Page 7 of Falling for My Shifter Guardian (Wild & Forbidden Mates #5)

Derek

The map spread across the war room table is a battlefield of pins and markers, each one a reminder of how close danger is creeping. Diner. Community center. The park near Olivia’s apartment. My eyes lock onto the red pin stuck into the diner, the place where Olivia spends most of her days. A job she loves. A place she feels safe.

Safe.

The word twists like a knife in my gut. Because I know better. Safety is an illusion, especially now. The hunters are circling. Their shadows are stretching longer every day, and the diner might as well be a neon sign—an easy target.

My wolf pushes against my control, a low growl rumbling in the back of my mind. He wants her out of there. Away from the diner, away from Whispering Pines, away from everything that could hurt her. Somewhere isolated, where only I can watch over her. Protect her.

Claim her.

I shove that thought down hard, but it lingers, an ember refusing to extinguish.

“Derek.” Theo’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts like a blade, sharp and commanding.

I glance up to find him watching me, his dark eyes heavy with that particular brand of scrutiny only an Alpha can wield. His auburn hair is tied back, his tattoos visible where his sleeves are rolled up. He looks relaxed, but it’s a deception. Theo doesn’t relax—not when his pack is at risk.

“You zoning out on me?” he asks, his tone calm but edged.

“No,” I reply, my voice tight.

Theo leans back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight as he crosses his arms. “You sure about that? Because I can’t have my Beta distracted right now.”

I bristle at the implication, but I keep my expression neutral. He knows me too well. Knows exactly where my head is. And I hate that I can’t lie to him—not convincingly, anyway.

“I’m focused,” I say, forcing the tension from my shoulders.

“Focused on what?” His voice lowers, his words deliberate. “Her?”

My jaw tightens, and I look away, but it’s too late. The flicker of guilt across my face betrays me.

Theo leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. “You think I don’t notice? I see it, Derek. Every damn day. She’s got you tied in knots.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snap, the growl in my voice sharper than I intend.

He doesn’t flinch. “Don’t I? Because from where I’m sitting, you’re distracted. And that makes you dangerous—to yourself, to her, and to this pack.”

His words hit harder than they should. Maybe because they’re true. Maybe because I’ve been telling myself the same thing for weeks now.

He doesn’t stop. Theo never stops when he knows he’s struck a nerve. “Whatever’s pulling you toward her, you’d better figure out how to handle it. Because if you don’t, someone’s going to get hurt.”

Someone.

The word echoes in my mind, but all I hear is her name. Olivia.

I grip the edge of the table, my knuckles whitening. “I’ve got it handled,” I say through clenched teeth.

Theo doesn’t look convinced, but he leans back again, his expression softening—slightly. “Make sure you do,” he says, his tone quieter now. “We can’t afford mistakes. Not with the hunters this close.”

I nod once, curtly, and leave the room before he can press further. The tension in my chest feels like a live wire, sparking and snapping as I step into the cool evening air.

It should calm me, the crispness of the night. It doesn’t. My wolf is too agitated, pacing and growling inside me, his instincts screaming louder than my logic.

I climb into my truck and grip the steering wheel so tightly the leather groans under my hands. I don’t think. I don’t plan. I just drive.

My body moves on autopilot, guided by instinct. By the bond.

By her .

**

Last night.

It replays in my mind, vivid and unforgiving. The way her lips parted under mine, soft and warm. The way her breath hitched when I pulled her closer, my hands on her waist, her body pressed against mine.

The way she tasted.

It was everything I imagined it would be. And more.

And that’s the problem.

I’ve spent three years keeping my distance, convincing myself that the bond didn’t matter. That I could ignore it. That I could protect Olivia without giving in to the primal pull that’s been clawing at me since the moment I met her.

But last night shattered all of that.

It started with a kiss. But it was so much more. It was a crack in the dam, a flood I can’t hold back. My wolf is relentless now, howling for her, demanding more. Another kiss. Another touch. Everything.

And I want it too.

God help me, I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything.

But it’s wrong.

She’s the daughter of my best friend. The man I swore to protect her for.

I made a promise.

And I broke it last night.

**

The diner parking lot smells like asphalt and grease, the faint tang of fried food hanging in the air. It’s quiet, the late afternoon sun stretching shadows long across the cracked pavement. My truck idles for a moment before I cut the engine.

