16. Sawyer

Chapter 16

Sawyer

T he tires crunched over the gravel as I pulled into the parking lot outside the pack house, my chest tight with guilt.

I hadn't meant to snap at Casey during the hike, but I had, and now it weighed on me like a stone.

As I killed the engine, the memory of that exact moment replayed in my mind—the mention of the three-legged race at the fair, how my mood had shifted from content to sour in an instant.

I couldn't blame anyone. They were just reminiscing, and I should've been doing the same, enjoying it.

Instead, I'd let my own insecurity fester, letting the day end on a bitter note. And Casey… Casey didn't deserve that.

He was supposed to feel more at ease with the pack, and I ruined that by acting like a brat.

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face as I stared out at the familiar sight of the pack house. Normally, this place felt like home, a refuge.

Today, it just reminded me of my failures. I didn't want to be here, not right now.

What I wanted was to grab a beer, retreat to my house, and figure out a way to apologize to Casey without screwing it up again.

Even Benny, sitting obediently in the passenger seat, seemed to pick up on my mood.

The little dog was unusually well-behaved, not bouncing around with excitement like he normally would.

He nudged my shoe when I got out of the car, as if silently asking if I was okay. I forced a smile, ruffling his ears.

"Come on, buddy," I muttered. "Let's get you to Miles before I head out."

I dropped Benny off, making sure to give him an extra scratch behind the ears before heading to my section of the woods.

Patrol duty was the last thing I wanted to do right now, but it was necessary.

As I made my way through the trees, my mood only darkened when I spotted Garth ahead.

The sight of him was enough to sour my already foul mood. His presence always felt like a bruise on the pack, a reminder of darker days.

He caught sight of me, and a wicked grin split his face.

"I heard there was a little luncheon earlier. I'm hurt you didn't invite me. It would've been nice to have a little chat with Casey," Garth said.

The possessiveness flared inside me, my wolf rising to the surface at the mention of Casey.

My teeth clenched, a low growl rumbling in my chest before I managed to tamp it down.

This wasn't the time to lose control, not with Garth.

That's what he wanted. But the thought of him anywhere near Casey—his smug face, his leering eyes—was enough to make my blood boil.

"That's enough, Garth," I warned, my voice dangerously low. "Keep Casey out of your mouth."

Garth's grin only widened. He leaned back against a tree, watching me with a gleam of amusement in his eyes.

"Relax, pack second. I'm just making conversation. Though…" His gaze dropped to my injured leg. "You sure you're up for a little patrol today? Maybe you should take it easy."

My hackles raised, but I kept my voice steady. "I'm fine," I said.

"Are you?" Garth's grin twisted into something darker. "Let's have another race today, just like old times. What do you say, Sawyer? You think you can keep up?"

He knew exactly how to get under my skin. After everything that had happened earlier, with my mood already soured, his challenge was like pouring gasoline on a fire.

My temper flared, and I stepped closer, my hands curling into fists at my sides.

"I bet I'll finish first again," Garth taunted, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

"We'll see," I ground out, teeth clenched.

Without another word, I began to strip down, preparing to shift.

But before I could finish, Garth had already dashed off, cheating like the coward he was. He always had to play dirty.

I shifted fully, feeling the familiar sensation of bones snapping and realigning, fur sprouting along my body as I dropped to all fours.

The transformation was second nature to me, but even so, the pain in my leg flared up almost immediately as I took off after him.

The forest blurred around me as I ran, the wind rushing through my fur. But no matter how hard I pushed, the ache in my leg grew worse with every step.

It was a constant reminder of my injury, a weakness that Garth never failed to exploit.

My lungs screamed for air, my muscles burned, but I wasn't going to let him win. Not this time.

This leg , I thought bitterly, gritting my teeth against the pain. If this leg gets in the way of me and Casey... I'll never forgive myself.

