Page 79 of Fated
“Whatever.” Ryker waved a dismissive hand, expression growing more serious. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pressure you like that.” He paused, then shrugged. “Honestly, Lena’s on pins and needles waiting for you to make a move. You don’t have to jump right in and sink your cock and fangs into her, but you could at least kiss her. On the mouth.” A familiar glint returned to his eyes. “Hell, even Jace has kissed her. Both sets of lips. And he has the sex appeal of steamed vegetables.”
Ryker laughed at his own joke, but his admission hit Kai like a physical blow. He looked between the future beta and gamma,remembering Cian’s comment about the almost threesome they’d had with Lena. Something hot and possessive flared in his chest, and he burst out into an overexaggerated laugh.
“Hey, Ryker.” Kai reached out, gripping him by the shoulder and meeting his gaze with deceptive calm. “Run.”
Ryker stopped laughing, face going pale. He gulped so loudly it was audible across the table. “Shit!” He stumbled up from his seat, the chair clattering behind him, and sprinted away.
While Kai gave Ryker a head start, he heard Jace cackle from across the table. The sound grated against his nerves, and he fixed Jace with a dead stare. “You too.”
Jace’s laughter died. He unseated himself, mumbling, “Fucking Ryker and his big mouth,” and ran after his friend, footsteps pounding across the wooden floor.
Cian rubbed his hands together, delighted. “Let’s go! I can’t wait to see this.”
They rose from their seats and Cian clapped him on the back as they chased after the two wolves. Anticipation crackled between them as they burst through the dining hall doors. Kai felt Orion’s satisfaction rumble through him as they raced across the courtyard, diabolical plans forming for the males ahead.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
LENA
Alpha Darius Bloodstone.
Lena’s fingers trembled as she pressed the wax seal onto the final invitation. The name had haunted her all afternoon, even as she’d worked through the mountain of envelopes for Cian’s ceremony. Now, the rich crimson stamp warmed beneath her touch, Moonshadow’s crest glistening in the sunlight—its intricate lines a weight she felt in her bones. She set the envelope aside to dry, joining dozens of others arranged in neat rows across the table.
“That’s the last of them. I’ll have the runners drop them in the mail this evening.” Across from her, Ryker’s mother, Nerina, gave a satisfied sigh, brushing her hands off on her apron.“Excellent work today, Lena. You’ve got a good head for detail—must be Raelen’s influence.”
Lena smiled, though her thoughts had already returned to the Bloodstone invitation. The work had kept her hands busy, but her mind circled back to one question:What will happen when Kai faces his father again?
Lena’s spine tensed as Elara’s resonant whine vibrated through her consciousness. The wolf’s memory of Kai’s anxiety-soured scent remained sharp as a fresh wound, intensifying whenever Darius’s name crossed their thoughts.
Then there were Darius’s threats, revealed during their drive back to Moonshadow: banishment from Bloodstone if Kai didn’t accept their bond.
How could he give his son that kind of ultimatum?
She let out a quiet breath, thanking Nerina as she gathered her things and prepared to leave the beta house. The courtyard stretched before her, late afternoon sun casting long shadows across well-worn paths. The scent of fresh ink and melted wax clung to her fingers as she started walking.
Her thoughts drifted back to Kai as she neared the packhouse, anticipation humming through her for whatever surprise he’d have in place.
Lena smiled to herself as she recalled last night.
She’d walked into the darkened packhouse, finding candles flickering across the kitchen and dining room, a stunning bouquet of white magnolias and camellias gracing the table. Kai had been pacing frantically, gaze fixed on his phone as he furiously typed, deleted, and typed again.
She couldn’t help the gasp that escaped. “Kai?”
He’d looked up, face breaking into that smile reserved just for her as he raced over, pulling her into the tightest embrace. “Good, you’re home. I was starting to worry.”
Home. The way he’d said it—likeshewas essential to making it complete—had left her breathless. She’d wanted to hear him say that word in every context imaginable, as long as it was directed at her.
“What is all this?” she’d whispered, taking in the romantic scene. Tears had threatened as she’d realized he’d done all this just for her.
“Date night.” His hands had trembled as he took her bag and jacket. “I figured it might be too late to go out, but I thought we could do dinner and a movie here.”
“Where is everyone?” she’d asked, noticing the unusual quiet.
“Your dad made sure we’d have the house to ourselves tonight. He and Cian are staying at the cottage. Ryker and Jace are with their parents.”
The realization had hit her then—he’d specifically arranged for them to be completely alone. Her pulse had quickened.
“He wants to claim us,” Elara had purred, alert. “Give us his mark.”
