Page 29 of Bronx

“I’m worried…,” he began, his voice a low rumble that seemed to echo throughout the partially painted living room, “that she could never love someone like me.”

Mila’s eyes widened in confusion as she looked at the towering guardian. “What do you mean?”

Taking a deep breath, Bronx allowed himself to be vulnerable again, revealing the thoughts that haunted his every waking moment. “I still walk with a limp, and I have scars all over my body from past battles,” he said, his muscles tightening with the memory of pain and bloodshed. “No matter how much I might care for Cora, I can’t help but think that there will always be some part of her that sees me as damaged and unworthy.”

Mila listened intently, her expression softening as she studied the man before her. As a human, she might not fully understand the complexities of shifter life, but she knew what it was like to struggle with insecurity.

“Bronx,” she said gently, reaching out to place a comforting hand on his scar-riddled arm, “any woman worth your love will value your battle scars as visible reminders of your love for your pack. Your strength and loyalty are admirable, and those qualities far outweigh any physical imperfections.”

Bronx couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. Maybe there was hope for him and Cora after all.

He glanced down at Mila’s hand on his arm, her touch gentle and grounding, and found himself wondering if she was right. If there truly was a chance for him and Cora to build something together, despite the scars that marred his body.

“I… I’ll keep that in mind,” he murmured, the edge in his voice betraying the anxiety that simmered beneath the surface.

“Good,” Mila replied with a smile, squeezing his arm before letting go. The room seemed to brighten with her presence, dispelling the shadows that had clouded Bronx’s thoughts.

“All right, let’s get back to work!” Steele said as he dipped his paintbrush into the can of soothing blue paint. “We don’t want to keep our alpha’s mate waiting too long for her new home, now do we?”

Bronx chuckled at his cousin’s playful banter.

As the three of them continued working on the house, Bronx found himself lost in thought, his eyes occasionally straying to the far corner of the room where an ornate wooden frame held a beautiful landscape painting of Yellowstone Park. The vibrant colors and intricate details served as a reminder of the world that existed beyond their pack, a world he and Cora might one day explore together.

Mila’s laughter danced through the air, pulling Bronx out of his reverie. He glanced over to see her splattering paint onto Steele’s cheek, the alpha feigning indignation before retaliating in kind. It was a simple, lighthearted moment that spoke volumes about the connection between them, and it filled Bronx with a quiet joy for his alpha.

This was his family—his pack—and as they worked together to create a home for Steele and Mila, Bronx found himself hoping he might one day share a similar relationship with Cora. The prospect both terrified and excited him, but with Mila’s words echoing in his mind, he knew he couldn’t let fear hold him back any longer.

“Hey,” Steele called out to him, snapping him back to reality. “You’re dripping paint on the floor.”

“Sorry,” Bronx replied sheepishly, wiping the excess paint from his brush and returning to the task at hand. As he painted over the bare walls, each stroke seemed to symbolize a new step forward, a new chance for happiness.

With his pack by his side, Bronx was willing to take that step.

But the fear still lingered.

What if Cora can’t ever love me?

Chapter 12

CORA STOOD BY THEwindow of her suite, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns of frost on the glass. The cold seemed to seep into her bones, mirroring the chill she felt deep inside. She glanced at Samuel playing with his toys in the corner of the room, and the cold lifted a bit.

The ringing of her cell phone startled her—almost no one in town had her number, and she didn’t recognize the number on the readout. She hesitated for a moment before picking it up. “Hello?” she answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Hey, Cora! It’s Mila,” came the cheerful reply, warming her like a crackling fire. “Ivy and I are going shopping downtown, and we’d love for you to join us.”

An outing with Mila, the Moonstone alpha’s mate, and Ivy, her only friend from the Idaho Pack, sounded enticing. But she balked at the thought of leaving Samuel behind. “I don’t know, Mila… Samuel—”

“Already taken care of,” Mila interrupted cheerfully. “Justine has invited Samuel to come play with some other pack children at the city park while we’re out. He’ll have a blast.”

Cora bit her lip, torn between her desire to bond with the women who could become her new family and her fear of trusting others with her precious son.

After all, the memory of the cruel Idaho Pack alphas, Blake Deacon and Frank Ellerson, still haunted her dreams.

And although she thought she knew better, her fears still plagued her: Would Bronx be any different? Could she really trust these people?

“Please,” Mila urged, sensing her hesitation. “We’d really love your company.”

Taking a deep breath, Cora decided to take a leap of faith. “All right, I’ll go.”

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