The words from the pack healer, from Cooper, echoed in my mind: It's in your head, Sawyer. The pain isn't real. But it sure as hell felt real.

It felt like it was holding me back, making me weaker, slower.

And then I thought of Casey. Of the look on his face during our hike, how he'd tried so hard to make things easier for me, to be patient, even when I wasn't.

He deserved better than that. Better than me sulking over a stupid injury. I wasn't going to let this leg, or my insecurities, ruin what we had.

With that thought, something shifted inside me. A resolve, a determination I hadn't felt in a long time.

I pushed harder, ignoring the burning in my muscles, the sharp ache in my leg. I ran faster, harder, until everything else faded away.

The pain started to numb, and for the first time in months, it felt like a weight had lifted, like some mental block had been removed.

Suddenly, I was running free, faster than I had in months. The pain was gone, replaced by the sheer exhilaration of speed and strength.

My paws pounded against the earth, and before I knew it, I reached the northern part of our patrol area, the designated finish line for the race.

And I was alone.

I shifted back into my human form, panting but victorious. Garth wasn't here yet. I couldn't believe it.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I'd beaten him.

A few minutes later, Garth came barreling through the trees, skidding to a halt when he saw me standing there, waiting for him.

His expression was priceless—shock, anger, disbelief. It was all there.

I smirked, feeling the satisfaction roll through me.

"Better luck next time," I told him.

Garth's eyes darkened, his fists clenched at his sides, and for a moment, I thought he might lunge at me.

My body tensed, ready for a fight, but nothing happened. He just stood there, seething.

I turned my back on him, not caring if he was glaring daggers at me. I'd won. For once, I'd beaten him, and it wasn't just about the race.

It was about proving to myself that I could still do this, that I wasn't broken. I wouldn't let him—or my injury—control me.

As I headed back toward the pack house, I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me. The guilt from earlier still lingered, but now there was hope too.

I could fix things with Casey. I had to.

The past didn't define me, and it sure as hell wasn't going to define us.

I couldn't think of anything else but getting to Casey.

The excitement thrummed through my veins, making it impossible to sit still, much less focus on anything else.

I needed to see him, to talk to him, to tell him everything that had happened.

As I drove to Casey's apartment, my fingers tapped against the steering wheel, my mind racing.

I'd already texted Miles to look after Benny a little while longer, so I didn't have to worry about anything except making things right with Casey.

The memory of how I'd acted earlier during our hike still stung, but it didn't matter now. I needed to see him, needed to be close to him.

By the time I reached his building, the energy inside me was almost unbearable. The elevator wasn't even an option.

I took the stairs two at a time, my leg not protesting even once.

It was as if everything inside me had clicked into place, as though the block that had held me back all these months had finally disappeared for good.

The pain was gone, and for the first time in a long time, I felt free.

Before I knew it, I was standing outside Casey's door, my heart pounding as I knocked.

A moment later, the door opened, and there he was—Casey, standing there in a worn t-shirt and jeans, looking slightly apprehensive.

But that look didn't last long. Without thinking, I stepped forward, gripping his shoulders and lifting him off his feet in one swift motion.

Casey let out a surprised laugh, his arms instinctively wrapping around my neck as his initial hesitation melted away.

"Sawyer!" he gasped between laughs, his face lighting up with that brilliant smile I couldn't get enough of. "Put me down! What's going on?"

I couldn't help but smile back, unable to contain the rush of emotions flooding through me.

"Everyone was right," I said, my voice full of excitement. "My leg… it was all in my mind."

Casey's eyes softened, and he reached out to cup my cheek as I set him down gently.

"Come inside," he said, his tone gentle but full of warmth. "Tell me all about it."

I followed him inside, struck once again by just how kind he was. He didn't hold a grudge, didn't bring up how I'd acted earlier.

Casey was always patient, always understanding. His forgiveness, even before I asked for it, made my chest tighten in the best way possible.

But before I could sit down, I grabbed his hands, my fingers gently intertwining with his.

