Page 12 of Falling for My Shifter Guardian

The warning is clear, and Ben’s face pales slightly. He holds my gaze for a moment longer before turning to Olivia, his voice softening. “I’ll catch you later, Liv.”

But Olivia doesn’t respond. Her eyes are still on me, searching for answers I can’t give her.

Ben stalks off, his shoulders stiff, his steps hurried. I watch him until he disappears into the crowd, my wolf still growling, my instincts screaming that the worst is yet to come.

Maya nudges Olivia with her elbow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Well, that was sufficiently awkward. You’ve got some real tension brewing over there. Care to explain?”

Olivia sighs, brushing a strand of auburn hair out of her face. “There’s nothing to explain. Ben’s just... Ben.” Her voice wavers slightly, and I catch it because I’m hyper-aware of everything about her—the way her hands fidget with her shopping bag, the way she avoids looking at me.

Maya doesn’t let up. “Uh-huh. And what about him?” She tilts her head toward me, her teasing grin widening. “Big, broody guardian angel following you around like a shadow. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

Olivia’s cheeks flush, and my wolf perks up, pleased by the reaction even as I inwardly groan. Maya’s sharp. Too sharp. “Derek’s just looking out for me,” Olivia says quickly, her tone defensive. “Right, Derek?”

I force myself to keep my expression neutral, though my wolf rumbles with approval at being acknowledged. “That’s right,” I say, my voice low and steady. “Just here to make sure you’re safe.”

Maya raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Safe from what, exactly? The terrifying menace of overpriced honey and organic kale?” She laughs, and Olivia joins in, though it’s strained. I don’t.

“I have my reasons,” I say flatly, my eyes flicking toward the crowd where Ben disappeared. Maya’s laughter fades as she picks up on the edge in my tone.

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop prying,” Maya says, holding her hands up in mock surrender. “But seriously, Derek, you look like you’re about two seconds away from picking a fight with a zucchini. Relax.”

Relax. If only it were that simple.

The three of us continue through the market, but I stay close, my senses on high alert. Olivia and Maya chat as they browse stalls, Maya occasionally throwing little jabs my way. My wolf doesn’t mind the teasing; he’s too focused on Olivia, soaking in her presence like a balm to the tension thrumming through me. Every laugh, every smile she shares with Maya is a reminder of what I can’t have, and it’s both torture and solace.

Maya picks up a bouquet of wildflowers, holding it up to Olivia’s face. “What do you think? Too rustic for my apartment, or just the right amount of ‘I live in the woods, but I’m still chic’?”

Olivia laughs, a sound that makes something inside me ease, even if just for a moment. “Definitely chic. But you’ll have to fight me for them.”

“Uh, no way. You can’t just steal my flowers,” Maya retorts, laughing as she pulls the bouquet back.

I step closer without thinking, my eyes scanning the crowd again. Ben is gone, but that doesn’t mean other threats aren’t lurking. My wolf itches to track him down, to dig into whatever it is he’s hiding, but I can’t leave Olivia unguarded. Not now. Not ever.

After another thirty minutes of this—Maya teasing, Olivia smiling, and me following like a silent sentinel—we finally head toward the parking lot. Maya waves her bouquet as she heads to her car, calling over her shoulder, “See you later, Liv. And Derek, try not to scare off all the farmers next time, yeah?”

Olivia chuckles softly, shaking her head. Then she turns to me, her expression shifting from amused to exasperated. “Are you really going to follow me all the way home?”

I don’t answer. I just gesture toward her car, silently urging her to get in. Her light brown eyes narrow as she studies me, as if trying to decipher some hidden meaning I’m not ready to reveal.

“Unbelievable,” she mutters, but she climbs into her car.

I wait until she’s pulled out of the lot before getting into my truck and following her, keeping a careful distance. My wolf is restless, pacing inside me, snarling and clawing, his agitation mirroring the storm brewing in my chest. The memory of Ben’s hand on her arm burns in my mind, his grip too tight, his anger too sharp. My hands clench the steering wheel, the leather groaning under the pressure.

She was right; I am following her home. But it’s not just about Ben anymore. It’s about the hunters, the danger closing in, and the mate bond that refuses to let me look away.

It’s about her. It’s always been about her. And as much as I try to tell myself otherwise, I know I won’t stop until she’s safe—whether she wants my protection or not.

The promise I made to her father—to protect her, to keep her safe—repeats in my mind like a mantra. But it’s not just the promise binding me. It’s her. My mate.

She doesn’t know. She can’t know. And yet, my wolf howls for her, demanding I tear down every barrier I’ve carefully erected over the past three years. I can’t. Not when Ben’s scent reeks of something darker. Not when danger circles closer every day.

Olivia pulls into her apartment complex, parking in her usual spot. I stop my truck across the street, watching as she climbsout. Before I can stop myself, I’m out of the truck, my boots crunching against the gravel as I cross the street.

“Olivia.” Her name comes out rough, my voice heavier than I intended.

She freezes, spinning around to face me, her auburn hair whipping across her face. “So, you did follow me.”

She turns and unlocks her apartment door with an irritated sigh, stepping inside without inviting me in. She rolls her eyes but doesn’t close the door in my face, leaving it slightly ajar. I take it as an unspoken invitation—or maybe just her begrudging tolerance—and step inside, shutting the door behind me. The scent of vanilla and something distinctly hers fills the small space, making it harder to focus. My wolf presses against my control, restless.

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