Page 36 of Griffin

“If you ever feel unsafe, or even just unsure… reach out to me, okay?” I said, my voice low but steady. “Call me, text me—anything. I’ll do whatever I can to be there.”

Michael’s gaze softened, and he looked down at our still-joined hands, his thumb brushing over mine absently.

“Why?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper. “Why would you go through so much trouble… for me?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat.

Why did I feel this fierce need to protect him, to be there for him no matter what?

Then, deep within, I heard my wolf’s voice, quiet but unwavering.He’s our mate.

The revelation hit me like a lightning bolt, leaving me stunned. I hadn’t seen it before, hadn’t realized it, but now it all made sense.

The possessiveness, the drive to keep him safe, the way just being around him felt so… right.

“Griffin?” he prompted, his brows furrowing as he caught my moment of silence.

I cleared my throat, forcing a smile to mask my surprise.

“I guess… I just care about you. A lot more than I expected to,” I admitted.

He seemed to accept that answer, his expression softening.

After a quiet pause, he finally asked, “Would… would it be okay if you stayed the night? I don’t… I don’t really want to be alone right now.”

My heart thudded a little harder, and I nodded. “Of course. I’ll stay as long as you need.”

We ended up curled up on the couch, close enough to feel each other’s warmth.

Michael rested his head on my shoulder, his breaths evening out as he gradually relaxed, tension easing out of him with each passing second.

I stayed awake a little longer, holding him close, marveling at the connection between us and the new understanding settling deep within me.

Michael was mine—mine to protect and cherish, and I had no intention of letting anyone hurt him.

Chapter 9

Michael

Ileaned back against the cold brick wall in the alley behind the bar, shivering as the chill seeped into my bones.

The weather was turning colder, and my legs had gone numb from standing in one spot too long.

I shifted my weight from foot to foot, trying to keep the blood flowing.

If I’d known Casey was going to take this long to call me back, I’d have grabbed my coat—or better yet, I would’ve waited until I was off work in a few hours instead of doing this during my break.

The line clicked. “Casey?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.

“Sorry, I just got to my phone,” Casey said, his tone tinged with concern. “What’s up? You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, brushing my free hand down the front of my shirt.

“You sure? After everything that happened the other night…”

I hesitated, glancing around the dimly lit alley.

The memory of the stream from the other night flickered in my mind, and unease crept into my chest.

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