she saw Melissa.

For one second, she just stared. Then she came straight toward us.

“Oh my God. What happened?”

“Lillian, I need your help.”

She was already looking Melissa over, her expression changing as she took in her pale face and the way she lay motionless in my arms.

“What's wrong with her?”

“She passed out. She's been freezing, and there's something going on with her heartbeat. I need you to look at her.”

“Of course, honey.”

Elias came out of the living room, followed by Isaac and Mason.

“What happened?” Elias asked, his eyes moving immediately to Melissa.

“Is that Melissa?” Isaac stepped closer. “Jesus, what's wrong with her?”

“I'll explain everything in a minute. I just need to get her upstairs.”

“Is she hurt?” Mason asked.

“No. I don't think so.” I looked at Lillian. “She fainted, and she's barely been able to stay awake since. Her heart isn't beating right.”

Lillian's expression grew more serious.

“All right. Let's get her to bed.”

“Jared!”

I looked toward the stairs.

Daisy was coming down, one hand sliding along the banister. She brightened when she saw me, but the smile disappeared as soon as she noticed Melissa.

“Melissa!”

She hurried down the remaining steps.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I tried to soften my voice. “Not right now, okay?”

She stopped in front of me, looking up at Melissa.

“What's wrong with her?”

“She's not feeling well, honey. She's really tired, and she needs to rest.”

“Is she sick?”

“Yeah, sweetheart. She's sick.”

Daisy's eyes filled with worry.

“Can I talk to her?”

“Not tonight. She's sleeping right now, but you can see her when she's feeling better, okay?”

She looked disappointed, but it was the way she kept staring at Melissa that got to me.

I glanced at Elias.

He understood immediately.

“Come here, Daisy.” He stepped beside her and gently guided her away from the stairs. “Let's give Jared and Mom some room.”

“But—”

“I know, sweetheart. We'll talk about it.”

I didn't wait to hear the rest.

“Lillian, please come upstairs with me.”

“I'm right behind you.”

I started toward the stairs, then remembered the wolf.

“Mason?”

“Yeah?”

“There's a wooden wolf on the floor of the passenger side of my truck. Can you grab it for me?”

“Sure.”

“The door's open.”

“I've got it.”

“Thanks.”

I carried Melissa upstairs with Lillian following close behind.

I hadn't brought her into my room since everything had fallen apart between us.

The thought hit me as I pushed the bedroom door open.

The last time she'd been here, she'd belonged here. She'd smiled at me in this room, fallen asleep in my bed, and woken up beside me without having to wonder whether I wanted her there.

Now I was carrying her inside because she'd collapsed in my arms, and I had no idea how to help her.

I crossed to the bed and carefully lowered her onto the mattress.

“Easy, baby.”

She made a faint sound as I settled her against the pillows, but she didn't wake.

I slipped off her sneakers and set them beside the bed. Then I pulled the blanket over her.

Lillian came around to the other side and sat beside Melissa.

“Let me see her.”

I stepped back enough to give her room.

She placed a hand against Melissa's forehead, then took one of her hands between both of hers.

“Goodness, she's cold.”

“I know.”

Lillian looked at me.

“How long has she been like this?”

“I don't know. She was already freezing when I found her. I had the heater running the entire drive here, and she kept saying she was cold.”

Lillian gently rubbed Melissa's fingers, then checked her pulse.

I watched her face.

She didn't say anything at first.

“Lillian?”

“Just give me a moment, Jared.”

I went quiet.

She kept her fingers against Melissa's wrist, her attention fixed on what she was feeling.

I could hear every beat.

That same uneven fucking rhythm.

“That's what I was talking about,” I said.

Lillian glanced up.

“Her heart?”

“Yeah. It doesn't sound normal. I know what her heartbeat usually sounds like, and this isn't it.”

She nodded, still checking.

“She's breathing comfortably. That's good.”

