41. Claire: Reinforcements
*CLAIRE*
In practically no time, my apartment is crawling with Shifters. I sit on my couch, cradling a mug of tea in my hands, trying to quell the unease bubbling inside me. The shifters that Vivian had called from the pack office move through my apartment, searching for any signs of who might have broken in. The invasion of my space leaves me feeling numb and on edge, the comforting scent of tea doing little to settle my nerves. Vivian is coordinating the newcomers, her voice firm and confident as she gives orders.
Just as I take a sip of my tea, the door swings open with a force that makes it slam against the wall. Nik storms in, eyes blazing, looking murderous. The room goes silent at his sudden entrance, and I almost drop my mug in surprise.
It hasn’t been long since I last saw him—just this morning before work—but it feels like ages. His clothes are different from this morning— he must have found a few spare moments to go home and change after I left for the library. The black t-shirt and dark jeans he wears now hug the curve of his muscles in a way that makes it suddenly hard to swallow. Hard to *breathe* even. Every cell in my body sparks back to life at his presence.
Heart pounding, stand from my seat at the couch. My now cold tea is all but forgotten and set aside. From across the room, Nik’s eyes instantly lock onto mine and my breath catches. I can’t help but feel the magnetic pull between us. It’s like there’s an invisible string connecting us, tugging at my insides and yanking me in his direction.
In a heartbeat, he’s across the room and standing in front of me.
It takes me a second to identify the unfamiliar emotion blazing in his eyes. *Panic*.
In a way that’s becoming increasingly familiar, his eyes trace over every inch of me, assessing for injuries, convincing himself that I’m alright. His fingertips run over me in his search, over my shoulders, down my arms, my chin as he turns my head side to side. I suppress a shiver at the sudden brush of his heated hands brushing over me. Warmth trickles through my veins, sparks crackling to life on my skin everywhere his skin briefly comes into contact with my own.
My lips part, ready to tell him that I’m alright. But before I can say anything, Nik tugs me against him and into his firm embrace. I can’t help it, I melt into his touch. I can hear his heart pounding wildly in his chest, matching the frantic rhythm of my own.
I know I shouldn’t be holding onto him like this— I *know* I shouldn’t— but I can’t seem to stop. Intellectually, I know that Nik is only reacting this way to me because of the post-heat frenzy. Outside of that, I don't believe that he has any romantic feelings for me. I’m his brother’s wife after all. It’s only his instincts and the sudden influx of hormones that are driving him at the moment. But, unfortunately for me, while my brain knows this, my body hasn’t quite gotten the memo.
I lean into the hard lines of his body, breathing him in. And with his strong arms around me, I feel safe for the first time in days. It’s an addictive feeling. Having him so close to me, my entire body clenches, a hot flutter pulsing between my thighs. A flush warms the skin up my neck and cheeks.
Thankfully, the other Shifters in the room have suddenly become absorbed in their work, pointedly look away from us. In fact, they look everywhere *but* us, as if trying to give us a semblance of privacy.
After a few moments, Nik pulls away, but the motion stiff as if the action were forced.
“You alright?” He asks, his low voice coming out a little rough.
I nod, “I’m fine.”
He dips his chin in acknowledgement, then finally turns his attention to the other shifters around the room.
“Someone explain to me how the hell this happened.” Nik’s quiet and demanding voice echoes throughout the room, immediately drawing everyone’s attention, “Where were the guards we had stationed outside the building?”
A few of the shifters approach him, murmuring quiet responses to him. Nik listens, taking stock of the room, his alpha mode out in full swing. It’s hard not to admire the quiet dominance radiating off him. I silently watch him, butterflies fluttering in my stomach at the way he’s effectively taken charge of the situation.
I’m struggling to force those feelings down when he comes back to stand in front of me.
The fluttering in my stomach makes a swift return at the way his hard expression softens slightly when I look up to meet his gaze.
“You won’t be staying here tonight,” he informs me, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I blink up at him, brow furrowing, “What do you mean?”
He doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he strides into my bedroom and starts packing a bag for me. Surprised, I follow him, feeling a mixture of bewilderment and… relief.
“Where will I be going?” I ask.
“You’re going to be living at my place for the time being,” he tells me over his shoulder while he shoves a few outfits from my closet into the bag. “You’ll be safer there with me.”
“You…want me to stay at your house?” I ask, incredulously.
He stops what he’s doing and turns to face me, his eyes intense. “I can’t protect you if you’re not with me. Felix is still out there, and until we catch him, I need you close.”
His words send a shiver down my spine. I know he’s right. The fear of Felix finding me again is a constant shadow in my mind. But moving in with Nik? It feels like stepping into uncharted territory.
“Nik, I—” I start, but he cuts me off with a look.
“Please, Claire. Let me keep you safe,” he says softly, his voice holding a note of desperation that I’ve never heard from him before.
I nod slowly, the weight of the situation settling heavily on my shoulders. “Okay,” I say, my voice barely audible.
He resumes packing, and I watch him, my emotions a tangled mess.