Page 1 of Nick (The Moonstone Pack #4)
NICK REAGAN brUSHED A stray strand of his hair from his eyes as he wiped down the counter at the Moonstone Café.
The scent of cinnamon filled the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the patrons.
His eyes flicked to the door as it creaked open, revealing the imposing figure of Bronx Bishop.
“Bronx.” Nick smiled in greeting, his wolf instincts perking up in the presence of the pack’s head guardian.
“Hey,” Bronx muttered, his deep voice rumbling. He held the door open for a small, rambunctious bundle of energy—Samuel Harris, Bronx’s new stepson—who dashed inside, dark brown hair flying out around his head.
“Hot chocolate?” Nick asked, already anticipating their order.
Bronx nodded, guiding Samuel into a cozy booth near the window. Samuel clambered onto the seat, his wide eyes skimming across the menu with excitement—Nick knew Samuel had only just learned to read.
“Two hot chocolates, please, Nick!” Samuel chimed in, his grin contagious.
“Coming right up, kiddo.” Nick returned the smile as he moved behind the counter, expertly preparing the drinks.
As he poured steaming milk into the mugs, Nick glanced over at Bronx and Samuel in the booth.
Bronx’s stern features softened as he listened to the boy’s animated recounting of his day, his eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine affection.
It always amazed Nick how someone so physically imposing could be so gentle with the pack’s children.
“Here you go,” Nick said, placing the hot chocolates on the table. A rich aroma of cocoa wafted from the mugs, topped with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon. Samuel’s eyes lit up with delight, while Bronx offered a quiet word of thanks.
“Enjoy,” Nick murmured, his heart squeezing at the sight of Bronx carefully blowing on Samuel’s drink before handing it to him.
It was moments like these that made Nick truly appreciate what he had found in the Moonstone Pack—a family who would stand by one another through thick and thin.
He was grateful for all that the Moonstone Pack offered him—a far cry from his previous pack, where trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
An hour later, Bronx and Samuel left. Now that his section was empty, Nick stepped outside the back of the Moonstone Café, inhaling the bracing air as he let the door close behind him.
The chill bit into his skin, a welcome contrast to the heat and bustle inside the restaurant.
Leaning against the brick wall, he tilted his head back, gazing up at the vast expanse of the sky.
Stars twinkled overhead, their light casting a glow over the quiet streets of the small town.
“Man, I really need a break,” he muttered to himself, rubbing his hands together.
The thought of how fortunate he was to be a part of the Moonstone Pack flickered through his mind again.
He had barely escaped his old pack with his life, after all.
And it was here, in this tiny town near Yellowstone Park, that Nick finally found a place he could call home.
His thoughts inevitably turned to Sarah Sanchez—the woman who had betrayed him.
The memory of her face, once so dear to him, now twisted in his stomach with anger and sorrow.
He could still remember the way she’d looked at him, her dark eyes filled with a cunning that he hadn’t seen until it was too late.
“Damn her,” he whispered, clenching his fists. The pain of betrayal still lingered, a thorn embedded deep in his heart. It wasn’t just the fact that she had deceived him; it was the realization that he had been so blind, so na?ve, to trust her in the first place.
Gritty sand and hot desert air filled Nick’s mind as he recalled that fateful day in New Mexico.
He had stumbled through the arid landscape, fleeing from his former packmates who bayed for his blood in the distance.
The sun bore down on him like a merciless, unforgiving god, and the wind sang a coarse melody as it whipped around cacti and brittle brush.
“Sarah,” he whispered under his breath, feeling her name cut him anew as he remembered her betrayal with the pack alpha.
A sudden vision of Sarah’s body intertwined with his own—their skin sweat-slicked, their breathless moans passion-filled—seared into his memory, along with the sense of loss that came with it.
It was a thought that still clawed at his heart, but the pain no longer had a place in his new life. He shoved the image into his past, where it belonged.
Never thought I’d be glad to say goodbye to all that , Nick thought, shaking his head. He glanced up at the star-studded sky, letting out a quiet, grateful sigh.
As he stood there, lost in his thoughts, a sudden gust of wind swirled around him. The cold mountain breeze that rustled through the trees near the Moonstone Café was a welcome respite from the oppressive heat of his memories.
But then his wolf instincts stirred, a primal warning that something was amiss. Yet when he glanced around, the alley was empty, save for the shadows that stretched across the pavement. Nick shook his head, willing himself to focus on the present moment and not dwell on the past.
“Get it together, Nick,” he muttered, pushing away from the wall.
He had come so far since that day he’d left his old pack behind—when he’d narrowly escaped death by the skin of his teeth.
His new life with the Moonstone Pack was a testament to his resilience, and he wasn’t about to let the specter of Sarah Sanchez haunt him any longer.
