“You’re sorry?!” Jason put the weapons on the table, storming away from them like he couldn’t be near them as he tugged at his hair, shouting, “How could you honestly be so stupid? After everything I’ve done to protect you? Everything I’ve taught you? What the fuck were you thinking?!” 

I flinched at the lash of his voice, my hands trembling where they balled into tight fists at my sides. Feeling my breath hitch, I pulled my lower lip between my teeth to hide how it trembled, blinking furiously as I tried to be sure my voice would come out steady. “Yes, I’m sorry! I know it wasn’t smart—but I’m not like you, I don’t see danger in everything! I thought that was a child, and I wanted-” I stopped, knowing I had no right to defend myself. Closing my eyes, I took a shaking breath, tears warm and clinging to my lashes. “I didn’t mean to put you at risk like that. I won’t do it again, I swear.” 

Jason scoffed, venom making his voice snarl as he snapped, “You want to risk your own goddamn life so bad? Go ahead. You did it for me, why should I be surprised you’d try to pick up any fuckin’ stray?” His eyes flashed as he looked at me and his lip curled as he shook his head—disbelief and disgust twisting his face when he said, “You do whatever the hell you want, Dakota. Just don’t expect me to fucking stick around and watch.” 

The breath huffed out of me like he had struck me, a shattered sound leaving my throat as tears spilled down my face. “Don’t say that…” The words came out on a pleading whimper, my hand trembling as I reached out to him—unable to fully close the distance, afraid I would only make him more furious. “I’ll be smarter next time, I won’t leave your side—I’ll do anything you tell me, just…please don’t leave me.” It hurt to say the words out loud, the ones that had been nagging in my head when I walked out of the alley—to know I had made him say he wanted to leave was an anguish that nearly broke me. 

He was quiet as he looked at me, his eyes narrowed as he asked in a low, gruff voice, “What the hell are you crying for?” His words weren’t quite as sharp, his muscles maybe not as tense, but there was still a fury in the way he looked at me that I couldn’t seem to escape. 

I stared back at him in disbelief, sucking in shaky breaths as I tried to stop the tears—unable to control them despite my efforts. “Because you’re yelling at me!” I said, rubbing at my face to at least remove the evidence that I was crying. “You said you’re going to leave me! I don’t want that!” My words crumbled into a stifled sob, my lips pressed together as I looked up at him. 

He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping as he closed his eyes for a moment. He brushed his hair out of his face, blinking to look at me before he took a step forward to close the space between us. His brow was tight, jaw clenched shut, but the anger seemed to melt off him as he stared at me and asked in a softer tone, “Do you know why I said that? Do you know why I’m yelling at you?” Jason’s gaze fell to my tear-stained cheeks, a tender look of concern in his eyes. 

I shook my head, fingertips biting into my palm as I pulled my hand back, his softened expression only confusing me as I answered him. “Because I fucked up. I know I did, I said I was sorry! It was stupid, I messed up, I get it.” I wiped the tears away again so I could see him properly, sniffing slightly as I asked in a whisper, “Can’t that be enough?”

The anger smoothed out of his face, his eyes locked on mine with a tender look of regret. Hesitating, Jason lifted his hand, his gaze flicking to my wet cheeks. His tongue clicked against the roof of his mouth as he sighed, almost in defeat. 

He cupped my face with his large, rough hands, his thick thumbs stroking away the remaining tears as he uttered, “Dakota… That’s not why.” 

His hands slipped from my face, strong arms wrapping around me as he pulled me to his broad chest. His embrace was crushing, as if he didn’t know how strong he was—had forgotten how to hold someone. 

“You scared me,” Jason whispered into the crook of my neck. “You fucking terrified me. For a minute I didn’t think I’d get to you in time. I thought…” I could feel him shaking his head, his fingers clutching the fabric of my shirt as he went silent. 

I felt frozen for a moment, shocked by the unexpected admission. It took me a moment to move—to raise my hands—but once I did, my arms wrapped around Jason. I hugged him like I could keep him by my side if I held him tight enough. “I’m sorry,” I whispered the words again, but it felt different this time as I pressed my face against Jason’s chest. Breathing him in, I found it easier to find my center, the burn of tears beginning to disappear. “I’m so sorry I scared you… but I'm glad you came to find me. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jason.” 

