Little witch

Suspicious

Titus sat in his office, Adeline nestled in his lap, her head resting against his chest as he absentmindedly stroked her hair. Normally, her presence calmed him, centered him in a way nothing else could. But today, something felt off. The bond between them was buzzing with her emotions, stronger and more turbulent than usual. He could feel the depth of her fear, the familiar wave of safety she found in him, the trust that usually reassured him. But beneath it all was something darker. Heartbreak.

At first, he assumed it was the same old pain—the trauma from the fire that had stolen her parents, the loss she'd carried for so long. But this was different, more personal, more immediate. It felt like a quiet, lingering sorrow, as if she was silently saying goodbye. His wolf, Blaze, stirred in the back of his mind, restless with unease. Blaze didn't like this. Titus didn't either.

His arms tightened around Adeline, his instincts screaming to protect her, to hold her closer. Whatever this was, it wasn't something she was sharing. She had been quieter than usual since the encounter with Aspen, but it wasn't just fear that had her retreating. It was as if she was pulling away from him emotionally, even while physically clinging closer.

"Hey," he murmured softly, dipping his head to press a kiss to the top of her head. "You okay?"

Adeline gave a small nod, her fingers absently tracing patterns on his chest. "I'm fine. I trust you, Titus. I know you'll keep me safe."

The words were meant to reassure him, but they did the opposite. They felt hollow. He could feel her heart wasn't in them, not completely. It was as if she was trying to convince herself more than him. She had been saying things like that all day—talking about how much she trusted him, how safe she felt, how much she loved him. It was almost like she was trying to leave those words behind, like she was preparing to walk away from him.

The thought sent a wave of dread through him. His jaw clenched, and Blaze growled low in the back of his mind. There was no way she was planning to leave. She couldn't. She was his mate. His other half. But her quietness, the extra kisses, the way she hugged him just a little longer, it all felt too much like a goodbye.

Titus leaned back slightly, shifting her so he could see her face. She kept her eyes down, avoiding his gaze, which only deepened his suspicions. "Adeline," he said softly, his voice laced with concern. "What's going on?"

She looked up at him then, her green eyes wide, her expression innocent. "Nothing," she said quickly, her lips curving into a small, reassuring smile. "I'm just... processing everything, I guess. The whole Aspen thing... it's just a lot."

He searched her eyes, trying to read beyond the surface. He knew she was scared, knew Aspen's sudden appearance had thrown her off balance. But it wasn't just fear he was feeling through the bond. There was a sadness there, an ache that didn't make sense if this was only about Aspen.

"You're planning something," Titus said, his voice quieter now but filled with the weight of his realization. "I can feel it. You don't have to tell me everything, but... don't lie to me, Adeline."

She stiffened slightly in his arms, and that alone was answer enough. She was planning something. His heart clenched at the thought of her leaving, of her slipping away from him. The bond between them flared with his emotions—possessiveness, protectiveness, fear of losing her. Blaze was already on edge, his presence pressing at the back of Titus's mind, ready to take control if necessary.

Adeline shifted in his lap, leaning up to kiss him softly. "I'm not going anywhere, Titus," she whispered, her lips brushing his as if to soothe the tension between them. "I love you."

But the heartbreak in the bond remained. He kissed her back, more fiercely than he meant to, as if he could ground her here, keep her from slipping through his fingers. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, his breathing heavy.

"Don't leave me," he whispered, his voice raw with vulnerability. "Please, Adeline. Whatever you're thinking, don't do it."

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she didn't say anything. She just held him, her arms wrapping tighter around his neck, and he could feel her trembling slightly. The ache in his chest grew sharper, but he didn't press her. Not yet.

Instead, he just held her, letting the silence stretch between them, filled with the unspoken tension. He didn't want to scare her off by pushing too hard. But he knew, deep down, that something was wrong. He wasn't going to let her run. He couldn't. Blaze wouldn't allow it.

As the minutes ticked by, Titus found himself growing more and more protective, the primal need to keep her safe intensifying with every passing moment. He knew Blaze was right beneath the surface, and it was taking everything in him to keep his wolf from fully taking over. Blaze wanted to lock her away, keep her where she would be safe from Aspen, from anything that could hurt her.

But Titus knew that would only make her feel trapped, and he didn't want that. He couldn't do that to her.

Still, the thought of her leaving, of being without her, gnawed at him. He had to find out what she was planning before it was too late.