Page 12

Chapter

Eleven

D ANNY

A rustle outside alerted me to the fact I wasn’t alone. I sighed, knowing before I even inhaled his scent that Knox was once again positioned below my bedroom window like some kind of sentinel, just as he had been for the last two nights.

A twinge of guilt pinched my gut. I should let him in. He was out there to protect me, suffering through the discomfort of the hard ground and the cold for my sake. Yet I still hadn’t been brave enough to invite him into the house.

I gritted my teeth. Tonight, that changed. I’d made myself a promise earlier that I’d find my courage and do the right thing for once.

Heart pounding, I undid the window latch and pushed it open. Cool air flowed through the gap, solidifying my certainty that I shouldn’t leave him outside for yet another night.

“You can come in and use the spare bed,” I murmured. I didn’t need to speak loudly for him to hear me.

There was a pause, likely while Knox shifted from his furry form to his human one .

“I’m fine out here.” His voice rasped, like he was out of practice speaking.

“It must be nicer in here than out there,” I pointed out, grateful he remained kneeling and didn’t stand. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to face the full glory of his naked body without my bear deciding to take drastic action. “I have a good heating system.”

“Shifters run hot,” he reminded me.

I growled under my breath. “Just come in. I won’t sleep if I know you’re out there in the cold.”

He made a sound of exasperation. “Fine.”

I smirked as he shifted back and trotted around the house. I should have known that would do the trick. Most alphas wanted nothing more than for their omega to be taken care of. He considered me his, so he wouldn’t want me to suffer through a sleepless night.

I went to the front door and opened it. Knox walked in. His wolf was massive, with intense green eyes, dark fur that verged on black, and a shoulder that came halfway up my torso. I closed the door, locked it, and turned to face him.

He nudged my hand. I hesitated, then ran my fingers through the shaggy hair on top of his head. Shifters often didn’t like to be petted, but mates were a different story, and he seemed to like the affection. He arched into my touch, then pulled away and padded down the hall.

When he returned, on two legs, a towel was wrapped around his waist. There wasn’t much point in him covering up, since I’d already seen him naked, but I appreciated his respect for my boundaries and his attempt to keep things between us from turning sexual.

“I’m not sleeping in the spare bedroom,” he said, his chin raised. “It’s too far away. I’ll sleep on the floor outside your room.”

I sighed. So much for making him more comfortable. I supposed at least he’d be out of the elements. “Let me get you a mattress.”

I dragged the mattress off the spare bed and into the hall. Knox hovered, apparently unsure what to do.

“The floor would have been fine,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “I’ve slept in worse places.”

My chest ached. Perhaps he had, but I didn’t like to think of it. I may not be ready to accept him as my mate, but nor did I want to think of his life being anything other than wonderful. Although obviously, bad things must have happened to him. Why else would he bother to stick around, waiting for a useless mate like me?

Low self-esteem was the only answer I could think of.

“Not on my watch,” I muttered, pushing the mattress against the wall. “Will this do?”

He nodded, and fingered the edge of the towel, capturing my gaze. His torso was firm, banded with muscle. I followed the ridges of his abdomen up to his chest. Scar tissue was knotted over his heart.

My insides chilled. It was almost impossible to scar a shifter, and I wanted to ask what had caused it, but I hadn’t earned the right to pry.

“Lock the door.” Knox lowered himself onto the mattress and crossed his legs. My eyes snapped up to his face. “I want you to feel safe.”

My heart skipped. I hated that he knew his presence both reassured me and unnerved me, but I was grateful he was encouraging me to do what I needed.

“I’ll be right through the wall.” I hesitated. “Do you need anything?”

His dark eyes watched me intently. “No. I have everything I need.”

A shiver rippled through me. I got the impression he wasn’t referring to the mattress or shelter. He meant me .

“Good night.” I darted inside the bedroom and closed the door, then flicked the lock into place.

“Sleep well, Danny,” Knox murmured.

My insides warmed. As I climbed into bed, my bear whined internally, demanding to know why we were leaving our mate on the wrong side of the door.

We’re not ready yet, I told him.

He didn’t understand. He wanted Knox now.

I snuggled beneath the covers, closed my eyes, and listened to Knox’s heartbeat. His presence, albeit at a distance, soothed my bear. I tuned out everything except for the steady thump and allowed it to lull me to sleep.

When I woke, gray light filtered into the room around the edges of the curtains. I glanced at my phone. It was a little past 8 a.m., and I wasn’t due at the bakery for another few hours yet. Closing my eyes again, I focused on the noises outside the bedroom and immediately realized that Knox was no longer in the house.

My heart sank. Even if I hadn’t admitted it to myself, I’d been looking forward to seeing him. I threw back the covers, climbed out of bed, and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt before unlocking and opening the bedroom door. The mattress was no longer on the floor against the wall. He must have returned it to the spare room.

I walked on bare feet down the hall and into the living area. The delicious scent of coffee greeted me. A pot had been recently brewed, and a full mug was waiting beside it. I leaned over the mug and sniffed, catching the scent of something sweeter. Caramel. A grin swept across my face. He’d remembered.

I lifted the mug of coffee. Beneath it was a note.

Look in the fridge .

Intrigued, I carried the coffee to the fridge and looked inside. A small platter was arranged inside with a pastry, sliced fruit, and a small bowl of berries and yogurt.

Tears sprang to my eyes. How sweet. I couldn’t believe he’d done this. Especially after I’d made him sleep in the hall and had apparently been so unwelcoming he didn’t think he could stay and join me for breakfast—a meal that he’d prepared.

Why was I like this?

I gritted my teeth. I knew why. I just didn’t know how to fix it.

Taking the coffee and tray to the dining table, I sat and ate. The coffee was just the right amount of sweet, and I felt slightly better once my belly was full.

I showered, dressed in jeans and a green short-sleeved shirt that flattered my complexion, then locked up and headed down the street to Everett and Milo’s house. I knocked and waited for Milo to answer. Everett would already be at work by now.

As soon as Milo opened the door, I fell into his arms. They closed around me and he patted my back.

He made the kind of shushing noises people used to soothe distraught babies. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m a terrible mate.”

He drew back, frowning. “No, you’re not.”

“But I—”

He stopped me with a finger to my lips. “Come in and sit down, then you can tell me.”

He closed the door and ushered me to their sofa. I sat and he dropped onto the cushion beside me, keeping close in case I needed him. My heart lifted. I was so lucky that Everett had found such a wonderful partner.

I released a stuttered breath and it all burst from me. How Knox had been guarding my window. The fact I’d invited him in but made him sleep on the hall floor. The way he’d prepared me breakfast so thoughtfully and left. My worries that I’d made him feel unwanted.

Milo took my hand in his. “Are you interested in Knox? If not for Rex, would you want to get to know him better?”

I thought for a moment, then nodded. “I would. He’s patient and protective. He’s been nothing but considerate of me. I just need…”

“Time,” he finished for me. “Which means you need him to stay around here for long enough to build trust.”

“Yeah.” I was scared he’d give up on me and leave when I knew we could have something good if only I’d get over my hang-ups.

Milo nibbled on his lower lip. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.” It surprised me that he had to ask.

“Perhaps a good first step would be to encourage the clan to be more accepting of him. Some members have been keeping him at a distance or excluding him because they think that’s what you want.”

A sour taste formed on the back of my tongue. “They have?” Oh, gods. He was lingering in Grizzly Ridge solely because of me, and yet I was responsible for people treating him poorly. My gut roiled, and I felt sick. “Tell me who.”