Chapter 7 Rissa
Rissa
The school parking lot buzzed with activity as I tied a balloon to the bake sale sign. Parents chased after giggling kids darting between tables laden with gift baskets and homemade treats. It was really good to be part of this, part of the community I'd left behind years ago.
Max strolled over, his hands in his pockets and an easy smile on his face. "You ready for the chaos?"
I grinned back. "Bring it on."
Max chuckled and glanced around the bustling scene. "Looks like a great turnout. You're a natural at this."
I shrugged, pleased at the compliment but trying to play it cool. "Just doing my part. The kids deserve the best we can give them."
As if summoned by my words, a gaggle of little ones raced past, their laughter infectious. Among them, I spotted Sophie, one of the quieter kids in my class. She clung to her mom's hand, hesitant.
I knelt down to her level. "Hey, Soph. Did you bring your piggy bank money?"
She brightened up, then leaned in and whispered, "For a cookie."
I winked conspiratorially. "Good choice. We have the best ones here."
Sophie relaxed, a small smile lighting up her face. As her mom led her toward the bake sale table, she mouthed a silent 'thank you' to me.
I straightened up. This was what I loved. Seeing these kids open up, trust a little more, and find joy in simple things. After the heartbreak of losing my own child, being here for them soothed my old wounds.
Max rested a hand on my shoulder briefly. "You're really good with them, you know. The kids. They adore you."
I ducked my head, touched, but unsure how to respond. "Thanks, Max. That means a lot."
As he moved off to check on another booth, I took a deep breath and surveyed the happy chaos. Yes, this was right.
I straightened, still smiling, and noticed Nathan standing near the raffle booth. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable. My pulse jumped. Nope. Not today. I'm not thinking about him.
Before I could process it, Peter, the single dad who'd been a little too friendly with me at drop-off and pickup, walked up. He leaned on the table, a little too close. "Tell me, Miss Mitchell, which booth should I hit first?"
Ugh, he put way too much emphasis on the Miss. He was really trying to flirt. I forced a polite smile. "The dunk tank. I hear Principal Martin is up next."
Peter grinned. "Tempting. But I think I'll stick around here for a bit." He was harmless, but the way he leaned in made me shift back a bit.
Before I could step back again, a presence loomed behind me. Nathan. His posture was rigid, his whole attention locked on Peter like a predator sizing up a rival.
Peter noticed and cleared his throat. "I should, uh, grab some tickets." He walked away fast.
I exhaled, shaking my head. "Did you have to do that?"
Nathan didn't move. "Do what?"
I scoffed. "Glare at him like you were deciding whether or not to rip his head off."
Nathan finally uncrossed his arms. "I was just standing here."
I narrowed my eyes. "Uh-huh. Sure." Why did he have to be so infuriatingly overprotective? It wasn't like we were together. We never would be. I wouldn't let myself fall for anyone again, especially not him, my brother’s much-older-than-me best friend.
Elle walked up with a group of friends, spotted me, and frowned. She muttered, just loud enough for me to hear. "Figures."
I tensed. "Excuse me?"
Elle didn't repeat herself. She just turned and walked away, leaving me stung and confused. What had I done to make her dislike me so much?
I turned back to Nathan, ready to demand answers, but he was already striding off, his shoulders taut. I exhaled sharply. This day just kept getting better and better.
The fundraiser finally wound down, and I started gathering up the leftover bake sale items to take inside. Nathan appeared next to me, his presence too large, too warm.
He didn't waste time. "What happened with Elle?"
I glared at him. "You tell me. She's been acting like I ran over her dog since I got here."
Nathan's jaw tightened. "She's a kid. She'll come around."
I folded my arms. "So you do know she has a problem with me? What is there to come around to?"
Nathan exhaled sharply. "I noticed there was some animosity there."
I didn't let it go. "Did you say something to her to make her dislike me?"
Nathan looked genuinely taken aback. "What? No, of course not. Why would I?"
I studied him, trying to figure out if he was telling the truth. "Then why does she seem to hate me?"
Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. "She's been through a lot. She's protective."
My frustration grew. "Protective of whom?" I demanded. Of him? Of their family? I was just trying to do my job and live my life. I didn't need this small-town drama.
