Chapter 9

• As Maya and Lucas interacted, Nicklaus couldn't tear his gaze away, his heart heavy with a mixture of longing and sorrow. He knew that he was just a commoner, a member of the pack who had never dared to dream of anything more than his station allowed. But still, it pained him to see Maya with her childhood crush, to watch as she shared moments of laughter and camaraderie with someone who had always been out of his reach.
• Nicklaus had known Maya since they were children, their paths crossing occasionally as they grew up in the same pack. He had always admired her from afar, her beauty and grace captivating him in a way that he couldn't quite explain. But he had never dared to approach her, never dared to imagine that someone like him could ever be worthy of her attention.
• And now, as he watched Maya and Lucas together, a sense of bitterness welled up inside him. He knew that Lucas had always been Maya's closest friend, her confidant and companion since they were pups. But that didn't make the sight of them together any easier to bear, especially now that Maya was no longer just a childhood friend, but the future alpha of their pack.