CHAPTER ONE
MYLO
“You sure youdon’t want to come with me?” I asked Tyler, leaning against the doorframe. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go, either, but I was feeling restless.
He waved me off without looking up from his laptop. “Nah, I’ve gotta finish this apartment application, or I’ll end up back in my childhood room. Some of us don’t have alphas waiting for us now that we’re graduated.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Oh, please. You get to go home to your family’s restaurant, and you already have a job waiting for you.”
“Oh, you mean waking up every morning to my papa asking why I haven’t brought an alpha home yet?” Tyler snorted, and we both laughed. “So fun.”
“Alright, see you later,” I said, though there was that familiar twist in my chest. The casual way he mentioned his family made me jealous. He had a place to go back to—parents who cared about him. Me, on the other hand, only had Chuck—and sometimes, I wondered if that was enough. If Chuck was enough.
I shook that thought away before it could take root. Chuck loved me. We were building a life together. Nothing was perfect, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t worth fighting for, right?
I pushed those thoughts aside. I had completed culinary school, earned a degree, and I had an alpha waiting for me. That was more than I ever thought possible, sodon’t be ungrateful, I reminded myself.
As I stepped out into the city, enjoying the sound of Charlotte all around me, I couldn’t help but smile. I did it. I actually did it. Sure, there were no parents to be proud of me, and Chuck hadn’t made it down for my graduation, but I still did it—and no one could take that from me. I would miss it here, but I was excited about building my own home. Chuck and I were planning to put down roots, and I couldn’t wait. Our budget wasn’t huge, but I had been working and saving, and we’d bought a house. Chuck said he’d found the perfect place. It needed some work, but I was ready to do whatever it took for a place of our own. I even had plans for a vegetable garden.
I had so many Pinterest boards made for each room. I’d watched DIY videos on Instagram and YouTube, budgeting tips for renovations, and I was ready to get to work.
Only a week to go,I reminded myself as I zipped up my jacket. Fall had come early, but I liked this time of year. It felt like a reminder that things were changing—seasons, people, and even me. My new beginning was so close I could almost taste it, and I couldn’t wait—it felt like I’d been waiting forever. Charles had moved away four months ago, and I couldn’t wait to join him. We’d be together again, building the life we’d talked about for so long.
Just the thought made me smile, even though an annoying voice filled with doubt kept nagging at the back of my mind.
Which I was ignoring with prejudice!
It’s nerves—nothing more!
I wasn’t a fan of change, and I’d been in and out of way too many foster homes and group homes to ever be. Coming homefrom school only to hear, “Pack your stuff, you’re leaving,” was the worst.
I didn’t plan on going far, but I just needed some air and something to eat.
And you need to stop thinking.
But as I walked down the street, my thoughts kept going back to Chuck, like they had been a lot recently. I missed him. I missed the stability he brought, the way he always seemed to have a plan. I’d never had that before, growing up the way I did. Chuck was dependable, and I needed that.
Things are good… really good.
I stopped outside a small café, the smell of coffee and fresh bread hitting my nose and making my stomach growl. Fresh bread was literally the best thing ever... please let them have a panini. The place didn’t look fancy, but it was cute.
I was halfway through the door when a voice I hadn’t expected—or heard in what felt like forever—stopped me in my tracks.
“Mylo?”
I froze, my heart jumping straight into my throat. No way—no freaking way—it couldn’t be. I turned around, and there he was. Noah. The guy who legit changed—or saved—my life, whichever you wanted to call it. He was the one who showed me I didn’t have to turn out the way everyone thought I would just because of where I came from.
It had been like a year or so, and in all that time, he hadn’t changed much at all. He still had those same broad shoulders, the same kind eyes, and that easy smile that somehow always made me feel like everything would be okay.
“Noah?” My voice came out awkward, caught somewhere between disbelief and joy. And the huge, ridiculous grin spreading across my face? Yeah, no stopping that.
He laughed, pulling me into a hug before I even registered what was happening. “It’s been too long, kid.”
“I’m not a kid anymore,” I said with a laugh, even though standing there with him made me feel sixteen all over again. When he pulled back, he gave me that look—the one that always made it feel like he could read my mind, even when I didn’t want him to.
“You look good,” he said, giving me a once-over with a nod of approval. “Culinary school must’ve treated you well.”
“It did,” I replied, though guilt twisted in my gut the second the words left my mouth. I wasn’t sure Noah would approve of my choices. But they were mine, dammit. So why did I not want to tell him I was possibly leaving behind better opportunities here in Charlotte to chase after Chuck?You’re not chasing! We had a plan.Still, that definitely wasn’t the vibe I was going for.
