Page 13 of Falling for My Shifter Guardian

She turns to face me, arms crossing over her chest, her keys still clutched tightly in one hand. "So, what's this all about?" she says, her tone laced with frustration.

“We need to talk about Ben,” I say, my voice coming out rougher than I’d planned.

Her eyes narrow, and for a second, I see more worry than anger in her expression. “No, we really don’t.” She drops her keys onto the small table near the door, her movements sharp and deliberate. “What we need to do is talk aboutyou—about why you think it’s okay to follow me, to show up unannounced like this, and act like you care when you can’t even admit it.”

Her words hit hard, but it’s not the accusation that stings—it’s the truth beneath them. She steps closer, and I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers twitch like she’s trying to hold herself steady. “You can’t keep doing this, Derek. Showing up, warning me about Ben like he’s suddenly the badguy, when he’s been my best friend for years. You think I don’t notice how you’re always watching me? How you’re always there, but never really there?” Her voice softens, wavering just slightly, and I can feel the weight of her frustration, her confusion.

“I’m trying to protect you,” I say, my voice low, vibrating with the effort to keep my wolf in check. “You don’t understand what’s happening—what’s at stake.”

“Then explain it to me!” she snaps, throwing her hands up. “Because right now, it feels like I’m standing in the middle of a battlefield I can’t even see, and you’re just adding to the chaos. If Ben’s such a danger, tell me why. If you care about me,really care about me,then stop hiding behind excuses and half-truths.”

Her words are a challenge, but there’s something else in her tone—something fragile, like she’s asking for more than just answers. For a second, I think about telling her everything—the hunters, the mate bond, the promise I made to her father. But the weight of it all presses down on me, and the words stick in my throat.

“You wouldn’t understand,” I grit out, my fists clenching at my sides. I can feel my nails biting into my palms, the sharp sting grounding me.

“Try me,” she says, her voice softer now, but no less firm. She’s close—too close—and the scent of her wraps around me, warm and intoxicating, like vanilla and sunlight. My wolf stirs, restless, clawing at the edges of my control. “Whatever it is you’re hiding, it can’t be worse than this,” she continues, her eyes searching mine. “This constant push and pull, like you’re here but you’re not. Like you care but you can’t say it. I’m not a child, Derek. Stop treating me like one.”

My chest tightens. She doesn’t understand. She can’t. “You have no idea what’s really going on.”

“Then tell me!” she bursts, throwing her hands up. “Stop with the cryptic warnings and vague threats. Stop treating me like I’m some fragile thing you have to shield from the world. Why do you even care so much?”

Her words hang in the air, heavy and unforgiving. The mate bond pulses between us, an unrelenting force pulling me closer to her. My wolf surges forward, clawing at the edges of my control. Her scent—vanilla and sunshine—fills my lungs, drowning out every rational thought.

Because you’re mine.

The truth is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t say it. Instead, I close the remaining distance between us, backing her against the door. Her breath hitches, her wide eyes locked on mine.

“Because you mean more to me than you’ll ever know,” I rasp, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

Her lips part in surprise, and the last shred of my restraint snaps. My hands move on their own, cupping her face as I crush my mouth to hers. The world falls away in an instant, leaving only her—the warmth of her skin, the softness of her lips, the way she gasps against me before kissing me back.

The bond explodes like wildfire, surging through me with an intensity I’ve never felt before. My wolf howls in triumph, claiming her in ways I’ve only dreamed of. She tastes like everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I’ve denied myself.

Her hands grip my jacket, pulling me closer, and for a moment, I let myself believe this could work. That I could have her. That she could be mine.

Reality crashes back into me like a brutal punch. What the hell am I doing? I pull away, stumbling back as if distance can undo the kiss, undo what I’ve just done. She blinks up at me, her cheeks flushed, her lips slightly swollen. She’s beautiful. Too beautiful.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” I mutter, my voice hoarse.

“Derek, wait—”

“Stay away from Ben.” My words come out sharper than I intend, but I can’t soften them. I can’t stay here, not when every part of me is screaming to pull her back into my arms. I turn and walk away, each step heavier than the last.

Behind me, her front door slams shut, the sound echoing in my chest like a gunshot.

My wolf snarls in fury, clawing at my resolve. She’s ours, he growls. Go back. Claim her. Protect her.

But I can’t. Not like this. Not with the hunters closing in and Ben skulking in the shadows, threatening everything I’ve worked to protect. I’ve already crossed too many lines tonight.

I climb into my truck, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. The taste of her lingers on my lips, a cruel reminder of what I can’t have. I drive away, forcing myself not to look back.

But as the distance grows between us, the bond pulses stronger, reminding me of what I’ve left behind. And I know—no matter how far I run, no matter how hard I fight—it’s only a matter of time before I’m drawn back to her.

Because she’s mine.

And I’m hers.

Chapter 6

---