“Then why does her heart sound like that?”

“I need to examine her properly before I can tell you anything.”

I looked at Melissa.

Her blonde hair was spread across my pillow, and she was lying so still that I found myself watching her chest rise and fall.

Lillian released her wrist and gently touched her cheek.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she whispered. “What's happened to you?”

I didn't answer.

I couldn't.

She was seeing what I'd seen at the river.

The dark circles beneath Melissa's eyes. Her swollen eyelids. The paleness of her face and the weight she'd lost.

And I could tell from her expression that she was just as troubled by the difference as I was.

“She's lost weight,” Lillian said quietly.

I nodded.

“I noticed.”

“Quite a bit, considering how recently I last saw her.”

“Yeah.”

She looked down at Melissa again, gently moving a strand of hair away from her face.

“Has she been eating?”

The question made my stomach tighten.

“I don't know.”

“Did she tell you anything about how she's been feeling?”

“Just that she was tired. And cold. That's pretty much all she said the whole way here.”

“Did she lose consciousness more than once?”

“Once. I couldn't wake her at first, but she came around after I got her into the truck.”

“And she stayed conscious after that?”

“Yeah. She was awake for most of the drive. I kept talking to her because I was scared she'd pass out again.”

Lillian nodded.

“She kept asking me to let her sleep.” I looked at Melissa, remembering how weak her voice had sounded. “She could barely keep her eyes open. I finally told her it was okay.”

Lillian rested a hand on my arm.

“Jared, look at me.”

I did.

“I need to examine her, and I'd like to do that without you standing here worrying over every little thing I do.”

“I'm not going to bother you.”

“I know you're not.”

“Then let me stay.”

Her expression softened.

“Honey, I understand that you're frightened. But I need a few minutes alone with her.”

I looked back at the bed.

Melissa was still sleeping, the blanket pulled up around her shoulders.

I hated the thought of leaving the room.

Not because I didn't trust Lillian. There wasn't a person in that house I trusted more to take care of Melissa.

I just couldn't stand being away from her again.

“Jared.”

Lillian's voice was gentle but firm.

“I promise I'll come get you as soon as I'm finished.”

I swallowed and nodded.

“Okay.”

I stepped closer to the bed one last time.

Melissa's hand was resting on top of the blanket. I touched her fingers, hoping she'd respond, but she remained asleep.

“I'm right outside, baby,” I whispered.

I wasn't sure whether she heard me.

I straightened and looked at Lillian.

“Please tell me if anything's wrong.”

“I will.”

“Anything, Lillian.”

“I promise, honey.”

I took one last look at Melissa, then forced myself to leave.

I pulled the bedroom door closed behind me, careful not to make a sound.

For a moment, I stood there staring at the wood.

I'd finally found her.

She was upstairs in my bed, with Lillian looking after her, surrounded by people who cared about her.

But the fear didn't leave me.

I sat on the floor outside my bedroom, my back against the wall and my knees bent in front of me.

I wasn't sure how long I'd been there. Every few minutes, I caught myself looking at the door, waiting for Lillian to open it. I could hear Melissa breathing on the other side, and I kept listening, even though there was nothing I could do for her from where I sat.

Her heartbeat still sounded different to me.

I'd noticed it by the river, and the sound had followed me all the way home. I knew Melissa's heart. I'd spent countless nights lying beside her, listening to it while she slept. Whatever I was hearing now wasn't what I was used to, and I needed Lillian to tell me why.

I rubbed my hands over my face.

I'd brought Melissa here because I trusted Lillian more than anyone to look after her. But sitting outside that door, waiting for answers, made me realize how little control I had over any of this.

I couldn't make Melissa warm. I couldn't make her eat or sleep properly. I couldn't even tell her why she'd fainted.

And I sure as hell couldn't undo the last six weeks.

The bedroom door finally opened.

I was on my feet before Lillian had fully stepped into the hallway.

