Page 17 of My Shifty Bodyguard

My wolf doesn’t understand that, of course.

“It’s fine,” I shrug, and smile at him to show I’m okay.

It’s not fine. I’m getting a headache and my skin itches with the need to release my wolf.

“But I do not want things to be just ‘fine’ for you, I want them to be excellent. I also do not think you’re fine. I am starting to experience your emotions, and I sense…frustration.”

“We could…we could run around in the woods behind your house, I guess,” I say cautiously.

“I know! I will buy us each an ice cream sundae. I will eat an ice cream sundae with you,” he declares, and he looks so proud of himself for coming up with this that I almost cry.

A ridiculous, helpless warmth blooms in my chest. This huge, intimidating Alpha—this warrior who could level a tree with one punch—is standing there looking triumphant because he’s willing to be publicly seen eating a sundae, just for me. For me.

My throat tightens. Oh my fates, he has no idea what that does to me. No idea how sweet it feels to be seen, to be considered, to matter enough that he’s ready to brave sprinkles and public judgment just to make me smile.

And yet panic prickles under the glow.

“Really, I don’t want to go anywhere today,” I protest, and then wince as pain hammers my temples.

“Are you afraid to go out because…” he trails off.

“Because what?”

He scowls, and looks away.

So he’s keeping something from me. I’ve sensed that for the past few days. He’ll start to say something and then interrupt himself and not finish the sentence.

I really feel that he’s completely devoted to me, that he wants only me, that I am so very important to him, so why is he hiding things from me if he’s my fated mate?

Fated mates shouldn’t keep secrets from each other, right?

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, and then open them again. Maybe if I’m honest with him, he’ll be honest with me. It hurts to think that the man who fate has chosen for me is keeping secrets.

“I do not want us to go out together because people will immediately be able to sense that we’re fated mates.” At his look of shock and hurt, I hurriedly add “And you could get in trouble! What if your Alpha doesn’t approve? What if my father gets mad? I know that duty to the pack is more important than anything in your life.”

“Other things are important too. One thing in particular.” He takes a deep breath, and pulls his cell phone from his pocket. “Wait here,” he says, all serious Alpha authority, and before I can blink he’s out the door with his phone like he’s about to negotiate a hostage release.

I stand there chewing my lip trying to make out words —it’s too quiet to make out the words, but definitely loud enough to make my anxiety do parkour. I wish I had an angry goat to pet, or maybe a bull. I think that bull is just misunderstood. I’ve tried to discuss this with Dax, but it makes his heartbeat accelerate and his breathing goes all funny.

A moment later the door swings open and he fills the frame, eyes blazing with purpose. He crooks two fingers at me in a come here motion that is so effortlessly commanding my feet start moving before my brain even clocks what’s happening.

Maybe I should be offended about how domineering my sexy murder man is, but honestly? It is so hot.

We step out into the cool, pine-scented air, and before I can ask what’s going on, Dax is already tugging his shirt over his head.

And wow. Just…wow.

I’ve seen him multiple times over the past few days, and yet, every time is a fresh marvel. Muscles ripple down his torso like a thirst-trap artist’s reference sketch come to life.

He turns to me, completely unapologetic in all his Alpha glory. “Shift,” he orders, voice a low rumble that rolls right through my bones.

My wolf practically does a cartwheel.

Before I can even muster a reply, his body begins to glow with that soft, silver shimmer of magic. His spine lengthens first, shoulders broadening and dropping. Fur ripples outward in a wave, racing across his skin as his face reshapes—jaw stretching, nose narrowing, those fierce amber eyes becoming even fiercer. In one smooth, breathtaking motion, the man I love collapses forward and rises again as a massive, midnight-furred wolf, powerful and perfect.

The shift pulls at me like a magnet, my own magic answering his. Heat floods my limbs; my bones melt and reform. The world blurs and sharpens all at once as my senses explode open—earth rich beneath my paws, wind humming through my fur, my wolf singing with the thrill of being beside her mate.

He turns and races away, and I follow. We’re heading towards pack headquarters. What on earth is he thinking? I want to ask, but he’s running too fast – and I know he’s holding back so he doesn’t leave me behind.