Chapter 3

Nina’s POV

Late that night, Blake suddenly knocked on my door.

I opened it. He stood in the narrow hallway, his eyes searching my face.

"Are you still mad at me?"

I didn't answer.

He reached out, catching my hand, his tone softening considerably.

"I was in the wrong today. I shouldn't have embarrassed you like that."

He paused, looking down at our joined fingers.

"Nina, Elena and I are engaged now. I have to keep boundaries so she doesn't get the wrong idea."

His thumb rubbed lightly across the back of my knuckles.

"But you're still the most important person in my life. That won't ever change."

I looked at him, then slowly, deliberately pulled my hand from his grasp.

"Understood, Alpha Blake."

"I'm glad you understand."

"It's late. You should go back," I said, stepping aside to close the gap. "It wouldn't look good if Elena saw you here."

Blake's expression tightened slightly.

I didn't wait for him to respond. I quietly shut the door in his face.

The next afternoon, when I walked into Blake’s home office, I noticed his leather coaster was gone.

I had crafted the original one by hand.

It was made of dark brown leather, embossed with a small wolf's head. It had taken me two weeks of patient tooling to finish.

Now, an immaculate set of polished silver coasters sat in its place.

Elena picked one up and smiled at me.

"Pretty, isn't it? It's custom-made by Hermès."

"Blake told me the old one was worn out and completely clashed with his office."

I kept quiet and placed the coffee cup down by Blake's hand.

Elena gestured toward an assortment of old decor stacked beside the couch.

"Let's clear all these out too. I want to completely redecorate the space."

Blake turned a page of his pack documents without looking up.

"Do whatever Elena wants."

"Yes, Alpha Blake."

I picked up the cardboard box, moving to clear away the familiar items.

Right then, a sharp shriek pierced the room.

Elena had brushed against a crystal figurine, sending it crashing down. A shard had slashed across her lower leg.

Blake rushed over in an instant.

"What happened?"

"I'm fine, it's just a scratch. It'll heal quickly."

Elena clutched her calf, wincing delicately.

Blake knelt down to examine it, his expression darkening instantly.

"Even with werewolf healing, deep glass cuts can leave a scar."

He snapped his head toward me.

"Nina, go get the first-aid kit!"

I set the cardboard box down and turned to fetch the kit.

"Hurry up!"

His voice barked out from behind me.

"Can't you hear me? Elena is bleeding!"

In five years, he had never used that tone with me.

Rounding the landing of the stairs, my foot caught on a loose runner rug, and I pitched forward.

The plastic first-aid kit slammed against the stairs, shattering the glass medicine vials inside.

I instinctively reached out to break my fall, and the shards sliced deep into my palm. Blood welled up instantly, hot and fast.

I didn't have time to care. I gathered up the unbroken bottles and rushed back into the office.

Elena was sitting on the leather sofa, Blake holding her hand.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Much better now."

He gently blew cool air against her wound.

I recognized that gesture.

Blake used to treat my wounds the exact same way.

I held the kit out toward him.

Blake glanced up, his eyes hard.

"It's just down the hall. What took you so damn long?"

"There was a slight accident on the way."

"An accident?"

He scowled deeply.

"Can't you do a single thing with some urgency? Elena is sitting here bleeding, and you're still dragging your feet!"

I tucked my injured hand behind my back.

Blood was dripping down my fingertips, hitting the rug.

He didn't notice.

He was already leaning down, carefully wrapping sterile gauze around Elena's leg.

I turned and walked away.

Blood hit the floorboards. One drop. Then another.

I went down to the clinic, grabbed a pair of tweezers, and picked the shards of glass out of my palm myself before pouring antiseptic over the cuts and wrapping it up tightly.

Two more days. Then I would be gone.