"Wait," I said, my voice softer now, more serious. "Before I start, I want to apologize for how I acted earlier."

I brought one of his hands to my lips, pressing a kiss against his knuckles, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my mouth.

"I was an ass, and you didn't deserve that," I said.

Casey's expression softened further, his thumb brushing over my hand.

"Everyone has bad days, Sawyer," he said, his voice soothing.

But I couldn't shake the need to make sure he knew how much he meant to me, how much I regretted making him feel like he wasn't welcome in my world.

I needed him to feel secure in us. I needed him. Period.

We settled into the living room, and I told him about the race with Garth, about how I'd pushed through the pain and won.

Casey listened intently, his eyes wide with excitement, and when I finished, his face lit up with pride.

"That's amazing!" he said, his voice full of genuine happiness. "I always knew you were stronger than him, better than him in so many ways."

His words hit me hard, a warmth spreading through my chest that I couldn't ignore. I leaned in, my gaze locking with his.

The way he looked at me, with that unwavering belief in who I was—it made everything else fade away.

I reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear, my fingers lingering against his skin.

"You're incredible, you know that?" I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Casey's breath hitched, and he looked up at me through his lashes, the connection between us thickening, growing more intense with every second that passed.

He didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned closer, his lips parting slightly. I couldn't resist anymore.

I closed the distance between us, my lips brushing against his in a soft, tender kiss.

The moment our mouths met, a spark ignited inside me.

It was more than just the physical connection—it felt like something deeper, something primal had shifted between us.

Casey's hands slid up to my chest, fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt as he kissed me back with equal fervor.

My hand found its way to his waist, pulling him closer, needing to feel every inch of him against me.

The warmth of his body, the softness of his lips—it was everything I'd craved.

The kiss deepened, growing hungrier, more desperate. My hands roamed over his body, memorizing the way he felt under my touch.

I could feel the mate bond forming between us, the pull of something greater than either of us drawing us together.

It was electric, undeniable.

As the kiss broke, Casey's breathing was ragged, his forehead resting against mine.

"Sawyer…" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

I didn't say anything. I didn't need to. Instead, I gently guided him to the couch, pulling him into my lap, our bodies pressed together.

My lips found his neck, kissing the sensitive skin there, and I could feel the shiver that ran through him in response.

His fingers traced the lines of my jaw, his eyes half-lidded with desire.

"You don't have to hold back with me," he whispered, his voice a quiet plea.

"I won't," I promised, my voice low, full of intent.

My lips traveled lower, down the curve of his neck to his collarbone, and Casey's breath hitched again.

I could feel the bond between us growing stronger, more tangible with every touch, every kiss.

It was like a part of my soul was connecting with his, tying us together in a way that went beyond the physical.

As my mouth returned to his, I knew there was no going back. This was it. This was everything.

But I paused, lifting my head to meet his eyes. I needed to be sure, to know that this was what he wanted too.

His eyes were soft, filled with trust. Casey gave a small nod, his hand lifting to caress my cheek before pulling me close again. That was all I needed.

I gently bit down on the sensitive skin just above his shoulder, the spot where the mate mark would form, and as soon as I did, a surge of energy rushed through me.

Casey gasped, his body arching against mine as the bond solidified, locking us together in a way that couldn't be undone.

The mate bond pulsed between us, a warm, golden thread that wrapped around our souls, binding us as one.

It wasn't just a mark—it was a promise. A vow. I was his, and he was mine, in every sense of the word.

Casey's eyes fluttered open, his lips trembling as he looked at me, his hand lifting to touch the mark on his shoulder.

"I can feel it," he whispered, wonder filling his voice. "I can feel you… in here."

He pressed his hand against his chest, and I knew exactly what he meant.

I could feel him too, like he was a part of me now, something I could never be without.

"I'm yours, Casey," I murmured, my voice raw with emotion. "And you're mine."