Nathan’s POV
Taking Nicole out tonight was the least I could do. After everything I put her through—the accusations, the doubt, canceling our mating ceremony—it was time to make things right. I had thought about different ways to make it up to her, but in the end, I decided that a quiet, intimate evening away from all the madness would give us the chance to talk, to really connect again.
I glanced at her as we walked into the restaurant, a high-end place I’d chosen specifically to remind her of how Important she was to me. She looked a little nervous, her fingers squeezing mine just a bit tighter as we were led to our table.
The place was exactly what I’d hoped for—luxurious but warm, with dim lighting and an incredible view of the forest just beyond the windows. Nicole’s eyes darted a
