Megan POV

His words make my heart skip a beat.

There is no mistaking the sincerity in his voice, but underneath it, I know there is something else.

I smile at him, “I appreciate what you are saying, but I don’t want your pity. I-”

“It’s not a pity, Megan,” Balin refuses to let go of my hand. “You’re right. My loss was tragic, and I suffered. But my people were there. But just because you had nobody back then doesn’t mean you don’t have anybody now.”

For just a moment, just one heartbeat, Jack’s face flashes behind my eyes, that protective but furious look in his eyes. And then...