She went rigid in his arms, then shoved weakly against him, fists thudding against his chest. "Why?!" she cried. "Is there a crime against crying now? Should I stop existing—would that make things easier for you?"
"Sera, I'm losing control."
He swallowed, jaw tight, eyes darkening as he fought the pull inside him. "I don't have a grip on my emotions. Seeing you hurt, it pulls me straight into the dark abyss of my mind. I can't afford it."
She pulled away from him abruptly, breaking the fragile cocoon his arms had made.
"I want to see him."
"What?"
"I want to see the Shadow wolf," Sera repeated, quieter but steadier now. "You keep saying you're losing control, but you never say it like it's a bad thing. Not really. He seems to… care about me. And right now, I need someone who cares about me."
"I care about you!" he shot back. "You think I need a wolf I locked out of my life—out of my mind—a bloodthirsty one to convince you of that?"
