Chapter 5
Matthew
Oh, he could tell by the look on Daniel’s face that the alpha was thirty seconds away from throwing him out of the office—not just with a no, but a hell no.
Not that Matthew could blame him.
Part of him felt sick to his stomach, knowing he was tearing open old wounds. But as he’d already said—he had no one else to turn to. Really, if he did, he wouldn’t be here, staring into his cup of coffee like it held the secrets of the universe.
Maybe coming here was a mistake.
He should just go. Learn to fight his own battles. Solve his own problems. He should do that. He needed to do that.
So why wouldn’t his legs move?
Why was his heart pounding so hard?
Why was his chest so tight?
Why did it feel like the air had been sucked out of the room and his lungs were about to burst?
“Matthew, calm down. Take slow, deep breaths.”
He was spiraling. Panic was taking control. His vision blurred so badly he didn’t even realize Daniel had moved from his seat—until he felt a warm hand rubbing slow circles on his back.
He tried to focus on Daniel’s voice, not the heat of his touch. But the alpha’s presence was overwhelming. With him this close, something inside Matthew stirred. A pulse reawakened—soft at first. Then sharp. Electric. Tugging at a place behind his heart.
His bond mark burned.
He could feel Daniel—not just his touch, but him.