Chapter 21

Kayla

I blinked, momentarily stunned. Nicholas, the egotistical and self-righteous playboy Alpha… was apologizing? That was a first, maybe the first time in his entire life that he had actually apologized for anything.

He stood there silently, his gaze steady but softer than usual, as he waited for my response.

“You’re... coming with me to the guild?” I asked, still processing his offer.

He nodded. “Yes. I thought it might help if we approached them together about your pack.”

I glanced away, unsure of his motives. After our last interaction—him marking me without my consent—I couldn’t help but feel wary. Was this another one of his manipulative tactics? Did he actually care about Bluemoon, or was he just trying to cover his ass after what he did?

Just then, Jade’s voice echoed in my mind through our mindlink. “It’ll be okay, Kayla. Trust him this time.”

I sighed internally. Jade knew him better than I did, and she seemed pretty certain that he wasn’t an entirely bad guy. Although I was still going to be wary. “I hope you’re right,” I replied tersely.

“Alright,” I said out loud, meeting Nicholas’s eyes again. “Let’s go, then. I don’t have time to waste.”

He gave a curt nod and gestured for me to follow. As we headed outside, I expected to see a car waiting for us. Instead, Nicholas led me past the driveway and toward a sleek, black motorcycle gleaming under the midday sun.

He picked up a helmet from the seat and handed it to me. “Here, put this on.”

I stared at the helmet like it was a foreign object. “We’re taking... that?” I pointed unnecessarily at the motorcycle.

He smirked slightly. “You said you didn’t have time to waste, and this is much faster. We need to get to the guild before the council members leave for the day.”

I hesitated. I had never been on a motorcycle before. They always seemed like the preferred mode of transport for reckless playboys—and womanizers. “I don’t think this is a good idea,” I mumbled.

Nicholas raised an eyebrow, looking half-amused as he tugged on his own helmet. “What, is the big bad Kayla afraid or something?”

I bristled at the challenge in his tone. “Of course not,” I lied. “I just prefer the safety of an enclosed vehicle. Preferably without a madman driving it.”

He smirked a little and shrugged, already straddling the bike. “Suit yourself, darling. But I’m not waiting.” He started the engine, and the motorcycle roared to life. It purred beneath him like a big metal puma. “Are you getting on or not?”

I glanced back toward the manor, contemplating my options. If I didn’t go with him now, I might miss the chance to confront the guild today, and my pack couldn’t wait. So, taking a deep breath, I shoved the helmet onto my head and awkwardly climbed onto the bike behind him.

“Hold on tight,” he instructed over his shoulder.

I gingerly placed my hands on his sides, trying to maintain some semblance of personal space.

He chuckled. “You’re not falling off on my watch.” Without warning, he grabbed my hands and pulled them firmly around his waist, yanking my body against his back. “Better.”

My heart skipped a beat at the sudden closeness of our bodies. Even through our jackets, I could feel his warmth. “You could have warned me,” I grumbled.

“And where’s the fun in that?” he replied as teasingly as ever.

Before I could retort, he revved the engine and we took off. The sudden acceleration made me yelp, and I tightened my grip around him instinctively.

“Relax,” Nicholas called out. “I’ve got you.”

That was easier said than done. The world blurred around us as we sped down the road. The wind whipped past, muffling all sounds except for the roar of the engine. I squeezed my eyes shut, clinging to Nicholas as if my life depended on it.

Minutes felt like hours. The sensation of speed was both terrifying and exhilarating, but mostly terrifying. But all the while, I could feel the steady rhythm of Nicholas’s breathing, his body solid and reassuring against mine. As much as I hated him, that provided some small comfort.

Eventually, the bike began to slow down. I dared to open one eye, peeking over his shoulder. The towering structure of the guild headquarters loomed ahead.

He pulled into a parking spot and cut the engine. “We’re here,” he announced.

I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. “Thank the Goddess,” I muttered, quickly dismounting the bike. My legs felt like jelly, and I had to steady myself against a nearby lamp post.

Nicholas removed his helmet, his hair tousled in an annoyingly attractive way. “Not so bad, was it?” he said with a sly grin.

I shot him a glare. “You’re insufferable.”

He chuckled, but then stepped closer, and his expression turned serious. “Kayla, about earlier…”

I tensed, anticipating what he was about to say.

He ran a hand through his hair, avoiding my gaze. “I wanted to apologize for marking you without your consent. It was impulsive and... wrong.”

I blinked, caught off guard by his admission. “Oh.”

He looked at me then, his amber eyes sincere. “I promise to remove the mark once our arrangement is over.”

My hand instinctively went to the spot on my neck where his mark resided. The skin was still sensitive, a reminder of the intense moment we had shared. If I had a wolf, or if he decided to tug on our bond like Liam had, the mark would be unbearable—but for now, it was nothing more than a low hum in the background, like a very distant heartbeat. I wondered what it felt like for him.

“You don’t have to feel bad about it,” I said quietly. “Honestly, our arrangement would likely fail if Liam could use our old bond against me. This way, he can’t manipulate me anymore. So… thank you.”

He studied me for a moment. “Still, I shouldn’t have forced it on you.”

I met his gaze, a hint of a smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah, well, you are a bastard for doing it that way.”

He smirked slightly. “I’ve been called worse.”

We stood there for a moment, the tension between us shifting into something a little more comfortable. It was strange, almost as if we were finally on the same page. Sort of. Although my mind was still trying to come up with ways to get back at him for this.

We made our way inside, the grand foyer of the guild headquarters as imposing as ever. Marble floors echoed our footsteps, and tall pillars lined the hallway leading to the main offices.

As we approached the reception desk, the clerk looked up, her eyes widening slightly upon recognizing Nicholas. “Alpha Nicholas, Luna Kayla, how may I assist you?”

“We’re here to speak with the council regarding the denial of our recent application,” Nicholas stated firmly.

She nodded. “Of course. They’re in a meeting at the moment, but I can inform them of your arrival.”

“Please do,” I interjected. “It’s urgent.”

“Right away,” she replied, picking up a phone to relay the message. After a few moments, she gestured toward a set of double doors. “You may proceed inside.”

We entered a large conference room where several guild members sat around an oval table. Their discussions hushed as we approached.

“Kayla Sterling and Nicholas Reynolds,” one of the elders acknowledged, adjusting his glasses. “To what do we owe this visit?”

I took a deep breath, summoning my confidence. “We’re here to understand why our application for Nicholas to become the acting Alpha of Bluemoon Pack was denied.”

The council members exchanged glances. A tall woman with silver hair leaned forward. “We reviewed your application thoroughly,” she began.

“And?” Nicholas prompted impatiently.

Another council member cleared his throat. “There were some... concerns.”

“Concerns?” I echoed. “What kind of concerns?”

They whispered among themselves for a moment before the elder spoke again.

“Due to your lack of romantic history, Nicholas and Kayla, your application has been denied.”