Chapter 11

I send Tori an SOS text and hightail it to the only place I can think of—Garett's bar. It's only eleven am, so the bar is dead when I walk in, there are only a few alcoholics nursing their morning drinks in the corner.

Garett is standing behind the bar, looking gorgeous in his tight uniform shirt and jeans. He smiles widely when he sees me, but this quickly turns to a scowl when he notices my slight limp and the look on my face.

"Someone hurt you," he states, his voice like granite, cold and hard.

I sigh, sliding onto my favourite bar stool, my body protesting.

"I was challenged last night," I explain.

Cue lots of cursing and male grumbling. I watch in silence as Garett fights his bear for control. It's quite a sight to see. He slowly, quietly, places the glass he was polishing onto the bar, bracing his arms against the bar like it is the only thing keeping him up. I reach across and grab the glass he was polishing, leaning over the bar to pour myself a whisky. Sure, it's early for a drink, but cut me some slack—it has been one hell of a morning.

While I nurse my drink, Garett gets a co-worker to cover the bar. Walking up to my side, he grabs my hand and pulls me along behind him.

"Come," he demands.

I follow him, not about to argue with a bear this close to losing control. I follow him up the stairs at the back of the bar, leading up to the apartment he rents. It's handy living just above your workplace.

Pushing open the door, he holds it open for me. I duck under his arm and head into the apartment. It's nice in here, homey. It's not a large apartment, but it's big enough for Garett. I look around the room. I haven't been up here in a long time, but it looks the same. I walk over to the fireplace and there is a picture frame that takes a place of pride. I pick it up and surprise flashes through me as I realise it's a photo of me. I remember that day. Tori had decided she needed to get to know my ‘bear friend' better and had organised a picnic for the three of us. It had been a great day, but I don't remember this photo being taken.

I turn around to ask Garett where this came from, but I stop at the expression I see there.

"Explain," he orders, his voice more bear than I've ever heard it.

So I do. I tell him about the events of the previous evening, I even tell him about me fleeing from the compound this morning.

"I just… They're all depending on me. I'm not good for any of them. It was okay when I didn't care for them or them for me. But now it's different. Everything's happening so fast! I already got Seb hurt. I'm going to get them all killed. I'm not good enough," I blurt out, all my pent-up feelings coming out in a rush.

"Ari, stop."

I look up, swallowing at the sight before me. Garett is looking at me in a way I've never seen before. He prowls towards me, and I step back until I'm pressed up against a wall. He keeps walking until he is a hairsbreadth away from me. Placing his arms on the wall on either side of me, blocking me in, I have no choice but to look up into his eyes. They're pure bear at the moment, glowing back at me with his supernatural power. Seeing Garett like this awakens a different part of me, overshadowing my despair. Arousal spreads through me, and Garett makes a satisfied rumble as he scents it.

Pushing his hips up against me, I can feel his own arousal, hard and unyielding. My wolf, the hussy, is eager to reciprocate, and I feel her walking under my skin. My eyes mirror his own.

"Never think that you aren't good enough. You are more than enough."

He lowers his head. I can see in his eyes that he is waiting for me to make a move and that he would back off if I asked him to. I shouldn't cross this line, he's my friend, but I need this comfort right now. Sure, I have an attraction to another guy—ahem, a couple of other guys—but I need this physical comfort, and I know Garett will do anything to protect me.

I lean forward, capturing his lips with my own. He groans into my mouth, and we kiss, slow and unhurried, as his hands begin to explore my body. I run my fingers over his chest, scraping my nails gently over his nipples as I trail them down towards his jeans. He bites my lower lip, pressing me further into the wall. I run my hand over the bulge in his jeans before slipping them into his waistband. He isn't wearing underwear. Fuck . Feeling the velvety smoothness over the pure hardness of his cock is doing all sorts of things to my hormones, sending a shock of pure desire right to my core.

"I knew it!" someone shouts, causing me to jump. I shouldn't have let someone sneak up on us. I let my guard down, got distracted because I felt safe, but I know that voice, so I don't bother to whirl around and attack like I normally would.

Garett groans, dropping his head to my shoulder, but he makes no effort to move. Standing on tiptoes, I peek over Garett's bulk and see a very smug Tori standing in the doorway. I pat at Garett's chest, signalling him to let me out. When he doesn't move, I duck under his arm, and he just rests his forehead against the wall in defeat .

Noticing Garett's demeanour, I raise my eyebrows at Tori, a smirk crossing my face.

"Bloody hell. Look what you've done to him," I remark as I embrace Tori. I hadn't realised how much I needed this until her arms were wrapped around me.

