Page 110 of Fated
Ava yanked his focus back to her. “Come.”
With a sharp breath, Kai nodded. The ease drained from his posture, replaced by a rigid formality as he allowed Ava to lead him away.
The discomfort Ava left in her wake lingered like a heavy fog. Caleb rolled his shoulders back, allowing the unease to dissipate as he turned back to the group. “I’m afraid I must also leave,” he said. “I need to get back to Crescent Fang before dawn. Please tell Cian congratulations for me.”
Lena looked up at him, golden-brown eyes softening. “Will do,” she said, voice quiet but sincere. “It was good to see you again, Caleb.”
Caleb leaned in, speaking quietly so only she could hear. “You were exceptional tonight. Fenrir and I…we were in awe of your grace. You will be a transcendent luna.”
Lena’s lips parted, eyes widening with surprise before she acknowledged the compliment with a gentle tilt of her head. “Thank you,” she whispered. She offered him a small smile, though something guarded remained in her expression. Her response settled uncomfortably in Caleb’s chest, a challenge he hadn’t expected but found himself willing to meet.
Fenrir pressed against Caleb’s mind.“Her light will shine again.”
He turned to the two males. “Enjoy your sleepover,” he said with a grin. “Take care of Lena—she deserves a little pampering after everything she’s done for Bloodstone this week.” He fixed Ryker with a knowing look. “And don’t give Cian too much griefabout his mating. He’s heading into a huge transition, your role is to anchor him as he steps into leadership. He’ll need both of you.”
Ryker’s usual smirk softened into something more genuine as he nodded. “We’ve got him,” he said firmly. “And we’ve got Lena too.”
Jace clasped Caleb’s forearm, ice-blue gaze earnest. “Safe travels, Alpha.”
Caleb’s attention returned to Lena for a moment before he bid farewell to the group. “I’ll see you all in a few days.”
The cool night air brushed Caleb’s face as he stepped outside, leaving the din of the dining hall. Fenrir clawed at him from within, hungry for earth beneath paws and moonlight on fur. Caleb paused, pupils dilating to capture every detail as his gaze lifted to the moon, its pale light spilling across the Bloodstone lands.
Fenrir’s approval flooded their shared consciousness like sunlight breaking through clouds, warming Caleb from marrow to skin.“You’re no longer on the outside. You’ll be the bridge between faith and the future. But remember—challenges still lie ahead for all of us, Alpha.”
The events of the evening settled in Caleb’s chest as he crossed into the shadows of the forest. Lena’s quiet determination, Cian’s joy, and even Bloodstone’s simmering tensions replayed in his mind. His thoughts inevitably turned to Crescent Fang. Asher would be waiting, no doubt eager for an update on the ceremony—and perhaps far too curious about the Moonshadow wolves. Caleb’s lips curved faintly. They’d have much to discuss.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
LENA
The cold night air stabbed at Lena’s skin as she stepped out of the dining hall. She dragged in a breath, but it did nothing to ease the suffocating pressure in her chest. Behind her, the energy of the wolves gathered in the hall faded as she pressed a hand against the doorframe, steadying herself against the first wave of emotion threatening to break free.
She’d told Ryker and Jace she just needed air. Her smile—though strained and brittle—had been enough to stop their protests, but their concern lingered in the way Ryker hesitated, fingers twitching as if he wanted to grab her wrist.
“I’ll be right back,”she’d promised, forcing confidence into her voice. “Go find Cian and grab your stuff for the sleepover. I’ll meet you soon.”
The promise was empty. A lie she couldn’t even convince herself to believe.
Her legs moved on instinct—heavy and mechanical—each step disconnected from conscious thought as the path stretched before her, lined with faint patches of torchlight. She barely registered the crunch of dirt beneath her boots or the distant rustle of wind through the trees. The mask she’d worn all evening began to crack as she drifted closer to the tree line. The strain of pretending weighed heavier with every breath, a dull ache spreading from her chest to her limbs.
“Lena.” Darius’s voice broke through her thoughts, halting her mid-step.
He emerged from the shadows, broad frame bathed in the dim glow of torchlight. His eyes, green and weary, searched hers, and for a fleeting moment, she thought he could see everything—the cracks in her composure, the exhaustion carved deep into her bones.
“Alpha Darius,” she managed, the words trembling despite her best efforts.
He stepped closer, aura commanding but gentle. “I wanted to thank you again for today. For everything you’ve done for Bloodstone. You’ve carried more than I could have asked.”
The words hit like a blow. “It’s...it’s been an honor,” she replied, voice barely above a whisper. Her hand tightened around her jacket until her knuckles whitened. “Bloodstone is...” The words tangled in her throat. “It’s remarkable.”
Darius studied her for a long moment before placing a firm hand on her shoulder. His touch centered her, but it also felt impossibly heavy. “Before you leave tomorrow, come see me. Please.”
She nodded, unable to trust her voice.
His hand lingered, then fell away as he turned back toward the hall. “Get some rest, Lena,” he said over his shoulder, disappearing into the glow of the gathering.
Rest. Her lips twitched with bitter amusement, muscles too tight to form an actual laugh. Her body twitched with nervous energy that wouldn’t allow for rest—not yet.
