Page 18 of Bronx

Bronx could only pray that Cora would see the man beneath the scars and be drawn to him as he was to her.

But first, he needed to return to his human form, gather his courage, and face whatever challenges awaited him at the Moonstone Café. And no matter what happened, he vowed to himself that he would protect Cora and her child with every fiber of his being, just as he protected his pack.

With renewed purpose, Bronx pushed himself harder, running faster than ever before. The wind whipped through his fur, and his legs powered through the forest, carrying him toward an uncertain but hopeful future.

Bronx’s pulse thundered through him as he approached the Moonstone Café several hours later, his footsteps echoing his mounting anticipation. He had run for miles in wolf form to calm his nerves, but now, back in human shape, his anxiety returned tenfold. Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady himself, concentrating on the scents of brewing coffee and freshly baked pastries that drifted from the café.

“Come on. You can do this,” he muttered under his breath, clenching his fists at his sides. The thought of being with Cora sent an unfamiliar warmth through him, a yearning he couldn’t ignore.

As he neared the café entrance, Bronx hesitated, catching sight of Nick and Cora standing near the cash register through the window. His heart lurched at the sight of them together. Nick leaned in close, murmuring something to Cora that made her laugh—a sweet, melodic sound that tugged at Bronx’s emotions. As she blushed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, Bronx feared Nick might be flirting with her.

A surge of possessiveness coursed through Bronx as he watched the scene unfold through the café window. His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought to control the primal urge to barge inside and put an end to Nick’s flirting. Preferably a permanent end. He inhaled deeply, drawing in the calming scent of the mountain air, trying to force his anger down.

“Control yourself,” Bronx muttered under his breath, knowing that giving in to his instincts wouldn’t do him any favors. As much as he wanted to protect Cora from any potential threat, even one as benign as Nick, it wasn’t his place. They hadn’t even had their first real conversation, and he couldn’t risk scaring her away by revealing the depths of his possessive nature too soon.

Get it together, man, Bronx chastised himself, forcing his gaze away from the pair.You’re here to spend time with her, not jump to conclusions.

With a final steadying breath, Bronx pushed open the door to the Moonstone Café, his movements stiff with barely restrained tension. The bell above jingled merrily, and the heat from inside wrapped around him like a blanket, but it did little to ease his unrest. He glanced at Cora, and the heat in her gaze as she looked at Nick only stoked the fire within him.

“Bronx!” Cora called out, her eyes lighting up as she spotted him. She offered him a genuine smile, and for a moment, his fears melted away.

“Hey, Cora,” he replied, his voice rougher than he intended. He watched as her gaze flickered to the scars that marred his face, and he felt a familiar pang of insecurity. But she didn’t flinch or look away. Instead, she simply stepped around the counter and made her way toward him.

“I’m still not sure when my break will be,” she said, “so I hope you don’t mind waiting.”

“Of course not,” Bronx assured her. “I can wait as long as it takes.”

“Great,” Cora replied, her smile returning. She gestured to a cozy corner table and added, “Why don’t you have a seat? I’ll bring you a coffee while you wait.”

“Sounds perfect,” he said, nodding appreciatively. As Cora disappeared into the back room, Bronx took the opportunity to glance over at Nick, who was watching their interaction with an unreadable expression. Bronx’s gut twisted, but he pushed the feeling aside, unwilling to let it mar his time with Cora.

Cora, he reminded himself, taking a deep breath as he settled into the chair.She’s the one who matters.

She brought him a cup of coffee, then went back to waiting tables.

As Bronx waited for Cora to return, he imagined what it would be like to have her by his side—not only now, but for the rest of their lives. Something deep inside him longed for the chance to prove to her that he could be the man she needed, even with his scars and imperfections.

Not Nick. Never Nick.

“Hey,” Cora said hesitantly, slipping into the booth across from him and setting down a cup of coffee of her own. But she’d clearly picked up on his tense demeanor. “Is everything okay?”

“Fine,” he growled, the word coming out harsher than he intended. Fear flickered through her eyes, and Bronx cursed himself for allowing his emotions to slip through.

“Okay…,” Cora replied, shifting nervously in her seat. “I’m sorry if I kept you waiting.”

Bronx shook his head, forcing a semblance of calm into his voice. “It’s not your fault. Just…pack things on my mind.”

“Ah,” she said, her expression softening with understanding. She reached for her cup, taking a sip as she regarded him carefully. “Well, I hope this little break can help take your mind off of it, even if just for a little while.”

“Me too,” he said, his tone less growly than before. He watched as she took another sip of her coffee, her delicate fingers wrapped around the mug, and he imagined what it would be like to have those hands on him—soothing, gentle, loving.

“Bronx?” Cora’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “You were spacing out there for a moment.”

“Sorry.” He dragged his gaze back to hers. “I appreciate you meeting me during your break,” he said, his voice steady. “I know you must be busy.”

Cora offered a tight-lipped smile, clearly still on edge from his earlier demeanor. “It’s not a problem,” she replied. “I needed a break anyway.” She hesitated, clearly worried about his mood, but she pressed forward regardless. “So… How have things been with the pack lately? I know it can be difficult, juggling everyone’s needs and keeping everything running smoothly.”

“Things are…manageable,” he replied, intentionally vague. He didn’t want to burden her with the intricacies of pack life, not when they were still getting to know each other. “But enough about that. Tell me about yourself. I want to know more about who you are.”

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