Page 9 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fixer (My Grumpy Werewolf Boss #5)

KRISTA

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the warmth.

It enveloped me, steady and comforting, like a blanket on a cold winter's morning. My eyes fluttered open, and for a brief, disorienting moment, I couldn't remember where I was. And then I felt it, the heavy weight of an arm draped over my waist, the steady rise and fall of a chest pressed against my back.

Levi.

Memories of the night before came rushing back, and my cheeks warmed as I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him. His arm tightened around me, pulling me closer, and I felt a soft, sleepy murmur rumble through his chest. My heart stuttered at the sound, at the intimacy of it. This was uncharted territory for me, and I wasn't sure how to navigate it.

I glanced over my shoulder, taking in the sight of him. In sleep, the usual tension in his face was gone, replaced by a kind of softness I'd never seen before. His dark hair was tousled, his lips slightly parted, and for the first time, he looked almost peaceful. It was a strange contrast to the grumpy, guarded alpha who always seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders that I had come to know.

A part of me wanted to stay here, to revel in the quiet moment and the warmth of his arms around me. But another part of me was screaming, warning me of the dangers of letting myself get too close. I'd spent my entire life building walls, protecting myself from getting hurt. And now, in the span of a single night, those walls felt like they were crumbling.

Carefully, I slipped out of bed, grabbing my clothes from the floor and padding quietly to the bathroom. The second thing I noticed was the ache and delicious soreness between my thighs. I winced, but it was worth it. Mating with Levi was beyond anything I could have imagined. Even as he slept, I could feel the happiness flowing from him into my mind through the mating bond. I glanced at myself in the mirror, my reflection staring back at me with wide, uncertain eyes. My hair was a mess, my lips slightly swollen, and there was the bite mark on my neck that made my cheeks flush. I'd never been one to lose myself in the moment, to let my guard down like that and let a man take control. But with Levi, I never felt scared, only loved and safe. It had been easy. Too easy.

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to shake off the lingering haze of sleep and the whirlwind of emotions churning in my chest. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I found Levi awake, propped up on one elbow, watching me with a look that made my stomach flip. His blue eyes were dark, intense, and filled with a mix of affection and passion.

"Morning," he said, his voice rough with sleep but warm in a way that set all my nerves alive.

"Morning," I replied, my voice coming out softer than I intended. I crossed my arms, suddenly feeling exposed despite the oversized T-shirt I'd thrown on.

He didn't say anything else, just held out a hand, his gaze unwavering. I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest, but something about the way he was looking at me made it impossible to resist. I walked over, taking his hand, and he pulled me back into bed, wrapping his arms around me in a way that felt both possessive and tender.

"Thought you'd run off," he murmured against my hair, his voice laced with a hint of teasing.

"Not yet," I said, trying to keep my tone light, but the words came out more vulnerable than I'd intended.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "You're not running anywhere," he said firmly, as if he could read the thoughts swirling in my head. "Not unless it's with me."

I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. His words were a reassurance, but they also scared me. Because I wasn't sure I was ready to let someone have that kind of hold over me, even if it was Levi.

The kitchen was quiet when we finally made our way downstairs, the early morning sunlight streaming through the windows. Levi moved around with an ease that surprised me, making coffee and toast while I sat at the counter, trying to sort through the mess of emotions in my head. He was different this morning, softer, more open, and it was throwing me off balance.

"Here," he said, sliding a mug of coffee toward me.

"Thanks," I said, wrapping my hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into my skin.

He leaned against the counter, watching me with that same intense gaze. "You're quiet," he observed. "Something on your mind?"

I shrugged, avoiding his eyes. "Just thinking."

"About?" he pressed, his tone gentle but persistent.

I sighed, setting my mug down and finally meeting his gaze. "About this," I said, gesturing vaguely between us. "About us. I don't know, Levi. It's a lot. Last night was…" I trailed off, unable to find the right words.

"It was real," he finished for me, his voice low and steady. "And it's not something I take lightly, Krista. We are mated. The bond lasts for eternity."

I looked away, my chest tightening. "I know. That's what scares me. I've spent my whole life avoiding letting anyone get too close. And now, with everything going on, I just don't know if I can do this and still stay true to myself."

Levi was silent for a moment, then he walked over, pulling out the stool next to me and sitting down. He turned to face me, his expression serious but softened by something I couldn't quite place.

"Krista," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "I'm not asking you to change who you are. You're strong, independent, and brilliant, and that's one of the things I admire most about you. I don't want to take that away from you."

His words hit me like a punch to the chest, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I swiped at them quickly, annoyed with myself for being so emotional.

"I'm scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared of losing myself in this. Of losing everything I've worked so hard for."

Levi reached out, his hand brushing against mine. "You won't lose anything," he said, his tone gentle but resolute. "You're not in this alone. We'll figure it out together. But I need you to trust me."

I looked at him, his blue eyes earnest and unwavering, and for the first time, I let myself believe it. Maybe I didn't have to choose between my career and my heart. Maybe, just maybe, I could have both.

Later that morning, I sat in our makeshift office with Zane, trying to focus on the task at hand. But my mind kept drifting back to the conversation with Levi, to the way he'd looked at me, the way he'd touched me. It was infuriating how much he consumed my thoughts, even when I had a million other things to worry about.

