Chapter 8 Nora
Nora
Iwoke up with that strange, lingering feeling you get after a nightmare—
except I hadn’t dreamed.
I’d been watched.
Wolf had walked me home last night, calm and quiet beside me like a living shield. And yet, after he left, that uneasy twist in my stomach wouldn’t go away.
I checked the curtains twice before bed.
Then, once again, after turning off the light.
Then again, fifteen minutes later.
Nothing. No shadows. No odd noises.
But something in the air felt… wrong.
By morning, I convinced myself it was stress. Or lack of sleep. Or maybe the Magnolia Ladies’ gossip had finally infiltrated my bloodstream.
I brushed my hair, made a cup of coffee, and headed to the library.
Things were normal until I opened the front door.
Agnes, Mabel, and June were waiting inside.
But they weren’t holding baked goods.
They were holding weapons.
Sort of.
Agnes: a rolling pin.
Mabel: a can of hairspray and a lighter.
June: a colander.
A colander.
I stared. “What… what are you doing?”
Agnes straightened. “Protecting our girl.”
“Why,” I asked carefully, “do you have… a colander?”
June huffed. “It’s for self-defense, Nora. You can smack a grown man senseless with a good swing.”
Mabel clicked her lighter. “And I’m ready to flame-throw anyone who comes near you.”
I pointed at her hands. “Please put the fire away.”
Agnes held up the rolling pin like a medieval club. “We heard about last night.”
I nearly dropped my coffee. “How?”
June scoffed. “Honey, we know what time you sneeze. Of course, we know someone was creeping around behind you.”
“It could’ve been a raccoon,” I said weakly.
“A raccoon wearing boots?” Mabel countered.
Agnes narrowed her eyes. “Wyatt Maddox walked you home. That man doesn’t rattle easily. If he hesitated, then something is wrong.”
My heart kicked uneasily.
Wolf had hesitated.
He’d scanned the street twice.
He’d stayed in my yard longer than necessary.
I lowered my voice. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this in public.”
“Agreed,” Mabel said. “Let’s talk about your boyfriend instead.”
I nearly choked. “He is NOT—!”
The door chimed.
Trigger swaggered in first, holding a cup of coffee and looking like he’d been up all night.
Saint followed behind him, carrying a toolbox and a bag of pastries.
Havoc stomped in last, probably attracted by the scent of danger.
And then…
Wolf.
Tall. Serious. Quiet.
He stepped inside, eyes immediately locking on me.
It was unfair how every nerve in my body recognized him instantly.
Saint waved. “Morning, ladies.”
Mabel aimed her hairspray at him. “Don’t sweet-talk us, Saint. We’re on high alert.”
Trigger froze mid-sip. “What the hell is happening?”
June shook the colander at him. “Threats! There are threats in this town!”
Havoc rubbed his forehead. “Please tell me you’re not arming yourselves with cookware.”
June glared. “You’d be surprised what a woman can do with determination and a cast-iron skillet.”
Trigger whispered to Saint, “I’m scared.”
Saint whispered back, “You should be.”
Wolf stepped forward, slow and controlled.
“Nora,” he said, voice low. “Can we talk?”
Agnes elbowed me. “Go. Now. Before your future husband gets impatient.”
“STOP,” I hissed at her.
Trigger perked up. “Future husband?!”
Havoc looked horrified. “God, no.”
Saint just smiled.
I walked toward Wolf, feeling like my heartbeat might launch me into orbit.
We stepped aside, near the window overlooking Main Street.
He kept his hands in his pockets, gaze scanning the sidewalk like muscle memory. “Did anything else weird happen last night after I left?”
“No,” I said, but my voice wobbled. “Just… nerves.”
He shifted closer, lowering his voice. “I checked around.”
My breath hitched. “And?”
“Footprints,” he said. “Too deep to be yours. Too large. Not mine.”
Cold slid down my spine. “So someone—”
“Was behind you,” he finished quietly.
I swallowed hard. “Wolf…”
He leaned in slightly—not enough to touch, but enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Maybe it was nothing,” I argued weakly.
“Nora.” His eyes softened but didn’t waver. “Let me watch out for you.”
My heart flipped over. Slowly. Helplessly.
“I don’t want to be a burden,” I whispered.
“You’re not,” he said immediately. “You could never be a burden.”
For one dizzy moment, we just stood there—close enough to feel the connection tightening between us.
Then the door banged open.
Riley Tate strolled in like a walking fire hazard.
Tight jeans. Black tank top. Jean jacket slung over her shoulder.
She was followed by a smell of gasoline and confidence.
She took one look at the Magnolia Ladies’ “weapons” and grinned. “Potluck or prison break? I can’t tell.”
Trigger choked on his coffee.
Wolf pinched his nose like he was already tired.
But Riley wasn’t done.
She sauntered toward me, eyes narrowing. “You okay, Nora?”
“Yes,” I said.
“No,” Agnes corrected.
“She’s in danger,” June added.
“Or maybe she’s just finally interesting,” Riley said lightly.
Trigger gasped. “Riley! That’s rude.”
Riley smirked at him. “Relax. I like her.”
Then, eyeing Wolf, she added, “I also like her chances.”
Wolf growled, “Riley.”
“What?” she said innocently. “I’m just saying she’s got a built-in security team now.”
Wolf stepped closer to me unconsciously.
Trigger whispered to Havoc, “He did it again. The wolf-guarding-his-mate thing.”
“Trigger,” I snapped. “Please shut up.”
“Can’t,” he said. “Too excited.”
Before I could strangle anyone, Riley leaned against the counter. “Well, the sheriff’s office got another report this morning. Someone was seen near the water tower last night.”
Wolf’s muscles tensed beside me.
Trigger’s eyes widened. “Creeper alert!”
Havoc muttered, “This town is about to go sideways.”
Saint crossed his arms. “We need to talk to the Sheriff.”
Wolf shook his head. “Not yet. We need more information. And Nora needs—”
He stopped himself.
Everyone stared.
Riley raised an eyebrow. “Needs what, Wolf?”
Wolf looked at me.
Straight into me.
Like he saw everything.
“You need someone watching your back,” he finished softly.
My chest tightened.
The Magnolia Ladies all sighed in unison like they were watching a romance movie.
Riley grinned, teeth sharp. “Told you.”
Trigger whispered to Saint, “WE ARE LIVING IN A HALLMARK MOVIE AND I DIDN’T KNOW.”
Saint elbowed him. “Shut up.”
Wolf stepped even closer, lowering his voice to a rumble only I could hear.
“I’m serious, Nora. I’m not letting you walk around alone.”
My breath caught.
“And I’m not letting whoever this is get anywhere near you.”
I nodded slowly. “Okay.”
His jaw eased.
And just for a second, he let something warm and dangerous flicker in his eyes.
Good Lord.
I was in trouble.