Page 38 of A Love Bite

Her eyes fill with concern and confusion. “And you’re part of one of these packs?”

“Yes,” I say, reaching out to take her hand again. “I’m part of the Steel Falls pack. We’re trying to protect our territory and keep the peace, but it’s getting harder with this new threat.”

She takes a deep breath, squeezing my hand. “Jake, why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I wanted to,” I admit, my voice filled with regret. “But I was afraid. Afraid of how you’d react, afraid of putting you in danger, but I see now that keeping you in the dark only made things worse.”

Tears well up in her eyes, and she wipes them away quickly. “I don’t know what to think, Jake. This is all so much.”

“I know,” I say softly. “And I’m sorry, but I promise, I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe and to help you understand. You deserve to know the truth.”

She takes a moment, breathing deeply and trying to compose herself. “Okay. So what do we do now?”

“First, we need to figure out what the rival pack is planning and stop them,” I say. “We also need to make sure you’re safe. I want you to stay close to me and the pack. We can protect you.”

She nods slowly, still processing everything. “All right, but I’m not giving up on my investigation. People need to know what’s happening.”

“I understand,” I say, respecting her determination. “We’ll work together, but please, be careful. This world is dangerous, and I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.”

She looks at me, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. “I trust you, Jake. Just promise me you’ll be honest with me from now on.”

“I promise,” I say, my voice firm. “No more secrets.”

So why am I hesitating to share the last secret I have?

32

Alex

I’m still shaking.Trying to process everything Jake has told me isn’t easy. I’m a potent mix of fear, confusion, and a desperate need to calm my nerves.

Jake seems to sense my turmoil and stands up, offering a small, reassuring smile.

“How about I make you a drink?” he suggests gently. “I think we could both use one.”

I nod, grateful for the gesture. “Yeah, I could definitely use one right now.”

Jake moves behind the small bar in the back room, his movements calm and practiced. As he mixes the drink, I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

I shouldn’t, but I sneak a peek at him. That towel is barely covering his front… or his ass. The sight of him causes my heart to race even more, which shames me. I shouldn’t be worried about that right now. Stupid hormones.

He finishes making the drink and hands it to me, his eyes filled with concern and something deeper. “Here you go, Alex.”

“Thank you.” I take a sip. The drink is strong but soothing, and it helps take the edge off my nerves.

Jake makes himself a drink and then sits down across from me again, his expression serious. “Alex, I want you to know that I’ll do anything to protect you and Opal. This situation is dangerous, but I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

I study his face, seeing the sincerity and determination there. “Jake, this is all so overwhelming, but I appreciate you being honest with me. I need to understand what’s going on, and I need to know that I can trust you.”

“You can,” he says firmly. “I should have told you sooner, but now that you know, we can face this together. My pack and I will do everything in our power to keep you both safe.”

I take another sip of my drink, feeling a bit more grounded. “That’s why no one would talk to me?” I gape at him. “Luna’s Moon…”

“It’s our bar.”

“A bar for werewolves.” I gulp. “Ah…”

“Humans don’t normally come around. You stood out immediately.” His smile is warm and bright, and I can feel myself relaxing even more. Why does he have this effect on me?

---