"So why all the doom and gloom?"
He sighed. "Because I'll have to break it off. She really is nice."
I frowned as I took a sip of drink. "I'm not understanding the logic of that statement."
"It's this." He waved a hand down the length of his body. "How can I commit to anyone for any amount of time when I have no idea just how long—if ever—it's going to take me to control this thing?"
I just about choked on my Coke. "Good grief, did you just admit to a connection? Is the lone wolf—the man who doesn't believe in long-term commitments—actually thinking he might have found the woman who could change that?"
He grimaced. "We went on one date—"
"And sometimes that's all it takes. You're a wolf, not a human or a monk."
He snorted. "I'm half wolf, and I'm certainly not a monk."
"Neat sidestep of the actual question, my friend."
He smiled. It was a somewhat pale reflection of his usual smile, but I was happy to see it nonetheless. "God, you're more tenacious than a dog with a bone. And yes, there was a connection."
"Then I can't see the harm in chasing it." I hesitated. "And it might just give you another reason to fight."
"Or another person I'm fearful of hurting."
"You won't." I nudged him gently. "I have faith in your strength, Tao."
He took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Yeah. And that scares the hell out of me, because you're seeing what I'm not feeling."
"Risa?"