on in the world he’d left behind.
“They’re talking about the selling of women. They’ve
stumbled onto the websites along with the auctions of female wolves. They’re
not happy and are asking for my help.”
“I take it I was mentioned.”
“Yes, but more as
a topic of interest, Nick. I believe they
regret outlawing you.”
“Well, they did, and there’s no going back. I’ll see
you soon,” Nick said, ready to leave.
“If they were to offer you back your status and give
you a pack, would you take it?” Dean asked.
“No, I wouldn’t.” Nick didn’t hesitate in answering.
In the early days of becoming an outlaw he’d have taken his pack back at the
first moment. Now, he wouldn’t dream of going back. They could give him back
his pack and easily take it away.
“Why not?”
“I no longer want a pack that’s overruled by a
collective of alphas who think they’re above the law.”
“It was a long time ago, Nick. You’ve got to get over
one man’s actions.” Dean placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He shrugged
the hand off.
“You didn’t see what he did to her. If you did, you
wouldn’t be trying to bring me back into the fold. My life as an alpha ended
that day.” Nick walked out of the office, thankful to leave his past behind.
Clara knew the truth, and it was time for him to man
up. It wasn’t her fault he still felt guilty for putting the female in harm’s
way.
The drive home didn’t last long enough. He entered the
house and heard Clara making something in the kitchen. The scent of her baking
filled the house. He noticed she baked a lot. Nick had taken her spare baking
into the office so none of it went off.
He couldn’t be that moody to share his woman’s baking,
could he?
Either way, he went to his office, putting his case
away then grabbing the e-reader from the desk. It was all set up ready to
receive books.
Give it to her.
She used to meet him the moment he walked into the
house after he shouted at her. After the third day of him yelling at her, she
stopped welcoming him home.
He’d fucked up. Keeping hold of the e-reader, Nick was
determined to fix what he’d broken.
****
Clara kept mixing the potatoes even as she heard Nick
enter the house. She had fucked up and hadn’t gotten the opportunity to
apologize to him. There was only so much shouting she could deal with, so she tried
to stay out of his way. She tried not to feel the hurt of being cut off from
all contact. The last week with Nick had been the same as living with her
parents. He didn’t talk to her, only accepted silence, and she spent most of
her time trying to avoid him. The latest batch of cookies was cooling on the
tray.
The only consolation she found was him taking her
baking into work. At least nothing went off. She found the cookbooks in one of
the cupboards, and her days had been spent marking the pages of the recipes she
wanted to cook. He never complained about what she cooked, nor did he voice
happiness at the food she presented to him.
The chicken and roast potatoes were keeping warm, and
she tasted the mashed potatoes to see for their seasoning. Once they were done,
she walked into the dining room to set their places.
When that was done, she went and served up. Putting
the two plates on the mats, she removed the apron she used to keep her clothes
nice and clean.
She wore a pair of tight jeans and red shirt that
molded to her curves. Licking her lips, she pinched her cheeks hoping to put
some color back into them. Seconds later she knocked on his office door, which
was closed.
“What?” he asked.
Shrinking away from his anger, she called through the
door hoping he heard.
“Dinner is served,” she said, moving away before he
answered. Her place setting was beside him. Moving it three chairs down like
the other times she took a seat and started to eat.
Clara refused to cry at his harsh words.
He joined her, stopping beside her chair. She stayed
tense wondering if he would
Lauren Layne
Adina Senft
Robert Michael
Melody Carlson
Julie Anne Lindsey
Ellen Kirschman
J. R. Roberts
Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
MC Beaton
Greg Bear