The frame of my glasses knocks against her. She pulls back slightly, and I chase her lips with mine, needing her kiss like I need oxygen.
“Do you want to come inside?” she asks, chest rising and falling heavily. Good to know I’m not the only one affected.
“I…” My forehead rests against hers, and I release a frustrated sigh. “I want to. Believe me, I want nothing more.”
“But?” She strokes my cheek reassuringly.
“Since moving here, everything’s been changing so fast. I’m happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time, and you’re a big part of that, but I…” Desperately, I search for the right words. God, am I screwing this up?
“I get it, Jared. You want to take things slow, that’s OK.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Of course not. You’ve been through so much since coming here, and I can tell there’s even more to your story you’re not sharing?—”
“I’m sor?—”
“Don’t you dare apologise for being honest about what you need. You never have to be sorry for that.” She presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “We’ll go at your pace. As for the rest of it, your secrets are yours to share whenever you’re ready—I’m not going to push or pry. Just know I’m here for you, OK?”
I wrap my arms around her, burying my face in her neck. Her orange blossom scent comforts me with each inhale. “How did I get so lucky?”
“Maybe it’s fate,” she replies, toying with the strands of hair at my nape.
“I think you might be right.” I press a kiss to her neck, then step back. “Get some rest. I’ll see you soon.”
“Count on it.” She tosses my jacket to me with a cheeky grin, then disappears behind her front door.
I stare, frozen to the spot, warring with the desire to go after her but knowing my head needs time to catch up to my heart and… other parts of me. Exhaling slowly, I shake out my hands and turn back down the path towards the garden gate. “Walk it off, Jared. Walk it off.”
Chapter 16
Jared
Garrett messaged me this morning asking if I’d like to stop by for coffee, which is how I find myself driving out to the other side of town and onto pack land. It’s still part of Crystal Lake, but only pack members and their families live in this area.
It still blows my mind that not only is Garrett a wolf shifter, he’s also a fuckingAlpha. He’s changed a lot in the years we’ve been apart, but after hanging out with him and Hux at the bar the other night I can tell he’s still the same old Rett in all the ways that matter.
Double-checking the map on my phone, I let out an impressed whistle when I realise I am in the right place and Garrett’s house is enormous. Technically, it’s the pack house, so there are rooms for pack meetings and functions, as well as extra bedrooms for shifters new to town to use until they find permanent accommodation. Still. It’s impressive as hell.
The heavy-looking wooden front door swings open to reveal a grinning Garrett as I dash up the front steps of the porch, eager to get out of the icy rain. “You made it. I was worried you wouldn’t find the place.”
I snort. “Hard to miss it.”
His smile turns sheepish. “Yeah, the house is a lot, but it’s been passed down from Alpha to Alpha for generations. Anyway, get in here and I’ll put the kettle on.” Typical Rett. The guy’s never been able to relax until he’s sure everyone around him has what they need—it makes him a great host and probably an even better pack leader.
Settled into the oversized brown leather chairs by the living room window, we sip at our coffees while we talk. We stick to light chit-chat, but when Garrett puts his mug on the windowsill and fixes me with a look that pierces right through me, I know my time is up.
“You seem different.”
“So do you,” I reply, admitting nothing.
He dips his head in acknowledgement. “I am. A lot has changed since London.”
“I really am sorry about your dad.”
His smile is tinged with sadness. “Thank you. I miss him, you know? Even years later, there are times I wish I could talk to him, ask for his advice. When I told Dad I wanted to try living among humans to learn more about them, he supported my decision even when other shifters told him it was a ridiculous idea. Even back then, everyone here knew I was a likely candidate to become the next Alpha. They didn’t think it was appropriate for me to spend time with humans, but my dad knew he needed to let me go. He understood I needed to explore, to figure out who I was away from the pack, and he knew better than anyone there would be no time for that once the responsibility of being Alpha fell to me.”
“I’d been wondering why you left. Who’d have thought you’d leave Crystal Lake to spend time with humans only to end up with a clueless demon for a best friend.” He huffs a laugh. “It sounds like your dad was a good man.”
