“You know you’re running out of time.” Snowden threw a rock across the end of the pier.

“Shut up,” Liam growled.

“You know that if I’m counting down the days, then the rest of the clan has to be going fucking nuts.”

Liam picked up a handful of rocks from the bucket and skipped one across the still water. “I know. But I don’t want to rush her. She’s not ready.”

“It’s been two years. She has to be ready.”

He whipped his head toward Snowden. “It’s not like that for her. She’s sworn off the clan. All bears. We shouldn’t have let her have so much space.”

He thought he had been respecting the clan laws and his best friend’s mate, but maybe it was too much time. The longer Sophia had been alone, the longer she had to create reasons why being someone else’s mate was a bad idea.

Every time he was with her, he could see the struggle in her eyes. She forbade herself to give in. There were glimpses of laughter and light, but as soon as they hit, she retracted behind a barricade of anger.

He didn’t know if he was going to be able to convince her in time.

“Why don’t you just tell her?” Snowden asked.

He glared at his friend. “You don’t just tell a woman that she holds the fate of an entire clan of bears in her hands. I don’t want her to be my mate because she has to. I want her to want to be the she-alpha.”

“Yeah, but if you don’t take her as your mate before the eclipse, then the entire clan line stops. No more cubs for anyone. We’re through. We’re finished.”

“I know that. I know more than anyone what’s at stake. It’s my fucking clan.”

“I just think if Sophia knew that, then she’d go through with the ceremony.”

Liam watched another rock sink to the bottom of the lake. “I don’t know that it would matter to her.”

“Does it matter to you?”

“Of course it does. I’m doing the best I can. I should have had longer than a month. I needed months to spend with her. I’m doing this at lightning speed. She’s been through a lot.”

Liam knew he had made little progress in the last few weeks with her. Ever since the night in her bedroom, she had kept her distance. He hadn’t been able to steal any more kisses or come close to taking her to bed.

He stopped by every morning for coffee. Sometimes he brought flowers. Sometimes he worked quietly, helping her in the kitchen. She seemed to accept he was there, but it didn’t mean she invited it. She made it clear there was a difference.

The eclipse was in two nights.

“So what are you going to do?” Snowden asked.

“Dinner and a movie.”

“What? Our entire clan’s fate rests on the most cliché date in existence?”

Liam smiled. “And cookies,” he added.

“Shit. I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me too.” He patted his friend on the back, turning from the lake. “I’ve got to go shower for my date.”

“What time are you picking her up?”

Liam grimaced. Sophia had no idea they even had a date tonight. He had to hope that when he showed up with a movie and take out, she’d let him in.

“Umm, I’m headed over in an hour.”

“Good luck.” Snowden walked toward his car. “You only have two days to secure our future.”

For once, Liam was glad he had been spared the jabs he was certain were coming his way. The entire clan knew what was riding on this night with Sophia. If she didn’t ask him, there would be an end to his legacy. He would be the last alpha in the clan. He would be the one that had failed them all.

* * *

“Hey, beautiful.” Liam grinned as he walked in through the kitchen door to The Sweet Tooth.

Sophia rolled her eyes. “I didn’t expect you.”

“Thought I could take you somewhere tonight.”

She was straightening the kitchen. The café was dark. The customers were gone for the day. Sophia’s kitchen was always immaculate.

“I don’t think so, Liam.”

“Oh come on. It’ll be fun.”

She eyed him cautiously. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“Never.” He winked.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She shook her head, turning for the sink. She began scrubbing the inside, taking her time with the faucet handles.

“Of course it’s a good idea. You need a night out. I promise I won’t keep you too late. I know you have an early morning.”

“I always have an early morning.” She turned the water off and dried her hands.

He walked toward her. “It’s going to be fun.” He put his hands up. “And I promise not to try anything. I swear.”

He could see her debating the offer. Her eyes darted back and forth.

“If you do, I swear I’ll claw your eyes out, Liam.” She wagged her finger in front of his nose.

“Noted. Now come on.” He pulled her hand into his and led her through the back door. “Surprise.”

He watched as she took in the scene.

“What is this?” She stared at the back of his truck.

“Well.” He helped her into the bed of the truck and grabbed a heavy blanket for her. “The first time I saw you was outside the theater, and I should have gone over and talked to you, but I didn’t.” He tucked a cushion behind her, and settled into a pile of pillows next to her. “So, I’ve recreated our own movie theater.”

He pulled a remote from his pocket and hit play. A projector he had secured to the top of the truck began to play a movie on the wall next to the bakery.

He heard the sigh from her lips, and pulled her into the crook of his arm.

“I swear, I’m not trying anything. Just keeping you warm.”

She relaxed into his chest. He felt the warmth of her soft skin against his solid chest. He wrapped an arm around her, for once feeling like he was protecting her the way he should be, even if it was only keeping her from being cold.

“I can’t believe you did this,” she whispered.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

She nodded against his chest. “I love it. And I love this movie.”

“I thought it was your favorite.”

He held her like that for two hours. They watched the movie, talking and laughing through some of the scenes. Liam broke out a bowl of popcorn and a couple of beers. It was surprisingly warm under the layers of blankets. It helped that he was a natural heater.

When the movie ended, Sophia turned to him.

“Thank you. It was fun. And I can still make my early morning. I just have to walk upstairs to bed.”

He had to remind his bear he had promised her he wouldn’t try anything, but she was so close. He could feel her breath on his cheek. He could smell her lotion. He could hear her heart beat.

“I’m glad you had a good time.”

He swallowed hard. He ached for her. He wanted to pull her under the blankets and kiss her. He wanted to rip the clothes from her body and love her until dawn. Fuck, he was losing it.

“Liam?” She searched his eyes.

“Yeah, sorry. I was thinking about something.”

“This was really sweet. I didn’t know you had such a romantic side.” She giggled but stopped, her eyes closing quickly.

“Why do you do that?” He turned her to face him.

“Let me just go upstairs.” She tried to shake him off. “I had a good time tonight. I don’t want to ruin it.”

“No, talk to me. Tell me why that beautiful smile of yours just suddenly vanished.”

“I can’t.”

“You can’t or won’t?”

“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?” Her eyes blazed.

Liam pulled the blanket tightly against her shoulders, keeping her warm. “Let’s just talk about him. Get it out of the way.”

Her eyes filled with panic. “You want to talk about Noah?”

“No. I mean yes. Hell, I don’t know. All I know is that you’re thinking about him when I least expect it. That’s the sadness, isn’t it? You’re happy with me, then you think about him, and it all disappears. You forget the laughter and linger in the sadness. So, let’s fucking talk about him.” His brows knitted together.

“Right now?”

“When else?” He clicked the remote to stop the credits rolling on the brick wall.

“This is ridiculous. We are not talking about Noah. There’s no reason.”

Liam exhaled. “There is a reason. You belong with me, Soph, and I’m trying every way to show you how fucking insane I am about you. I want this. I want you. And it’s not going to happen if you won’t let yourself be happy with me.”

“I can’t be happy. Don’t you see that?”

“No, baby, I don’t.” He brushed the side of her cheek. “You can.”

She clutched the sides of the blanket. “No, I can’t.” Her eyes darted frantically. “I can’t love you, Liam. You’ll leave. You’ll leave me too.”

The words hit him in the gut. It was as if Sophia had punched him with an anvil. He was a fucking idiot. He didn’t have anything figured out. All this time he thought she was mourning Noah. And while there was probably a part of her that still grieved for him, Liam had it all wrong. She was scared shitless.