Page 32 of Fated
He leaned forward, expression sharpening. “So, what about you? What’d you do after I left? Have a super-secret rendezvous with Kai?”
Heat crept up Lena’s neck as fragments from her fantasies surfaced. Her thighs pressed together beneath the table, body responding anew to phantom sensations of Kai’s dominance.
She shook her head, hoping Ryker wouldn’t notice the color rising in her cheeks. “Nothing nearly as exciting as your escapades.” She kept her tone light despite the prickle of energy from her wolf dancing along her nerve endings. “Last night was...intense. I’m giving him some space for now, but I’m hoping to steal a moment with him later today.”
Ryker’s expression shifted, his usual mischief giving way to something sharper. “Oh, you’re going to giveKai Bloodstone, the proverbial Prince of the Pacific Northwest packs, space?” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping. “Did you hear all the rumors flying around about him last night?”
Lena frowned, stomach twisting as a low rumble of unease vibrated through her connection with Elara. “What rumors?”
Ryker rubbed his hands together, clearly relishing the opportunity to share gossip. “Apparently, Kai and this she-wolf, Ava, have been inseparable since his dad brought her in with a group of survivors from a rogue attack when they were pups. They started dating not long after their first shifts—against Darius’s wishes, I might add—and were convinced they’d be fated mates. Except, you know, they’renot.”
Lena’s heart sank, but she forced herself to listen as Ryker continued. The sharp sting of her wolf’s distress pulsed through their shared consciousness with each word.
“So, when she turned eighteen and realized they weren’t fated, things got...tense. The only thing Kai and his dad ever fightabout is Ava. Some people think Darius just doesn’t like her. Others say Darius loves her but just doesn’t think she’s right for his son. Either way, it’s a whole mess.” Ryker leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “And now, enteryou, the gorgeous, brilliant,virginalfated mate. The heirs aresalivatingover the drama. There are even bets on how this is all going to play out. You, Kai, and Ava? Love triangle doomed for heartbreak, or throuple of the century?”
Lena groaned, burying her face in her hands. “First, I don’t share—”
Ryker interrupted her with a snort. “Yeah, unless it’s cock. Or do I once again have to remind you of the Incident?”
Lena huffed, not daring to broach that subject again, before continuing. “Second, my life is not some Goddess-damned soap opera.”
He shrugged, clearly unbothered by her exasperation. “Hey, I’m just the messenger. But for what it’s worth, I don’t think the competition is as fierce as you might think.”
Lena peeked up at him, brow furrowed. She felt Elara’s attention snap into sharp focus, ears pricking forward. “What do you mean?”
Ryker leaned closer conspiratorially. “Magnus, the Bloodstone beta-heir, spent most of last night trying to calm Ava down. She was blowing uphisphone after Kai ignored all her calls and texts. If you ask me, Kai’s just waiting to get back home to break things off with her face to face. Sounds like he’s trying to do right by both of you.”
A spark of hope ignited in Lena’s chest, spreading through her veins like honey-warmed whiskey as her wolf’s energy purred through their bond. She knew Kai felt the bond—knew it as surely as she knew her own heartbeat. Maybe his hesitation wasn’t about rejection. Maybe it was about doing the honorable thing.
She straightened in her seat, confidence returning. “You really think so?”
Ryker grinned. “I do. And if he doesn’t figure it out soon, you’ve got me and Cian. We’ll knock some sense into him together.”
Lena laughed, the sound light and genuine. Elara’s energy softened with anticipation at the prospect of claiming their mate properly. For the first time since feeling the mate bond, she felt like she could breathe.
A mischievous grin spread across her face as she turned to Ryker. “So, does this mean you’re going to need a finger up the ass to get it up from here on out?”
Ryker burst out laughing, pulling Lena into a tight side hug. “Goddess, I fucking love you, you little psycho! Now pick up your shit. I’m thirty seconds away from being late to the summit review meeting.” He shot her a wink as he darted out of the dining hall, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll keep an eye on your hubby and catch up with you at lunch. Unless you’re busy spending your break on your back!”
Laughing, Lena gathered her things, excited for the rest of the summit. With renewed determination, she made her way to the morning session with the lunas, gait energized by Elara’s infectious confidence.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
KAI
Too much whiskey and too little sleep had left Kai raw and irritable as he entered the conference room for the annual review. His temples throbbed from his hangover as he scanned the room, mapping alliances and rivalries, while Orion instinctively cataloged potential points for connection and influence. The Silver Hollow alpha caught his eye and smiled—too knowingly. Word about his fated mate had apparently spread fast.
Kai settled uncomfortably into his seat. The heavy scent of dominance—dozens of alphas posturing and positioning—filled the room. Beneath that thick layer of power, he caught a hint of a sweet, earthy fragrance.
His muscles tensed.Lena?No—just a phantom scent and his wolf’s wishful thinking.
Orion stalked the confines of their shared mind, each step reverberating through Kai’s skull like thunder. Whether the wolf’s agitation stemmed from the hangover or the mating bond’s constant pull, Kai couldn’t tell.
Next to him, Darius was in his element, exuding confidence and charm as he greeted the other leaders. His deep, booming laughter rang out above the hum of voices, and Kai couldn’t help but wince. Each sound felt like a hammer striking his skull.
“Alpha Darius!” a voice thundered from across the table. “Good to see Bloodstone’s banner flying high as always.”
Darius clasped the man’s forearm in a firm shake. “Great to see you too, Garrick! Even better days ahead.” His hand landed on Kai’s back like an anvil. “Especially with Kai taking his oaths with his fated mate by his side.”
