Chapter 3
MARK
The night was winding down when I paid my tab at Griffin’s bar.
The bass from the speakers still pulsed through the floorboards, vibrating under my boots, but all I could really hear was Zack’s laugh echoing in my head.
That bright, animated tone that hadn’t changed at all. The way his eyes lit up when he talked about music or his band.
I’d told myself I came here to unwind after work. Maybe grab a drink, listen to live music. That was a lie. I’d known Zack would be here.
I’d overheard a couple of the guys at the compound earlier in the week. Apparently Griffin was hosting a Caribbean night.
My wolf had perked up immediately, tail wagging in my chest like some overeager pup. I told myself I wasn’t going to show up. That I didn’t care.
That what happened two years ago was a one-time thing. We had a good night, a great night even sure, but nothing more.
Then I found myself parking outside Griffin’s, heart hammering like an idiot’s.
And the moment I saw him up on that small stage, hands moving fast over the kit, curls falling into his eyes, all the excuses I’d built came crashing down.
He looked amazing on stage. When those gorgeous eyes scanned the crowd and landed on me, just for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
At first, he didn’t seem to remember me. I’d smiled back, quietly said to myself it didn’t matter, but inside, my wolf growled in quiet disappointment.
But something must’ve clicked later, because there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Like he’d finally pieced it together.
After that? Talking to him had felt effortless.
Now, sitting here with an empty glass and a heart full of static, I couldn’t shake the memory of his smile. His distinctive scent still clung to me like smoke.
My wolf was restless beneath my skin, pacing, nosing at the edges of my control like it wanted to find him again, but I didn’t.
Because what was I supposed to say? Hey, I’ve thought about you for two years even though we barely knew each other?
Yeah, no. That wasn’t me. I’d been burned once before. I still had the scars to prove it.
I told myself Zack was just nostalgia. A ghost of a what-if. Something safe to want from afar. Except when I saw him tonight, nothing about it felt safe.
The attraction was still there, electric and immediate. My wolf knew it too.
The moment Zack’s scent hit me, the animal part of me went still. Not out of threat, but recognition. Like finally, there you are.
And that terrified me more than I wanted to admit.
I tossed a few bills onto the counter and nodded at Griffin, who gave me one of those knowing looks that said he saw right through me.
“Night, Mark,” he said.
“Yeah,” I muttered, pulling my jacket tighter around my shoulders. “You too.”
Outside, the cool night air bit pleasantly against my skin. The music faded behind me, replaced by the distant hum of crickets and the faint rustle of leaves.
I paused by my truck, half-hoping I’d catch sight of Zack again but tough luck.
The lot was mostly empty, just a few cars left and a pair of humans smoking by the dumpster. Zack was probably long gone. Maybe he’d headed home.
I leaned against the side of my truck and scrubbed a hand through my hair. You could’ve asked him to hang out. Bought him another drink. Something.
Would that have seemed too forward? Too pushy? What the hell was wrong with me? I was acting like some nervous teenager, overthinking every word, every glance.
I’d been in dangerous situations. I’d even stood toe-to-toe with Carter, the lead alpha of the Thornebane pack once. Of course, that had been a complete misunderstanding.
I’d wrongly assumed his pack mates had kidnapped my brother Devon. But apparently, a handsome musician could still reduce me to fumbling silence.
Get it together, Mark.
I blew out a breath and climbed into the driver’s seat, the leather creaking under me.
I started the engine but didn’t drive right away. My fingers drummed against the steering wheel, tapping out the rhythm of the song Zack had been playing earlier.
My wolf hummed quietly inside me, not satisfied but not entirely upset either. It was like it knew tonight wasn’t the end of things.
The drive back to the pack compound was quiet. The roads wound through dark forest, the headlights catching glimpses of deer and the occasional fox.
The moon hung low, silver and heavy, and my wolf stirred at the sight.
When I finally pulled into the gravel drive, most of the cabins were dark. The main lodge glowed faintly in the distance, a few night patrol members milling about.
Our family’s cabin sat on the far edge of the compound. It was big enough to fit all of us, which was both a blessing and a curse.
Between my parents, my other brothers, and the occasional visit from Devon, it felt like living in a beehive.
Eventually, we’d all branch off and get our own places. That was the plan, anyway. But for now, this was home.
I parked by the side of the cabin and sat for a moment, hands still on the wheel. The night air smelled of pine sap and distant wood smoke.
I could hear faint laughter from one of the other cabins, the kind of easy noise that came from a pack at peace.
I should’ve gone straight inside, maybe grabbed a beer and tried to sleep. But instead, my thoughts drifted to Devon.
He’d been spending more time in Thornebane lately. Still, whenever he was here, I made it a point to check in.
Little brother or not, he’d always been the steady one. The one who made sure I didn’t drown in my own mess.
The pack clinic wasn’t far. Light spilled faintly from one of the windows, meaning someone was still up. Probably Devon, since Ethan played with Zack tonight.
I made my way over, boots crunching over gravel. The smell of herbs and antiseptic hit me as soon as I stepped inside.
Devon was there, sitting on one of the counters, a mug of tea in hand. He looked up, eyebrows raising.
“Late night,” he said.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Or couldn’t stop thinking about someone?” he asked, tone too casual.
I shot him a look. “You been talking to Griffin?”
Devon smirked. “Nope. You keep subtly asking about a certain wolf since you moved here though.”
I groaned. “You’re insufferable.”
“Honest,” he corrected. “So. You saw Zack?”
“Yeah.”
Devon nodded slowly, reading me like a book. “And?”
“And nothing. We talked, that’s all.” I tried to sound nonchalant but Devon obviously knew me better than I thought.
His smirk softened into something gentler. “You’ve been single a long time, Mark. It’s okay to want something again.”
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “It’s not that simple.”
