Fated to a Human

Chapter 10

Rory stood frozen for a moment, eyes scanning the dimly lit crowd of dancing bodies, searching for any sign of Nathan. But he was gone. Just… gone. No warning, no goodbye. One minute he looked like he was about to pass out or shift into another dimension—and the next, he vanished into thin air.

She turned in a slow circle, hoping maybe she missed him slipping off to get water or talking to someone on the side. But there was nothing. No tall, dark figure. No brooding eyes or cocky smirk. Just music, laughter, and the distant crackle of the bonfire.

She gave a small sigh and shook her head.

Must’ve had too much to drink or something. Probably puking behind a bush.

Her eyes drifted around the party. Everyone seemed to be having a blast. Well, everyone but her.

Truth was, she only really knew two people here: Nathan, who had ghosted her mid-dance, and Peter—who currently had his tongue halfway down some guy’s throat against a palm tree.

Classy.

Rory shoved her hands into the pouch of her hoodie and started wandering aimlessly along the edge of the beach. She considered leaving—this wasn’t her scene. It never was. But… something about Nathan made her stay. She told herself she was just waiting a little while to see if he came back.

Just a little while.

Normally, she wouldn’t. Waiting around for people? That wasn’t her style. Never had been. Waiting meant expectations, and expectations usually led to disappointment—or worse, heartache. But with Nathan… there was something different. Something she couldn’t explain.

It wasn’t just his looks—though God knows, the guy looked like he stepped straight out of a Marvel casting call. He was ridiculously hot, sure, but Rory had met her fair share of beautiful disasters. That didn’t do it for her. What got to her was the strange pull she felt when he was near. Something magnetic. Like gravity but heavier, more personal.

He looked at her like he saw something. Like he wasn’t trying to impress her—just trying to figure her out.

And that? That was dangerous.

Rory sighed and flopped down on a half-charred log near the fire pit, folding her arms across her knees. The flames danced, orange and gold, casting shadows across the sand and her thoughts. She stared into them, quiet, letting the noise of the party blur in the background.

Then—out of nowhere—a figure sat down beside her.

“Hi,” a sugary voice said, laced with something sharp.

Rory turned her head. A tall, leggy blonde with glossy lips and fake lashes was watching her with a perfectly practiced smile.

“I don’t think we’ve officially met,” the girl said, extending a manicured hand. “I’m Skylar. Nathan’s girlfriend.”

Rory blinked.

Her eyes dropped to the outstretched hand but didn’t move to take it. Instead, she raised a single brow. “I’m Rory,” she said flatly. “Nathan told me you two are broken up.”

Skylar’s smile twitched, her fingers curling in as she pulled her hand back. “Well, yeah, technically,” she said, waving it off like it didn’t matter. “But we’re planning on getting back together.”

She paused, her gaze narrowing just slightly. “We always do.”

Rory gave her a slow nod and the tightest smile she could manage without laughing in her face. She shifted, ready to stand, but Skylar leaned forward a bit.

“I just wanted you to know,” she added, voice dropping lower, “since it looked like you were cozying up to him earlier.”

Rory scoffed, “He asked me to dance. We’re just acquaintances. Barely friends.”

Skylar crossed her legs and tilted her head, eyes gleaming with false innocence. “Well, just so you know,” she said smoothly, “Nathan Grey doesn’t do just ‘friends’ with girls. He just f***s around with them. Gets what he wants, then ghosts them.”

Rory’s lips parted slightly, her chest tightening.

Skylar leaned closer like she was sharing a juicy secret. “You can ask my friend Kayla. He slept with her the day before you showed up. Hasn’t talked to her since. That’s just how he is.”

Rory didn’t respond.

She pressed her lips together, biting down the sting in her chest. She didn’t want to care. She shouldn’t care. But the words wedged themselves somewhere between logic and emotion, and they hurt more than she wanted to admit.

Skylar smiled sweetly. “So I’m just letting you know… he’s only being nice to you because he wants to get in your pants.”

There it was.

The punchline.

Rory kept her face neutral and cool, even as something bitter swirled in her gut. “Noted,” she said softly, rising to her feet.

Skylar watched her walk away, the corner of her mouth curling into a satisfied smirk. Like she’d just won something.

But Rory didn’t look back.

She wasn’t the type to give anyone the satisfaction.

Even if her chest ached and her stomach was twisting and something deep inside whispered that maybe—just maybe—she’d misjudged Nathan Grey.

