“I take it I was mentioned.”
“Yes, but more as a topic of interest, Nick. I believe they regret outlawing you.”
“Well, they did, and there’s no going back. I’ll see you soon,” Nick said, ready to leave.
“If they were to offer you back your status and give you a pack, would you take it?” Dean asked.
“No, I wouldn’t.” Nick didn’t hesitate in answering. In the early days of becoming an outlaw he’d have taken his pack back at the first moment. Now, he wouldn’t dream of going back. They could give him back his pack and easily take it away.
“Why not?”
“I no longer want a pack that’s overruled by a collective of alphas who think they’re above the law.”
“It was a long time ago, Nick. You’ve got to get over one man’s actions.” Dean placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He shrugged the hand off.
“You didn’t see what he did to her. If you did, you wouldn’t be trying to bring me back into the fold. My life as an alpha ended that day.” Nick walked out of the office, thankful to leave his past behind.
Clara knew the truth, and it was time for him to man up. It wasn’t her fault he still felt guilty for putting the female in harm’s way.
The drive home didn’t last long enough. He entered the house and heard Clara making something in the kitchen. The scent of her baking filled the house. He noticed she baked a lot. Nick had taken her spare baking into the office so none of it went off.
He couldn’t be that moody to share his woman’s baking, could he?
Either way, he went to his office, putting his case away then grabbing the e-reader from the desk. It was all set up ready to receive books.
Give it to her.
She used to meet him the moment he walked into the house after he shouted at her. After the third day of him yelling at her, she stopped welcoming him home.
He’d f**ked up. Keeping hold of the e-reader, Nick was determined to fix what he’d broken.
****
Clara kept mixing the potatoes even as she heard Nick enter the house. She had f**ked up and hadn’t gotten the opportunity to apologize to him. There was only so much shouting she could deal with, so she tried to stay out of his way. She tried not to feel the hurt of being cut off from all contact. The last week with Nick had been the same as living with her parents. He didn’t talk to her, only accepted silence, and she spent most of her time trying to avoid him. The latest batch of cookies was cooling on the tray.
The only consolation she found was him taking her baking into work. At least nothing went off. She found the cookbooks in one of the cupboards, and her days had been spent marking the pages of the recipes she wanted to cook. He never complained about what she cooked, nor did he voice happiness at the food she presented to him.
The chicken and roast potatoes were keeping warm, and she tasted the mashed potatoes to see for their seasoning. Once they were done, she walked into the dining room to set their places.
When that was done, she went and served up. Putting the two plates on the mats, she removed the apron she used to keep her clothes nice and clean.
She wore a pair of tight jeans and red shirt that molded to her curves. Licking her lips, she pinched her cheeks hoping to put some color back into them. Seconds later she knocked on his office door, which was closed.
“What?” he asked.
Shrinking away from his anger, she called through the door hoping he heard.
“Dinner is served,” she said, moving away before he answered. Her place setting was beside him. Moving it three chairs down like the other times she took a seat and started to eat.
Clara refused to cry at his harsh words.
He joined her, stopping beside her chair. She stayed tense wondering if he would send her away. Holding her breath, she waited for him to move before eating again.
She sped up eating in the hope of getting away from him quickly.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“Fine.”
Nick asked her, and when she started talking and talking, he demanded she shut up as he was only hoping for a one word answer. He started eating, and Clara finished, leaving half of her plate. His anger unnerved her more than anything else.
Taking her drink with her, she entered the kitchen and started cleaning up. It was stupid of her trying to look nice for him. Whatever they’d shared in the first twenty-four hours of them knowing each other was long gone.
She washed up by hand each item. Twenty minutes had passed by the time she finished with the kitchen. Nick should be finished and long gone to his own part of the house giving her the freedom to disappear to her room.
Entering the dining room she found Nick sat, staring at the door. His gaze was on her, and she froze.
“Are you finished?” she asked.
“No, come and sit with me.”
“I’ve got to finish the dishes.” She took a step back ready to escape.
“I’ve just listened to you do all the dishes and take your time about it. I’m sure my plate can wait for you to wash. I’m not covered in diseases.”
She blushed and stepped closer to take her seat.
“No, don’t sit there. Sit here.” He shoved the chair beside him out for her to sit on.
Once she was seated, she locked her fingers together in her lap.
“I’ve been a complete bastard to you, and I apologize.”
Staying silent, she chanced a look at him. His eyes were on her and made no move to look away.
“Erm, what do you want?” she asked after several seconds when he didn’t speak.
“Will you accept my apology?”
“There’s nothing to accept. I overreacted, and I wanted to say sorry to you.”
“No, you didn’t overreact at all, but I accept your apology.” He took her hand, locking their fingers together. Staring at where he touched her to his face, Clara felt her heart racing. This was the first real contact they had in over a week. “I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did. I hope you can forgive me.”
She nodded. “I forgive you.”
“You’re not going to make me grovel?”
“No.”
“Well, I’ve got a present for you. I had intended to give you this a week ago.” He leaned down and grabbed something off the floor.
Clara couldn’t deny the excitement. He was the first person to think to give her a gift. “I don’t own any romance novels, but I hope this can make up for it.” He handed her a rectangular box.
Staring down at it she saw it was an e-reader.