Page 60 of Fated
Adrenaline flooded Caleb’s system.“Why now?”he wondered, thoughts scattered like leaves in a storm.“Is it because of the summit? Because Crescent Fang is stepping out of isolation?”
A pang of worry surfaced.“What about Asher?”The thought of disrupting what they had built, of losing their bond—their love—made his heart ache. Images flashed through his mind: Asher’s smile in the morning light, his steady presence during council meetings, the way his touch could ground Caleb even in his darkest moments.
“Trust Selene’s will,”Fenrir said firmly, tone soothing yet resolute.“You will find her soon, and the path will reveal itself.”
The stones of Lunaris Sanctum stood silent witness to his resolution, their shadows lengthening as the sun sank toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of promise. Calebexhaled with ritual care, hands pressing against the soft earth, the sanctum’s ancient power thrumming beneath his palms. He shifted back into his wolf form, Fenrir’s midnight fur rippling in the fading light. The wolf’s steadfast confidence settled over him, quieting the storm of uncertainty in his chest. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it—with his wolf, his pack, and Selene’s guidance.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
KAI
The Range Rover rolled onto Moonshadow’s packlands, its engine humming beneath Kai’s drumming fingers. The packhouse rose before them, timber walls blending with ancient pines—nothing like Bloodstone’s imposing stone and glass. Wolves milled about across the grounds, several pausing to scent the air as they spotted the vehicle. Kai’s shoulders hunched, making himself smaller beneath their scrutiny.
Beside him, Lena sat poised, golden-brown eyes drinking in familiar sights. The private smile playing on her lips sent a wistful ache through him. This was her home, where she belonged. Here, she wasn’t his fated mate—she was a daughterof Moonshadow. The realization left him feeling strangely untethered.
As he pulled to a stop, Kai spotted a group gathered around the Jeep. Cian stood tall and self-assured. Beside him was Ryker, whose sharp features softened with an amused grin as he exchanged words with a lean wolf whose rust-colored hair marked him as clearly as his mischievous grin. And next to them—Kai’s spine stiffened—Alpha Raelen observed it all. Silver threaded the Moonshadow leader’s temples, his presence undeniable even in stillness.
“You ready?” Lena’s soft voice broke through his thoughts, her head tilting toward him with gentle encouragement.
Kai’s fingers whitened around the door handle. Swallowing past the desert in his throat, he managed a nod. “Yeah.” The word emerged as sandpaper against stone.
He watched as Lena slipped from the vehicle with a natural grace, smoothing her hands over her jeans before drawing herself up with pride. Kai was frozen, drinking in the sight of her illuminated by her own certainty. The contrast between her ease and his tension made Orion stir anxiously.
He inhaled deeply before stepping out. Before he could reach Lena’s side, a loud, exuberant voice shattered the stillness.
“Hey! Thing 1!” The rust-haired wolf bounded forward, smile rivaling the sun. “Took you guys forever—I’ve been dying of boredom here!”
Kai’s muscles locked as the wolf scooped Lena up, spinning her in a circle. Her bright laugh pierced something primal in his chest as she braced against the wolf’s shoulders.
“Goddess, Jace!” Lena’s voice rang with delight. “I missed you so much.”
Kai’s gaze locked on Jace’s hands at the small of Lena’s back, fingers splayed on the strip of bare skin below her shirt, inches from territory that wasn’t his to touch. Kai’s pupils dilated untilblack nearly swallowed the emerald-green irises, nostrils flaring as his breaths came in short, harsh bursts. His fingertips split as claws emerged, drawing pinpricks of blood from his own palms. The growl that tore from his chest vibrated through the ground beneath them, silencing birds in trees and freezing every wolf in the vicinity in place.
All eyes snapped to Kai, who stood rigid, barely containing the violence thrumming beneath his skin.
Jace set Lena down carefully, his earlier excitement fading to a sheepish chuckle as he stepped back. “Guess it looks like we won’t be having those smart, diplomatic, gorgeous pups after all, huh, Lena?”
Kai’s vision narrowed.Pups? Diplomatic? Gorgeous?The pieces clicked together in a sickening rush. Was this who Lena had been talking about—the wolf she’d considered pursuing a chosen bond with? The possessive jealousy surged again, red-hot and uncompromising.
“Absolutely not.” The words ripped from Kai’s throat like gravel as Orion surged forward with territorial fury. He yanked Lena to him, his body a wall of dominance between her and Jace. “Mine!”
The declaration resonated with raw power, claiming what belonged to him.
Silence descended, heavy with implication. The onlookers exchanged glances ranging from amused to wary, the tension crackling like lightning before a storm.
Jace recovered first, though unease edged his returning smile. “Whoa there, big guy.” His hands lifted in surrender. “Didn’t mean to step on any toes. It was just a joke.”
Kai’s glare held steady, chest heaving as he forced his claws to retract. Each breath carried Jace’s scent mingled with Lena’s. The combination made his wolf snarl.
“Hi.” Jace cleared his throat, extending his hand. “I’m Jace. Gamma-heir of Moonshadow. Nice to meet you, Lena’s mate.”
The tendons in Kai’s forearm stood out like steel cables. His molars ground against each other, pain shooting through his jaw. One by one, his fingers peeled away from Lena’s wrist, each release reluctant. When he finally clasped Jace’s hand, the bones shifted beneath his grip, the other wolf’s knuckles whitening in silent protest.
“Kai, Alpha-heir to Bloodstone.”
Jace met his grip equally, challenge flickering behind his easy smile. “Looking forward to getting to know you, Kai. Promise I’m a lot more civilized than Ryker over there.”
Despite himself, Kai felt his lips twitch. A reluctant chuckle escaped as some of the tension bled away. His gaze found Lena, who watched him with careful attention, gratitude brightening her golden-brown eyes.
