Page 2 of Nick
His grip on the pen tightened, knuckles whitening as he struggled to maintain control over his emotions.A thousand memories threatened to burst forth, dark and painful images vying for his attention.
The tendrils of shock slithered through Nick’s veins as he finally looked up from his order pad into the familiar face before him.It was Sarah, the ex-girlfriend shifter he’d been trying to forget, now materialized in the flesh.She sat across the booth, her gaze filled with hope and trepidation.
Steady, Nick told himself, his thoughts racing alongside his pulse.Pay attention to the here and now.You’re not that scared, betrayed wolf anymore.Face your past head-on, he continued, firming his resolve.You’re not alone anymore either.
“Is everything all right?”she asked after a long, silent moment, faux concern underscoring the words like a bitter aftertaste.
“Just…surprised to see you,” Nick replied, swallowing hard.His throat tightened, as though an invisible hand constricted it.He could sense the curious gazes of other patrons nearby as they no doubt wondered about the sudden change in his demeanor.“What can I get you?”he ground out.
“Just a coffee, I guess.”
He nodded and started to turn away.
“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?”Sarah asked.
“Let me just take care of this,” he said, hastily scribbling down the order and promising himself he would not let fear dictate his actions any longer.“I’ll be right back.”
As Nick walked away from the booth, his heart pounded in time with his footsteps, a familiar rhythm that spoke of courage.He may have been forged in the fires of betrayal and pain, but he had emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before.
At least, that was what he tried to tell himself.
But when he returned to her table and set her coffee down in front of her, his hand shook.
“Can we talk?”she asked.
“I guess,” Nick managed through gritted teeth, his mind reeling.He fought the urge to run, reminding himself he was part of the Moonstone Pack now—strong, loyal, and unbreakable.Even though every fiber of his being screamed at him to flee, he knew he owed it to himself and his newfound family to stick around, no matter how much he wanted to run.
“What are you doing here?”he blurted out, his voice cracking slightly under his emotions.
“I need your help, Nick.I’m in trouble,” Sarah said, her eyes welling up with tears.
The words hit him like a punch to the gut, leaving him breathless and disoriented.He gripped the pen tightly in his hand, feeling the plastic press into his skin as if it was the only thing anchoring him to reality.
“Trouble?”He forced the word out, his mind racing with unanswered questions and haunting memories.The scent of her perfume—a blend of jasmine and cedarwood—clawed at his senses, transporting him back to a time when they had been inseparable.He shook his head, trying to dispel the ghosts of their shared past.
“Please, sit down,” Sarah pleaded, her voice trembling.“I don’t know who else to turn to.”
Nick hesitated for a moment, torn between his loyalty to the Moonstone Pack and the embers of love that still smoldered within him for Sarah.He glanced out over the café, seeking solace in the familiar faces of his packmates, but all he found was curiosity—and maybe a touch of worry.
With a deep breath, he slid into the booth opposite her, steeling himself for the conversation to come.His heart thundered against his ribcage, a relentless reminder of the fear that threatened to consume him.
“Okay,” Nick said, mustering a facade of bravery—the kind of strength he suddenly wasn’t so sure he actually possessed.“Tell me what’s going on.”
Chapter 2
SARAH TWISTED HER HANDSin her lap, trying to figure out where to start.
“You remember Vincent, right?”she finally asked.
Nick’s expression tightened, but he nodded.“Yes.”
“Right.Of course you do.”God.This was not going the way she had hoped it would.
Nick’s movements had been smooth and assured as he navigated between tables, his gaze missing nothing.He was the calm in the center of the storm, his aura untouched by the whirl of activity around him.
From outside the café, she’d watched him through the window, not entering until he’d disappeared in the back.And then Sarah had watched, captivated yet anxious, as he drew closer to her section—his section—and with every step, the moment of truth ticked ever nearer.
“I—” Her voice faltered, cracked under the pressure of what she had come to say.She cleared her throat, willing her hands to stillness, though they remained hidden from view.
