Page 37 of Entering a New World

“Are you tired?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’ve been sick for the past… week and a half, and I think I accidentally overextended myself. I’ll probably head back to the Inn soon and face plant into bed.”

Nix nodded, giving me a tender smile. The next moment, his eyes shifted to the door. I couldn’t see what he was seeing, but from his reaction, it couldn’t be good. As the bells above the door chimed, alarming Herb that yet another customer had entered, Nix’s shoulders tensed, the smile falling off his face. Turning away from the door, he slightly shook his head, letting his hair fall right into his face like a curtain he was hiding behind.

“Oh, hey, Levi. I see you found your way here alright,” Paul’s voice boomed through the bakery.

I raised my hand in greeting. “Sure did.” I was about to wave him over when my eyes landed on Nix and his shaking, tense form.

Oh fuck.

It was Paul he was hiding from. Or, probably not Paul, rather the Mounties’ uniform he was wearing, seeing as Paul didn’t appear to recognize Nix at all.

Shifting in my chair, my mind started racing. I needed to keep Paul from coming over without raising suspicion. No problem at all. Nope, easy as pie, considering Paul was a shifter and could probably smell that I was nervous or hear my heart rate picking up or whatever.

Abruptly, I stood, giving Nix an extra wide smile. “Thank you for sharing your table,” I said, winking at him when he looked up at me with huge eyes. “I hope I’ll see you around.”

Then I quickly walked over to Paul, making sure to keep myself between him and Nix so he couldn’t get a good look at my companion. Nosy as shifters seemed to be, I didn’t want him all up in Nix’s business just because he’d shared a meal with me.

Was it stupid to hide a man I’d just met from the police?

Probably. If Nix was homeless, he needed help. It was fucking cold already and freezing at night.

And if Nix was on the run?

My steps faltered for a moment.

No. My gut feeling didn’t give me felon-vibes. And I trusted my gut. After all, the last time I’d trusted it, it’d made me believe the wolf I’d met in the wilderness would help me out.

The wolf.

Rhett.

Aaaand… my mind was back to thinking about my mate.

Chapter 11

Rhett

I read the text message again. And again, and a fourth time just to be sure it really said what I thought it said.

Can we meet up for coffee?

Even though he hadn’t signed the text message, I knew it was from Levi since I’d been the one who’d set up the new phone for him. Of course, I’d saved his number to my phone, hoping to hell he’d call or text.

However, I hadn’t expected him to text me today. After all, I’d only delivered the phone yesterday. I’d been certain it’d take him more time. At least a couple of days, if not a week.

“What’s got you smiling that wide this early in the day?” Gray asked, his voice gruff, demeanour all pissed off as he sat across from me, placing a huge, steaming coffee mug on the table in front of him.

“Levi messaged me,” I said, turning my phone to let him see. “He wants to meet me.”

The corners of Gray’s mouth twitched for a second—which, for him, was an exuberant expression of joy this early in the morning. “Great. I knew he’d come around. So, when are you going to see him?”

Now, my wolf said, pawing at my chest, trying to take over. He wanted us to change right this moment. To him, sitting here, talking, even to our Alpha, was a waste of time.

“I need to ask him,” I said, turning my phone back towards me. I started typing out a reply, but hesitated before sending it. “And I also need to consider the barrier-problem.”

Gray scoffed. “Your mate comes first.”

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