Chapter 31
716words
Last night replays in my mind, bringing a flush to my cheeks and a smile to my lips.
It feels like a dream, too perfect to be real.
As if sensing my thoughts, Kieran stirs, his eyes opening to find mine. A slow smile spreads across his face.
"Morning," he murmurs, voice rough with sleep.
"Morning," I reply, suddenly shy despite our intimacy.
He pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in years." It's not an exaggeration. For the first time since Marcus, I slept through the night without nightmares, without waking in cold sweat and fear.
"Good." His hand traces lazy patterns on my bare back. "Any regrets in the light of day?"
I shake my head, meeting his eyes. "None. You?"
"Only that we didn't do this sooner." His smile turns playful as he rolls us, pinning me beneath him. "Though we have plenty of time to make up for that."
What follows is a leisurely exploration, gentler than last night but no less intense. Through the strengthened pack bond, I feel his pleasure mingling with mine, creating a feedback loop of sensation that leaves us both breathless and sated.
Later, as we share breakfast in his quarters, a comfortable domesticity settles around us.
"What are you thinking?" Kieran asks, catching me watching him.
"That I'm happy," I admit. "Happier than I thought possible."
His smile is soft, intimate. "Good. That's all I want for you."
A knock at the door interrupts the moment. Kieran sighs, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before answering.
Nora stands outside, her expression apologetic but urgent. "Sorry to disturb you, Alpha, but there's a situation that needs your attention."
"What kind of situation?" Kieran's posture shifts subtly, alpha responsibility settling over him like a mantle.
"Silver Lake wolves," she says, confirming my worst fears. "They've been spotted near the east border. Three of them."
Tension ripples through me. Marcus. It's been too quiet since the bond breaking, too easy. I should have known he wouldn't give up so easily.
"Any sign of Marcus himself?" Kieran asks, voicing my thoughts.
"Not yet," Nora replies. "But the wolves are definitely his. They left another... message."
Kieran's jaw tightens. "I'll be right there." He turns to me as Nora leaves. "You should stay here. We don't know what they want yet."
"No." I stand, my decision immediate. "If this is about me, I need to be there. I won't hide while others face danger on my behalf."
He studies me for a moment, then nods. "Alright. But you stay with me at all times."
At the east border, we find another dead rabbit surrounded by moonflowers, but with a new addition: my silver knife—the one I'd hidden from Marcus and once used to defend myself—thrust through the rabbit's heart.
"How did he get this?" I whisper, staring at the familiar handle. "I lost it when I fled."
"He's sending a message," Kieran says, his voice tight with controlled anger. "Reminding you of your past. Trying to frighten you."
It's working. My hands tremble slightly as memories flood back—Marcus finding the knife, his rage, the punishment that followed. The scars on my back throb with phantom pain.
Kieran must sense my distress through the pack bond. His hand finds mine, squeezing gently. "He can't hurt you anymore. You're pack now."
I nod, drawing strength from his touch, from the bond humming between us. "What do we do?"
"We find them," he says simply. "Before they can cause more trouble."
The sentinels spread out, tracking the scent of the Silver Lake wolves through the forest. Kieran and I follow the strongest trail, moving silently through the underbrush.
"They're being obvious," I murmur after a while. "Leaving clear trails. It's not like Marcus to be so careless."
"Unless it's deliberate," Kieran agrees, his expression grim. "A trap."
We stop, reassessing. If Marcus wants us to follow, what's waiting at the end of the trail?
"We should go back," Kieran decides. "Gather more wolves, approach from multiple directions."
Before we can turn, a familiar scent reaches me—one that makes my blood run cold. "Too late," I whisper. "He's here."
