Chapter 10

Kyra's POV I had packed my things and was waiting for my driver to help me get my luggage when a loud thud echoed from the kitchen. My forehead creased as I looked at the kitchen entrance. The light wasn't on, but my wolf-enhanced hearing picked up ragged breathing. "Nathan?" I called cautiously. "Kels..." His voice mumbled my name and I immediately pressed the light switch. There sat the Alpha of the Nightfall Pack, knees drawn to his chest, fingers tangled in his dark hair. He recoiled from the light like a wounded animal. "The light... please..." Without saying a word, I dimmed the light and I walked towards him. I sat beside him and held onto his knees. “Is your head aching?” He nodded. “Hmm.” “I’ll get your medicine—” He nodded weakly. When I moved to fetch more medicine, his hand shot out with werewolf speed, pulling me against his sweat-drenched chest. His forehead dropped onto my bare shoulder—right where he'd never placed his mating mark. "He still seeks your scent for comfort," Sylvia observed bitterly. “Nathan, your medicine.” “I…already took one.” he rasped, his breath scorching my skin. The admission loosened something in my chest. At least he wasn't completely reckless. My fingers found the tense muscles between his shoulder blades, working out knots formed from days of resisting his wolf's instincts. "Stay tonight," he begged, voice hoarse with suppressed growls. I could never say no to him when he used that face to plead. I sighed. Six years as his best friend, three as his Luna, and still his wolf cried for mine. Letting the driver bring my baggage to my condo, I returned to Nathan. I caressed his cheek, wiping his sweat. His t-shirt is soaking wet with sweat. Even his hair is wet. “Let’s go upstairs,” I whispered in his ear. “I don’t know what to do, Kyra. I miss my grandma but she doesn’t want to talk to me.” I gently caressed his hair. “She will eventually understand.” “I don’t know. I feel like I’m losing everyone. I feel like…I’m trading you and my family with the woman I truly love.” I squeezed my eyes closed. I don’t know if you’re just so innocent, Nathan, or you are purely dumb. Of course, you will lose me. You chose to lose me. I did not speak again after that. He fell asleep in my arms and I had to ask the guard to help me get him to the bed. I stared at his handsome face after putting a blanket on him. I have to stay for tonight since I know I won’t be able to sleep in my new house if I leave him in this condition. I slept in the guest room and I woke up at 5 in the morning. I took a bath and that’s when I realized that my clothes weren’t here anymore. I palmed my forehead and went to the master bedroom only wearing a bath towel around my body. Nathan froze on the bed as soon as he saw me. He just woke up and his hair is really messy. His lips parted as he stared at my face. “Y-You’re here… It wasn’t a dream…” "Just borrowing a shirt," I said lightly, though my pulse betrayed me when his gaze lingered on neck. "Thank you. For staying." I forced a smile. "You're my best friend." I thought we’d be awkward but we’re not. Breaking up hurts me, probably both of us but our friendship is saving our sinking connection. It hurts to be just a friend to the person you love, but that’s our fate. My fate. However, I decided to slowly drift away from him. I want to save myself and my pup. I also know that he’s still not ready to have a pup So it’s better this way. *** The employees at the company are strangely bubbly today. Their greetings carrying an undercurrent of excitement that made my wolf Sylvia prick her ears in suspicion. "What's with everyone?" I muttered to my assistant. She smirked, her canines glinting. "Everyone's intrigued and some are even envious, Miss Monroe. If your boyfriend didn’t come to pay a visit, we wouldn’t know you two are a thing." My forehead creased. "What bouquet?" “Mr. Christopher Parker brought a giant bouquet, Miss Monroe. I put it in your office.” I rushed to my office and saw the giant bouquet sitting on the single couch. I stared at the bouquet of flowers while my mind was in chaos. I don’t know why Chris suddenly did this. He made it clear to me last night that he wants us to be friends but knowing his style, I know he’s trying his luck to court me again. I took a deep breath and sat on my swivel chair. when the door swung open and Nathan entered with a creased forehead. His eyes immediately roamed around the office as if searching for something before his eyes landed on the bouquet on the couch and his eyes darkened. “Nathan—” “Is he courting you again, Kyra?” I stared into his angry eyes, trying to find some certain emotion like jealousy but no. I can only sense it was his pride talking. "Do I owe my former mate explanations?" He locked the door with a snap. "Even rejected, you're still under my protection.I won’t approve of him, Kyra. He’s not the right man for you. He will just hurt you. " I shook my head. “You’re being unreasonable.” "Kyra," he snarled, "Reject him immediately. A lone wolf has no place with a Luna.I don’t like him for you." Sylvia bared her teeth in my mind. "He reeks of possession, not protection." A knock interrupted us. "Miss Monroe? The board is waiting." Nathan caught my wrist as I moved to leave. "He’s a womanizer, Kyra. He will just play with your feelings." "Mind your tone, Alpha," I hissed. "You sound like jealous ." The possessiveness should've thrilled me. Instead, it stung. Where was this fervor when Sophia's scent clung to his clothes? "What?" I yanked free. "A mate who rejects me for his fated one? How generous of my best friend." His pupils dilated—a wolf caught in a trap of his own making.