Page 1 of Nick
Chapter 1
NICK REAGAN BRUSHED Astray strand of his hair from his eyes as he wiped down the counter at the Moonstone Café.The scent of cinnamon filled the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the patrons.His eyes flicked to the door as it creaked open, revealing the imposing figure of Bronx Bishop.
“Bronx.”Nick smiled in greeting, his wolf instincts perking up in the presence of the pack’s head guardian.
“Hey,” Bronx muttered, his deep voice rumbling.He held the door open for a small, rambunctious bundle of energy—Samuel Harris, Bronx’s new stepson—who dashed inside, dark brown hair flying out around his head.
“Hot chocolate?”Nick asked, already anticipating their order.
Bronx nodded, guiding Samuel into a cozy booth near the window.Samuel clambered onto the seat, his wide eyes skimming across the menu with excitement—Nick knew Samuel had only just learned to read.
“Two hot chocolates, please, Nick!”Samuel chimed in, his grin contagious.
“Coming right up, kiddo.”Nick returned the smile as he moved behind the counter, expertly preparing the drinks.
As he poured steaming milk into the mugs, Nick glanced over at Bronx and Samuel in the booth.Bronx’s stern features softened as he listened to the boy’s animated recounting of his day, his eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine affection.It always amazed Nick how someone so physically imposing could be so gentle with the pack’s children.
“Here you go,” Nick said, placing the hot chocolates on the table.A rich aroma of cocoa wafted from the mugs, topped with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon.Samuel’s eyes lit up with delight, while Bronx offered a quiet word of thanks.
“Enjoy,” Nick murmured, his heart squeezing at the sight of Bronx carefully blowing on Samuel’s drink before handing it to him.It was moments like these that made Nick truly appreciate what he had found in the Moonstone Pack—a family who would stand by one another through thick and thin.He was grateful for all that the Moonstone Pack offered him—a far cry from his previous pack, where trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
An hour later, Bronx and Samuel left.Now that his section was empty, Nick stepped outside the back of the Moonstone Café, inhaling the bracing air as he let the door close behind him.The chill bit into his skin, a welcome contrast to the heat and bustle inside the restaurant.Leaning against the brick wall, he tilted his head back, gazing up at the vast expanse of the sky.Stars twinkled overhead, their light casting a glow over the quiet streets of the small town.
“Man, I really need a break,” he muttered to himself, rubbing his hands together.The thought of how fortunate he was to be a part of the Moonstone Pack flickered through his mind again.He had barely escaped his old pack with his life, after all.And it was here, in this tiny town near Yellowstone Park, that Nick finally found a place he could call home.
His thoughts inevitably turned to Sarah Sanchez—the woman who had betrayed him.The memory of her face, once so dear to him, now twisted in his stomach with anger and sorrow.He could still remember the way she’d looked at him, her dark eyes filled with a cunning that he hadn’t seen until it was too late.
“Damn her,” he whispered, clenching his fists.The pain of betrayal still lingered, a thorn embedded deep in his heart.It wasn’t just the fact that she had deceived him; it was the realization that he had been so blind, so naïve, to trust her in the first place.
Gritty sand and hot desert air filled Nick’s mind as he recalled that fateful day in New Mexico.He had stumbled through the arid landscape, fleeing from his former packmates who bayed for his blood in the distance.The sun bore down on him like a merciless, unforgiving god, and the wind sang a coarse melody as it whipped around cacti and brittle brush.
“Sarah,” he whispered under his breath, feeling her name cut him anew as he remembered her betrayal with the pack alpha.
A sudden vision of Sarah’s body intertwined with his own—their skin sweat-slicked, their breathless moans passion-filled—seared into his memory, along with the sense of loss that came with it.
It was a thought that still clawed at his heart, but the pain no longer had a place in his new life.He shoved the image into his past, where it belonged.
Never thought I’d be glad to say goodbye to all that, Nick thought, shaking his head.He glanced up at the star-studded sky, letting out a quiet, grateful sigh.
As he stood there, lost in his thoughts, a sudden gust of wind swirled around him.The cold mountain breeze that rustled through the trees near the Moonstone Café was a welcome respite from the oppressive heat of his memories.
But then his wolf instincts stirred, a primal warning that something was amiss.Yet when he glanced around, the alley was empty, save for the shadows that stretched across the pavement.Nick shook his head, willing himself to focus on the present moment and not dwell on the past.
“Get it together, Nick,” he muttered, pushing away from the wall.He had come so far since that day he’d left his old pack behind—when he’d narrowly escaped death by the skin of his teeth.His new life with the Moonstone Pack was a testament to his resilience, and he wasn’t about to let the specter of Sarah Sanchez haunt him any longer.
He had a new pack now, built on trust and loyalty.Nick’s loyalty to his new alpha was unwavering.The man had not only taken him in when he needed sanctuary, but he had also shown him what true strength and leadership looked like.With Steele at the helm, Nick knew he was part of a pack that valued each member—a family bound by more than just the ties of blood.And nothing, not even painful memories, could ever take that away from him.
“Okay, time to get back to work,” Nick murmured, squaring his shoulders and exhaling softly.Drawing in a deep breath, he steeled himself for the rest of his shift.
As he walked back into the café, Nick retied his apron without even looking down, a practiced motion born from countless shifts.The comforting scent of coffee and baked goods enveloped him, helping ground him in the present moment.He let the familiar sounds of laughter and conversation fill his ears, acting as a soothing balm to him.
The glow of the Moonstone Café’s interior lights stood in stark contrast to the cool shadows outside, casting a welcoming golden hue over the polished wooden tables and countertops.Nick willed his hands to steady as he approached a booth, his senses heightened from the echoes of fear that still clung to him.The soft murmur of conversation around the café brought comfort, reminding him he was safe within the embrace of his new pack.
Nick pushed the lingering thoughts of Sarah to the recesses of his mind.He had a job to do, a life to live, and a pack to stand by.And no matter what ghosts haunted him from his past, he would not let them hold him back any longer.
“Welcome to Moonstone,” he said, forcing a smile as he pulled out his pen and pad.“What can I get for you today?”
“Hi, Nick.It’s good to see you again.”The voice was achingly familiar, causing his heart to stutter in his chest.
