And gods help me, how dare it excite me? How dare the first thought in my mind be to buy a new dress just to see lust twist his features when I wore it.
I closed my eyes, forcing a breath as I clawed for composure.No. You’re Nova Rossey. You don’t pant after a man for a smile. You don’t crumble for heat and pretty words.
When I opened them again, I gave him a glare sharp enough to cut, but inside, my wolf trembled with restless desire.
“We’ll see,” was all I could bite out before turning to leave, only to be smacked in the face with the sight of Lucy rubbing herself against Zeth. Her hand slid up his jaw, cupping his face like she already owned him, like they were lovers. Maybe they were.
A growl clawed its way up my throat, my wolf flashing me a vision of tearing Lucy off him with our teeth and hurling her across the room. My fists clenched so hard my knuckles burned, and I snapped my gaze away.He’s not ours. Never will be.
My wolf whined, low and wounded, telling me I was wrong, but I shut her up with the only truth that mattered, the memory of him not being in the training room the next day, my grandfathertelling me he needed to train Zeth separately. His rejection was loud and clear.
That silenced her, forcing her into the corner of my mind where she couldn’t argue with the facts that gutted us both.
The cage door clanged as I shoved it open and stormed out. My watch buzzed, and I saw a text from Calix.
Cal:Come to the lab. Now.
My pulse jumped. Was he here? When? Why hadn’t he told me?
Looking back to tell Zeth, I was met with the scene of a smiling Zeth holding Lucy’s hand on his chest. My lungs squeezed, and a ragged breath came out before I turned on my heel and stormed to my office.
I had stuff to do, a territory to protect. I didn't need anything else.
Grabbing the extra set of clothes I always had available, I yanked them on with hands still shaking from the adrenaline of the fight. I grabbed a jacket and the keys to my bike.
I usually didn't ride my bike in the winter, but this was an emergency. Either I left now or I risked killing a lieutenant’s daughter… and maybe ripping out Zeth’s throat for good measure.
Gideon caught me on my way out, worry creasing his face. “Are you really going to tell Shera what I said?”
The wobble in his voice cracked through my rage. A laugh ripped free, jagged, desperate. “Who knows?” I shrugged, watching despair creep into his eyes. “Maybe you just need to learn to keepyour mouth shut about your wife and her urges when she isn't around to defend herself.”
His head bobbed frantically. “Yes. I totally agree.”
Ignoring him, I called over my shoulder, “Taking the bike.” Whirling around, I walked backward with a grin I didn’t feel. “I wonder how mad she’ll get when I tell her you said that in front of the whole gym full of fighters?”
His voice broke, sharp and panicked. “Nova, please! I’m too young to die!”
I waved him off without turning around. I wouldn’t call her, but he needed to sweat over it. Served him right.
My steps carried me back toward Zeth and Lucy. They were now just talking, but although they were standing at an appropriate distance, the sight still twisted something unnameable inside me. As soon as he turned to look at me, I shoved the keys into his hand. His vivid aqua eyes locked on mine, scrambling like he’d been caught.
“Nova, what?—”
I cut him off, voice tight as wire. “When you’re done, just park the jeep in my garage. I got to go, and I’m taking the bike.” Then I spun on my heel, not trusting myself to stay.
I heard him stammering apologies to Lucy at my back, causing me to speed up. I refused to let him catch up to me, to let guilt sink its claws in. I wasn’t his keeper. I wasn’t his anything. He could do whatever he wanted with whoever he wanted. That was what friends did. Kept their distance, stayed in their lane.
My wolf stayed silent, hollow, and that silence cut deeper than any scream.
The sight of my matte black Ducati Panigale V4 nearly made me cry with relief. A fast ride, that was all I needed. Speed, cold wind, and distance. Anything to shred the ache in my chest.
I rolled my baby out, swung a leg over, jammed the key into the ignition, and turned. With the engine’s purr between my legs, a small measure of relief hit me before a pair of inked hands closed around the handlebars.
“Where are you going?” Zeth’s breathless growl was right there, too close.
I didn’t look at him.Couldn’t. “Calix is in town. I’m meeting him.” I yanked the bar free from his grip, eyes locked on the horizon. “I’ve got this. You don’t have to leave. Looked like you were… getting somewhere, and I don’t want to get in your way.”
“What are you talking about?” he spat out before he paused. “Are you talking aboutLucy? That was?—”
