Page 9

CHAPTER NINE

NATHAN

Ivan's car rumbled to a stop a few feet away from the battered old trailer I used to call home.

The engine's hum faded into an uneasy silence, leaving only the distant sound of rustling leaves and my own pounding heart.

The air felt thick with anticipation, the kind that settled deep in my chest and made it hard to breathe.

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the doubts that had been clawing at me ever since we left.

"You ready for this?" Ivan asked, his voice low and steady as he turned to look at me.

His hand rested on the gear shift, but his attention was fully on me.

I wanted to be ready.

I had told myself that I was ready, over and over, but now that I was here, staring at the peeling paint and broken windows of the trailer, I wasn’t so sure.

“I am,” I said, forcing confidence into my voice.

The words felt hollow, like they might shatter if I wasn't careful. The truth was, I regretted telling Ivan I wanted to come back here.

At the time, it had felt like the right decision—a way to reclaim something of myself, to close this chapter of my life.

But now, standing on the edge of it all, I wondered if I had been fooling myself.

Ivan’s eyes softened, concern etched in every line of his face.

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” he said gently. “We can turn back, go home. You don’t need to put yourself through this.”

“I’ll be fine,” I insisted, trying to convince both him and myself.

I didn’t have much left here, just a few keepsakes that held more sentimental value than practical use.

They were my connection to a past that was more bitter than sweet, but they were mine.

And I wanted them, needed them, to remind myself that I had survived this place and come out the other side stronger.

“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Ivan asked.

He’d been my rock, never pushing, always offering support without judgment.

I managed a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine. Besides, he might not even be home,” I said.

Ivan studied me for a long moment, then nodded.

“Alright. I’ll be here if you need anything,” Ivan said.

His calm, unwavering presence was a comfort, even if I tried to play it off like I didn’t need it.

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, the contact brief but grounding.

Ivan smiled at me, a real smile that made my chest tighten in a way that had nothing to do with anxiety.

He cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over my skin, and then he kissed me back.

That kiss wasn’t just reassurance—it was a promise. One that told me I wasn’t alone anymore.

That gave me the courage I needed. I got out of his truck, squared my shoulders, and walked toward the trailer.

The door creaked as I pushed it open, the familiar sound setting my nerves on edge.

The inside was just as I remembered it—maybe even worse.

Trash littered the floor, a stale stench of alcohol and old sweat hung in the air, and the once-vibrant wallpaper was peeling away in long, yellowed strips.

I felt my confidence waver as my eyes fell on my dad, passed out on the ratty couch in the living room.

His face was sunken, the skin stretched tight over sharp cheekbones, and his thinning hair was a greasy mess.

Empty beer cans were scattered around him, the remnants of what had probably been another night of drowning himself in booze.

A pang of pity hit me, quickly followed by a surge of anger. I wasn’t here to feel sorry for him. Not after what he’d done.

I hurried past him, moving quickly down the narrow hallway to my old room. It looked untouched, like a time capsule from when I left.

The bed was still unmade, the sheets wrinkled and cold.

The small bookshelf held a few dusty paperbacks, and the closet door hung open, revealing clothes that I had outgrown both physically and emotionally.

I grabbed a duffel bag from under the bed and started packing.

There wasn’t much to take—just a few clothes, a photo album, and a couple of mementos I couldn’t bear to leave behind.

It didn’t take long, and soon enough, I was zipping up the bag and heading back down the hallway.

But I wasn’t fast enough.

“What are you doing here?” The voice was groggy, rough around the edges like it hadn’t been used in days.

My dad was awake, sitting up on the couch and squinting at me like he couldn’t quite believe I was real.

I froze for a moment, the old fear trying to creep back in, but I pushed it down. I wasn’t that scared kid anymore.

I squared my shoulders, meeting his bleary gaze head-on.

“I’m getting my stuff and leaving,” I told him.

My dad’s eyes narrowed, and he got to his feet unsteadily.

