Chapter Fifteen: A Heart- Stopping Twist
NICOLE
The words “Blood for Blood” haunted me. They were more than a memory–they were a promise.
It wasn’t over.
It would never be over–not until Nadia was found.
And now I had been forced back to ask for Nathan’s help.
Gerald had been the pack‘ s anchor through the hardest times–my father’s long sickness and his eventual passing. When I stepped into my father’s role, Gerald had stood unwaveringly by my side..
And now he was dead.
This time, I decided I wasn’t letting go.
50% 11:40
1/6
Chapter Fifteen: A Heart–Stopping Twist
Daniel had been the only fragile thread but now we both shared the desire to see Nadia brought to her knees.
Nadia would suffer. She would bleed.
She would pay for what she had done to my family, my pack, and to me. The only problem? Nathan.
He had made his intentions painfully clear —he wanted me back, and he wasn‘ t one to give up without a fight.
Which is why I was now standing in his dining room, glaring at a table set with an elaborate spread of food and softly glowing
candles.
“You said we were going to discuss new strategies to find her and put all of this behind us,” I snapped, my voice sharp with irritation. “What is all of this?”
Nathan smiled, that same infuriating smile that used to make my heart race. “I
figured we could discuss things over dinner.”
50% 11:40
2/6
517
Chapter Fifteen: A Heart–Stopping Twist
“I had to bring Daniel here and leave him with the guards for this? For what, some cheap scheme?” I crossed my arms tighter. “I already told you, Nathan. Whatever we had is over. You don’t get to make up for the past with dinner or a dozen other pointless gestures so just go back to being the heartless man you are.
are.”
The smile slipped from his face, and for a moment, I saw a flash of anger in his eyes. It was gone just as quickly, replaced by a cold, measured tone. “Fine. Don’t eat the food. I’ll have dinner by myself. Let’s just get this over with.”
For a second, guilt gnawed at me, but I shoved it aside and sat across from him. I ignored both him and the food but his scent–cedarwood and something uniquely Nathan–wrapped around me like a trap.
It had always been this way. Even when I hated him, my wolf never fully did.
When he cut into his steak, I gave in.
“Fine. You win.”
50% 11:40
3/6
11:40
614
Chapter Fifteen: A Heart–Stopping Twist
He looked up, surprise flickering in hist eyes. “You’ll have dinner with me?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m already sitting here, aren’t I? And I don’t just mean dinner. I’ll try to be… more open. For tonight. But don’t mistake this for anything more than cooperation. I’ve moved on.”
As I picked at the food, I couldn’t help but notice he had prepared all my favorites. It was infuriating but I couldn’t resist commenting. “So, you remembered.”
Nathan paused mid–bite, his expression softening in a way I hadn’t expected.
“You‘ re hard to forget. No matter how much I tried to convince myself I hated you.”
The air between us changed, thickening with an electricity that made my breath hitch. His eyes locked on mine, and I couldn’t look away. For a moment, the years between us melted away. I saw the man I had loved before everything fell
50% 11:40
4/6
11:40
Chapter Fifteen: A Heart–Stopping Twist
apart, and I hated how much my wolf ached to close the distance between us.
I tore my gaze away, standing abruptly.
“Excuse me. I need to use the restroom.
I didn’t wait for a reply. I needed space, needed to clear my head before I did something reckless. My wolf pushed against the confines of my mind, demanding I go back to him, but I shoved her down as I stepped into the hallway.
That’s when I felt it.
The hairs on my neck rose as my wolf went on high alert. The faintest trace of a scent— familiar and wrong–hit me.
Nadia.
I whipped around, and there she was, standing in the shadows with a silver knife in her hand.
“Don’t do anything stupid like try to shift,” she said, her voice low and venomous. “I told you I had my hands
50% 11:40
5/6
Chapter Fifteen: A Heart–Stopping Twist
deep into the pack and I have guards everywhere. One wrong move, and precious little Daniel pays the price.”
My wolf snarled, clawing at me to shift, but I forced her back, keeping my voice steady.
“What do you want?”
Her smile widened. “I told you before. Blood for blood. Or wasn’t the message clear enough?”
Then, from behind me, another voice spoke–a voice that made my blood run cold.
“I believe it was.
My eyes widened as I turned around to face him, with only his name able to register through the shock, “Gerald?”
50% 11:40