“How is she?”

“She's sleeping, honey.”

“Is she okay?”

Lillian closed the door gently behind her.

“Yes, Jared. She's doing all right.”

I searched her face.

“Then what's wrong with her?”

“She's extremely exhausted. I suspect she hasn't been eating properly, drinking enough water, or getting nearly enough sleep. She's lost weight, and her body has been under a tremendous amount of strain.”

I looked toward the bedroom door.

“She was so cold, Lillian. I had the heater on the whole way here, and she kept shivering.”

“I know. Her hands and feet are cold, but her overall condition is reassuring. She's breathing normally, and I didn't find any obvious injuries or anything else immediately concerning during my examination.”

“Then why did she pass out?”

“Exhaustion, dehydration, and not eating enough can all contribute to fainting. I can't tell you exactly what caused it without knowing more about what she's been through, but she's clearly been neglecting her own needs for some time.”

I swallowed.

“And her heart?”

“What about it, honey?”

“I told you something sounded wrong. I know what her heartbeat usually sounds like, and this isn't it.”

“I checked her pulse carefully, Jared. It was regular.”

“Then why does it sound different?”

“Because you're hearing her heart under very different circumstances than you're used to. Stress, exhaustion, and dehydration can affect how fast or strongly a heart beats. You've never heard Melissa's heartbeat when she's been this physically depleted.”

I stared at her, trying to make sense of what she was saying.

“So her heart's okay?”

“Her pulse was steady when I examined her. That's reassuring. What I'm concerned about right now is how exhausted she is.”

I let out a breath.

Lillian squeezed my arm.

“Listen to me, honey. Melissa is terribly run-down, but that doesn't mean she can't recover. She needs proper rest, regular meals, and enough fluids. We need to help her get back into a healthy routine, and that will take some time.”

“What do we do now?”

“For the moment, let her sleep. When she wakes up, I want to talk to her. We need to find out when she last had a proper meal, how much she's been drinking, and whether she's been sleeping at all.”

I looked down at my hands.

“She barely talked to me in the truck.”

“Then we'll be patient with her. When she's awake enough, we'll offer her something to eat and drink. Small amounts at first, and we'll see how she feels.”

“And she'll get better?”

“I'm hopeful she will, Jared. But we need to take care of her and pay attention to how she's doing. If she faints again or anything about her condition changes, I want you to come get me immediately.”

“I will.”

She studied me for a moment.

“Do you know when she last ate?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“Did you ask her?”

“No. I should've, but…” I stopped and glanced toward the door. “She'd just passed out, and she was so fucking cold. All I could think about was getting her here.”

“You were frightened.”

“Yeah.”

I looked at her.

“I still am.”

“I know, honey.”

There was no judgment in her voice, but I couldn't stop thinking about everything she'd just told me.

Melissa hadn't been eating properly. She probably hadn't been sleeping. She'd lost enough weight that both of us had noticed it immediately.

And I knew why the last six weeks had been so difficult for her.

I'd stood in front of her and accused her of sleeping with Tristan. I'd refused to listen when she'd tried to explain, and then I'd told her I didn't love her anymore.

I'd watched her cry.

And I'd left anyway.

Now she was lying in my bed, so exhausted she could barely stay awake, while Lillian explained what prolonged neglect of her own needs could do to a person.

I didn't know how much of that exhaustion was because of me.

But I knew I'd given her more than enough reasons to stop caring about herself.

“Jared?”

I looked up.

“We'll look after her,” Lillian said. “But you need to give her time. She's not going to feel like herself again after one good night's sleep.”

“I know.”

“She needs people around her who care about her. People who'll make sure she eats, rests, and doesn't have to worry about everything at once.”

I nodded.

For a moment, neither of us said anything.

Then I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.

“Thank you, Mom.”

She hugged me back immediately, one hand settling against the back of my head.

“Oh, honey. Of course.”