“It never is,” he said quietly. “But you’re not the same guy you were before. If Zack means something…”
I didn’t answer right away. I just stared down at the tiled floor, the moonlight slanting through the blinds in thin silver bars.
Finally, I said, “Two years, Dev. It’s been two damn years, and I still remember the way he looked at me. What does that say?”
“That you’re not done,” Devon said simply. “Maybe you never were.”
I huffed out a laugh, but it came out shaky. “You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”
“No,” he said, hopping off the counter. “I think you’re hopeful. That’s rarer than crazy.”
Hopeful. Yeah, maybe.
“You should audition for the town New Year event,” Devon suggested.
I raised an eyebrow. “You serious?”
“Why not? Won’t Zack and his band be playing?” Devon’s tone was too casual to be innocent. “You’d get to see him again. Plus, you’re new to the pack . It’d be good for you to participate more in community stuff, blend in.”
I snorted. “You make it sound like I’m some antisocial hermit.”
“Well, you haven’t been performing, have you? You used to play all the time before Dad got really sick,” Devon said.
He had a point. I used to be passionate about music. About the feeling of losing myself in a melody, of creating something that actually meant something.
But after Dad fell ill, everything else took a backseat. Music felt frivolous compared to keeping the family together.
I sighed, dragging a hand over my face. “Yeah. I guess I did.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us wasn’t heavy, just thoughtful.
Devon’s voice softened. “Maybe it’s time you picked it up again. Not just for the pack event. For you.”
I hesitated, staring at the floor. The idea of playing again made something stir in my chest, something I hadn’t felt in years. A faint pulse of excitement, of possibility.
“I’ll think about it,” I finally said.
Devon smiled, satisfied. “Great.”
I pushed off the wall and stretched, trying to shake off the weight in my chest.
“Anyway. Just wanted to see how you were holding up,” I said.
“Fine,” Devon said. “Go get some rest, big brother.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I waved him off and headed for the door.
My mind went back to my conversation with Zack.
It hit me all at once, like the punchline of a joke I’d been too distracted to catch the first time. I’d been so wrapped up in the thought of seeing him again that his words earlier finally sank in.
Dummy, I muttered to myself. Zack had been anxious because his bandmates, Noah and Ethan, might not be able to play on New Year’s Eve.
He’d said it almost offhandedly, but I could hear the worry underneath, the frustration of a musician watching plans crumble. I felt something spark in my chest.
“That’s my in,” I whispered.
If his band couldn’t perform, maybe he’d need someone to fill in.
Maybe he’d let me, and maybe it’d be a chance to spend more time with him. To see if that electric pull between us was as real as it felt that night.
I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my phone, scrolling through my contacts. Then froze.
No Zack. I swore under my breath. Smooth, Mark. Real smooth. But then I thought of someone who definitely would have it.
Devon. Of course. Being one of the pack’s healers, he probably had every pack mate’s number saved.
I headed back inside the clinic. He glanced up when I approached, eyebrow raised.
“Mark. Forgot something?” Devon asked.
“Yeah, sort of,” I admitted, trying to sound casual. “You wouldn’t happen to have Zack’s number, would you?”
Devon’s brows lifted higher. He wasn’t going to make this easy, was he?
“I just remembered. He mentioned his band might not make their New Year’s gig, and I figured maybe we could audition together,” I said.
Devon chuckled, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh.”
“Are you giving me the number or not?” I demanded.
“Fine, fine,” he said, scrolling through his phone. He found the contact and rattled off the digits while I typed them in.
“Thanks,” I said, already backing away before he could add another smug comment.
“Good luck, bro!” he called after me.
I ignored him, heart thumping as I stepped outside. My thumb hovered over Zack’s name.
It was ridiculous how nervous I felt. My palms were actually sweating. I shook my head, laughing under my breath.
“It’s just a call, not a confession,” I muttered. Then, before I could overthink it, I hit dial.
The line rang once. Twice, three times, and then—
“Hello?”
Zack’s voice. Warm and familiar. My stomach did an actual flip.
“Hey, uh—hey, Zack. It’s Mark.”
There was a pause. Then a smile in his voice. “Mark. Hey. Didn’t expect to hear from you.”
“Yeah, sorry, I know this is out of the blue.” I rubbed the back of my neck, pacing a little. “I just remembered what you said about Noah and Ethan maybe not being able to make the Winter Festival. I was thinking…”
I hesitated. The silence stretched just long enough for me to question every decision I’d ever made.
Then I blurted it out. “Would you maybe want to perform together? For the audition, I mean. Just to see if it works.”
For a second, I thought the call had dropped. Then I heard a faint exhale, like he’d been caught off guard.
“You want to perform with me?” Zack asked.
“Yeah.” I forced a laugh, trying to sound confident. “I mean, no pressure. We could just try it out, see how it goes. If it’s a disaster, we pretend it never happened.”
Another heartbeat of silence.
“I’d like that,” he said.
It took me a moment to register the words. “You—really?”
“Yeah,” he said again, softer this time. “Honestly, I was dreading having to cancel or perform with Maurice’s band. You showing up with an offer like that feels like good timing.”
Something eased in my chest, a warmth spreading through me.
“Great,” I said, grinning despite myself. “We can pick a few songs, rehearse a little before the audition. Whatever you need.”
“Sounds good,” Zack replied. “You free tomorrow evening? There’s a small studio we can use.”
“Tomorrow works,” I said quickly.
He chuckled. “Alright then, it’s a date.” My brain short-circuited for half a second before he added, “A music date, obviously.”
“Right,” I said. “Music date.”
“See you tomorrow, Mark.”
“See you,” I said.
When the call ended, I stood there for a long moment, staring at my phone, heart still racing. The night air buzzed around me, but all I could think about was Zack’s warm voice.