CHAPTER 4: YOU'D DO THAT FOR ME?
1301 Words
She stared back at him, trying to understand what he meant by that, but the sharp ringing of her cellphone interrupted her thoughts.
Her expression immediately soured when she saw the caller ID.
Dad.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips. What does he want now?
She offered Pierce a small apologetic smile before answering the call. He simply nodded, leaning casually against his motorcycle as he watched her.
“Hi, Dad—”
“I’m hearing that you broke up with Zack.”
His voice cut through hers coldly, without even acknowledging her greeting. Emily’s shoulders tensed instantly.
“I knew that relationship would lead nowhere,” he continued. “Tell me you’re not planning on embarrassing yourself by showing up to the gala alone.”
Emily looked away, staring at the glittering city lights below them.
“Actually…” she said quietly, “I wasn’t planning on attending this year.”
Silence.
Then came his icy reply.
“Try that, Emily, and forget that you have a family.”
The line went dead.
Emily slowly lowered the phone from her ear, her grip tightening around it for a moment before she let out a quiet breath. She stood there silently, staring into space while the weight of his words settled heavily in her chest.
She couldn’t go alone.
But she also couldn’t avoid the gala.
Not if she wanted to keep whatever fragile relationship she still had with her family intact.
A few feet away, Pierce watched her carefully.
He had heard every word.
And he hated it.
There had been no warmth in her father’s voice. No concern. No affection. Just control.
Something dark twisted inside him at the thought.
His wolf stirred violently beneath his skin, restless and angry. Every instinct inside him screamed to protect her—to destroy anyone who made her look so small and defeated.
Especially the people who were supposed to love her.
Pierce clenched his jaw tightly and forced himself to stay calm.
Emily suddenly remembered he was still there waiting for her. She quickly pushed the sadness away and turned back to him with a soft smile.
“This is really lovely,” she said gently, looking out at the beautiful city view again. “Thank you for bringing me here. It’s so peaceful.”
Pierce stared at her for a long moment.
Even now, after that call, she was still trying to smile.
Still pretending she was okay.
“I’ll go with you.”
His voice was calm but firm.
Emily blinked in confusion and turned to him. “Huh?”
“I’ll go with you to the gala,” he repeated, his expression completely serious.
She stared at him. “Wait… what?”
Pierce pushed himself off the motorcycle and stepped closer.
“You said you can’t go alone,” he said simply. “So you won’t.”
Emily blinked at him.
For a moment, she genuinely thought she had heard him wrong.
“The gala?” she repeated slowly.
Pierce pushed himself off the motorcycle and stepped closer to her. “Yeah.”
“You don’t even know what kind of gala it is.”
“I don’t care.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Pierce, this isn’t some casual party. My father hosts one of the biggest charity galas in the city every year. Rich people, politicians, business owners…” she paused awkwardly. “People like you would probably hate it.”
One corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “People like me?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I really don’t.”
Emily sighed softly. “It’s just… formal. Fancy. Annoying. Everyone judges everyone.”
Pierce’s expression darkened slightly. “Then you definitely shouldn’t go alone.”
Something about the way he said it made warmth spread through her chest.
“You just met me,” she said quietly.
“And?”
“And normal people don’t offer to attend terrifying family events with strangers.”
“Good thing I’m not normal.”
Emily laughed despite herself.
Pierce watched the tension slowly leave her face, and his chest loosened a little. He hated seeing her upset. The phone call had changed her expression instantly, draining all the light from her eyes.
He didn’t like that.
Didn’t like the idea of anyone making her feel small.
His wolf especially didn’t like it.
The animal inside him had been restless since the moment her father spoke. Protective instincts clawed beneath his skin, sharp and violent.
Mine.
The thought came suddenly and intensely.
Pierce stiffened slightly.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Emily tilted her head. “You’re seriously willing to wear a suit and pretend to be my date for an entire evening?”
“Pretend?” he asked quietly.
Her breath caught for a second.
Why did he keep saying things like that?
Pierce took another step toward her until there was barely any distance between them. The city lights reflected in her eyes beautifully.
“I mean it, Emily,” he said softly. “You won’t walk in there alone.”
She searched his face for hesitation or amusement, but found none.
He was completely serious.
“You barely know me,” she whispered again.
Pierce’s gaze dropped briefly to her lips before meeting her eyes once more.
“I know enough.”
The air between them suddenly felt too heavy.
Too warm.
Emily’s heart pounded loudly in her chest as she looked up at him. No one had ever stood up for her so naturally before. No hesitation. No hidden motive.
Just him.
And somehow that terrified her more than it comforted her.
“You realize,” she said nervously, “my father is going to interrogate you the second he sees you.”
Pierce smirked faintly. “Let him.”
Emily stared at him in disbelief, her brows knitting together slightly. “You’d really do that for me?”
Pierce held her gaze without hesitation. The seriousness in his eyes made her chest tighten. There was no mockery there, no hidden agenda—just quiet certainty.
“Yeah,” he said simply.
For a second, Emily didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t used to people showing up for her so easily. Especially not someone who barely knew her.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her smile soft and genuine.
Pierce’s expression shifted at the sight of it, something warm flickering behind his dark eyes.
“Don’t thank me, Em,” he replied quietly.
The nickname rolled off his tongue naturally, intimate enough to make her heartbeat stumble.
Emily looked away quickly, pretending the sudden warmth in her cheeks had nothing to do with him.
Pierce glanced up at the sky. Dark clouds had begun gathering overhead, swallowing the last traces of sunset. The wind carried the faint scent of approaching rain.
“We should get something to eat,” he said. “Then I’ll take you home before the weather gets worse.”
Emily nodded.
Pierce picked up her helmet and stepped closer to her again. His movements slowed slightly as he placed it gently over her head, his fingers brushing against her jaw while he adjusted the strap beneath her chin.
The brief touch sent a shiver down her spine.
“There,” he murmured. “Safe.”
Her breath caught for the smallest moment.
Pierce stepped back before he could do something reckless—like touch her again.
The loud roar of the motorcycle shattered the quiet around them as he climbed back onto the bike. Emily got on behind him, her arms instinctively wrapping around his waist once more.
This time, neither of them pretended not to notice how natural it felt.
A second later, they sped off into the glowing city night, disappearing beneath the darkening sky.
- Writer