I closed my eyes and held on for another moment before finally letting go.

“I'll be downstairs,” she said.

“Okay. I'll come down in a minute.”

“Take your time.”

She gave my arm one last squeeze before heading toward the stairs.

I opened my bedroom door.

Melissa was lying exactly where I'd left her, her blonde hair spread across the pillow and the blanket tucked around her shoulders. Her face was turned slightly toward the empty side of the bed.

I walked over and sat beside her.

“Hey, Mel,” I whispered.

She didn't stir.

I brushed a few strands of hair away from her cheek. Her skin still felt cooler than I liked, so I got another blanket from the closet and spread it over her.

“There you go, baby.”

I stayed beside her for a little while, watching her sleep.

I wanted to get into bed right then and stay there. I wanted to hold her, keep her warm, and let her rest for as long as she needed.

But the others had seen me carry her into the house. They deserved to know what had happened, even if I wasn't ready to tell them everything.

I gently stroked her hair once more before standing.

“I'll be back.”

***

Elias was sitting on the couch when I came downstairs. Lillian occupied the armchair beside him, and Isaac stood near the fireplace.

He straightened when he saw me.

“How is she?”

“She's exhausted. Lillian thinks she hasn't been eating or sleeping properly, and she's probably dehydrated.”

“Is she gonna be okay?”

“She's resting,” Lillian answered. “She needs time to recover, but I'm encouraged by how she's doing.”

Isaac nodded, although he still looked worried.

“Where's Mason?” I asked.

“Upstairs with Daisy,” Elias said. “She's showing him some drawings. He offered to keep her company while we talked.”

“Good.”

I was relieved Daisy wasn't sitting downstairs waiting for answers. She'd looked frightened enough when she'd seen Melissa in my arms.

Isaac reached toward the coffee table and picked something up.

“Mason brought this in.”

He handed me the wooden wolf.

I took it from him and ran my thumb over its back.

“Thanks.”

“He said you wanted it.”

“Melissa did.”

Isaac glanced at the figurine but didn't ask anything else.

I sat down opposite Elias, still holding the wolf.

For a moment, I didn't know where to begin.

Elias leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.

“Jared, what happened?”

I took a deep breath and started talking.

“I went to find her. After Lillian and I talked, I drove straight to Roanoke.”

Elias nodded.

“She wasn't at her apartment. She'd moved out.”

Lillian frowned.

“Moved out?”

“Yeah. I went there, and she was gone. I found out she hadn't even started the job she'd gotten.”

“Melissa didn't start her job?” Isaac asked.

“No.”

He looked genuinely confused.

I understood why. Melissa had been so excited about that job. She'd talked about it constantly, about finally having an opportunity she'd worked so hard for.

And she'd given it up.

“I looked everywhere I could think of,” I continued. “Drove around Roanoke, checked the places she used to go. Nothing. Nobody knew where she was.”

Lillian shook her head slowly.

“Oh, Melissa.”

“I started thinking maybe she'd gone back to Buchanan.”

“To her father's house?” Elias asked.

“Yeah.”

Elias knew enough about Marvin to understand why that possibility had bothered me.

“She always said she'd never go back there,” I added. “But I didn't know what else to think.”

“Was she there?”

“No. I checked. She wasn't.”

I looked down at the wolf in my hands.

“I was starting to run out of places to look. Then I remembered somewhere we used to go when we were kids. A spot by the river, out in the woods. Nobody else really knew about it.”

I paused.

“Her car was there.”

Lillian leaned forward.

“Was she inside?”

“No. But her things were.”

I swallowed.

“Clothes, pillows, blankets. Everything was piled in there. It looked like she'd been sleeping in the car.”

Isaac stared at me.

“She was living in her car?”

“I don't know exactly how long she'd been there. But yeah, that's what it looked like.”

“Jesus,” Elias muttered.

I knew what he was thinking because I'd had the same reaction when I'd seen the back seat.

