Arrow Lake I don’t want money [M]

He hated the way his words had changed her expression. If she had found him months earlier, he would have been all revved and ready to go. But she hadn't. She was here now, and even if his feelings weren't reciprocated, he still felt unavailable. His heart would not be in it, and the lovely Pandora did not deserve that. 

She put space between them, and he was grateful even if it caused guilt to swell in his chest. Pandora asked if he had someone, and he shrugged his muscular shoulders. Sort of, he told her. It would be all he would offer on the subject, regardless of her questioning. Kallik grunted at her next words. I guess so, he told her, though his tone was teasing. 

To her last question, he said: I am a soldier now. I am not supposed to be messing around outside the pack. If we were together, the imperator would likely find out and punish me for it. It was not something he wished to repeat.