“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about what you’re facing here.” I squeeze his hand, trying to convey everything I can’t say.
“Hey.” He turns to me, his thumb stroking across my knuckles. “This isn’t your fault. And it’s worth it. You’re worth it.”
The conviction in his voice makes my throat tighten. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Other way around,” he says softly.
We sit quietly for a while, connected by our joined hands. The weight of everything unsaid hangs between us.
“Craig was in town today,” Billy says finally. “Didn’t come into the bar, but I saw him driving past. He’s sniffing around.”
Fear spikes through me, sharp and immediate. My whole body tenses.
“Do you think he’ll cause trouble?”
“Eventually. But not yet. He’s testing the waters, seeing how much support I have here.” His jaw clenches. “Which isn’t much.”
“We should tell Cooper-“
“No.” Billy’s voice is firm. “I need to handle this myself. Prove I can protect you without running to the Alpha every time there’s a threat.”
“Billy, that’s unnecessary.”
“Please.” He looks at me, and I see the pride there, the need to stand on his own. “Let me do this my way. For now.”
I nod reluctantly. “Okay. But if it escalates...”
“Then we’ll involve Cooper. Promise.”
He pulls me against his side, and I curl into him, breathing in his scent. My wolf settles at the contact, content to be close to him.
That night, we reconstruct our pillow wall, both pretending it’ll last. I catch him smiling as he places the last pillow with exaggerated care.
“This is very mature of us,” I say, fighting my smile.
“Very.” He agrees. “I’m sure it’ll work this time.”
But as I drift off to sleep, I already feel myself gravitating toward him. My wolf won’t accept anything less than being wrapped around our mate.
And neither will I.
One step at a time, I remind myself. With Billy beside me, I can do this.
One step at a time.
CHAPTER 12
BILLY
Before dawn, I wake with Carla’s warm weight draped across my chest like she’s trying to meld into me.
The pillow barrier is once again scattered across her bedroom floor. My bear’s doing, although I can’t say I mind. Her breath fans across my bare chest, each exhale a sweet torture that sends heat straight through me.
Her hair spills across my shoulder like silk, carrying that intoxicating scent of pine and vanilla that’s uniquely hers. One of her legs is thrown over mine, her thigh pressed against parts of me that are very awake and very aware of every inch of her soft skin against mine.
My cock throbs where she’s pressed against me, already hard and aching.
I run my fingers through her hair, gently brushing it back from her face. In sleep, her lips are slightly parted, full and tempting. The early morning light catches the curve of her cheekbone, the delicate line of her jaw. She’s so beautiful. It makes my chest swell with something fierce and possessive.
