Chapter 66

Kayla

Emma dragged me over to the center of the room before I could stop her. As she poured me a drink, I risked a glance over my shoulder.

Nicholas was seated on the couch, long legs stretched out in front of him and one arm lazily draped across the back cushions. He was talking to one of the males, his head thrown back with laughter and his eyes squeezed shut as if he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world, but I knew it was fake.

Maybe he was coping. Or maybe he was trying to make me believe that he was completely unbothered by Noah’s interest in me, as if he hadn’t just tried to punch Noah in the face over it.

Either way, I saw right through the facade. Because I’d used a similar facade far too many times for comfort—whenever I wanted to appear unfazed by people’s cruel words or threats.

As I was looking at him, Nicholas’s eyes flickered over and met mine briefly, but I looked away just as fast. My cheeks flushed, and I was glad to hear him pick up his conversation with the other males as if he hadn’t seen it.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the glass of dark red wine that Emma offered me and crossing the room. I slid onto the other couch next to Jade, Emma plopping down on my other side.

“What are we drinking to?” I asked Jade and Emma, trying to ignore the way Nicholas’s laughter was drifting over from the other side of the room. It was just a touch too loud, solidifying the notion that he was putting on some kind of act.

“Who cares?” Emma grinned, either oblivious as ever or choosing to ignore the tension for everyone’s sakes. “Just drink.”

There was no arguing with that. I clinked my glass with Jade and Emma’s and took a sip, letting the warmth spread through my chest. If Nicholas could plaster on a smile, then I could, too. It wasn’t that hard, and besides, maybe it would make all of this easier.

At least, that was what I told myself.

Jade leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “He’s acting weird, right?” Her eyes flicked to Nicholas.

“He’s always acting weird,” I muttered, swirling the wine around in my glass and inhaling the deep, almost nutty aroma.

“Well, yeah, but this feels different.” Jade glanced over at Emma, who was too busy pouring herself another drink to pay attention. “Did something happen between you two?”

I almost choked on my drink. “What makes you think that?”

Jade gave me a look that said she wasn’t buying the innocent act and lowered her voice even more. “Don’t play stupid.”

I shook my head, ignoring the way my chest tightened. “Nothing happened,” I whispered, which was a complete and utter lie. And both Jade and Emma knew that very well.

“Sure.” Jade rolled her eyes as she leaned back into the couch. “Whatever you say.”

After that, no one pressed the matter. The night went on and the wine kept flowing, and eventually, I stopped thinking so much. Eventually, the weight on my shoulders began to feel just a little lighter, and the haze in my mind began to soften the edges of my thoughts.

Eventually, I started to genuinely smile and laugh. Back in Bluemoon, we hadn’t had gatherings like this for years—not since my father went into his coma. Aside from Henry and Ava, no one bothered to come and see me. No one wanted to enter the house unless they had to.

This was… nice. Warm. Comforting.

And for a moment, just a moment, I began to wonder two things.

One: if my father’s coma could truly be cured, then could things go back to the way they were in Bluemoon? Could my old home be filled with life and laughter again? Could all of the horrible words and attempted coups finally come to an end?

And two: could I see myself remaining here, in this house, surrounded by warmth and laughter… with Nicholas by my side?

I hardly dared to think of it that way. There were too many factors, too many bitter feelings swirling around in my chest. But I couldn’t help but think about those brief memories he’d sent through the bond earlier, the silent promise that maybe, just maybe he wouldn’t…

Pursing my lips, I quickly polished off the rest of my third glass of wine to dispel the thoughts. I didn’t have it in me to start reading into feelings that had only just begun to surface. Maybe I never would.

Still, it didn’t entirely make me forget the way Nicholas’s gaze lingered whenever he glanced in my direction or the way his voice rose whenever he wanted to make a show of laughing or joking, but the wine eventually dulled everything just enough to make me stop caring.

For a little while, anyway.

It wasn’t until later, when I got up to grab more snacks from the kitchen, that I felt it again. That prickling awareness that crawled over my skin, like someone was watching me.

I turned around, and there he was.

Nicholas had just rounded the corner, but the second his eyes met mine, he froze. His hand tightened briefly around the empty glass he was holding, and for a split second, I thought he might say something.

But then he turned to leave.

I didn’t know why, but something inside of me panicked.

I wasn’t ready for him to walk away.

I didn’t even think about it. One second I was standing there, and the next, I felt the bond flare to life, humming softly beneath my skin.

Nicholas stopped dead in his tracks, his ears pricking up as if I’d just shouted.

His shoulders tensed as he slowly turned back to face me, his eyes locking onto mine with a sharp, glowing intensity that made it hard to breathe. And then he began to move. The glass in his hand was instantly forgotten, left on the counter as he crossed the room in just a few long strides.

Before I knew it, he was right in front of me.

His hands slammed down on the marble countertop on either side of me, caging me against the cabinets. His breath was warm and smelled like vodka against my skin, and the bond buzzed louder now, crackling in the air between us like static electricity.

“Kayla,” he murmured, his voice rough as his forehead nearly brushed mine. His eyes flicked to my lips, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me again. In fact, I think I even wanted him to. Maybe more than anything.

But he didn’t.

Somehow, he managed to stop himself just shy of crossing that line, his chest rising and falling in uneven breaths.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to find my voice. “I didn’t mean to do that,” I whispered.

Nicholas’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t move away. “You’re not supposed to be able to use the bond like that without your wolf,” was all he said, his voice low and gravelly.

“I know.”

We stood there in silence, the space between us almost nonexistent, and I could feel the heat of his body pressing into mine. My heart thundered in my chest, and I hated the way I wanted him to move closer—just a little more. Just enough to close the remaining distance between us, once and for all.

Instead, I said the first thing that popped into my head. “I rejected Noah today.”

Nicholas stilled.

He didn’t look at me right away, but I could see the way his jaw tightened, his hands slowly curling into fists against the counter.

For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t respond at all. But finally, he exhaled quietly and straightened, putting some distance between us.

“If he is your fated mate,” Nicholas said, his voice calm but more distant than the first day we had met, “then I think you should be free to love him. Just don’t let it get in the way of our arrangement.”

And then, just like that, he left me alone in the kitchen.