Tori laughs, returning my hug tightly, holding on for a fraction longer than our usual slap on the back. Neither of us acknowledge it, we just pretend that we're two normal friends that hug.

"Girl, this has nothing to do with me and everything to do with your months of holding out on him." Releasing me, she saunters up to him and pats him on the shoulder. "Poor baby," she coos.

My mouth drops open in mock outrage at her comment. Garett turns from his position against the wall and smiles at Tori. He doesn't try to hug her like I did, knowing she has just as many issues over being touched as I do.

"Hey, witch," he calls out to her affectionately as he walks over to the sofa. I can't help but notice that he discreetly tries to reposition himself as he sits down.

Tori walks towards the doorway where she left some bags, which she now brings over to the coffee table in the middle of the living room. Sitting opposite Garett, she begins unpacking the bags which, it turns out, are full of takeout.

"Months," she says.

I make an ungraceful sound, which sounds suspiciously like a snort, still stuck on her comment about finding the two of us getting hot and heavy against the wall. "This was a completely spur-of-the-moment thing. We were just letting off some tension after everything that happened. You know. Stress," I ramble. My voice sounds unconvincing, even to me. "It's not going to happen again."

It wouldn't. No matter how much my wolf wanted to howl at that thought. Garett wouldn't just want a tumble in the sheets, he would want more from me than that. He wouldn't be able to help himself. It's in his nature to be protective .

I see Garett look up at my comment and the brief flash of hurt in his eyes before he goes back to helping Tori unpack the food.

"Uh-huh," she comments, not for a minute sounding like she believes me. "Now will you stop deluding yourself and sit your ass down. The food is going cold. The food you promised to bring me two nights ago." She glares at me as she says this.

I cringe, knowing I'm in the wrong here. Bad friend award goes to me. It's not a good idea to piss off a witch, especially when it involves food.

I perch sheepishly on the end of the sofa next to Garett, the only other available seat in the room. I don't want this to be awkward because I couldn't control my hormones. Besides, Garett deserves someone way better than me. For a start, I'm a wolf. He wouldn't ever be able to have a family with me. I'm not sure I would even want to start a family. I struggle to look after myself, let alone miniature versions of me.

I shudder at the thought. I wouldn't do that to him. Garett would make a good father, with his own cubs. He wouldn't have that with me.

Not to mention I'm a hot mess. I don't mind a one-night fling, but a relationship is a whole new ball game. Within the supernatural community, we are much more open and liberal with sex. We aren't squeamish about these things.

With Tori, Garett, and now Seb, I have all I need. A small part of me starts to call out that maybe that's not enough anymore. I crush that voice. I have all I need.

"I'm sorry, Tori, I've been a terrible friend. I just got so caught up in everything…" I trail off, feeling guilty.

If I weren't so used to looking out for myself, I would have thought to call her sooner. A normal, undamaged person would have done that.

It was a big shock to me when I first realised that another person cared for me. Our first major fight had been when I stayed out with a cute fae and ended up on a little jaunt to the fae realm. It had taken me a day and a half to find the portal back to the city. I found Tori pacing the apartment in tears. It had left me bewildered that someone would be so upset because they were worried about where I was. I instantly went on the defensive, convinced she was mad at me because I had been out with a fae. I think it was a shock to Tori as well that she cared enough about someone that she had become so worried. Her past was almost as dark as mine.

I look up as I hear a rustling noise, a large grin spreading across my face.

"I was going to eat these in front of you and not let you have any as punishment for putting me through hell. But I can't stay mad at that face," Tori teases, handing me a bag of doughnuts.

I greedily grasp the doughnuts, clutching the sweet balls of heaven to my chest. I'm not a possessive person, but you better not even think about messing with my doughnuts.

"I love you," I tell her around a mouthful of the divine confections.

She just laughs, knowing me well enough not to question the fact I'm eating dessert before the main course. Garett watches with a shake of his head, but I spot the small smile that crosses his lips.

"Right. Enough stalling. Tell me what's been going on," she demands.

I know better than to push her. With a sigh, I explain the craziness of the last few days.

When I finish retelling my story, Tori looks thoughtful. Pissed off, but thoughtful. Garett, on the other hand, looks ready to tear into someone. He's heard this all before, but listening to it again has set him off. He's pacing up and down the room, beginning to give me a cramp in my neck from where I've been watching him.

"Alexander promised me you would be safe there. I never would have left you there if I thought you would have been in danger," he spits out, his voice tight with anger. His green eyes flash as his bear pushes to the surface. I'm surprised by his show of rage. He usually has very tight control over his bear, but the last couple of days, I have never seen him closer to losing control.

