Part 19 (1/2)

I half smiled then headed for the door. Before coming, I had a whole speech prepared for him; but, now that I was here, I couldn't remember a d.a.m.n thing.

Jonathan followed me inside and we found Micky and Daniel sitting at a table.

”Look what the cat dragged in.” Daniel said while leaning his chair back and balancing on only two chair legs.

”Actually, it's more like a dog, a very large s.e.xy dog.”

Was he serious? I never actually saw Tristan fully transform and I had no idea what the h.e.l.l these two were, but now I'm a.s.suming werewolves.

”Did you just use the word 's.e.xy' and 'dog' in the same sentence?” I asked, with a rather disturbed expression on my face.

Jonathan just grinned and disappeared behind the bar table. Micky got up out of his seat and scooped me up into a bear hug, which succeeded in making me actually whimper.

I have healed a lot since being home, but I am only human after all. Micky must have realized this because he let me go really quick with an apology.

”I take it Tobias doesn't know you're comin'?”

”Not exactly, but he's smart, so I'm sure a part of him knows he'd be an idiot not to expect it.”

”He's not quite himself right now. Are you sure you want to go up there?”

”No, but if I don't I might lose him forever, that I am sure of and it is not an option.”

Micky nodded then kissed the top of my forehead. He reminded me of everything a father should be, everything my father wasn't.

I walked up the stairs slowly and with each step I could feel my heart beat speeding up. I reached up and knocked on the door; there was no turning back now.

”Not really in the mood Jonathan, or Daniel; whichever one you are.”

I bit my lip and turned the door handle. I let out a low breath in relief that the door wasn't locked. I pushed it open and stared at Tobias's back. I could still see the marks from being tortured. I don't know if he would be scarred forever, or if the marks would fade in time.

”How do you know it wasn't Micky?” I finally asked.

I could see Tobias tense up at the sound of my voice. The entire room s.h.i.+fted; it was almost like someone had sucked the air out.

”Micky doesn't bother me up here unless it's important. Even then he doesn't knock.”

I smirked a little then sucked my bottom lip in between my teeth. My words were completely failing me right now and I hated myself for it.

I walked into the room and closed the door behind me so the two of us could have some privacy. I didn't know how this conversation would go, but I didn't need everyone else over hearing it, especially if I was going to end up humiliated.

”What are you doing here?” he asked flatly without even turning around.

”You didn't come back to the house. I wanted to make sure you were alright. You haven't said a word to me since you got home.”

”I'm fine.”

I didn't believe that for a second. I took a step towards him and he moved away from me before I could touch him.

”I said I'm fine.”

”I know.”

Silence filled the air. Tobias stood by the cot and kept his back to me the entire time.

”Is that it then? You refuse to talk to me for days and now all I get is 'I'm fine'?”

”What more do you want from me?”

Was he serious right now? I could feel the painful tingling of my throat closing up as sobs threatened to choke me.

”What do I want? I want you to stop shutting me out and actually talk to me.”

Tobias finally turned around and, instead of being greeted by a beautiful green; I was staring into the piercing red eyes of his hunger.

Instinctively, I took a step back, but regretted it instantly at the look on his face before he turned away from me.

”You should leave.” He growled.

”No, I'm not going anywhere.”

”Leave!” he screamed.

In an instant he was turned around and his face was less than an inch from mine. His fangs were bared and I could feel his hot breath against me with each pant he took to keep himself under control. I swallowed back the lump in my throat and let out a slow breath before shaking my head.

”No.”

Tobias growled, then reached for the door but I quickly moved to stand in his way. I finally got him alone; I wasn't about to let him run off again.

”Move!”

”No!”

”I don't want to hurt you, Willow.”

”You won't. You would never hurt me, so don't even pretend you want to.”

”I'd never hurt you? I almost killed you!”

Tobias turned around and started pacing the room like a caged animal.

”That wasn't you Tobias. That was me. I almost killed me; I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

I could feel the tears slip free and slide down along my cheeks. Tobias just kept pacing like it was the only thing that was keeping him human.

”Just talk to me Tobias, and when we're done I'll leave, if that's what you want.”

”What I want? I don't want that, but you should.”

”Then what the h.e.l.l do you want, because I'm getting really f.u.c.king tired of playing guessing games.”