The Guardian's Mate
Her voice trembled slightly on the last word, the reality of how close we had come to absolute devastation hitting her all over again.
"If it weren't for you, she wouldn't be sitting here right now," Emma whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "My friend is gone. So... Thank you. I don't care about pack politics or territory. I just care that you brought her back."
Nathan stood perfectly still for a long moment, the casual, teasing smirk completely fading from his face. For a fraction of a second, the heavy, profound exhaustion he had been hiding behind his cocky facade peeked through. He looked at Emma, really looked at her, taking in the genuine devotion and gratitude radiating fro