"Well, I doubt he knew some asshole would challenge her. Besides, what idiot would accept that kind of challenge?" Tori comments, throwing a glare in my direction.

"I thought I had no choice but to accept!" I say indignantly.

They both ignore me and continue to talk about me as if I'm not here. I decide to ignore them in return and tuck into the food. I'm not going to let good food go to waste.

The rest of the morning, we go over my options, and we decide I will continue to go to the Moon River Pack on a daily basis to work as a nurse as agreed, and I shall return home to the safety of my apartment every day unless the threat from the Shadow Pack increases.

Garett is not impressed and argues every step of the way. If he had his way, he'd make me stay here so he could ‘look after' me. Infuriating man.

Tori is just getting ready to leave. She has some explaining to do to her boss—she did ditch work to come and see me here, after all. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she comes over to give me a hug.

"Oh! Before I forget, you remember McHottie? The guy who turned up at the apartment asking after you? Well, he was on the doorstep again this morning. He's getting a bit pushy. I told him you'd moved out," she tells me with a wink before walking out the door, waving to Garett as she leaves.

Who the hell is this guy? Besides, how does he know where I live? I'm not sure Garett even has my home address. It's my sanctuary.

"McHottie?" Garett asks in a barely controlled voice.

"Whoa, down boy. Some stranger turned up at the apartment asking after me. Seems he tried again today." I shrug this off as if it's nothing .

In reality, my mind is spinning, but I have too much to think about already. Garett must sense this as he stalks towards me with a low growl, backing me against the wall again. My body reacts, arching into him as a bolt of desire fills me. I see his pupils dilate as he watches my reaction to him. Lowering his head towards mine, he stops an inch away from my lips.

"Move in with me. Let me keep you safe."

I instantly go cold, all hints of desire gone as I stiffen in his arms. As I raise my eyes to meet his, I know my gaze is steely.

"Really, Garett?" I push past him, possibly a little harder than I needed to as I see him stumble a little.

I'm fuming at Garett, but mostly at myself. I should have seen this coming, I never should have kissed him, but I can't help but play with fire. However, I have never been the most tactful.

"Why the hell would I move in with you? Just sit in your apartment forever and let you fight my battles for me? What is it with you males thinking I'm so weak? I. Don't. Need. Protecting!" I shout at him, my anger getting the better of me.

I can see I've upset him, but I can't seem to stop myself.

"I'm just trying to help you, Ari. Why are you so stubborn? When will you learn that accepting help is not a sign of weakness? If you keep pushing, one of these days, you're going to look around and there will be no one there. What the hell happened to you to make you such a bitch?" he retorts, his own pain clear to see on his face.

I flinch as if he's hit me. It might have been better if he did, bruises will heal. These types of wounds take much more time to recover from. Bitch. I've been called worse, but never by Garett. My eyes sting, not from the harshness of his words, but from the fact they're true. I will myself not to cry as I pull on my shoes, which I'd kicked off earlier, and hurry towards the door. I see my phone vibrate and flash up with a message. Grabbing it, I tap out a quick reply and shove it in my back pocket.

"Ari, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Please, don't go." Pain and desperation sound in his voice, making me pause.

I stop in the doorway, indecision warring within me. If I leave, then everything that he accused me of is true. But I can't stay, and I certainly can't move in with him. Not because of what he said, it just isn't an option for me, and he won't understand that.

I feel him step up behind me, close enough to touch, but not daring to. With my heart in my chest, I make the decision for him and turn around, burying my face in his chest. My hands come up and clutch the fabric of his shirt.

"I'm sorry. I know I can be a bitch. I just… It's always been just me. I've learned not to trust anyone until I moved here and met Tori. And then before I knew it, you came into my life whether I wanted you to or not, and I've come to trust you as much as I do her. It just takes a long time to bring down walls like that," I mutter, my words muffled by his shirt, but I know he hears me as he relents, sighing as he wraps his arms around me.

"I know, Ari, I'm sorry I pushed you. I know you're not ready," he soothes, running his hands through my hair. "Will you stay, just for a bit?" he asks, and I can hear the fear in his voice. The worry that I will walk out that door and not come back.

Leaning away, I smile at him, hoping it conveys my affection towards him as I slowly shake my head. That is not a good idea. Besides, I have someone I need to meet before I head back to the pack. His smile is resigned, and as he leans forward, brushing a soft kiss across my forehead, I can see the pain in his eyes that I am causing him.

Not wanting to drag this out any further, I head towards the door, stopping briefly once I reach it to throw a saucy smile over my shoulder.

"You're still the first person I'd call if I want to get sweaty and naked," I tease, echoing the words he said to me in the bar the other night.

My comment works, and he laughs, nodding at me before shooing me out the door.