Chapter 13 — Avoidance

Regina POV

Regina woke before her alarm.

For a moment, she lay still beneath the soft weight of her blankets, staring at the faint gray light filtering through the curtains as dawn crept slowly across the sky. The world was quiet — that deep, early-morning stillness where everything felt suspended between breaths.

And beneath the quiet…

The bond pulsed.

Warm. Steady. Alive.

It took her a few seconds to fully register it — the gentle awareness humming just beneath her ribs, like a second heartbeat she could feel but not hear. Not overwhelming, not intrusive… just present.

Aldric.

Her chest tightened softly at the thought, the memory of last night rising with startling clarity — the way he’d stood in her living room, steady and calm, the quiet warmth in his voice, the easy way the conversation had flowed once her initial panic settled.

Mate.

The word still felt surreal.

Regina closed her eyes briefly, inhaling slowly as a familiar mix of emotions surfaced — warmth tangled with anxiety, comfort edged with uncertainty.

It would be so easy to lean into it.

To let the bond guide her, to let herself feel the safety it offered.

Her wolf nudged at the thought, hopeful.

But instinct — honed by years of careful self-preservation — urged caution.

Slow.

Careful.

Don’t lose control.

Regina sat up slowly, pushing the blankets aside. The cool air against her skin helped ground her, pulling her fully into the present. She ran a hand through her hair, the long red waves falling over her shoulder as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.

The bond pulsed again, a faint sense of direction telling her Aldric was awake too.

Her stomach fluttered unexpectedly.

She stood quickly, shaking off the sensation as she moved toward the bathroom. The familiar routine of brushing her teeth, washing her face, and tying her hair into a loose braid gave her something to focus on besides the steady hum of connection she couldn’t ignore.

By the time she dressed and headed downstairs for her shift, she had her composure firmly back in place — professional mask settled comfortably over the swirl of emotions beneath.

You can do this.

Just another day.

—

The lobby was quiet when she arrived, morning light spilling across the polished floors. She slipped behind the reception desk, greeting the night clerk with a warm smile and settling into her routine.

For the first hour, everything felt almost normal.

Check-ins. Coffee refills. Answering questions about local hiking trails.

But the bond remained a constant presence, subtle but impossible to forget — like being aware of someone standing just out of sight.

Every time the elevator chimed, her heart jumped slightly before she could stop it.

Around midmorning, the lobby doors opened.

She didn’t need to look to know it was him.

The bond warmed instantly, recognition blooming through her chest like sunlight breaking through clouds.

Regina kept her gaze on the computer screen for a moment longer, steadying her breathing before she looked up.

Aldric walked toward the desk, dressed casually in dark jeans and a charcoal sweater that somehow made him look even broader than usual. His hair was slightly tousled, and there was a softness in his expression that made her pulse quicken.

He stopped at the counter, silver eyes meeting hers.

“Morning,” he said.

The single word carried a warmth that slipped past her defenses before she could stop it.

“Morning,” she replied, keeping her tone light and professional despite the flutter in her chest.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The bond hummed gently, content in the quiet.

“How did you sleep?” he asked.

“Fine,” she said automatically — then softened slightly. “Better than I expected.”

He nodded, as if relieved.

“I was thinking…” he began, then hesitated slightly. “Maybe we could get lunch later? Talk more.”

The invitation sent a ripple of warmth through her chest — followed immediately by a spike of nervousness.

Lunch meant time.

Connection.

Letting the bond grow stronger.

Her instincts warred quietly beneath the surface.

You don’t have to decide everything now.

But you also don’t have to rush.

Regina offered a small smile. “Maybe. I’ll see how busy it is.”

It wasn’t a rejection, but it wasn’t a yes either.

Understanding flickered in his eyes, along with a hint of patience that eased some of her tension.

“Okay,” he said simply.

A guest approached the desk, breaking the moment.

Regina shifted back into work mode, helping the guest with directions while acutely aware of Aldric’s presence just a few feet away. The bond pulsed softly, a steady reassurance that he hadn’t left.

When she looked up again, he was still there, leaning casually against the counter, watching her with quiet attention.

It should have felt intimidating.

Instead, it felt… comforting.

Like someone standing guard.

She finished with the guest, and he straightened slightly.

“I’ll let you work,” he said. “Text me if you want to meet later.”

Her heart fluttered again at the casual assumption of future contact.

“Okay,” she said softly.

He gave her a small smile before turning toward the doors, the bond stretching gently as he moved away — not painful, just noticeable.

Regina watched him leave, warmth lingering in her chest long after the doors closed behind him.

—

The rest of her shift passed in a blur of routine tasks and quiet moments where her thoughts drifted back to him despite her efforts to stay focused.

Avoidance felt impossible.

The bond didn’t demand her attention — but it made ignoring him feel like deliberately turning away from warmth on a cold day.

By the time her shift ended, the internal tension had softened into something quieter — less panic, more cautious curiosity.

She pulled out her phone, staring at the blank message screen for a moment.

Then she typed.

Lunch sounds nice.

She hesitated only a second before hitting send.

Almost immediately, the bond warmed in response — a subtle ripple of contentment that made a small smile tug at her lips.

Maybe she didn’t have to run from this.

Maybe she could let it unfold slowly.

One step at a time.

And for the first time since the bond snapped…

The idea of what came next didn’t feel quite so frightening.