Page 81 of The Gamma's Second Chance

“Save your breath, Nolan,” I say, pushing my anguish and my tears aside and lacing my voice with firm determination and cool indifference. “I thought we had something special together. Something real. Turns out you were just pretending. I should have realized sooner you were using me as a Band-Aid.”

Chapter 29

NOLAN

I rush across thegrounds and race up the steps outside and inside the packhouse. The mindlink I received while talking to Rachel’s parents—we have a problem—sets the pace and the rhythm of my steps, and I take the stairs two or even three at a time until I reach the top floor of the packhouse.

The door opens before I can knock, and Harrison steps to the side to let me in.

“What’s the problem?” I ask without greeting him, spinning to face him once I’m inside.

“There are two choices. I can’t tell much of a difference between them. You need to look.” He nods towards the kitchen counter, where his laptop sits, open, a photo of two rings side by side pulled up on the screen.

We both walk over to it, staring at the picture. I frown and tilt my head to the left, then to the right, examining the rings. “Are you sure they’re different?”

“Suzanne said they were, but I can’t figure out how,” Harrison says, shrugging. “Maybe it’s easier to tell in person.” His eyes shift to me before continuing. “But if that’s the case, then you have to go yourself. You should be the one to pick. She’s your female and you know her best.”

I grind my teeth together and cross my arms, pinching the bridge of my nose. “What time does the shop close?”

“Suzanne only keeps the showroom open until four p.m.”

“That’s in”—I glance at the time on the laptop—“less than an hour!”

“Yes, but if you don’t go now, there is no guarantee either ring will be there the next time you go to town. And no other jeweler nearby has anything similar to what you said you wanted. Suzanne is the only one, and she’s the best.”

“Goddess fucking damn it,” I mutter.

“I know,” Harrison agrees, putting his hands on his hips.

I stare at the screen again, examining the two rings. There really seems to be no difference between the two. That I can see anyway. But neither calls to me or my wolf. Neither screams, “This is the one!” Neither gives me the gut reaction I want. Not through the screen, anyway.

“Fuck it,” I say, sighing and turning away from the laptop. “I’ll go.”

“I’ll drive,” Harrison says, grabbing his keys and his wallet from the counter.

“You don’t need to—”

“You’re distracted. I’m not. It will be safer. And I want to help you with this.”

I blink at him as he walks behind me and crosses to the front door of his home, shoving his belongings into his pockets. “Why?” I ask as I follow him.

He pauses with his hand on the doorknob and glances at me. “You know why.”

I stare at him for a long moment, then nod and follow him down the stairs, out of the packhouse, and to his car. “Will Luna Emily be joining us?” I ask as I hesitate on the passenger side of the vehicle.

“She’s with your parents. She’ll be fine.”

That’s all the reassurance I need. I rip the door open and hop in, and Harrison takes off. He drives down the mountain as fast as is legal, while I stare out the window, consumed with thoughts of Cassandra and the events of the last twelve hours.

Moonlight and starlight stream through the windows, let in by the open curtains I forgot to close when Cassandra and I arrived home, too caught up in the heat of the moment. Cassandra lies in the safe confines of my arms, my body protecting her from any and every potential threat, her breathing deep and even, and her muscles relaxed. Her skin is soft and cool next to mine, smoother than the most expensive silk in existence. My fingers run through her hair as she sleeps, and my mind wanders, words and questions echoing and repeating in my head as the night wears on.

Do I love her?

I don’t know anything about her.

But do I love her?

She’s leaving in a few months.

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