Page 6

Chapter six

Sofia

M y little ten-year-old red Honda Fit made an ominous grinding noise before shuddering to a complete stop on the side of Maple Drive. I turned the key again, pressing harder—like that would make a difference. Nothing happened except a weak clicking sound.

“No, no, no,” I muttered. “Not today. Please, not today.”

The universe clearly wasn’t taking requests because no matter how many times I tried, the engine stayed dead.

Fantastic.

This was just the latest entry in the growing list of things that had gone spectacularly wrong today. Shannon calling in “sick” again? Check. Missed spa day? Double check. Missing out on seeing my best friend? Oh yeah, let’s throw that on the list, too.

And now my car—the one that had seen me through every major life event—had finally given up on me.

I slumped back against the seat, feeling the hot sting of tears behind my eyes. My wolf huffed in frustration, pacing beneath my skin. She hated it when things spun out of control.

My phone rang, making me jump. Derek’s name flashed on the screen.

Oh, hell no.

I ignored it.

Pups?

Damn it, what if something was wrong—with Mai, with Jase, with the Pack? I’d never forgive myself for not answering.

I wiped at the tears escaping from my eyes as I swiped accept .

“Is everyone okay?”

“They’re all fine, Sofia.” His voice was low, steady, wrapping around me like warm honey.

“Thank the Goddess.” I blew out a breath, thankful my bad luck hadn’t infected anyone else. “Look, I don’t have time for whatever this is—”

“You’re crying.” It wasn’t a question. Something in his tone made my heart skip.

“No, I’m not.” I wiped my eyes again with the back of my hand. How did he always know?

“Where are you?”

“It’s just my car. It broke down, but—”

“Never mind. I got you. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Derek, wait—”

But he had already hung up.

I growled under my breath and tossed my phone onto the passenger seat.

The nerve of that man. Just declaring he was coming to help like I was some fragile little thing in need of rescuing. The worst part? Some irrational, traitorous part of me actually felt relieved.

A black SUV pulled up exactly ten minutes later—because of course he was nothing if not precise—and Derek unfolded himself from the driver’s seat with his usual ease. He always moved with that quiet, controlled strength that made people step aside when he walked into a room. His dark jeans hugged his thighs in a way that should be illegal, and the black T-shirt stretched across his broad chest left little to the imagination. My wolf immediately perked up under my skin, her restless agitation settling the moment we saw him.

“No,” I muttered. “Down. Bad wolf.”

“Talking to yourself now?” Derek drawled, coming to a stop beside my window.

“Are you seriously tracking my movements now?” I snapped, irritation flooding through me as I shoved the door open and got out.

“I’m the Pack Beta. It’s my job to know where my wolves are.”

“Right. And I suppose you also know Mrs. Henderson’s schedule?” I crossed my arms. “Or is it just me you’re stalking?”

“Only you, gorgeous,” he murmured, voice like velvet. “Only you. Besides, you always do Ivy Patterson’s shopping on Saturday mornings, and I know you had plans with Wally to see Mai after.”

I inhaled sharply, my wolf practically preening under his attention. Nope. Not happening. I rolled my shoulders, forcing my focus back.

“I don’t need you to swoop in like some kind of knight in sexy jeans, Derek,” I said tightly. Why, oh why, did I have to say sexy jeans? “I could have handled this.”

“I know. Doesn’t mean you should have to.” He gestured toward his SUV. “Why don’t you yell at me while I drive you to see Mai? You do still want to see Mai today, right?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m perfectly capable of calling a tow truck.”

There was an unmistakable twitch at the corner of his lips. “You could. But they might not be here for another hour. Whereas I’m here now, and I can drop you off at Mai’s so you don’t miss seeing her. The fact that I get to enjoy your company while I drive you is just a bonus for me.”

Damn it, he was right. Now that Shannon was sick, I had to get to work later. My only window to see Mai was closing fast. I let out a slow breath.

“Fine.” I shot him a glare—which had absolutely no effect on him—and stomped to his SUV. As I yanked the passenger door open, I could practically feel his amusement rolling off him in waves.

“This is a one-off. Don’t think this means I’m suddenly letting you play hero,” I said, sliding into the seat.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

The car ride was quiet at first, the low hum of the air conditioning filling the space between us.

“How’s the bar holding up?” he asked casually.

“Fantastic. We thrive on chaos.”

“So, the same as usual, then?”

“Pretty much.” I glanced sideways at him, instantly regretting it when I saw the way his T-shirt clung to the ridges of his abdomen as he leaned slightly forward.

“You need a new car.”

No shit, but not only was it an expense I couldn’t afford right now, I also loved my Fit.

I scowled. “I like my car. He’s seen me through good times and bad. He’s never deserted me, and only occasionally lets me down, because he is old and tired. I can’t get rid of him just because he is old and tired, Derek. What sort of person would that make me?”

“He?”

I felt a small blush creep up my neck. “Yes, he.”

“Does he have a name?”

I could practically smell the amusement on him.

“Erik.”

His grin vanished.

Ha!

“Erik? You named your car Erik?” His voice came out slow, deliberate, like he was trying to decide if I was messing with him.

I smiled sweetly at him. “Yes. Erik has always been there for me. He never leaves without warning. Never ghosts me. Sure, he has a few breakdowns, but at least he tries his best to stick around.”

Derek’s jaw clenched. “Sofia—”

“And when he fails? He doesn’t act like nothing happened afterward.”

“Is your damn car also your fated mate?”

I grinned mockingly. “Well, given that Erik’s more reliable than mine? Maybe.”

Derek let out a slow breath, like he was trying very, very hard not to react. “You realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?”

I shrugged. “Not as ridiculous as a man who ran at the first sign of something real, barely even acknowledged me for months, and then started acting like—” I gestured wildly between us, “this—whatever this is—is normal.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. Ho ho, so he did get annoyed. Interesting.

He turned his head, his gray eyes locking onto mine, his gaze piercing and heated. “You really think I don’t regret it?”

Something sharp twisted in my chest. Because that was the problem. I knew he regretted it. I knew Derek wasn’t cruel, wasn’t the kind of man who ghosted someone just for the hell of it. He had his reasons—but I wasn’t ready to hear them. I liked this anger too much. It got me through the nights when I couldn’t think about anything but him. When I’d wake up with my skin still aching from the ghost of his touch, or when I caught his scent in the bar and felt the overwhelming pull of the mate bond—like stepping into a hot room after a lifetime in the cold. If I let that go—if I let him in—what would be left of me? I didn’t know, and I wasn’t ready to find out.

“It doesn’t matter; I’m more than happy with Erik.”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.

“One of these days, we’re gonna have to talk about this properly, like adults. No more running away from it.”

He did not just say that. “No, we won’t talk about it. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not any day. There is nothing to talk about.”

Derek stopped the car in front of the Alpha House and turned to face me. “Sofia—”

“No. Derek. Nothing, you hear me? Absolutely nothing. Now, thank you for the ride.”

“Your car—”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“Damn it, Sofia, just let me—”

“Stop trying to fix everything!” I spun to face him. “Stop acting like you can just waltz in and make everything better when you’re the one who—” I broke off, furious at the tears threatening to fall again.

Something flickered in his eyes, like he’d just worked out something. Then his hand came up to brush a tear from my cheek, so gentle it made my chest ache.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly. “Whether you want me here or not.”

I jerked away. “I don’t need you, Derek Shaw.”

He didn’t argue. But when I stepped out, his eyes were locked onto me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.

I hated that it made something inside me flutter.

So, I did the only thing I could; I slammed the door shut and stalked toward the Alpha House, refusing to look back.