Melissa had left her apartment. She hadn't started her job. And instead of going somewhere safe, she'd ended up sleeping in her car in the woods.

Alone.

“I found her down by the water,” I said.

“How did she look?” Lillian asked.

I gave a humorless laugh.

“Like she hadn't slept in days.”

The room went quiet.

“She was pale. Her eyes were swollen, and she'd lost weight. I could tell something was wrong, but…” I stopped, trying to find the words. “I talked to her. I apologized for everything.”

Lillian watched me carefully.

“She let me hold her,” I continued. “And then her legs just gave out.”

Isaac moved closer.

“She collapsed?”

“Yeah. One second she was standing there, and the next she was unconscious. I caught her, but I couldn't wake her up.”

I could still see her eyes rolling back.

I could still feel her body going limp in my arms.

“I carried her to the truck. She finally came around when I got her into the passenger seat.”

“Did she seem confused?” Lillian asked.

“Yeah. She panicked when she realized where she was. I had to calm her down.”

I glanced at the wolf.

“She asked me to get this from her car. I grabbed it and a blanket, then drove straight here.”

“And she was awake during the drive?” Elias asked.

“For most of it. I kept trying to talk to her, but she hardly said anything. She just kept telling me she was cold and tired.”

I looked at Lillian.

“She kept asking me to let her sleep. Eventually, I did.”

“You got her here,” Elias said quietly.

I stared at the figurine.

“Yeah.”

It didn't feel like enough.

Six weeks ago, Melissa had been getting ready to start a job she'd wanted. She'd been happy. We'd been happy.

Now she was upstairs in my bed, too exhausted to stay awake, and I was sitting here telling my family that I'd found her by the river and that she'd been sleeping in a fucking car.

Elias sat back, studying me.

There was more he wanted to ask. I could see it in his face, and I knew he had every right to ask. He'd been there when everything between Melissa and me fell apart. He knew what I'd accused her of and how I'd behaved afterward.

But I wasn't ready to explain the conversation we'd had by the river. Not tonight.

“Look,” I said, rubbing a hand over my face. “I know you have questions. I'll tell you everything I can, but not right now.”

Nobody interrupted.

“I just want to be with her. We can talk tomorrow, or whenever. I don't care. I just can't sit down here talking about all this while she's upstairs.”

Elias nodded.

“Then don't.”

I looked at him.

“Go be with her, Jared. We can talk later.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I started to stand, then remembered something.

“Actually, Elias, can I ask you a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Melissa's car is still in Buchanan. At that spot by the river. All her clothes and the rest of her things are inside.”

“Okay.”

“Could you go get it? The car, her stuff, whatever you can bring back. I don't want her worrying about any of it when she wakes up.”

“Of course.”

“I can tell you how to get there.”

“Just give me the directions. I'll take Isaac with me, and we'll take care of it.”

Isaac nodded immediately.

“Yeah. No problem.”

“Thanks. Both of you.”

I was grateful I didn't have to ask twice. Elias had never been the kind of man who made a big deal out of helping someone, and Isaac was much the same.

I gave them the directions, making sure Elias knew where to turn off the main road and how to find the place where Melissa had left her car.

He listened without interrupting.

When I finished, he nodded.

“We'll handle it.”

I looked at the wooden wolf again.

“Okay.”

Lillian got up from her chair.

“Jared, try to get some rest yourself tonight.”

“I will.”

She gave me a look that made it clear she didn't believe me.

I almost smiled.

Almost.

“I mean it, honey. Melissa needs you to take care of yourself, too.”

“I know.”

“And if anything changes, you come get me immediately.”

“I will. I promise.”

I stood and looked around at them.

“Thank you.”

Elias gave me a small nod, and Isaac stepped aside to let me pass.

Nobody tried to keep me downstairs.

I was grateful for that, too.

***

The upstairs hallway was quiet when I returned.