He had a new pack now, built on trust and loyalty.
Nick’s loyalty to his new alpha was unwavering.
The man had not only taken him in when he needed sanctuary, but he had also shown him what true strength and leadership looked like.
With Steele at the helm, Nick knew he was part of a pack that valued each member—a family bound by more than just the ties of blood.
And nothing, not even painful memories, could ever take that away from him.
“Okay, time to get back to work,” Nick murmured, squaring his shoulders and exhaling softly. Drawing in a deep breath, he steeled himself for the rest of his shift.
As he walked back into the café, Nick retied his apron without even looking down, a practiced motion born from countless shifts.
The comforting scent of coffee and baked goods enveloped him, helping ground him in the present moment.
He let the familiar sounds of laughter and conversation fill his ears, acting as a soothing balm to him.
The glow of the Moonstone Café’s interior lights stood in stark contrast to the cool shadows outside, casting a welcoming golden hue over the polished wooden tables and countertops.
Nick willed his hands to steady as he approached a booth, his senses heightened from the echoes of fear that still clung to him.
The soft murmur of conversation around the café brought comfort, reminding him he was safe within the embrace of his new pack.
Nick pushed the lingering thoughts of Sarah to the recesses of his mind. He had a job to do, a life to live, and a pack to stand by. And no matter what ghosts haunted him from his past, he would not let them hold him back any longer.
“Welcome to Moonstone,” he said, forcing a smile as he pulled out his pen and pad. “What can I get for you today?”
“Hi, Nick. It’s good to see you again.” The voice was achingly familiar, causing his heart to stutter in his chest.
His grip on the pen tightened, knuckles whitening as he struggled to maintain control over his emotions. A thousand memories threatened to burst forth, dark and painful images vying for his attention.
The tendrils of shock slithered through Nick’s veins as he finally looked up from his order pad into the familiar face before him. It was Sarah, the ex-girlfriend shifter he’d been trying to forget, now materialized in the flesh. She sat across the booth, her gaze filled with hope and trepidation.
Steady , Nick told himself, his thoughts racing alongside his pulse. Pay attention to the here and now. You’re not that scared, betrayed wolf anymore. Face your past head-on , he continued, firming his resolve. You’re not alone anymore either.
“Is everything all right?” she asked after a long, silent moment, faux concern underscoring the words like a bitter aftertaste.
“Just…surprised to see you,” Nick replied, swallowing hard. His throat tightened, as though an invisible hand constricted it. He could sense the curious gazes of other patrons nearby as they no doubt wondered about the sudden change in his demeanor. “What can I get you?” he ground out.
“Just a coffee, I guess.”
He nodded and started to turn away.
“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?” Sarah asked.
“Let me just take care of this,” he said, hastily scribbling down the order and promising himself he would not let fear dictate his actions any longer. “I’ll be right back.”
As Nick walked away from the booth, his heart pounded in time with his footsteps, a familiar rhythm that spoke of courage. He may have been forged in the fires of betrayal and pain, but he had emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before.
At least, that was what he tried to tell himself.
But when he returned to her table and set her coffee down in front of her, his hand shook.
“Can we talk?” she asked.
“I guess,” Nick managed through gritted teeth, his mind reeling.
He fought the urge to run, reminding himself he was part of the Moonstone Pack now—strong, loyal, and unbreakable.
Even though every fiber of his being screamed at him to flee, he knew he owed it to himself and his newfound family to stick around, no matter how much he wanted to run.
“What are you doing here?” he blurted out, his voice cracking slightly under his emotions.
“I need your help, Nick. I’m in trouble,” Sarah said, her eyes welling up with tears.
The words hit him like a punch to the gut, leaving him breathless and disoriented. He gripped the pen tightly in his hand, feeling the plastic press into his skin as if it was the only thing anchoring him to reality.
“Trouble?” He forced the word out, his mind racing with unanswered questions and haunting memories.
The scent of her perfume—a blend of jasmine and cedarwood—clawed at his senses, transporting him back to a time when they had been inseparable.
He shook his head, trying to dispel the ghosts of their shared past.
“Please, sit down,” Sarah pleaded, her voice trembling. “I don’t know who else to turn to.”
Nick hesitated for a moment, torn between his loyalty to the Moonstone Pack and the embers of love that still smoldered within him for Sarah. He glanced out over the café, seeking solace in the familiar faces of his packmates, but all he found was curiosity—and maybe a touch of worry.
With a deep breath, he slid into the booth opposite her, steeling himself for the conversation to come. His heart thundered against his ribcage, a relentless reminder of the fear that threatened to consume him.
“Okay,” Nick said, mustering a facade of bravery—the kind of strength he suddenly wasn’t so sure he actually possessed. “Tell me what’s going on.”