Page 45 of Lycan Prince's Secret Baby

Alexis was the Shadow Moon Alpha. Kyle had told Roman and me how he’d allied with him. The powerful leader of the land bordering the Moonlight Pack and our Blood Moon lands had promised his support in the fight against Reginald.

“I’ve heard that the Shadow Moons worship the moon goddess for her secrecy,” I whispered. “They like to harvest their herbs under a new moon—the darkness of the moon gives them potency for crafting spells of concealment. Lyvia used herbs from their lands on the enchantments here when we first arrived.”

Kyle nodded. “Secrecy and stealth are some of their most prized attributes. Their lands also reflect this—hidden valleys and towering cliffs. They’re a lot like this valley here.”

I’d learned from the warriors in my pack who frequented the cavern often, that Kyle said a lot of his moves were learned from Alexis and his people. It was likely true, but I knew he was being humble, too. Kyle had always been a dedicated warrior. Even when I’d first laid eyes on him, over a year ago, that’d been clear.

“She was even livelier today, I thought,” Kyle said, the fondness in his voice igniting dangerous embers that something more than co-parenting was possible.

“As your fur can attest.” A smile wound over my face.

More than once throughout the day, she’d grabbed clumps of Kyle’s fur.

“Totally worth it.” He laughed. The low, throaty chuckle sent my stomach whirling with a thousand butterflies. In it, I felt the echo of possibility. It was like my most joyful memories had been distilled into that sound: holding Lina in my arms for the first time, being reunited with Roman, and the wholeness I’d felt today as Kyle and Lina’s hands threaded through my hair.

My chest swelled with a sense of belonging. Together, could we build something new and whole?

“Kyle, I—” but the words tangled in my throat. Hope mixed with fear. My heartbeat resounded in my ears like a drumroll, smothering my voice before it could take flight.

Kyle leaned forward as if he wanted to be closer. But he stopped, remaining where he was. I thought of how many times he’d pressed himself in his wolf form against me today, but that was for Lina. It requiredallof our family’s strength to heal her. And that was alright. But it wouldn’t be required forever.

Kyle’s gaze held mine full of a questioning light.

“I don’t want to complicate things,” I admitted, the vulnerability of my voice making my tone husky. “We both need to focus on Lina, on protecting her.”

“But I want to be there for you, too,” Kyle said fervently. All the closeness that he wanted seemed to funnel into his gaze, making his eyes burn with intensity. Behind him, the Aurora’s mesmerizing light playing across the sky seemed a reflection of Kyle’s aura, the same vibrancy. “I want you to know that you’re just as important to me as Lina is,” he affirmed.

His earnestness struck me, and the sincerity in his eyes pulled at my heartstrings. My initial plan to distance myself seemed to swirl with uncertainty. Was I ready to separate myself from the one person who could understand the depth of my love for Lina?

As we shared that quiet, charged moment gazing at one another, I inhaled deeply, allowing the scent of the kiva, rosemary, and verbena to enter my lungs.

A current shifted and wrapped around us, an undeniable magnetism that ignited the air between us. I sought for anything to pull me out of the potent stream of magic that was my fated mate’s allure.

“Why does life have to be so hard?” I found myself murmuring.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything, and I worried that he was going to muddy the turbulent feelings by trying to come closer to comfort me. Was he going to claim that it didn’t have to be hard? When I dared to lift my eyes from my cup, a thoughtful look rested on his face. “My mother used to say that Igaluk doesn’t give us any challenge that we can’t overcome.”

For a moment, I wondered if that was true? The moon goddess had presented me with Kyle as my fated mate. During my darkest moments, such as when Lina had gotten ill, I’d wondered whether Igaluk had given me Kyle as a fated mate to challenge me to break the bond from one who had oppressed me and my people. I was sure that Kyle wasn’t suggesting that our bond was nothing but a challenge to overcome. But what if it was?

That rational sense, like salum, filled me. If Igaluk had given me this challenge, Kyle was right. I could overcome it. The thought was just what I needed to get past this feeling of falling apart.

I nodded, steadying myself with that thought and taking a big sip of tea. With each thought about how this was just a challenge that I was in the process of overcoming, my want eased.

“It’s a good blend,” I said, sipping the first cup of tea Kyle had made for me.

“Thanks, I had a good teacher,” he said. Once again, the glimmer of affection that crept into his tone made me ache for more. What would it be like to let these walls around my heart come crashing down and let the comfort and sustenance that Kyle was offering into my life?

Disorientation flared through me, warning me against such tempting thoughts. What if I grew to depend on something, only for it to be ripped away again? No, I promised myself. I wouldn’t get used to this. This was just a cup of tea.

The turmoil within me simmered down to a gentler yearning. When I said goodnight to Kyle, I managed to resist the way I wanted to draw closer and shut the door behind him without any unnecessary contact.

I noticed that the tea box on my writing desk was low on rosemary. I pulled out a muslin bag with herbs. The rosemary was getting old, its vibrancy getting lost. I made a mental note to use it up over the next few days. My lips twitched as I thought of the herb’s meaning: memory.

As I tidied up, tightness seized my throat. Kiva’s spicy scent was often used to symbolize passion. Then, my heart hammered against my ribcage. Verbana’s meaning was love. Staring at the fragrant tea leaves in the two cups on the desk, I felt as if I were gazing at a love letter: memory, passion, and love. But Kyle knew nothing of the meanings behind herbs. This was merely a coincidence, nothing more.

I tossed the used tea leaves in the bin, determined to honor my duty as Lina’s mother first. But once I’d fulfilled that, I would focus on my vow to myself, sever the mate bond with Kyle, and reclaim my future. I’d free myself from the memories of the past, which, like the rosemary, were stale. It was time for a fresh start and to allow possibility and new growth into my life. It was time to move on.

Chapter 25

---