I could swear the air between us suddenly felt different—heavier, charged. Everything around us faded, and suddenly, all I could see was him. Standing there, staring back at me like he was trying to figure out what the hell was happening too.
Then, just like that, something inside me pulled tight. Like a thread I didn’t know was there, snapping into place and yanking me toward him. It didn’t make sense.
His nostrils flared, and his gaze sharpened and focused on me in a way that made my stomach flip. My breath caught in my throat. Whatever this was, it was way too big to be normal. And even though I didn’t understand it, it felt familiar—like I’d been waiting for this moment without even knowing it.
Every part of me screamed that I wanted him. I barely knew him, but his scent, his presence—it was overwhelming, in a way that was both terrifying and exhilarating.
Of course, he barely looked at me, like I didn’t exist. He walked over to the table, handed me a stack of forms like I was nothing more than a job applicant, and said in a low, businesslike tone, “Here are the employee forms. Fill them out, and we’ll get you set up. I’ll talk to you later.”
Then he turned to Noah, not giving me a second glance. “Can I speak with you in private?”
I stared down at the forms in my hands, feeling a weird mix of disappointment and confusion. Part of me had wanted Holden to notice me, to at least acknowledge the pull I felt toward him. But he was cold, distant—like I didn’t even exist. It shouldn’t have bothered me. It was probably for the best.
But damn, his scent lingered in the air, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was on the edge of something big. Something dangerous.
As he and Noah stepped away to talk, I finished off my second drink, hoping to numb the sudden and overwhelming attraction I felt. Or to knock some sense into me. I’d alreadybeen stupid once with Chuck. I wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. Not with someone like him.
But as I stared at the forms in front of me, that nagging feeling in my gut wouldn’t go away.
What the hell are you getting yourself into, Mylo?
Somehow, I didn’t think he would be a problem I could avoid. I’d never seen a biggerstay the fuck awaysign written all over a person in my whole life.
You’re fine, Mylo. He definitely doesn’t want you. No one does... remember?
CHAPTER FOUR
HOLDEN
The momentI stepped into the bar, it hit me like afucking sledgehammer.The air was thick with the scent of whiskey, old wood, and... him. I knew immediately. I didn’t even need to see him to know.My mate.
Of course, he was human.Just my fucking luck.
The universe had a sick sense of humor, and apparently, I was the punchline. I could feel my bear pacing beneath the surface, practically vibrating with excitement. He wanted out. Wanted toclaim him,to pull him close, rub his scent all over him until every other alpha in the room had no doubt who he belonged to.
But I couldn’t.Not with him sitting there, completely unaware of the world he’d just walked into.
Noah was across from him, and I could hear him about to drop the bomb about what we really were.I guess the universe wasn’t entirely against mebecause at least I’d walked in right before he spilled the beans.
I could see him from the corner of my eye. God, I didn’t even have to look at him fully to feel that pull. The one that made my blood burn and my chest tighten like it was caught in a vice. Mybear was roaring, clawing to get out, and I had to physically force myself to stay still.
It felt like my muscles were locked up, every single instinct in my body screaming to go to him.
But I didn’t. I couldn’t.
It took all my willpower to clamp down hard on the urge. My pulse was racing, and it felt like a battle to keep my bear in check for the first time in a very long time.Not now, not here.I forced my breath to even out. I had to get a grip, because if I didn’t, I was going to lose it. I wasn’t about to make a scene in the middle of the resort bar—not when there were humans sitting there, includingmy human.And he definitely had no idea what we were or what was going on.
Even with all that, my bear fought against me—he was desperate to break free. But I kept him in check—barely. It took everything in me to hold back, to not go over there, scoop him up, and kiss the fuck out of him. Damn it, I really wanted to.
Butgreat goddess,I could see that scene in my head, playing on an endless loop. Just thinking about it made my stomach twist. That moment years ago, when everything went to hell. My best friend. Dead because of me.
And now? The idea of that happening to my mate—the thought of putting him in danger because he didn’t know, or because he found out—made my stomach twist so hard I had to stop myself from being sick.
So I did what I had to do. I pretended I didn’t feel like my whole world was shifting beneath my feet. I ignored the fact that every nerve in my body was screaming to go to him. I shoved all of it down, deep, and walked over to them as casually as I could—like I wasn’t on the edge of losing my shit.
Noah glanced at me, a silent question in his eyes, from whatever he saw on my face. Of course, I didn’t answer. Icouldn’t. My focus was entirely on not breaking—not letting my bear take over.
Not doing something completely reckless and stupid.
