Chapter 8

I opened my eyes, my throat on fire, my face wet and puffy. Panic surged through me until I took in my surroundings. My living room. My book. Mary's snoring.

A dream. It was just a dream.

Cairn wasn't here. I wasn't there. I wasn't in chains. I was safe. As safe as I could be in this shitty building, anyway.

I sat up, then rushed to the bathroom, throwing up violently into the toilet. My legs wobbled as I stood, forcing myself to wash my face and brush my teeth. When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. Livid complexion. Dark circles under my eyes. I looked like absolute shit. I was so fucking done with these nightmares. I just wanted to sleep.

I pulled on some yoga pants, a T-shirt, and a sports bra before heading out for a run. The early morning sky was painted in pink and yellow hues, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. The air was colder than I expected, so I picked up my pace, forcing my blood to pump faster to regulate my temperature.

After an hour, I made my way to the gym. I went straight to the backroom, where I found Maxwell already training alone, starting his day.

"What are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but it's six in the morning, and you work nights."

"Yeah, I know. Nightmares."

"Oh. Again? You here to train? You already smell bad, so I take it you worked out before coming here."

"Thanks for that." I rolled my eyes. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something. Got a few minutes?"

"Yeah, of course. What's up?"

He tossed his gloves into the corner and grabbed his water bottle, taking a few long gulps before turning his full attention to me.

"I was wondering if you knew someone with a job for me. I don't care if it's legit or not. I need money before Saturday."

He studied me for a few seconds before sighing.

"I'll ask around today and let you know. But… what's it for? Maybe I could help. Lend you the money?"

"You know I don't like owing friends." I shook my head. "Besides, you don't have that kind of money."

"I've saved a little."

"I'm not taking your savings." I hesitated before continuing, "It's just… Andrew's being a jerk. He wants me to work Saturday, and it's the Gathering. I know it sounds silly, but I really want to go. It's the only time of the year where I actually feel like I belong. Like I have a pack."

"I get it. I miss my pack. My Alpha."

"At least you know what you're missing."

He didn't reply, just nodded.

"Anyway, thanks for asking around. I appreciate it. I know you don't like doing that."

"No problem. But in exchange, you're training with me in the next class. It's a women's class, and they could use a female presence."

I groaned. "Ugh. Fine. But only because it's you. And only this once."

"Deal!"

He gave me a friendly shove and handed me his water bottle. I hadn't realized how thirsty I was until I started drinking. My stomach rumbled, reminding me I hadn't eaten yet.

"Hey, want to grab something to eat before class?"

"Got things to do here, but if you're bringing food, I'll eat with you."

"Okay! I'll get pastries and stuff. I'll bring you that tea you like."

With that, I headed out.

Maxwell swore by starting his mornings with peppermint tea, claiming coffee was bad for you. Total bullshit. I couldn't function without coffee. If I could inject it straight into my veins, I would.

I grabbed some croissants stuffed with egg, ham, and cheese, along with blueberry muffins and cinnamon rolls, then made my way back.

"Damn, that smells amazing! We've got ten minutes before the girls start arriving."

"Better dig in then. I'm starving."

I plopped down crisscross on the mat. Maxwell shot me the look, so I sighed and spread some napkins around to contain the inevitable mess. He sat with one leg extended, leaning back on his left arm.

I won't lie—he was sexy. Heavy muscle mass, sun-kissed skin, dark hair, and hazelnut eyes. He was the kind of guy women looked at like he was the most decadent chocolate cake. I didn't want him like that, but I understood the appeal.

Too bad none of them would ever get a piece of him.

His soul was too shattered.

Thinking he'd never get a second-chance mate broke my heart into a million pieces. It was the only thing that could pull him out of this abyss, and yet, he had convinced himself it would never happen.

He ended up eating more than half of what I brought—because he's a pig—before we cleaned up the mats.

I used the little time I had left to go through a yoga flow, stretching and warming my muscles for what was to come. I knew Maxwell wouldn't go easy on me today. He'd make me pay for the trouble I was about to cause him.

Calling in favors from people he didn't want to owe.

Drawing boundaries with them, knowing they'd try to drag him back into their world.

Yeah. He was definitely going to make me suffer for this.