His warm hands spread against my back, fingers splayed as if to touch as much of me as possible. “Me neither,” he murmured, his voice low and rumbling as he grunted, pulling back to look at me; it was an almost desperate expression, his face filled with pain as he admitted, “I don’t know if I can go back to surviving alone.” 

“Then stay with me,” I said, a hint of hope and longing in my voice as I met his gaze. Swallowing, I dragged out the words that had been haunting me, “I don’t want to be alone, either. Everything has been so different since I brought you home, and I don’t want to lose that…lose you. You don’t have to leave… You can stay here with me. This can be your home, too.” 

The corner of Jason’s mouth lifted in a smile, his hand sliding down my arm before he grasped my hand. “C’mere,” he murmured, sitting on the edge of his bed and then pulled me to sit next to him. 

I expected him to let go, but he didn’t; instead, he placed his other hand over mine, encasing it in the warmth of his palms. “Been a long time since I’ve had a home…” He swallowed, closing his eyes before he said, “I’m sorry I lost my temper. I didn’t mean to upset you… and I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here with you. I want this to be our home.” 

Carrot gently padded over, sensing the fight was over. She settled on her stomach, her chin resting between our feet. It made Jason smirk, opening his heavy eyelids to mutter, “Don’t think Carrot would take too kindly to leaving either.” 

My smile was tender as I looked down at Carrot, her tail swishing faintly against the floor in response to the attention. “I’m happy to hear that. I’d miss her too,” I said softly, before I raised my gaze to Jason. 

He looked tired, and I could only imagine how taxing the day had been for him; with his hands warm over mine, I wanted to embrace him again. I settled for turning my hand, lacing my fingers between Jason’s as I shifted back on the bed. Gentle tugs coaxed Jason into lying down with me, the cheap bed frame squeaking slightly under our weight.

I had only meant it to be a tender gesture—innocent comfort—but I felt my pulse skip as I realized how close we were, our hands still connected between us. For a moment, my gaze dropped to Jason’s mouth, enthralled as I wondered how soft his lips would feel against mine. 

The thought startled me, my face flushing as I forced myself to look away. Jason hadn’t noticed my flustered expressions before, but I spoke to hide my thoughts, not wanting to ruin the tenderness between us. “Can I…ask you a question, about what happened earlier?” 

Lying on his back, he shifted to face me, the bed sighing as the springs compressed and uncoiled. He didn’t move his hand, fingers still laced with mine as he whispered, “Yeah, you can ask me.” I could feel the heat of his breath, the sweet yet acrid smell of smoke; though he hadn’t smoked that day, I could bet anything he’d step outside later. 

I had hated the smell at first, but it was somehow comforting as I watched Jason carefully. “When that hackjaw attacked…” I paused, considering my words before I said, “I’ve never seen you like that before, you always take the shot without blinking. What made you hesitate this time?” 

Jason’s lips pressed into a hard line, his gaze dropping to look down at our hands. He gripped my fingers tighter, his sea glass eyes looking unsettled as he recalled the memory. I wondered if he’d brush it off or give some vague answer, but his voice was grim as he uttered, “It was just a kid.” I saw him swallow, his breaths deepening to calm himself. “I mean, I know it wasn’t. Not anymore. But…it’s hard when they’re at that stage—not quite a monster yet, more human than anything… It was like seeing a ghost. I wanted to scare it off or something. Anything but kill it. But it attacked and…I had to make a choice.” His other hand lifted to lightly touch my waist, as if he didn’t know where else to put it. His beach glass irises glinted before he closed his eyes and his face contorted. 

My heart ached as I saw the anguish on his face. Though I could tell there was more to his words, his mention of a ghost, I didn’t want to press him—not when he already seemed so pained. He would tell me when he was ready…and I wanted to be there to support him until then. 

I shifted closer on the bed, nearly up against Jason. “I’m sorry I put you in that position,” I murmured, raising my free hand to gently touch his face, trying to soothe away the lines of grief. 

It surprised me when he didn’t pull away, Jason’s eyes opening at my touch to look at me. “It doesn’t matter,” he let out a heavy sigh as he whispered, “I’ll choose you.” 

My breath caught as I found myself captivated again…and this time I was unable to resist the urge to lean in. 

My mouth brushed his, the warmth of Jason’s lips more thrilling than I had imagined as I kissed him softly. 

And then, against every doubt I had, Jason was kissing me back.