I sit there, gripping the steering wheel, every muscle in my body coiled tight. I’ve been telling myself for days that I’m here because it’s necessary. Because Olivia needs to understand the danger she’s in. But deep down, I know it’s a lie.

I’m here because I can’t stay away.

Through the windshield, my eyes find her, moving through the back door of the diner. She’s balancing a tray of empty glasses on her hip, the late sunlight catching in her auburn hair. She looks... radiant. Strong. Alive.

Her scent drifts to me, even from this distance—soft and warm, with that faint hint of lavender that always makes my wolf stir. He rumbles low in my chest, restless, and I clench my fists, trying to shove him back down.

Mine.

The word claws its way to the surface, sharp and insistent, and I hate how much it tempts me. How much she tempts me.

I step out of the truck, the slam of the door echoing across the lot. Her head lifts at the sound, her light brown eyes locking onto mine. She freezes, confusion flickering across her face before she sets the tray down and crosses her arms.

“Derek?” she calls, her voice carrying just enough surprise to make my chest tighten. “What are you doing here?”

I take a breath, shoving my hands into my pockets to keep them from betraying me. “We need to talk.”

Her gaze narrows, and I can see the resistance building in her eyes, like storm clouds gathering on the horizon.

“About what?” she asks, taking a step closer.

“About you needing to stay away from the pack,” I say, my voice low and even. “It’s not safe.”

The words land like a stone between us. For a second, she just stares at me, her expression unreadable. Then her jaw tightens, and I know I’ve stepped on a landmine.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she snaps. Her hands find her hips, her posture defiant. “You can’t just show up out of nowhere and tell me to avoid people without explaining why.”

“It’s not a suggestion, Olivia,” I say, my tone sharpening despite myself. “The hunters are closing in. Being around shifters—being around me—puts a target on your back.”

Her eyes flare, anger sparking to life. “And whose fault is that?” she fires back, stepping closer. “You’re the one who’s always around, always watching me like…”

She trails off, her cheeks flushing, but the frustration burns bright in her gaze.

“Like what?” I press, even though I already know.

“Like I’m your responsibility,” she says, her voice cracking just slightly. “Like I’m a burden.”

The words hit harder than they should. Pride, guilt, desire—they all collide in me, leaving my control hanging by a thread.

“This isn’t about you being a burden,” I say through gritted teeth. “It’s about keeping you alive.”

“And why do you care so much?” she demands, her voice rising. She’s standing so close now, I can feel the heat radiating off her, smell the faint trace of her shampoo beneath the lavender. “Why does it feel like there’s something you’re not telling me?”

Her question cuts too close to the truth. She doesn’t know. Doesn’t understand the bond tying us together, the promise I made to her father, or the war I’ve been waging with myself since the moment I met her.

“Just trust me,” I say, my voice quieter now. “Stay away from the pack. Stay away from me.”

Her eyes widen, hurt flashing across her face before she masks it with anger. But she doesn’t back down.

“No,” she says firmly. “You don’t get to push me away like this. Not without giving me a damn good reason.”

I can’t give her one. Not without unraveling everything. But as she steps closer, her scent wrapping around me, her heartbeat pounding in my ears, I feel myself unraveling anyway.

My hand lifts almost on instinct, my thumb brushing against her cheek. Her skin is warm, impossibly soft, and the way her breath hitches sends a shiver down my spine.

“Olivia,” I murmur, her name barely a whisper.

She doesn’t pull away. Her eyes search mine, unguarded and full of questions, and for a moment—just a moment—I let myself imagine what it would be like to answer them. To tell her everything. To stop fighting and let myself have this.

But I can’t.

The bond roars to life, demanding more—demanding everything . My wolf surges forward, clawing at the edges of my control, and I know if I don’t pull back now, I never will.

“You don’t understand,” I say, my voice rough, almost broken. “Keeping you safe is the only thing that matters. Even if it means…”

Even if it means breaking my own heart.

I step back, shoving my hands into my pockets to keep them from reaching for her again. “Stay away, Olivia,” I say, forcing steel into my voice. “It’s for your own good.”

Her voice follows me as I turn to leave, sharp and defiant. “You can’t keep doing this, Derek! You can’t keep pushing me away and expecting me not to fight back!”

Her words hit like a blow, but I don’t stop. I don’t turn around.

Because if I do, I won’t be able to leave her again.