Page 109 of Fated
Lena rolled her eyes, but her grin gave away her amusement. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. I’ll figure it out.”
Caleb chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You might want to check with Cian first,” he interjected. “Some newly mated pairs take time to grow their bond or complete the claiming rite before officially recognizing their mating. Lyric may also want time to bond with the pack before taking her oaths. They may likely wait until their mating ceremony.”
Life returned to Lena’s complexion, excitement undeterred. “That makes sense. It’ll give them time to adjust and prepare. I’ve really enjoyed helping with rituals, and I’d love to be part of Lyric’s transition when the time comes.”
The conversation was interrupted by a light tap on Caleb’s shoulder.
“Alpha Caleb,” came a familiar voice.
Caleb spun around, straightening as Bloodstone’s heir stood before him. Kai’s expression was controlled but taut with something unspoken.
“Alpha Caleb,” Kai repeated. His attention darted toward Lena before steadying on Caleb. “Thank you for coming to Bloodstone’s aid. We are in your debt.”
Caleb held the younger wolf’s gaze, offering a small nod. “There’s no debt between neighbors, Kai. Helping Bloodstone was an honor.”
Caleb could sense the gratitude in Kai’s posture, the way his shoulders eased just slightly. Yet beneath it all, there was still tension, a crack in the heir’s composure, that spoke volumes.
Ryker stepped forward, breaking the formality with his gentle, playful smile. “We miss you at Moonshadow, brother.” He pulled Kai into a hug. “Things aren’t the same without you.”
Jace nodded in agreement, clapping Kai on the back as he added, “Our condolences for Elias. We’ve heard that he was an exceptional wolf and would have been a phenomenal gamma.”
Kai’s lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line. His eyes clouded momentarily, focusing on some middle distance as grief surfaced. “Thank you. He was—” Kai’s words faltered, overcome by his loss. “He was the best of us.”
Shared sorrow thickened the air before it was interrupted by a shift. A tall blond appeared at Kai’s side, her arrival as abrupt as her presence was invasive. She slipped her hand into his, fingers intertwining in a gesture that felt both possessive andperformative. Pressing close to Kai’s side, she offered a sweet but pointed smile to the group.
“Hello,” she said with practiced brightness. “I’m Ava, Kai’sgirlfriend.”
The words sliced through the tentative warmth. Lena’s shoulders drew back, golden-brown eyes shuttering as they fixed on a distant point. Ryker and Jace flanked her in an instant, fingers interlocking with hers. A silent display of solidarity that tensed the air between both groups.
Muscles worked in Kai’s jaw and tension coiled in his shoulders as his eyes darted between the three of them. His grip on Ava’s hand spasmed, a jerk that might have been an attempt to pull free or silence her. Caleb couldn’t tell.
Ava’s smile brightened. “Alpha Caleb.” Her voice took on a musical quality, smoothing over the earlier sharpness in her tone with sugary warmth. “Your bravery and the bravery of your warriors…it’s inspiring. You saved my life.”
Her words were deliberately crafted, landing with the obvious intent. She wrestled her hand from Kai’s stern grip, sliding it up to rest over his chest. She traced idle circles with her fingers as she continued, voice softening to a near-coo. “If the battle hadn’t turned when it did…who knows what might have happened. My future alpha wouldn’t have been able to endure losing me.”
Ava tilted her face up toward Kai, expression painted with adoration, but the faintest smirk tugged at her lips. “Right, mylove?” Her hand dropped, gripping his again until her nails left marks.
A shudder of resistance passed through Kai’s frame, the tension in his shoulders rippling down the length of his body. Something passed across his face—reluctance? Maybe regret? It burned for a heartbeat, before Ava’s nails pressed deeper, smothering it completely. She continued to squeeze until a single word fell from his lips, flat and almost mechanical.
“Right.”
Only then did Ava’s hand relax, fingers slipping from his with a delicate finality as though she hadn’t just forced his response. “See?” She faced Caleb again, saccharine smile firmly in place. Satisfaction flickered beneath her expression—a silent victory over the male standing beside her. Not love—control wearing affection’s mask.
“Two-faced,”Fenrir warned. “See how he diminishes in her presence? Darius has failed to see the danger she represents.”
Caleb dipped his chin in acknowledgment, hazel eyes assessing Ava before returning to Kai. “Bloodstone has strong allies in Crescent Fang. I hope you know you’ll always have them.”
Kai’s shoulders dropped a fraction, before the mask slipped back into place. The charged atmosphere between the group remained, unspoken hostility weaving through the air like an invisible tether. Caleb watched the interplay between all of them, the subtle way Ryker’s thumb traced soothing circles against the back of Lena’s hand, the icy glare Jace directed at Kai—a stark contrast to the warmth and affection the males had shared just moments prior.
The warmth vanished from Kai’s expression, his features hardening like cooling wax as his gaze fixed on Ryker’s, Jace’s, and Lena’s intertwined fingers. Ava appeared oblivious—or perhaps uncaring—as her smile remained unshaken.
“Bloodstone’s future is fraught with uncertainty,”Fenrir murmured.“But that is not your burden to carry.”
Caleb breathed deep, allowing Fenrir’s words to settle him. For now, he would observe and learn, but his focus would remain on the connections that strengthened his own pack and those he called allies.
Ava studied the group, eyes narrowing as if assessing the unspoken tension simmering between Kai, Lena, Ryker, andJace. Her hand rose to Kai’s chest again, and she turned to him with a polished smile. “My future alpha, we should go stand with your father.” Her voice dripped with saccharine deference. “The grieving families need our support, and he’ll wantusat his side.”
Kai hesitated. His eyes sought Lena’s—a flicker of longing extinguished.
