I couldn't tear my eyes away from the spot where Jaxon's wolf had disappeared into the trees. The word still echoed in my mind: *Mine*. I hadn't even realized I'd said it out loud until Ronan squeezed my shoulder.
"Did he... did he hear me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ronan nodded slowly. "I think so. He stopped when you called out."
My heart hammered in my chest. Despite Jaxon's coldness in the hallway earlier, there was still something there—a connection his wolf form couldn't deny, even if the man was fighting it with everything he had.
"He'll come back," I murmured, more to myself than to Ronan. "He has to."
The last rays of sunset bathed the room in golden light as we stood in silence. After a moment, Ronan spoke, his voice uncharacteristically serious.
"Hazel, there's something I need to tell you."