"You're distracted," Zane said, cutting through my haze. He was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, giving me that look that said he knew more than he let on.

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing my attention back to the laptop screen in front of me.

"Right," he drawled, raising an eyebrow. "Because it's totally normal for you to stare blankly at a spreadsheet for ten minutes without typing a single word."

I shot him a glare, but there was no heat behind it. Zane had been my best friend for years, and he had an uncanny ability to see right through me. It was both a blessing and a curse.

"Fine," I sighed, slumping back in my chair. "What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to stop pretending everything's okay when it's not," he said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "You've been off all morning, Krista. And don't think I haven't noticed the way you and Levi keep looking at each other when you think no one's watching."

My cheeks flushed, and I looked away, suddenly very interested in the pattern of the carpet. "It's complicated," I muttered.

"It always is," Zane replied, leaning forward. "But that doesn't mean you have to deal with it alone. I'm here, you know. Always have been."

His words hit me harder than I expected, and I felt a lump form in my throat. Zane had been my rock for as long as I could remember, the one person I could always count on no matter what. And here I was, shutting him out without even realizing it.

"I don't want to lose myself," I admitted quietly, my voice trembling. "I've worked so hard to get where I am, Zane. He says he'll always be here, but what if he isn't? How can I risk it all?"

Zane was silent for a moment, then he reached over and squeezed my hand. "Krista, you're not going to lose yourself. You're too damn stubborn for that. But you can't keep building walls around your heart just because you're scared of getting hurt. Love isn't a weakness. It's a strength."

I blinked at him, surprised by the intensity in his words. Zane wasn't usually the type to get deep or philosophical, but when he did, he had a way of cutting straight to the heart of things.

"You sound like a Hallmark card," I joked weakly, trying to lighten the mood, but my voice cracked, betraying how much his words had affected me.

Zane smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, well, someone's gotta knock some sense into you. And if Hallmark wisdom is what it takes, so be it."

I laughed softly, the sound shaky but genuine. "Thanks, Zane. I don't say it enough, but I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Probably burn the place down," he said with a grin, but his eyes were soft. "Now, let's get back to work. We've got a scandal to fix."

I nodded, feeling a little lighter than I had all morning. Zane was right. I didn't have to figure this out alone, and I didn't have to choose between my career and my heart. I could trust the people around me to help me find the balance.

That afternoon, I found myself on the terrace, the cool ocean breeze brushing against my skin as I stared out at the waves crashing against the sprawling grounds of Levi's estate. My conversation with Zane still lingered in my mind, and I knew I needed to talk to Levi. Really talk to him, not just dance around the edges of what we were both feeling.

I heard the sliding door open behind me, and a moment later, Levi's presence filled the space beside me. He didn't say anything at first, just stood there, his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"Hey," I said softly, breaking the silence.

"Hey," he replied, his voice low and steady. He turned to look at me, his blue eyes searching my face. "You okay?"

I nodded, though I wasn't entirely sure if it was true. "I've been thinking."

"Always a dangerous pastime," he said with a slight smirk, but the humor didn't reach his eyes. He was watching me carefully, like he was bracing for something.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "We're connected forever through the mate bond, right?"

He didn't hesitate. "Yeah."

My chest tightened at the certainty in his voice, but I pressed on. "And you don't want me to change? You're not asking me to give up who I am or what I've built to become a trophy girlfriend?"

Levi stepped closer, his expression softening. "Krista, I fell for you because of who you are, because you're strong, independent, and fearless. I'm not asking you to give that up. I'm asking you to let me be a part of it."

His words hit me like a wave, knocking the air out of my lungs. I wanted to believe him, to trust that this could work without losing myself in the process. But the fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of my resolve.

"I'm scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared of getting hurt. Of messing this up. Of losing myself in you."

Levi reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek, his touch gentle but grounding. "I'm scared too," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "But I'd rather face that fear with you than without you. You're not alone in this, Krista. We'll figure it out together."

His words were like a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of my doubts. I looked into his eyes, seeing the vulnerability there, the same vulnerability I felt.

"Okay," I said softly, leaning into his touch.

He pulled me into his arms, and I let myself sink into the warmth of him, the safety of his embrace. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't easy, but it was real. And it was exactly where I was supposed to be.

The moment was shattered by the sound of the sliding door opening again. Garrett stepped out, his expression grim.

"We've got a problem," he said, his tone urgent.

I pulled back from Levi, my heart racing. "What is it?"

"Troy Mercer's dead," Garrett said, his words hanging heavy in the air. "They just found his body."

The news hit me like a punch to the gut. Troy had been a nuisance, sure, but he'd also been a potential lead in our investigation into Dante. Now,he was just another casualty in a game that was growing deadlier by the minute. My mind raced, trying to process what this meant for us, for the case, for everything.

Levi's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he turned to Garrett. "How?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

"Looks like a hit," Garrett replied, his tone clipped. "Same MO as Selene. Dante's cleaning house."

I felt a chill run down my spine. Troy's death wasn't just a warning. It was a declaration of war. Dante was removing anyone who could connect him to Selene's death, and if we didn't act fast, we'd be next.