“Leaving? You already left once, you little shit. Thought you’d crawl back to your rightful place? Trevor’s gonna?—”

“Trevor’s dead.” The words were out before I could stop them, and I felt a strange satisfaction in saying them.

It was like a weight had been lifted, even if just a little.

He blinked, the news clearly not registering at first.

Then his face twisted into something ugly, something that sent a cold shiver down my spine.

“What do you mean, dead?” my dad demanded.

“I killed him,” I said, my voice flat, emotionless. “He’s gone, and I’m not going back to him or anyone else.”

For a moment, there was silence. My dad just stared at me, the gears in his mind clearly struggling to catch up.

Then he lunged at me, his hand grabbing my shoulder with a grip that hurt.

“You idiot! You have no idea what you’ve done! If Trevor’s really dead, then Reece and the others—they’ll come for you. They’ll come for both of us!”

I shoved him back, my eyes narrowing.

“I don’t care. I’m done with you. I’m done with all of this,” I yelled at him.

He stumbled but didn’t fall. His face was pale, almost ashen. “You don’t understand?—”

“I understand plenty,” I snapped. “I understand that you sold me out to that bastard and his pack. I understand that you chose your booze and your gambling over your own son. So no, I don’t care what happens to you.”

I turned to leave, but he grabbed for me again, desperation in his eyes. “Nathan, please?—”

Before he could touch me, a cold voice cut through the air. “You’ll lose that hand if you touch him again.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw Ivan standing in the doorway, his eyes like cold steel, his expression murderous.

The sight of him, his sheer presence, made my dad shrink back.

Ivan stepped inside, his posture calm but every line of his body radiating a deadly threat.

“He’s leaving with me,” Ivan said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

My dad opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He just stood there, frozen, as Ivan moved past him and took my bag.

“Let’s go, Nathan,” Ivan said, his voice softening as he looked at me.

I nodded, following him out of the trailer without looking back. My dad didn’t say another word, and I didn’t wait for him to.

As we reached the car, Ivan put my bag in the backseat and then turned to me, his eyes scanning my face like he was checking for any sign of distress.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low and filled with concern.

I took a deep breath, feeling the tension drain out of me.

“I am now,” I said honestly, leaning into him.

Ivan wrapped his arms around me, holding me close, and in that moment, I knew that I had made the right choice.

I stood in Ivan’s room, getting ready for work, my fingers fumbling with the buttons on my shirt.

The room was bathed in soft morning light, the kind that made everything seem more peaceful than it was.

My thoughts wandered to the mundane—another day at the gas station, more shifts to fill, and the same old routine that had become my life over the past few weeks.

I tried to focus, but the tantalizing smell of something delicious wafting from the kitchen kept pulling me back to the present.

Ivan was making breakfast.

I could hear the faint sizzle of something frying, the clatter of utensils, and the low hum of him humming a tune I couldn’t quite place.

It was a domestic scene, one I hadn’t imagined for myself just a few months ago.

The warmth of it all made me smile, despite the nerves bubbling in my stomach.

Just as I finished buttoning my shirt, my phone buzzed on the nightstand.

The screen lit up with an unknown number, and I hesitated before picking it up.

"Hello?"

“Hi, is this Nathan?”

“Yes, speaking.” My heart skipped a beat. Who was this?

“This is Kathy from Sunset Brews .” The name clicked instantly, and I felt a surge of hope.

“I wanted to let you know that we’ve reviewed your application, and we’d love to offer you the position of assistant manager.”

The words hung in the air for a moment, my brain struggling to catch up.

“I—really? I got the job?” My voice came out more incredulous than I intended.

“Yes, you did,” Kathy said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “You had an impressive interview, and we think you’ll be a great fit here.”

Relief and excitement flooded through me, a whirlwind of emotions that I could barely contain.

“Thank you so much! When can I start?” I asked.

“Well, we were hoping you could start as soon as possible,” Kathy replied. “How about tomorrow?”

“I can start immediately,” I said, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Tomorrow works perfectly.”

