Chapter l400

Chapter 0400

The next morning, Nicholas and I had previously arranged to spend time training together. So at first light, I headed to the gym.

I wasn’t sure he would remember. Maybe he made other plans and forgot to tell me about it. He had been so busy with Bridget lately, I had rarely even seen him, let alone spoken two words to him.

I had a sinking feeling in my chest, telling me I’d find the gym empty. Maybe the lights would be out. The door locked. Or maybe the room would be filled with guards training, if Nicholas had forgotten to claim the room for the day.

Just outside the door, I stood and inhaled a deep, long breath. Then I let it out.

Gathering my strength, I reached for the gym door and pulled. It opened. It wasn’t locked.

Okay. So far so good.

I stepped inside. The lights were on.

Two things going good. I followed a familiar pathway down the corridors of the gym to the weight room where the mats were set up for sparring and training.

That door was unlocked too, and as I stepped inside, the room was empty. No stray guardsmen or women around.

For a moment, relief flooded me. Maybe he didn’t forget after all. A second later, a sense of dread hit me instead.

If Nicholas hadn’t forgotten, then where was he? Why was I now alone in this room?

I checked my watch. I was a few minutes early. So I set down my gear and decided to wait.

I waited until the time we were supposed to meet. Then I waited fifteen more minutes. Then twenty.

At a full hour past, my heart felt so tender it might shatter. So I gathered my gear, bit back my tears, and headed for the door.

At the very same moment, Nicholas rushed through it.

“Piper, I –”

He nearly ran straight into me, but stopped abruptly. He looked down at me in

1/4

+15 BÔNUS

15

surprise. When he saw the tears in my eyes, his face crumpled.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he said. “Were you waiting long?”

“A half hour.‘

“I’m sorry.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Bridget came knocking on my door so early and wanted to have breakfast together. I don’t think I even woke up until I was halfway to the dining room. When I realized what had happened, I left at once. I don’t know. When I’m catching up with Bridget, I feel like I lose track of time.‘

The sound of Bridget’s name cracked through me like a snapped rubber band. So he was with her instead of here with me. Of course.

Well, at least he was able to pull himself away to be here now. That had to be something.

I still felt miserable.

“It’s not like you to be late for anything,” I said.

“I’m so sorry, Piper. Truly. It’s just so nice to catch up with an old friend. But I never meant to leave you waiting.”

I nodded, not sure if I fully believed it. I didn’t trust my voice.

“Please don’t be angry,” he said.

“I’m not angry.”

He tilted his head, considering me. His eyes narrowed, he didn’t believe me. He shouldn’t have, I was lying through my teeth.

“Let’s practice, okay?” he asked. It felt like an olive branch, and I was eager to take it. The last thing I wanted to hear was more apologies or excuses that involved Bridget.

“Okay,” I said.

We were on the mat in our workout clothes, squaring off at each other. Nicholas had earlier tried to teach me how to throw a punch and now he wanted me to practice by trying to hit his jaw.

“You won’t hurt me,” he said.

“I’m stronger now,” I reminded him.

“I’ll be okay,” he replied.

He was an Alpha, after all.

+15 BÔNUS

“Okay,” I said.

I started toward him. He blocked my hit. He gave me a few pointers. It was difficult to pay attention. As he blocked my attacks, punch after punch, he moved with such grace that it seemed like he was dancing. Thinking of him dancing, reminded me of last night, of seeing him and Bridget in the ballroom.

My punches became wilder.

He ducked to dodge one. “Uh, Piper. You are going a bit off the rails.”

I threw another wild punch, putting everything in it that I had. I grunted as I threw it.

“Piper, we should stop.”

I couldn’t stop. I had held my jealousy back for so long that now it was swelling into rage. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I had too much energy, too much adrenaline, with nowhere for it to go.

Before I knew it, I was shifting in my wolf form.

Nicholas’s eyes went wide, shocked. In the next instant, he shifted too.

He towered over me, an Alpha wolf to my smaller one.

He growled low and steady, demanding dominance. I felt the command deep in my bones.

Back down, he was saying.

And my b*dy wanted to listen. It was even without my meaning to. Slowly, I laid down and he walked over me.

Shift back, his growl said now.

My b*dy shivered at the order.

Slowly, I shifted back. I was breathing hard, staring up at an Alpha wolf. Though it wasn’t long before Nicholas shifted too, and he was staring down at me. He was breathing just as hard.

“Piper…”

“I’m sorry…” I whispered.

“Are you better…?”

“I don’t know…”

He licked his l*ps. “What do you need?”

+15 BÔNUS

I looked down at his l*ps, and he looked down at mine.

An instant nothing happened but a few heavy breaths.

“Piper?” Did he need permission?

Didn’t he know he already had it?

“Kiss me,” I said.

His mouth came crashing down, colliding with mine. I wrapped my arms around his n*eck, holding him closely. His fingers clawed into the mat at either side of me.

We k*ssed with

desperation, tongues lashing and entwining. It felt like having a drink of water after a long draught. I felt like maybe I was drowning.

But I wanted to drown. I buried my fingers through his hair. He growled against my mouth.

My wolf, finally, was satisfied, purring happily in my mind.

“Ours,” she whispered.

“Nick,” I breathed, when we came up for air.

He didn’t keep me waiting long before he plunged back down for another k*ss.

His hands moved from the mat to my sides. His b*dy dropped more fully over mine until I was fully engulfed with his weight, his scent. The feel of him reached every part of me, and I was satisfied.

Until I inhaled.

My wolf awoke from its happy place. I did too, not long after.

Nicholas, sensing my sudden stillness, leaned upwards. “Piper?”

I sniffed again just to be sure. And yes, there it was.

A scent of lilac and daisies. A feminine smell. Perfume.

Perfume that belonged to Bridget.

“Piper, what’s wrong?”

I couldn’t find my voice. I felt such a sudden vicious onslaught of anger and jealousy, that I was nearly feral.

Bridget. His ex.

She had come in and tried to scent my mate.