Page 19 of Bronx

“Okay.” A tentative smile played at her lips.

As their conversation flowed, he found himself more and more captivated by her, wanting to show her that he could be the partner she needed. And if that meant swallowing his pride and fighting his nature, then so be it. For Cora, he would do whatever it took.

And so Bronx worked to keep his possessive instincts in check, reminding himself that Cora deserved the chance to choose her own life—whether that included him or not.

As they sipped their coffee, Cora broached a topic she’d clearly been considering for a while. “I’ve been thinking about finding a place to live here in Moonstone. Amelia’s been really kind, letting me stay with her, but I don’t want to impose any longer than necessary.”

Bronx stiffened, his mind racing with the implications of her words. Was she already planning a life without him? He struggled to keep his worry in check.

“Have you looked at any places?” he asked, attempting to sound casual.

“Not yet,” she admitted. “I don’t really know where to start. But I thought maybe you could help me?”

“Of course,” he said, trying to hide his anxiety behind a smile. “I’d be happy to help you find a place.”

“I really appreciate it,” she said, her eyes lighting up.

Their discussion shifted to lighter topics, but Bronx barely followed the thread of the discussion. He knew he had to tread carefully, but he also couldn’t let her slip through his fingers without a fight.

As their thirty minutes ticked away, Bronx consciously softened his tone, allowing his gentler side to emerge. He told her stories about the pack, shared memories of growing up in Moonstone, and even managed to make her laugh with a tale of his youthful antics—the one where he’d fallen into a river chasing an otter and learned he was aterribleswimmer.

As she laughed aloud, his eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, they were lost in each other’s gaze—but before Bronx could say anything, the café door swung open, jolting them back to reality.

“Break’s over,” Cora sighed, reluctantly standing. “I appreciate this. It means a lot.”

“Anytime,” he replied, watching her return to work and wrestling with the whirlwind of emotions inside him. He knew he had to tread carefully, but as he watched her weave through the tables, a sense of urgency swept through him—and a fierce determination to make her his. Yet the lingering worry remained that she would slip through his fingers like sand—especially if Nick kept hovering around her.

Then Cora’s laughter echoed through the café, ricocheting off Bronx like a silver bullet.

“Hey, Cora,” Nick called out as she moved toward the back, a flirtatious grin on his face. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t forget our movie night tonight.”

“Of course not,” Cora replied, flushing pink. “It’s on my calendar.”

Bronx clenched his jaw, his knuckles whitening around the edge of the table. The image of Cora and Nick cozying up together tormented him, reigniting the possessive fire in his chest.

He knew what he had to do: arrange their mating ceremony, and soon. If he waited too long, he might lose her to someone else—someone who didn’t carry the scars he did, inside and out. He couldn’t let her go—not now, not ever. Even if it meant trapping her in a relationship, he had to claim her as his own.

As he left the café, Bronx’s mind raced, torn between desire and guilt. The scent of jasmine and vanilla lingered in the air as he walked away, a haunting reminder of the woman he so desperately wanted.

His decision pressed down on his shoulders like a mountain, threatening to crush him beneath its immensity. But with each step he took away from Cora, the ache in his chest grew stronger, and he knew he couldn’t bear to live without her by his side.

Chapter 8

CORA WATCHED AS BRONXstrode out of the café, his broad shoulders tense, his back ramrod straight, his slight limp more noticeable than usual tonight.

A mix of confusion and curiosity washed over her as she wondered why he had agreed to consider becoming her mate, when it seemed he didn’t exactly want to do so.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Nick’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to reality. He leaned casually against the counter with a charming grin, his long hair tied up in its usual bun. “Need some help with that?” he asked, nodding toward the tray of dirty dishes Cora was carrying.

“Um, sure,” she replied, trying to refocus on her work. “I appreciate it, Nick.”

“No problem,” he said, deftly taking the tray from her hands and whisking it away to the kitchen. When he returned, his eyes twinkled mischievously. “So you and Bronx, huh? Quite the power couple.”

Cora felt heat rise to her cheeks, but she quickly composed herself. “Yeah, I guess,” she mumbled, not wanting to dwell on the subject.

“Hey, don’t be shy about it,” Nick teased, nudging her shoulder. “He’s a great guy. But just between you and me, I think you could use someone a bit more…fun-loving.” The flirtatious tone in his voice made her raise an eyebrow.

“Nick, please,” she said firmly, though a small smile played at the corners of her mouth. She’d noticed that he seemed to flirt with everyone, so she didn’t take him seriously. Regardless, though, his lighthearted banter provided a welcome distraction from her troubled thoughts about Bronx.

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