“Great! I’ll send over the paperwork today. We’re looking forward to having you on board, Nathan,” Kathy said.

“Thank you again, Kathy. I really appreciate it.”

After a few more pleasantries, I hung up the phone, my hands trembling with excitement.

I had done it. I’d landed a job that felt stable, something more solid than the odd jobs I’d been piecing together.

I hurried out of Ivan’s room, practically bouncing on my feet.

“Ivan!” I called out as I entered the kitchen, my excitement bubbling over.

He turned from the stove, where he was expertly flipping pancakes. “Good news?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“The best news,” I said, unable to keep the grin off my face. “I got the job at Sunset Brews —assistant manager!”

Ivan’s eyes lit up with pride. He quickly set down the spatula and moved toward me, pulling me into a tight hug.

“That’s amazing, Nathan. I knew you’d get it,” Ivan said.

Being wrapped in Ivan’s arms, his warmth surrounding me, made the moment even better.

I breathed him in, feeling the strength in his embrace, the solid reassurance that everything really was going to be okay.

“Everything’s falling into place,” I said quietly, more to myself than to him.

It had been a week since I confronted my dad and grabbed my things from the trailer, a week since I’d started to really believe that maybe, just maybe, I could build something new for myself.

My dad’s warning about Reece and his friends had haunted me, but so far, nothing had happened.

I was hoping Reece had lost interest, or at the very least, that he couldn’t track me after Ivan had warned him off.

But this—this job—felt like a fresh start, a new chapter.

“This is a cause for celebration,” Ivan said, his voice full of warmth as he released me, but not before pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I turned my attention to the breakfast he had whipped up, my mouth watering at the sight.

Pancakes stacked high with fresh berries, crispy bacon, and fluffy scrambled eggs.

There was even a bowl of fruit on the side, and a pot of coffee brewed to perfection.

“You did all this?” I asked, my heart swelling at the thoughtfulness behind it.

Ivan shrugged like it was no big deal, but I could see the pleasure in his eyes as he watched me take it all in.

“Figured we could start the day right. You’re getting the keys to your new place after your shift today, right?” Ivan asked.

“Yeah,” I said, though the thought of it made my heart ache a little. “Honestly, I’m a little sad to be moving out of your apartment.”

Ivan’s expression softened, his eyes never leaving mine.

“You know, you don’t have to move out if you don’t want to,” he said.

The offer hung in the air between us, heavy with unspoken emotions.

Ivan had never pressured me, never pushed, but there was always this undercurrent between us—something deeper than just convenience or safety.

“I know,” I said, my voice quieter now. “But I think I need to. Just to prove to myself that I can, you know?”

Ivan nodded, understanding in his gaze.

“You’ve come a long way, Nathan. I’m proud of you,” Ivan told me.

His words warmed me more than I could say, but they also brought a twinge of something else. Doubt, maybe? Or was it fear?

Before Ivan, I’d had nothing but bad luck with men.

Trevor had been the worst, but the other alphas I’d dated had all turned out to be assholes, one way or another.

They were possessive in all the wrong ways, controlling and demanding, suffocating me with their expectations.

But Ivan was different. He was possessive and protective, yes, but not in a way that made me feel trapped.

With him, I felt safe, cherished even, like I was finally with someone who saw me for who I was, not what I could be molded into.

“Hey,” Ivan said, pulling me back from my thoughts. “I know this is a big step, and I’m here with you every step of the way. You don’t have to do any of this alone.”

“I know,” I whispered, leaning in to kiss him, a slow, lingering kiss that spoke of all the things I wasn’t ready to say out loud yet.

But Ivan understood, he always did.

When we finally pulled apart, the look in his eyes was enough to melt me into a puddle.

“Now,” Ivan said, a teasing glint in his eyes as he gestured to the feast he’d prepared. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold. And after that, how about we figure out a proper way to celebrate your new job?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound light and carefree, as I settled down to enjoy breakfast with him.