I could hear Daisy talking somewhere behind her bedroom door, her voice animated as she explained something to Mason. He answered her, and she immediately launched into another explanation.

I was glad Mason had found a way to keep her occupied. Daisy loved Melissa, and I knew she'd have a hundred questions once she saw her again.

I opened my bedroom door and stepped inside.

Melissa hadn't moved much.

She was still lying on her side, tucked beneath both blankets, her hair spread across the pillow. The room was warm, but when I approached the bed, I could tell she was still cold.

I set the wooden wolf on the nightstand beside her.

I turned it slightly so it faced her, close enough that she'd see it when she opened her eyes.

I remembered the way she'd asked for it in the truck. How frightened she'd been, how her hands had shaken around the seat belt, and how she'd reached for the figurine the moment I'd given it to her.

She'd kept it with her all this time.

Even after everything I'd said.

I stood there for a moment, looking at the wolf.

I'd given it to her because I wanted her to have something that would remind her of us, something she could keep even when we weren't together.

I'd never imagined she'd end up holding on to it after I was the one who walked away.

I reached over and gently touched her forehead.

Still cool.

“Hey, baby,” I whispered. “I'm back.”

She didn't wake.

I slipped out of my sneakers and climbed carefully into bed beside her.

I didn't pull her toward me. I moved closer until I could fit myself against her, then slipped an arm around her waist and rested my hand over the blanket.

Melissa made a faint sound in her sleep but didn't open her eyes.

I settled behind her, letting my body rest against hers.

I knew how much warmer I was than she was. Normally, Melissa loved that about me. She'd complained about my body heat plenty of times, usually while trying to get as close to me as possible on a cold night.

Tonight, I hoped it would help.

I drew the blankets more securely around her shoulders and stayed still, giving her time to settle.

Her breathing remained soft and even.

I rested my cheek against her hair.

She smelled faintly of the river, the woods, and the fresh evening air. Beneath it all was her familiar scent, the one I'd always loved and missed so fucking much. I wanted to find her something comfortable to wear, make her a proper meal.

But she was finally sleeping in a bed, and I wasn't going to disturb her.

Tomorrow, we'd figure out what she needed.

When she woke up, Lillian could talk to her. We'd find out when she'd last eaten properly, how long she'd been living in her car, and what had happened during those six weeks.

There were so many things I didn't know.

And there were things I was afraid to ask.

I looked at the wooden wolf on the nightstand.

- I found my way back to you.

I'd believed those words when I carved them.

I'd believed them when I gave her the figurine.

And then I'd been the one to leave.

I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering the way she'd looked at me when I'd told her I didn't love her anymore.

I'd meant to hurt her that day.

That was the part I couldn't excuse, no matter how angry or betrayed I'd believed myself to be. I'd wanted her to feel even a fraction of what I thought she'd done to me.

And she'd believed me.

She'd believed every cruel fucking word.

I tightened my arm around her slightly, careful not to wake her.

“I'm sorry, Mel,” I whispered into her hair.

I knew an apology wasn't going to erase what had happened. I'd said everything I needed to say by the river, and she'd heard me. Whether she could forgive me was something I had no right to demand.

For now, I just wanted her to be okay.

I wanted her to wake up tomorrow and feel a little better. I wanted to hear her laugh again, to watch her eat something she actually enjoyed, to see that familiar spark return to her dark brown eyes.

I missed those things.

I missed her.

Not just having her beside me. I missed the girl she'd been before I'd made her feel as though she had nothing left.

Melissa shifted slightly in her sleep.

I lifted my head, watching her face.

She settled again, her hand resting near mine on top of the blanket.

I stayed close, listening to her breathe.

And then to her heart.

Her heart was still beating in that strange rhythm, and I listened to every heartbeat.

I'd spent five weeks believing she was the one who'd broken my heart.

Now I was lying beside her, terrified of what I'd done to hers.

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