Page 56 of Bronx

Cora tilted her head, her body illuminated by the soft light of the room.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

“I…” He swallowed hard, his heart pounding like the beat of a war drum within his chest. “I love you.”

Electric tension seemed to vibrate through his entire body as he waited for her response. Cora’s breath hitched, her wide eyes filling with surprise and something else—something Bronx dared to hope was the same fierce love he felt for her.

“Bronx,” she whispered. “I’ve been so terrified to let myself feel anything for you, afraid it would only bring more pain to both of us.” She paused, her gaze never wavering from his. “But…I love you too.”

A surge of elation mixed with relief coursed through Bronx’s veins, his emotions crashing through him like river rapids rushing over rocks. He tightened his arms around Cora. Their hearts raced in sync as they embraced, their bodies pressed tightly together.

“Promise me,” Bronx murmured into Cora’s ear, “promise me we’ll face whatever comes together. That we’ll be brave, even when everything seems to be against us.”

“I promise,” Cora whispered against his skin.

They stood there for a moment, their bodies entwined, the world outside fading away as they lost themselves in each other’s presence. The smell of evergreens and fallen leaves from their earlier run through the forest, overlayed with a touch of sulfur from the many geysers in the park, still clung to their skin.

“Let me show you how much I love you,” she whispered.

And then Cora took his hand and led Bronx to the bedroom and into their new life together.

Epilogue

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 like distant thunder. 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 him 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, and 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 their intertwined bodies, sweat-slicked and passion-filled, seared into his memory. It was a thought that still clawed at his heart, but the pain no longer had a place in his new life.

Never thought I’d be glad to say goodbye to all that, Nick thought, shaking his head. He glanced up at the 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 looked 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.

---