Chapter 227 - 13: A walk to the park
The atmosphere between Killian and Nathaniel was thick with unspoken tension as they walked toward the bus stop. Their hands were still entwined, a connection that neither seemed willing to sever just yet.
For Killian, every step they took made him hyper-aware of the contact. His heart was racing, though he tried to keep his breathing steady. He wondered if his boss felt the same, but the alpha’s face was hidden from him, as he was walking a step ahead from Killian.
Killian unconsciously squeezed the alpha’s hand, and he felt him stiffen from that movement. This caused his heart to flutter inside his chest as if that mere reaction held a meaning.
They walked in silence.
When they finally reached the bus stop, Nathaniel gently released Killian’s hand.
The sudden absence of that warmth left Killian feeling oddly hollow like something essential had been taken from him. He stood there awkwardly; hands clasped in front of him as if unsure what to do with them now. He glanced up at Nathaniel, but the alpha’s gaze was distant; his thoughts were clearly elsewhere.
Killian wanted to say something, to thank him for saving his life earlier, but the words caught in his throat.
Nathaniel’s aura was overwhelming, and despite the vulnerability he’d shown after the near-accident, Killian still felt intimidated by the older man’s presence.
He hadn’t been expecting any of this—especially not the raw, unfiltered fear he had seen in Nathaniel’s eyes back on that street. It left him confused, and uncertain about the nature of their relationship.
It feels like they were playing tag, or maybe hide and seek. The bus arrived just before either of them could speak.
Killian offered a simple goodbye, not wanting to overstay his welcome or make things more awkward. "Sir, it’s too late, but thank you so much for saving my life back there. And...thank you for walking me out here. I’m going now, sir. Have a good night."