Heading upstairs, I shut my bedroom door harder than necessary, but it didn't drown out the sound of my racing thoughts. Nathan's voice echoed in my head.It is my business.
I pressed my hands to my face, breathing deeply. I didn't know what was worse, that he thought I was his business or that part of me wanted to be.
I sank down on the edge of my bed, my head spinning. How had this happened? How had Nathan gotten under my skin so quickly, so completely?
I thought back to that moment outside the bookstore, the intensity in his eyes as he stared me down. The way my breath had caught, my heart pounding. The undeniable pull between us, like gravity, like fate.
But I couldn't let myself fall. I couldn't risk getting hurt again, not after losing Faith. Not after the way my heart had shattered, leaving jagged pieces that I was still trying to put back together.
I fell back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I tried to push thoughts of Nathan away, but they clung like cobwebs, impossible to shake.
His fierce protectiveness, his unwavering loyalty. The way he made me feel safe and seen, even as he infuriated me with his arrogance.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will myself to sleep. But it was a long time before my racing thoughts quieted, before I escaped the magnetic pull of Nathan Gallagher.
Chapter 12
Nathan
I rolled my shoulders,trying to shake off the restlessness that had been plaguing me all day. The scent of sweat and old mats hung in the air of the training gym. Across from me, Gavin cracked his neck as he stretched.
"You good, old man? You look distracted."
I grunted. "I'm fine."
We started circling each other, falling into the familiar rhythm of sparring. My muscles burned as I tried to focus, but my wolf paced beneath my skin, agitated and out of sync. Gavin moved fast, going on the offensive and forcing me to react. I blocked and parried, but I was a split second too slow. Again. Before I knew it, Gavin had me pinned to the mat.
"Damn, man. You're slipping," he said, shaking his head.
Scowling, I shoved him off. "I let you win."
Gavin laughed as he stood up. "Right. And I'm the alpha now."
I climbed to my feet, frustration simmering in my veins. Gavin was right. I was distracted, and my instincts dulled. I needed to get my head on straight. My pack was counting on me to lead and protect them. I couldn't afford to be off my game.
Gavin wiped sweat from his forehead, his expression turning serious. "You've been acting weird for weeks, man. What's up?"
I shook my head and looked away. "Just got a lot on my mind with this missing person case. I hate that a wolf could be involved." The thought made my stomach churn. One of our own, abducting an innocent woman. It went against everything we stood for.
Gavin's face darkened. "Yeah, I hate it too. But we'll find her and her captor."
I nodded, but deep down, I feared the worst. I just hoped the woman was still alive whenwe did. Needing to change the subject, I asked, "You coming to training tomorrow night?"
Gavin shrugged. "Depends. You inviting someone special?"
I glared at him, not dignifying that with a response. Grabbing my water bottle, I stalked out of the gym, Gavin's laughter echoing behind me.
Night had fallen by the time I headed out, the crisp air helping to clear my head as I walked through town. The streets were mostly quiet, just the distant hum of cars in the background. Lost in thought, I barely noticed where I was going until I found myself at the edge of the park.
I froze when I spotted her there, sitting alone on one of the playground swings. Rissa. My wolf immediately perked up, straining against my control. I hesitated, torn between approaching her and walking away.
An invisible force pulled me toward her, like a current I couldn't fight. My feet carried me closer before I realized I'd decided to move.
She looked up then, as if sensingmy presence. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, but her voice remained casual as she greeted me. "You again."
I leaned against the metal frame of the swing set, trying to appear nonchalant. I shifted my weight, searching for the right thing to say. Finally, I exhaled heavily. "Look about last night. I was an ass."
She tilted her head, studying me. "Which part? The jealous interrogation or the possessive attitude?"
