Chapter 2

Kieran stared at me like I'd just slapped him. His mouth opened, then closed, no words coming out. For a moment, he looked exactly like the twenty-four-year-old boy I'd left behind – confused, hurt, completely lost.

"Married?" The word came out rough, barely a whisper. "To who?"

"Someone who makes me happy," I said simply.

His face went through a dozen emotions in seconds. Shock, disbelief, then something darker. Anger, maybe jealousy. His hands clenched into fists.

"You're lying." His voice got louder, sharper. "This is some kind of game, isn't it? You're trying to get back at me for something."

Celeste stepped closer to me. I could feel her tension, ready to jump in if needed. But I stayed calm.

"I'm not lying, Kieran. And I'm not playing games."

"When?" he demanded. "How long have you been with him? Who is he?"

The questions came fast, desperate. Like if he asked enough of them, he could somehow change the answers.

"That's not really your business anymore."

"Not my business?" His voice cracked. "Evie, we were together for seven years. Seven years. You don't just get to—"

The bell chimed again. This time, I did look up immediately, and my whole body relaxed when I saw Nathaniel walking through the door. He shook the rain off his jacket, his eyes finding mine across the shop. The worry lines around his eyes smoothed when he saw I was okay.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, crossing the space between us in a few quick steps. "Traffic was insane." His hand found the small of my back, warm and steady. "Everything alright here?"

I leaned into his touch instinctively. "Everything's fine. Nathaniel, this is Kieran. Kieran, this is Nathaniel."

Nathaniel's blue eyes sharpened as he looked at Kieran. I'd told him about my ex, of course. Not everything, but enough. Enough that he understood why I sometimes woke up from nightmares about being trapped.

"Kieran," Nathaniel said, his voice polite but cool. "I've heard about you."

Kieran's jaw tightened. His eyes moved between us, taking in how naturally Nathaniel's hand rested on my back, how I fit against his side like I belonged there.

"Have you?" Kieran's voice was bitter. "I bet she didn't tell you the whole story."

"She told me everything I need to know," Nathaniel replied calmly.

The silence stretched. I could feel Kieran's anger building, could see it in the way his shoulders tensed. This was how fights used to start. Him getting wound up, me trying to calm him down, everything spiraling out of control.

But I wasn't the same person anymore.

"We should go," I said, turning toward the dressing room. "Let me change out of this dress."

"Don't." Nathaniel's voice was soft, but I heard the emotion underneath. "You look beautiful. Absolutely perfect."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Even after three years together, he could still make me blush with a few simple words.

"You're marrying him?" Kieran's voice cut through the moment. He sounded broken. "You're actually marrying him?"

I looked at Kieran one more time. At his expensive suit and his bitter eyes.

"Yes," I said. "I am."

Twenty minutes later, I was changed and we were in Nathaniel's car, driving through Seattle's rainy streets. The silence was comfortable, not heavy. One of the things I loved about him – he never pushed when I needed time to think.

"That was your ex," he said finally. Not a question.

"That was Kieran." I stared out the window at the blurry city lights. "From Shadowmoon Pack."

Nathaniel's hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. Shadowmoon was one of the most powerful packs on the West Coast. Old money, old traditions, old grudges.

"Shadowmoon," he repeated. "That explains the attitude."

I almost smiled at that. "He wasn't always like this. When we were young, he was... different."

"Evie, please. Just listen to me for five minutes." Kieran stood in my doorway, blocking my exit. His eyes were red from crying, his voice hoarse from arguing. "You can't just leave. We can work this out."

"There's nothing to work out," I said, my suitcase heavy in my hand. "You don't want to change, and I can't stay the same."

"I'll get a job. I'll try harder. Just don't go."

But we both knew it was too late. I'd already accepted the position in Seattle.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, and pushed past him.

"You okay?" Nathaniel's voice pulled me back to the present. His hand had found mine, warm and reassuring.

"Yeah. Just remembering."

We pulled into the parking garage of my apartment building. Nathaniel killed the engine but didn't move to get out. Instead, he turned to face me.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I looked at him. Really looked at him. His golden-brown hair was getting long again, curling slightly at the ends. His blue eyes were patient, concerned but not demanding.

"He was a mess when I left," I said. "Angry, hurt. I knew it would be hard for him, but I thought... I thought he'd move on eventually."

"But he didn't."

"Apparently not." I sighed. "Seeing him today, it's like nothing's changed. He's successful now, obviously. Rich, powerful, everything he always said he wanted. But he's still angry at me for leaving."

Nathaniel was quiet for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was careful.

"How do you feel about seeing him again?"

Such a Nathaniel question. Not jealous or possessive, just genuinely wanting to understand.

"Sad," I said honestly. "Sad for the boy he used to be. Sad that he's still so angry after all this time." I squeezed his hand. "But not confused. Not tempted. Just sad."

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles gently. "I love you."

"I love you too."

We went upstairs together. Nathaniel ordered Chinese takeout while I changed into comfortable clothes. We ate on the couch, my feet in his lap, talking about the wedding plans and his pack's upcoming territory negotiation.

The kind of evening I'd never had with Kieran.

"There's something else," I said as we were cleaning up. "About Kieran being from Shadowmoon."

Nathaniel paused, a plate halfway to the dishwasher. "Yeah?"

"They don't like small packs moving up in the world. If they think Silvermere is getting too successful, too ambitious..." I bit my lip. "Kieran might not be the only problem we have to deal with."

Nathaniel set the plate down and turned to face me fully. His expression was serious now, the Alpha in him coming to the surface.

"You think he'll try something?"

"I think he's hurt and angry and he has the resources to make trouble if he wants to." I crossed my arms, suddenly cold. "And I think seeing us together, seeing me happy, is going to make him want to."

Nathaniel was quiet for a long moment. Then he crossed the kitchen and pulled me into his arms. I breathed in his scent – cedar and rain and something uniquely him that always made me feel safe.

"Looks like we'll inevitably run into him for a while," he said softly against my hair. "But don't worry, I'll protect you."