Chapter 4
737words
Inside, the scent of pack is strong but not oppressive—pine and earth and something like cinnamon.
Wolves move through the large open rooms with easy familiarity, nodding respectfully to Kieran as we pass.
"You'll stay here," Kieran says, showing us to adjoining rooms on the second floor. "There's food in the kitchen if you're hungry. Bathrooms are stocked."
Thea squeezes my hand before disappearing into her room, exhaustion evident in every line of her body.
I linger in the doorway of mine, noticing how Kieran favors his left side. The gashes across his chest have soaked through his shirt, dark crimson stains spreading slowly. He must be in considerable pain, yet his face betrays nothing.
"What happens now?" I ask softly.
"Now you rest." Kieran's eyes flick to the mating bite visible above my collar. "Tomorrow we talk about breaking that bond."
"Is it really possible?"
Something shifts in his expression. "Yes. But it will hurt."
"I'm used to pain."
His jaw tightens. "You shouldn't be."
Before I can respond, a young woman appears at the end of the hall. "Alpha, the sentinels are back. They found something."
Kieran nods. "Get some sleep, Selene. You're safe here."
As he turns to leave, I reach out impulsively, touching his arm. "Your wounds—they need treatment."
He looks surprised at my concern. "They'll heal."
"Silver Lake claws are often treated with wolfsbane," I say, remembering Marcus's cruel tactics. "It slows healing."
Kieran studies me for a moment, then nods once. "I'll have them checked. Thank you."
I watch him walk away, his gait steady despite the pain I know he must feel.
He fought for us—for me, a stranger—and took wounds that should have been mine. The realization sits heavy in my chest.
My room is simple but comfortable—a queen bed with soft blankets, a dresser, a window overlooking the forest.
I shower, washing away the scent of fear and Marcus, then slip into borrowed clothes left on the bed.
Sleep should come easily after everything, but my mind races. I find myself at the window, watching moonlight silver the trees. Three days until the full moon. Three days until Marcus is at his strongest.
A knock at my door startles me. Thea enters, her damp hair indicating she's showered too.
"You should be resting," I say.
She sits on the edge of my bed. "I needed to see you. To make sure this is real."
I join her, taking her hands in mine. "I'm so sorry he hurt you because of me."
"Don't." Her grip tightens. "This isn't your fault. It's his."
"How did he find you?"
"He came to the mill asking questions. I refused to tell him anything." Her eyes darken with memory. "He followed me home."
Guilt twists in my chest. "I should never have contacted you."
"If you hadn't, you'd still be with him." Thea's voice hardens. "And we both know he would have killed you eventually."
The truth of her words hangs between us. Marcus's rages had been getting worse, his control slipping. The last time, he'd shifted partially and slashed my side open. I still had the scars.
"Kieran said the bond can be broken," I say, changing the subject.
Thea nods. "He knows more about pack law and rituals than anyone I've met."
"What do you know about him?"
"He's fair. Tough but never cruel." She smiles slightly. "The pack respects him, not just fears him. That's rare."
"And unmarked," I observe. "No mate."
"He's dedicated to the pack," Thea says simply. "I've never seen him put himself before his responsibilities."
Before I can question her further, another knock sounds. A young male wolf stands in the doorway, holding a tray.
"Alpha sent food," he says, setting it on the dresser. "And these." He places a small jar beside the tray. "For your wounds."
After he leaves, we eat in comfortable silence—sandwiches, fruit, and cookies still warm from the oven. The normalcy feels strange after the night's violence.
"You should sleep," I tell Thea when she yawns again.
She hugs me tightly before leaving. "I'm glad you're safe."
I apply the salve to my cuts, surprised at the immediate relief. Then I crawl into bed, expecting to lie awake for hours.
Instead, I fall into the deepest sleep I've had in years.
