Wild at Heart
Chapter 17

Alan got me home in a timely fashion, but it was still late, so Nick was in bed sleeping. I knew I needed a shower, but as I walked into the bathroom I froze for a split second as I stared at the shower’s glass door, expecting it to be broken like in my nightmare. Yet, there it was, all in one neat piece. I turned on the water and let it heat up while I stripped out of my clothes. I don’t think I’ve even taken a faster shower than I just did. I quickly turned the water off and wrapped the towel around my body. I snuck into the bedroom to try and be as quiet as possible not to wake Nick. I went to the dresser and slowly opened it to pull out an oversized t-shirt. I dropped the towel and pulled the shirt over my heart. When I turned to throw the towel in the hamper on the other side of the room, Nick was up on his elbows, staring right at me.

“Sorry.” I smiled sheepishly at him. “I was trying not to wake you up.”

“Don’t be sorry, little wolf,” he stretched his arm out to me. “I was just enjoying the view.” I felt my cheeks redden as I made my way over to him in the bed. “Did your walk help?” He asked as his arms wrapped around my small frame.

“Much.” I answered. “I ran into Alan and he made sure I got back here okay.” I knew Nick would smell Alan on me even after my shower.

“You two have become rather close.” He noted.

“We have.” I agreed. “He’s grown so much since we met.”

“He has you to thank for that. Without your constant training, I don’t think he would have had the motivation to work as hard as he does.” Nick’s lips pressed against my head. “But I’m glad you did it. The old Alan would have never been able to think so quickly on his feet when you fell off the cliff.” Just the mention of my accident sent shivers down my spine and I huddled closer to Nick’s bare chest.

“When are we leaving for the East pack?” I asked, trying desperately to change the subject.

“Reginald will be leaving with his pack tomorrow. I have some things I need to finish with Daniel and then we will go in a few days.” I nodded with a yawn. “Go to sleep, little wolf.”

“Emma? Are you listening to me?” Chloe’s voice brought me back from my thoughts.

“Sorry.” I pushed some hair behind my ear and make eye contact with her. “Daniel’s wedding— I’m listening.” I agree to have lunch with Chloe very last minute. I feel like I haven’t seen her in a long time, and I missed her company.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “Alex and Daniel are the first wolves in a long time to have an actual wedding outside of the mating ritual and I think we need to look our best.” Chloe was much more excited about getting dressed up for a special occasion than I was. “Especially you.” I raised a brow at her. “Nick is going to be in the wedding, you’re his mate and Luna of the pack in case you forgot.”

“How could I forget?”

“So, you’re going to have to look extra special.”

“More special than the grooms?” I questioned. Chloe responded but rolling her eyes at me.

“Let me practice doing your hair.” How could I say no to my best friend with that cheesy smile on her face?

“Sure, why not?”

“Great!” She clapped her hands together. “I’ll come over tomorrow and we can play around with some hairstyles.”

“I just have to check with Nick, make sure we don’t have anything pack related to do.”

“You don’t.”

“How do you know?” I tilted my head at her as she began to stutter.

“You guys are leaving soon.” She finally spit out. “Nick wouldn’t need to have any new meetings or anything before you leave, I’m sure he already took care of that.” Something about this conversation just turned from innocent to shady. What would Chloe be hiding from me?

“So, have you met Natalie’s new boyfriend?” She was obviously trying to change the subject to distract me, and it was working. My wolf growled at the mention of the new wolf. “What?” Chloe asked. “You don’t like him?”

“Natalie’s never had a boyfriend more than a day in her life. What’s so special about this one?”

“We’ve never had another pack visit ours, especially one stay this long. I’m sure him being from another pack has its own type of allure for her.” Chloe pushed her salad around with her fork as she stared at the toppings.

“Do you trust him?” I asked her.

“I’ve only met him once, but him and Kyle hit it off pretty quick. They have some hobbies in common.” She shrugged. “It’s been hard on him not having any male friends since Der—” She stopped herself from saying his name, but it was too late. The simple mention of his name sent chills down my spine and I instantly stiffened in my seat.

“I’m so sorry, Emma.”

“Don’t be sorry.” I tried to wave it off. “It’s been almost a year, Chloe, we have to move on at some point.” I needed to take my own advice. Maybe it would be easier to move on if it weren’t my own hand that ripped his heart out and ended his life? Damn, why did it still hurt so much?

“You haven’t really had anyone to talk to about him, Emma.” Chloe reached her hand across the table and put it over mine.

“I have Nick.” I lied. I could feel the tension in a thick fog anytime Derek was mentioned around Nick. I wasn’t sure if it was still jealousy lingering, anger from his betrayal, or fear of responding in the wrong manner about his death, but I did know that I didn’t like the vibe Nick gave off so I just didn’t talk about it.

“That’s great that he’s there for you, Emma.” Chloe smiled at me and I gave her a fake smile back. I didn’t do well with these types of conversations. Too many feelings I didn’t know what to do with. I gently pulled my hand out from under hers and looked down at my phone. It was getting late and I wanted to go back to the bar to check on Lucas.

“I should go.” I said while I collected my things and threw money down on the table.

“Okay, well I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah, tomorrow.” I rushed out the door faster than I should have, but now that I had a mission to distract me, I wanted to get there. Unfortunately, as soon as I opened the door to my bar my mood went even more sour than it was if that was possible. My eyes narrowed at the couple sitting directly beside my office at the bar, Krista leaning against it making conversation with a big smile on her face.

“Emma! Hey, girl!” Natalie said with a drunken smile. Chase was holding her up with an arm around her waist. It was barely three in the afternoon and Natalie was already drunk, which meant she was hitting them hard and fast. She’d be sober in a few hours if I cut her off now.

“What are you doing here, Natalie?” I asked her while I kept my eyes locked on Chase.

“Drinking.” Natalie said with a giggle as she leaned into Chase’s body.

“Don’t worry, Em, I’m sober. I’ll take good care of her.”

“Don’t call me that.” I hissed. The last person to call me “Em” was Derek. And I didn’t need this intruder picking up where he left off. Chase narrowed his eyes back at me, but Natalie’s drunken body slamming into his as she tried to get down off the stool brought him back to her.

“I have to pee.” She mumbled as she stumbled towards the ladies room. Krista backed off to check on her other customers and I took her spot behind the bar in front of Chase.

“What are you doing?” I asked him in a hushed tone.

“I don’t know what happened to you in the past that you have such shitty trust issues, but I’m not doing anything. I’m hanging out with a great girl until my Alpha tells me I have go back to our pack.”

“And then what?” I asked. “Relationships between packs don’t work.”

“Maybe she’ll want to come back to my pack then.” He said with a smirk. “Or maybe I’ll ask the Alpha permission to join this pack.” I laughed.

“Over my dead body.”

“Don’t wish too hard, Em.” I reached over the counter so fast I wasn’t confident I knew how my hand got around his neck. Yet, in an instant I had every single wolf’s eyes on me. I released him just as quickly as I grabbed him. He cleared his throat and rubbed his neck. I leaned over the counter so that my face was just inches from his.

“Think twice before threatening me, wolf. And don’t call me “Em”.” I pushed myself off the counter and walked out of the bar without another word.