Page 56 of Nico

“I didn't think...” He swallowed. “I didn't think it was that bad.”

Nico's face flushed, and he lowered his gaze. Several crew members looked over, but I didn't care.

"What if something happened to you?" I asked, voice cracking a little.

Silence settled between us. Nico's expression shifted. Confusion gave way to surprise, then something softer. I stepped back, and forced my hands to fall away from him.

I needed to be a little more professional.

“Sorry about that.” I scrubbed a hand over my face, suddenly embarrassed. “I...”

Dang it, I couldn't think straight. One of our security team members jogged over. I looked up.

"Isaac. You need another vehicle? Our spare SUV's free,” he said.

“I do, thanks,” I said. He tossed me the keys without hesitation.

"I'll deal with this one,” he said, nodding to my truck.

I nodded, then turned before anyone could study my face any longer. After a thorough check of the new SUV, we finally headed back toward the pack compound.

This time, I insisted on driving. I was relieved Nico didn’t argue with me. Logan sat behind me, and Nico occupied the passenger seat. The silence felt heavier than the vehicle.

Finally Logan spoke. “Do you think the stalker tampered with it?"

Nico folded his arms. "It doesn't feel like coincidence."

"No,” Logan reluctantly agreed.

“The security guys will give us a report on the truck soon,” Nico said. “I’m hoping the new cameras would show us something. Anyway, I’ll review everything tonight."

I barely listened. Their voices drifted around me like distant radio chatter. My hands stayed locked around the steering wheel.

Every red light replayed the same image. Smoke, Nico behind the wheel, and my wolf panicking. The possibility that I'd almost lost him. The thought lodged itself somewhere beneath my ribs.

I'd spent weeks convincing myself I could balance both worlds.

Protect Logan. Catch the stalker. Figure out whatever this impossible thing growing between Nico and me had become. I'd been wrong.

Whoever had tampered with my truck, did they know Nico would be the one behind the wheel? Or had I been the intended target?

I didn't regret my growing closeness with Nico, not for a second. I didn't need my wolf whispering about destiny to know what was happening between us mattered.

I cherished every laugh, every quiet conversation and smile that somehow found me even on the worst days. Something precious had taken root, and it had happened with frightening ease.

Somewhere along the way, though, I'd let my guard down. Not completely, but enough to steal moments with Nico between filming. I'd started thinking about him instead of running through possible threats.

I deluded myself into thinking I had everything under control. I should've waited until filming ended, until the stalker was caught and Logan was safe. Then maybe none of this would've happened.

“Hey, Isaac. Did you hear me?”

I blinked. “What did you say?”

“You want to go through today's security footage tonight?” Nico asked gently. "With the new cameras, we might spot something useful.”

“Um, yeah. Sure."

"You okay?" Nico asked, sounding concerned.