Damaged (Mate Rejected Book 5) by Eve Bale

Author:Eve Bale [Bale, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-20T23:00:00+00:00

12

My eyes snap open.

I lie still in the dark. As I stare up at the ceiling, I try to work out what woke me, only certain that something did.

And then I hear it. A low groan. Like an animal in pain.

I swivel my head toward my closed door, frowning as I debate what to do. There’s no doubt in my mind about who’s making those sounds. Colton. But what do I do about them?

The volume increases, the pained sound finally driving me out of my bed. Something is wrong. I need to find out what it is. And help if I can.

After crossing my dark room, I make my way down my hallway, tracking the groans to Colton’s closed door.

There, I stop with one hand on the knob.

It’s one thing to creep around trying to peek into his bag to discover his secrets. If he’s in there having a nightmare, it just feels a little more… invasive to go inside, even if all I’m doing is making sure he’s okay.

I hesitate until I realize I have to do something. It’s the middle of the night—I think—and it sounds like he’s having an awful nightmare. All I need to do is cross over to him, nudge him awake, and then I can leave.

That’s it.

I’ve had more than my fair share of nightmares to leave anyone to suffer through one if I can do something to help.

I stiffen my spine, remind myself that I’m not doing anything wrong or even being nosy, and push the door open.

“Colton?” I whisper.

Across the dark space, I spot Colton in bed, stretched out on his back. He’s twisting and turning as if a vivid nightmare has him in its grip.

I chew on my lip, frowning at the sheen of sweat on his brow, and the bitter scent of his pain in the air. Whatever he’s dreaming about must truly be terrible.

“Colton?” I whisper louder, strangely reluctant to enter his room.

He gives no sign of hearing me, much less waking.

I need to move closer. Maybe shake him or something. And yet I still don’t move. Maybe because he brought me cake, and we had a weird… thing.

You had a moment together, and now you don’t know what comes next.

Sure, afterward, he left my house to go out while I cleaned, napped, and avoided Tina’s calls because I knew exactly what they’d be about. Evan. No thanks.

Colton and I dodged each other so successfully—though not on purpose—that this will be the first time we’re seeing each other since the thing at breakfast.

I’m not so sure it’s a good idea to be creeping into his room at night. The thought makes my belly tighten with nervous energy and anticipation, though I’m not entirely sure what I’m anticipating will happen.

He groans again.

I can’t leave him like that. He’s been in his nightmare too long. I need to pull him out.

Gulping, I push the door farther open and tiptoe over to the bed. Halfway there, I ask myself why the hell

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