Chapter 74

Chapter 74
“Where are you going?” Toby asked again, his voice quiet but firm as it cut through the still night. I froze, my body stiff as I turned mechanically to face him, the sound of my movement seeming louder in the silence.

“You are just dreaming, love. Go back to sleep.” I whispered, hoping to lure him back to sleep, but the opposite happened because I could see those brown orbs shining in the dark, and he slowly sat up.

“You haven’t answered the question, Maddie. Where were you going by this hour?” The room was dark because Toby loved to sleep in darkness, but the moon rays were shining through the windowpane, and I could see his eyes searching through the wall, and they finally focused on the mechanical device on the wall. “It is past 2. a.m.”

“I know, I was just…” The lie was at the tip of my tongue, and it was very close to coming out, but I held myself. I had just professed my undying love to this man, and he had made sweet love to my body—I was still reeling from the sensation. I couldn’t start our relationship with lies, so I opted for the truth. “I was going back to my room.” I admitted, my voice barely audible. I lowered my head in shame, although I don’t know why.

“Why are you going back to your room?” Toby asked me, his voice as neutral as ever. I suspected he knew the reason, but he just wanted me to say it.

“I was going to pack.” I said, unable to shake off the betrayal I felt as I said it, and the words began to tumble out as I tried to explain. “My brothers have been taking care of the pack for so long, and it hasn’t been easy for them, and they called me, explaining it was becoming stressful, and I thought I was just going to pack my bags, and I will tell you the next morning.”

“Why?” He asked, his voice soft and warm, and I melted, wondering why I had caused pain to this man.

“I… I didn’t know how to break the news because we have been having so much fun, and I don’t want to cause you any more harm and…”

“And you just wanted to leave like that?”

“I... I.” My mouth opened, but no meaningful words were coming out, and I just gave up.

“Maddie, I…” Tobh began, but I cut him off before he could put any words out.

“I didn’t want to ruin this,” I said, motioning weakly between us. “I didn’t want to ruin what we have... and I am terrible at goodbyes.” My voice cracked, and this time, the tears came, spilling freely as I struggled to hold back the sobs.

“Come.” Toby said, gesturing to me, and just one word was enough for me to make my feet move. I closed the space between us and sank onto the bed, letting him pull me to his bosom.

“I am sorry.” I sniffed into his shoulders. 

“Shhh.” He shunned me before I could get any more words out. He held my face in his hands, swiping his thumb over the tears that had fallen from my eyes. “You have done nothing to be sorry about.” He whispered. “I understand why you did it, but it shouldn’t be an option again for any of us.”

“I know,” I sniffed back the water that was trying to find its way out of my nose. “I couldn’t brave the fact that I would be leaving you, and I tried to wave it off, but I just kept postponing it.”

“It is alright, love. Hearing you cry always breaks my heart.” He whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Thank you.”

“Let us just go to bed; it is already late now, and you shouldn’t be packing. I will help you pack tomorrow if you insist.”

“Alright.” I nodded my head, and we lay down together, cuddled to his body.

“Goodnight.” Toby said in a soft voice, his whispers bringing an instant smirk to my face.

“I mean, it’s morning, but good night,” I whispered. Toby drifted off quickly, his breaths evening out in the quiet, and I lay beside him, staring at the wall, until sleep finally claimed me.

As usual, we woke up from the bed, took out a bath, and I followed Toby to work only because I had told him I was going to be leaving the next day.

I figured we should have a day to ourselves, and I could use the time to properly bid goodbye to Ariel and Kane and, of course, my godson.

We went down for lunch because none of us could stomach breakfast, and we had eaten quietly before we went back to my room, and Toby had fulfilled his promise in helping me to pack.

I didn’t come with a lot of things, so packing wasn’t a hassle, and Toby had made it very easy for me.

“Is there anything else you would need?” He asked me as we stuffed the clothes I had stolen from him into his bag, which he didn’t seem to mind.

“No, there is none that I can think of now, and you can always bring them to me if I did.”

“That I can gladly do.” He said with a hearty smile, and I just melted again.

We finished packing all I had brought inside the small bag, and then Toby had accompanied me to go and greet the new parents and also inform them of my departure.

I had hugged Ariel tight, almost crushing her into me, and I dug my nose in her shoulders, inhaling her scent. All those times spent without her only made me miss her more, and I wondered if I would be able to see her freely again. However, I had to let go when I felt the harsh gaze of her mate on my back.

“My bad,” I said with a sheepish smile, raising my hands in surrender. I had forgotten just how protective Kane could be. His stance softened slightly, and I took a few steps towards him until I was in front of him. “Thank you for receiving me. I would let you know that you are always welcome in my pack.”

“Of course, after all, we are friends.” He replied, bringing out his hands.

“Friends?” I eyed his hands, trying to decide if my ears were playing tricks. However, the thoughts of being friends with these people didn’t sound so bad, and I was taking his hands.

“Friends.” I smiled as I shook his hands firmly.

I made my way around the pack, saying my goodbyes to everyone I knew. Toby had chosen to stay back in his office, and though I missed having him by my side, I understood.

Each farewell was accompanied with hugs and fleeting touches and a lot of unnecessary bodily fluids. By the time I was done, I felt the weight of it all pressing down on me, threatening to break me. But when I returned, Toby was there, pulling me into a warm hug that made everything feel bearable.

“You have done well.” He whispered as he patted my hair, and I hummed in contention. We managed to untangle from each other, and we hopped into the shower, hot water spraying from the jet above.

The hot water washed away the sweat, grime, and lingering bitterness, and we climbed into bed after drying ourselves with the towel. I curled up beside Toby, my head resting on his chest—it was fast becoming my favorite position. And this time, sleep came easy.

But I was waking him up at night, wanting to feel him inside me one last time before I left.

I threw my head back, a moan escaping my lips as he entered me, slowly fucking me as if trying to savor our last moments, and no matter how much I begged him, he continued torturously slow. The tension only continued to build higher and higher, and it finally shattered, and I was screaming his name.

As I lay there, trying to catch my breath from the mini-exercise, I could hear him say. “What if I mark you?”