Chapter 53

Selene

Loki clears his throat, breaking the awkward silence. "Um, do you want to see Luke's retired police dogs in the backyard?" he asks gruffly, his voice strained as if he's trying to find something, anything, to say.

Oh my goddess. This is so fucking awkward.

The tension between us is suffocating, thick enough to choke on.

Makayla, who had just been crying a few minutes ago, suddenly brightens at Loki's suggestion. "Sure," she chirps, her voice lighter, a little too eager. I can see the relief as she escapes the heaviness of our previous conversation about Luke being her father.

I follow them outside, my feet dragging like I'm treading through snow. It's cool outside, fall finally starting to set in after a long summer of scorching heat. At least I can enjoy the weather out here instead of being trapped in the house.

I know it's only been a few days, but the isolation is starting to wear on me. Being hidden away here, forbidden from going to work or even interacting with the outside world, is draining. I just hope Phoenix and Luke are close to catching whoever broke into our house. And close to finding away to putting Philip behind bars—or even better, somewhere where he can never hurt anyone again.

In the yard, two large German shepherds run towards us, their tails wagging with unrestrained joy. Their bright brown eyes are full of life, yet there's an undeniable depth to them, a reflection of the years of loyalty and intelligence that define them. I've always found that dogs are drawn to werewolves, probably because they think of us as cousins or some shit.

Loki crouches down, his usually scary-ass demeanor softening as he scratches behind the ears of the larger dog. There's a tender side to him that I only got a glimpse of when he asked Makayla if she was okay in the house. This must have been the side he only revealed to her when they were younger.

Makayla kneels beside him, her laughter soft and genuine as she strokes the dog's fur. For a brief moment, she seems genuinely happy.

I guess Loki does know what he's doing, after all.

I stand a few feet away, my arms wrapped around myself as I watch them interact. Apparently, watching them play with dogs is the only real entertainment I'm going to get tonight.

Great.

Loki and Makayla seem to forget I'm even here, lost in their shared moment. I shift uncomfortably, the grass crunching beneath my shoes as I shuffle from one foot to the other. I feel invisible, a third wheel, awkwardly stuck between them as they repair the rift in their relationship. Every glance they share, every shared smile, deepens the sense of isolation creeping over me, wrapping around my heart like a vice.

I touch Phoenix's mark on my neck, closing my eyes and remembering the way it felt when he sunk his teeth into my skin, binding us in a way that both thrills and terrifies me. I can't feel his emotions right now—he must have put up a mental block after he left, but I know if I mind-link him, he'll respond.

No. He literally just marked me this morning. I don't want to come off as clingy, I bet he'd find that so be such a turn off.

But goddess, I just miss him so much already, and that's what scares me the most. It's like I'm addicted to him, and no matter how much time we spend together, it's never enough. I wonder if Phoenix feels the same way. Is he thinking about me right now? Is he missing me, too? Or is he too busy dealing with whatever chaos he and Luke had to rush off to handle?

Loki's laugh snaps me back to reality. I blink, turning my head in his direction.

Holy shit. He's actually laughing. It's a deep, rich rumble that seems to vibrate through his entire chest.

Makayla is leaning close to him, their shoulders brushing as they continue to play with the dogs. A pang of envy twists in my gut. I want to go inside, and give them their privacy, but I also don't trust Loki just yet.

At least, not with Makayla.

Now, when it comes to him being bodyguard, I believe he'd do his duty. But Makayla's heart? He wouldn't know what the fuck to do with that. But maybe I'm just being unfair and judgmental right now. I don't know him well enough to make that call, but I can't help worrying about my best friend. I don't want to see her get hurt and I don't want her to hurt anyone else, either. What about Jamie? He clearly has feelings for her.

Loki saw Jamie here last night, so he knows Makayla's somewhat involved with him. I know he could easily beat Jamie and probably eat him afterwards, if he wanted to, but that wouldn't be fair to Jamie. Is she thinking about that too? Or is she too busy being lost in Loki's dark, creepy eyes?

As I stand there, continuing to watch them, I find my jealousy growing, my ache for Phoenix gnawing at my consciousness.

Or maybe it's my wolf whimpering in my head.

I suddenly find myself somewhat scared of the bond we have created. Will it always be like this? Will I always be missing, waiting for him to return like some sad, lost puppy?

And what if he isn't feeling the same way because I didn't mark him. I bet right now he's sensing the turmoil inside , asking himself what the hell could possibly be wrong with me. If he asked, I would really be too embarrassed to tell him.

For one, I can't seem to calm my wolf, and I'm worried about his safety. What if he's in a dangerous situation right now? What if he gets hurt? What if...what if he gets killed?

Fuck, I need a drink before my thoughts spiral more out of control and I start feeling like I'm going insane.