Eclipsed Hearts

A Sign of Trust

[Bailey]

By the end of the first day, I was exhausted. Well, bored to exhaustion, at least. Those lectures were far from entertaining and the conversation from the other people who were there wasn’t exactly great, either.

Ian gave me the cold shoulder as much as he could. When we were in front of people or they were looking at us, he acted friendly. But when they weren’t looking, he completely ignored me. It made for a very tense time, which didn’t help with my tiredness.

The only perk was that Gino experimented with being more friendly with me at dinner. I smiled and interacted with him as if I didn’t know he was the person who killed my family. Neither Keaton nor Ian looked concerned as I went on talking to Gino, so I was fairly certain I wasn’t giving off a vibe or a scent that would give up the truth.

The other werewolves in the group with Gino earlier decided to spend more time with us. I assumed they were trying to prevent me from hurting Keaton or whatever. They put on a friendly act. I could tell they were pretending by the way their eyes would occasionally turn calculating and cold.

Things got a little strange. By the time we were heading to our room, I was feeling very comfortable. Almost as if I belonged there.

If Keaton was right about my father and his beliefs about humans and werewolves, maybe this was proof of it. We were faking, but the chemistry between people when they were faking wasn’t as natural as this. Melo and I really got into our conversation and it felt like she and I clicked.

Perhaps it was wishful thinking. I didn’t know. I might never know.

As we got comfortable in our room, I couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of unease. The events replayed in my mind, adding to the sense of foreboding. Someone was always watching us, always following. I didn’t like it.

I watched as Keaton and Ian engaged in a quiet conversation, their expressions unreadable. It was becoming increasingly apparent that there was more to their dynamic than met the eye. I wished I understood werewolf hierarchies better.

They were both Alphas, so that meant they were both powerful, but Keaton acted as if he was above Ian. If our intel was correct, Keaton was actually about a year younger than me. Though, even I’d fallen into the trap of acting as if he were older or had more power.

It was easy to do. He exuded that air of command that made him seem much older and more capable. Perhaps that was the difference between Ian and Keaton.

Though Ian had something like a commanding presence, it wasn’t as confident as Keaton’s was. That would lead more people to follow Keaton and disregard Ian. Ian also seemed more emotional and impulsive.

However, Keaton received training to lead. My clan thrust Ian into the position of leader. Wiping out most of his pack left him as the only one who could take on the responsibility.

I glanced over at him from where I was sitting. He was standing by the window again, staring out as if he could see for miles in the distance. Was he looking for his pack? For a different way to get me to release him?

It wasn’t for a way to accept me. I knew that. He didn’t want me and that wouldn’t change. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t in the hunting party or even privy to what the hunting party who attacked his pack was doing. Ian would never see me as anything but the enemy.

Keaton left to go get some more towels and drinks from the little shop on the ground floor. It was only about five minutes ago, but it was enough time to let me consider our conversation from the garden.

I didn’t want to make Ian think he didn’t have a choice. No one should tell you who to love. Especially not some goddess who didn’t even really know you. Love should grow, and he deserved it. He went through a lot and took care of around a dozen kids after losing everything.

“Bailey Walker,” I said softly.

Ian turned to me and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“When it’s time, my name is Bailey Walker. If what Keaton said is right, you’ll hurt yourself if you reject me now, but I want you to know my name for when it’s safe for you to have that sort of reaction. Don’t act on impulse. Think of the kids you take care of and keep our connection until we’re done here and have gone to the pack Keaton wants us to visit.”

Ian gave me a look, like he was trying to understand what I was saying. His gaze softened a bit, a moment of comprehension flickering before he nodded in recognition.

“Bailey Walker,” he repeated, committing the name to memory.

The tension between us eased, replaced by a fragile truce. Despite everything that brought us here, there was something special between Ian and me, a connection that went beyond our pasts and differences. I felt like he deserved to be treated as someone capable of deciding and not treated like an impulsive child.

That’s why he wanted me to tell him earlier, before Keaton intervened. Ian came and joined me on the bed, sitting on the corner and facing me. He held out his hand to me. I briefly studied it before deciding to take it, relishing the sensation of his warm, firm hand enveloping my much smaller one.

“Ian Kent,” he said. “Thank you for giving me your real name, Bailey.”

The way my heart pounded when he said my name made me breathless. Ian pulled me closer instead of shaking my hand. He gathered me close to him and pressed our chests together while holding me tight.

It felt like the entire world disappeared, and we were all alone in our little bubble. The way Ian touched was a blend of gentleness and possessiveness. As I felt my racing heartbeat calm down, I allowed myself to lean my head against his shoulder.

Giving up my name was the sign of trust he wanted. It was fine. I had to give him the freedom to find love with someone who’s a better fit, anyway. Neither of us could really be happy together. We had no chance at all.

In that hotel room, I couldn’t ignore the potent mix of emotions I had for Ian, feeling both sad and hopeful, tears building up in my eyes. Even though the circumstances and the impossibility of a future between us, there was a part of me that yearned for a connection that defied rationality and reasoning.

When Ian hugged me, it felt both comforting and thrilling, awakening buried feelings. He pulled me close, and I felt a mix of longing and sadness knowing our time was short. Just being friends during our time together would be enough for me.

It was in his arms that I felt safe for the first time since my family died. Whenever I ended up there, I never wanted it to end. It wasn’t just being hugged; people hugged me before. Being held by Ian felt like being wrapped in a cozy blanket on a wintry day.

He leaned his head against mine and kept me close. I took a deep breath in and savored the scent of his skin and hair. It was a very healthy scent that was seasoned with underlying smells of soap and shaving cream, even this many hours after he’d shaved.

I didn’t mind the slight roughness on his cheeks caused by the day’s growth. I turned my head and kissed his cheek, initiating intimate contact with him for the first time. In a moment of hesitation, Ian tightened his grip on me and leaned in, pressing his lips against mine.

The kiss was gentle but filled with desire, like a silent admission of what we had been feeling all along. It felt like time stood still as an irresistible magnetic force brought us closer together. The touch of Ian’s lips against mine sent a jolt of electricity through me, fueling a fiery passion that consumed us both.

When we kissed, all the walls came down, and it was just pure desire and longing in every touch. His hands delicately glided over my back, leaving a tingling sensation that sent shivers down my spine. The heat of his body pressed against mine created an intoxicating blend of sensations that left me craving even more.

As the intensity of the moment consumed me, I couldn’t help but run my fingers through Ian’s hair, getting lost in its touch. Constantly maintaining control was exhausting, and I was fed up with it. This is what I wanted the most. For just a little while, I wanted to pretend I could have this.

Our kiss deepened, and I could feel the desperate need for each other coursing through our bodies. As each touch, each caress intensified, the fire within us burned with an insatiable desperation, aching for a connection that could fill the void in our souls. Ian touched me in a way that made me tingle all over. It was like a whole new level of passion. I replied eagerly, matching his enthusiasm.

The door to the room opened, making us jump apart.

Keaton chuckled and closed the door behind him. “I can’t leave you two alone for fifteen minutes without you getting frisky. Come help me put this stuff away, Ian.”

I got off the bed and went to the window as Ian went to help Keaton. Maybe this was what we needed to break through his barriers.

At least, he seemed friendlier now….