---

The salt water clung to Nathan’s pitch-black fur as he waded out of the waves, chest heaving, steam rolling off him in the cool night air. His paws dug into the wet sand, claws sinking in as the rage finally burned off in the icy water. The shift had helped. His wolf side was calmer now, breathing easier—but there was one annoying problem.

He couldn’t shift back. Not yet.

Unless he wanted to go full streaker across the boardwalk, he was stuck in his wolf form.

Nathan gave an annoyed huff through his snout and trotted toward the dunes, keeping to the shadows of the trees that hugged the edge of the beach. Once he was sure no one was around, he ducked into a narrow alley just off the boardwalk, hidden between two souvenir shops. The alley reeked of spilled soda, rotting fries, and old suntan lotion—but it was dark and empty. Good enough.

With a low growl and a shimmer of silver light, Nathan shifted back into his human form, skin steaming slightly from the rapid change. He crouched for a second, dripping wet, chest bare, hair plastered to his forehead, and very, very naked.

“Great,” he muttered to himself, glancing around.

Then he spotted it—hanging on a rusty rack outside the back of a surf shop. A pair of black swim shorts.

He darted out, snatched them, and yanked them on before someone could scream “public nudity.” Technically theft. But desperate times.

Straightening up and wiping water from his face, Nathan stepped out onto the boardwalk, still barefoot and damp but at least decent.

And then—bam.

He collided with someone hard enough to make them both stagger.

Rory.

She let out a surprised groan, stumbling back. “Jesus, what the hell—did I just walk into a brick wall?”

Nathan blinked, stunned for half a second. “s**t—sorry. I didn’t see you.”

She brushed herself off without looking at him. “Whatever,” she muttered, stepping around him.

He watched her go, brow furrowing. That wasn’t her usual fire or sass. Something was off.

“Hey,” he called after her, falling into step beside her. “Are you okay?”

Rory kept walking. “Just peachy. Had a lovely little heart-to-heart with your girlfriend.”

Nathan paused, wincing like she’d slapped him. He groaned and ran a hand down his face. “Oh, come on... Skylar?”

Rory gave a dry, humorless laugh and kept walking. “Bingo.”

Nathan quickened his pace to stay beside her. “She’s not my girlfriend. She’s—” He stopped, groaning again. “She’s nuts. She’s a jealous, manipulative, attention-starved drama queen who can’t handle the fact that I don’t want her anymore.”

Rory turned her head slightly, her eyes sharp. “So it’s not true? You didn’t sleep with one of her friends the day before we met and then ghost her?”

Nathan flinched. Damn it. “Rory—”

“So it is true.” She nodded, lips tight. “Goodbye, Nathan.”

She turned sharply to walk away, her hair swinging behind her.

“Wait—Rory, just hold on—” He reached out instinctively, fingers wrapping gently around her wrist.

The second he touched her, electricity shot up both their arms—warm, tingling, undeniable. Rory’s breath hitched, and Nathan’s eyes widened just a fraction. They both felt it.

“I’m not trying to use you,” Nathan said quietly, holding her wrist but not pulling. “I’m not trying to get in your pants. I’m not... that guy. Not with you.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious.

“I know what it looks like,” he continued, “and yeah, I’ve been an ass. I’ve done some stupid s**t. But with you... it’s different. I just want to get to know you. Hang out with you. Understand you.”

His voice dropped lower, more sincere. “Be your friend. For real.”

Rory stared at him, her jaw tight. Normally she would’ve told a guy like that to f**k off and gone full knee-to-groin, no hesitation. But there was something in his eyes—those unreal, bright blue eyes—that made her pause. He looked… honest. Like he actually meant it.

Like maybe he was just as confused about this strange connection as she was.

She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Fine. But if you ghost me again, even once, I swear to God—I’ll be your mortal enemy.”

Nathan’s mouth twitched into a grin. “Deal.”

They stood in silence for a beat, the boardwalk lights flickering above them, music from the party fading in the distance. Then Nathan glanced around.

“Let me walk you home,” he said, suddenly serious. “It’s not exactly safe out here after dark.”

Rory scoffed, her smirk returning. “I can take care of myself.”

“I know,” Nathan said, matching her smile. “But I’m still coming.”

Rory sighed dramatically. “Fine. You can tag along if you must.”

Nathan chuckled, falling into step beside her as they headed down the dim street together, the tension slowly lifting into something lighter. Something new.

Whatever this was—it was just getting started.