Whatever happens tonight, I’m done letting this situation get the best of me.
My pack comes first. They deserve better than I’ve been giving them lately.
Shayne’s already dressed when I step into our bedroom, towel wrapped around my waist.
He’s standing in front of the dresser, gelling down an unruly lock of hair, as I approach.
His dark hair has been lightly styled, and he’s wearing a light blue dress shirt with his favorite navy suit, no tie. Like everything else he does, it’s effortless. He’s comfortable and relaxed in those clothes, even though he’s wearing them to follow Goldcrest’s guidelines.
I’m about to attempt to do the same, and it makes me unreasonably mad.
Finishing with his hair, Shayne puts the lid back on his gel.
He turns to face me as I reach his side, giving me a half-hearted smile.
“It’s been a while since I pulled out my date-night outfit.”
“Well, it still looks good on you,” I admit, as he brushes off imaginary lint.
I take his hand in mine without a second thought, raising it toward me.
His gaze fixes on me as I lower my head and kiss his knuckles.
The spark I feel when my lips touch his skin is small but potent.
It’s a long-overdue reminder that he’s what’s important in my life.
Whatever happens tonight, I have to refocus on my mates.
“You’re getting this look in your eyes,” Shayne murmurs, his gaze steady as I move back, squeezing his hand before I let it go. “Are you sure you want to go out tonight?”
He raises an eyebrow while he waits for my answer.
Part of me wants to stay right here and act on the reminder I’ve just been given.
“Hmm. WhatdoI want to do?”
He watches me silently, bright eyes full of hope.
Ever since the day we met, he’s been like a shining light in the dark.
I can’t say I always appreciated that, considering how much we clashed in high school, but we both know that was only because I was an insufferable asshole back then.
I thought I’d gotten past that, but maybe there’s still a part of me that can’t help but hurt the people I care about the most.
“I want to stop acting crazy, and if going to the academy is what it’s going to take, then that’s what I need to do.”
He nods slowly, and if he feels any hint of disappointment, he doesn’t show it.
“Then you should get dressed. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”
He takes his phone out of his pocket and sits down on the edge of the bed while I move over to the closet to find my formal wear.
The suit is one I wore for about a week back when I tried out being a finance bro.
Despite being good enough to be offered a promotion before I quit, it wasn’t the job for me, and I think I knew that before I even got started. Being in a suit all day, staring at spreadsheets on a computer screen isn’t quite the same as being dead, but it sure as hell felt like it by the time Friday rolled around.
It’s gray because Shayne picked the color, and it was custom tailored because the muscles on my arms and back made finding something in a standard fit impossible.
