Chapter 12–CLAUDE

CLAUDE

I COULDN'T FIND it. My hands tore through the piles of clothes scattered on the floor, my pulse a pounding rhythm in my ears. My breath hitched, shallow and ragged. Think, Claude. Think. I knew I'd brought the damn pills on board. I wouldn't forget something that important.

Then it hit me.

The guards.

I'd handed my bag to the security guards. A cold wave of dread washed over me. What if they'd taken them? My body trembled as I pressed a thumb hard into my eye. Fuck. This is bad. Really bad.

I glanced toward the bathroom door, steam curling beneath it, the shower still running. Nikolia had no idea what was happening on the other side of that door, and I needed to keep it that way.

Without thinking twice, I grabbed my jacket and stormed out, the salty sea air slapping me in the face as I stepped onto the ship's terrace. The place was almost deserted—just the endless horizon of water and sky.

But I wasn't alone. I caught it then. Faint, but unmistakable. His scent. The guard.

It strengthened as I moved, leading me straight to him. He was leaning against the railing, a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, the wind brushing the smoke away.

"You took something from my bag," I said, my voice cutting through the stillness.

The guard flicked his cigarette into the water and turned toward me, a smirk forming slowly on his lips. "What's a pet doing out here without his master?"

My teeth clenched. Fuck this pet and master bullshit. I was done playing games.

"I'm not here for your trash talk. You took something from my bag," I said, stepping closer.

His gaze raked over me, slow and invasive, and I caught the shift in his scent—arousal mixing with the salt and smoke. "You're the kid who'd look real good in glasses, huh?"

I gritted my teeth, my fingers curling into his shirt. Heat burned beneath my skin, claws threatening to break free. "Where. Are. My. Pills?" I shoved him hard against the railing.

His cocky grin faltered, fear trickling into his scent now. He reached for the bat at his side, but I was faster, my grip iron-tight on his wrist.

"F-Fuck," he stammered. "Okay! Okay! They're not here. We don't allow any drugs on board. It's back on land. Policy."

I stared into his eyes, reading him. No deceit. Just panic. With a low growl, I shoved him back, releasing his wrist. He stumbled, hand twitching toward his bat.

I could feel my wolf clawing its way to the surface, a low growl rumbling in my chest as I squared up to the security guard.

"You little shit. You'll pay—"

My fingers twitched, ready to strike, but before I could lunge, a sharp, voice sliced through the air.

"What the hell is going on?"

The guard stiffened, his hand freezing mid-reach for his baton. His gaze darted past me to the man now standing behind us.

"S-Sir—" he stammered.

"Were you harassing this young man?" the voice asked, and heavy footsteps stopped behind me

I turned, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. And there he was—tall, imposing, older and looking right at me. His sharp gaze locked onto mine, then flicked to the guard before landing back at me in shock.

"Tate?" he muttered, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

I froze. My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack. I'm not Tate. But he thought I was. He knew Tate—knew who I was pretending to be.

Fuck. This was bad.

The man grabbed my arm, yanking me closer, his breath hot against my face. His scent overwhelmed me—anger and suspicion.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he whispered harshly. "I told you to always stay out of sight. Stay hidden."

I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. My pulse hammered as I tried to figure out what the fuck to say. My mind blanked just as that scent hit me.

Nikolia.

"Let go of him, Hernandez," Nikolia's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—danger wrapped in silk.

The man—Hernandez turned slowly, his hand dropping from my arm.

"Nikolia," I breathed out, and I was surprised to see how relief I was to see him even though I could handle myself.

Nikolia stepped closer, water still clinging to his hair, his black V-neck shirt molding to his frame. He looked every bit the predator he was, dangerous and effortlessly in control.

Hernandez's men shifted nervously, their eyes flicking between their boss and Nikolia. But one glare from Nikolia, and they backed off without a word.

Hernandez's lips curled into a smirk, but it didn't reach his eyes. He looked back at me, then at Nikolia who now had his hand wrapped around my shoulder.

"I didn't realize you changed your type," he sneered. "You must've gotten real tired of pussy, huh?"

Nikolia's expression didn't change. He stepped forward, his movements slow and calculated. His hand left my shoulder, and I knew this wasn't for my ears as he brought his lips close to Hernandez's ear.

But I heard every word.

"You've got a week, Jonny," Nikolai murmured, his voice deadly quiet. "My men haven't notified me that my shipments are in port, or that my fucking money is in my account. I've got your houses watched, your family watched. You try anything—anything—and you'll be the one getting fucked."

Hernandez blanched. The fear rolled off him in waves, the sharp scent of it making my wolf stir. His jaw tightened, and he shot me one last glare before retreating, his useless bodyguards trailing after him.

I exhaled, realizing I'd been holding my breath.

"What was that?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Nikolia turned back to me, his expression softening, the cold predator from a moment ago gone.

"Nothing you need to worry about," he said, brushing his fingers through my hair, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. His lips hovered over mine. "Do you know him, Claude? I want you to stay away from men like that. I wouldn't want him hurting what's mine."

His words hit me like a punch to the chest. My heart stumbled, my wolf stirring at the possessiveness in his tone.

What's mine.

Nikolia's grin deepened, and I knew he felt it—the way my body reacted to him.

"You did good today," he murmured, his thumb brushing over my lips.

Heat flooded my face, memories of what we'd done earlier making my skin burn. I dropped my gaze, trying to hide the blush creeping up my neck.

Nikolia chuckled softly. "Come on. Let me treat you to breakfast."