Nathan avoided answering. Instead, he glanced toward where Peter had walked off to. His tone shifted. "You need to be careful with people like him."
I groaned. "Oh my—Seriously?" I couldn't believe he was pulling this overprotective act again.
Nathan's hands flexed at his sides. "You don't know him."
I threw my hands up. "I don't know you either."
That made him flinch. Ha. Good. Maybe he'd finally back off.
I shook my head, ready to walk away. Before I could, Nathan muttered under his breath. "He's not good enough for you."
I stopped in my tracks. My pulse spiked. Not good enough for me? Who did Nathan think he was?
I forced myself to scoff. "And who is?"
Nathan didn't answer. He just stood there, his brown eyes intense, his expression unreadable.
I couldn't handle the tension anymore. I stormed off, pretending my heart wasn't pounding. I wouldn't let myself fall for Nathan Gallagher. I couldn't. No matter how much my traitorous heart seemed to want to.
I slammed the door behind me as I walked into Gavin's house later that evening. The scent of Chinese takeout wafted over from where he sat on the couch.
Gavin looked up, eyebrows raised. "Bad day?"
"Your alpha is insufferable," I grumbled, kicking off my shoes with more force than necessary. They thunked against the wall.
"Yeah, tell me something I don't know." Gavin snorted. "He's your alpha now too, you know."
I plopped down at the kitchen table as Gavin brought the food over. "He was glowering at some poor guy at the fundraiser like he was about to shift right there in the middle of the parking lot."
Gavin passed me a container of kung pao chicken. I popped it open and shoved a huge bite into my mouth so I wouldn't have to say anything else.
For a few minutes, the only sounds were the scrape of forks against takeout containers. But Gavin studied me way too intently.
Finally, he spoke. "So, what's really going on?"
I chewed slowly, stalling. Nathan's heated gaze and possessive words echoed in my mind. The way he'd looked at me...
I swallowed. "Nothing."
"Mm-hmm." Gavin's hum told me he didn't believe that for a second.
We ate in silence for a bit longer. Then Gavin, too casually, mentioned, "I talked to Nathan today."
My fork paused halfway to my mouth as I glared at my brother. My so annoying brother. "Why do you keep bringing him up?"
Gavin shrugged. "I always talk about Nathan. He's my alpha. My best friend."
Huh. He was right. Gavin had always talked about Nathan. Pack business, funny stories, the latest town gossip. But now, every time Nathan's name came up, my stomach clenched, and my pulse raced.
It was too much. I couldn't sit here discussing Nathan for one more second, or I might combust. I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. "I'm going to bed."
"Okay, okay." Gavin raised his hands in surrender, but there was a slightly odd expression on his face. "Night, sis."
"Night," I mumbled. Then I escaped to my room before he could say another word.
Once my door shut safely behind me, I exhaled and leaned against it. Get it together, I ordered myself. Nathan is just another alpha. An annoyingly overprotective, aggravating, entrancing...
"Ugh!" I smacked my head back against the door. I was so screwed. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I felt nothing for Nathan beyond pack loyalty and maybe some begrudging respect, my stupid freaking heart knew better.
But I couldn't let myself fall for him. I wouldn't. I'd already lost too much. I refused to risk that kind of pain again, especially not for an alpha who would never want a damaged female like me.
No, it was better to keep my distance, keep things professional even if every instinct urged me closer to Nathan. Even if his woodsy, intoxicating scent lingered in my nose.
I pushed off the door and began getting ready for bed, determined to put the infuriating alpha out of my mind. I just hoped I'd have better luck with that tomorrow.
I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted but too wired to sleep. Nathan's words echoed in my head, a taunting loop I couldn't shut off.
He's not good enough for you.
I gripped my pillow. "I am not doing this," I growled. "I am not letting myself fall for him."
My wolf stirred inside me, radiating disagreement. She wanted to seek out our mate, to bask in his strength, and let him chase away the ghosts of our past. But I couldn't. I wouldn't.
"I don't care if he's my mate," I told her firmly. "I refuse to get hurt again."
Damn it all to hell. I was fighting a losing battle. Despite my best efforts, I could still remember the way Nathan smelled when he stood behind me today. Warm and woodsy and utterly male. It made my mouth water and my thighs clench.
Damn him. Damn biology. Damn my traitorous heart.