Chapter 0400


    The next morning, Nichs 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 ns and forgot to tell me about it. He had


    been so busy with Bridgettely, 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 Nichs had forgotten to


    im 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 secondter, a sense of dread hit


    me instead.


    If Nichs 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, Nichs rushed through it.


    “Piper, I –”


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


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


    “I’m so sorry I’mte,” 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 bete 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. Thest 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. Nichs 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.


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    “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 ofst 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.


    Nichs’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 themand deep in my bones.


    Back down, he was saying.


    And my body wanted to listen. It was even without my meaning to. Slowly, Iid down and he walked


    over me.


    Shift back, his growl said now.


    My body shivered at the order.


    Slowly, I shifted back. I was breathing hard, staring up at an Alpha wolf. Though it wasn’t long before


    Nichs 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 lips. “What do you need?”


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    I looked down at his lips, 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 neck, holding him


    closely. His fingers wed into the mat at either side of me.


    We kissed with


    desperation, tonguesshing 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 kiss.


    His hands moved from the mat to my sides. His body 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 ce. I did too, not long after.


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


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


    A scent of lc 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 onught of anger and jealousy, that I was nearly


    feral.


    Bridget. His ex.


    She hade in and tried to scent my mate.