A full day had passed since we captured the rogue, and I'd seen Kayden for all of five minutes at dinner yesterday. By the second day of wandering the halls, the silence of the house began to grate on me. I tried the library; I tried movies. Nothing lightened the weight on my chest or the persistent, pull-like gravity toward his office. It felt ridiculous to miss someone who was only a few dozen feet away, but I knew the weight of his crown was heavy right now. I refused to be a distraction.
Instead, I took my restlessness to the kitchen. I don't even remember the moment I decided to bake. I simply found myself standing before an abundance of ingredients, the rhythm of kneading dough acting as a sedative for my nerves. I made a quick trip upstairs to retrieve the Bluetooth speaker Amelia had bought me at the mall, and soon, the kitchen was filled with music. I lost myself in a blur of flour and dancing, my hips swaying to the beat as I moved between the oven and the counter, cleaning as I went. The physical movement helped push back the primal urge to barge into his office and simply sit at his feet.
By the time the sun began to dip low, the cooling racks were groaning under the weight of my restlessness: golden cinnamon rolls dripping with glaze and an endless assortment of cookies—chocolate chip, M&M, and oatmeal raisin. The kitchen smelled like a sanctuary, a far cry from the scent of silver and blood that had filled my senses forty-eight hours ago.
All I could think about was my mate. He hadn't left his office since early this morning. I'd watched from a distance as people flowed in and out of those double doors, but he never emerged. It was a haunting repeat of yesterday, when he'd been gone all day with Amelia, only to return with a dark, solemn expression that chilled me to the bone. He had barely acknowledged my existence then, offering a whispered apology and a ghost of a kiss on my forehead before disappearing into his work for the rest of the night. If this had been a few days ago, I would have been thrilled; I would have welcomed that kind of indifference. But now? Now, the distance felt like a physical wound. I stood in the middle of my sugar-scented sanctuary and felt my chest clench with a sharp, undeniable loneliness.
I stood in the hallway, the heavy ceramic plate felt cold in my hands. I'd carefully selected one of everything—a cinnamon roll, a sugar cookie, M&M, chocolate chip, and oatmeal raisin—even though I knew he probably didn't have the appetite for it. My internal debate was a frantic circle of go in and stay back. My heart hammered against my ribs as I finally reached out and knocked, the sound echoing too loudly in the quiet corridor. "I thought I said I am not to be disturbed unless it is important," Kayden's voice rumbled from behind the heavy oak. It was gruff, exhausted, and sharper than I'd ever heard it.
The sound of his irritation felt like a physical blow. Regret instantly gripped my chest, tight and suffocating. I felt like an interloper, a fool for thinking that a plate of sugar could fix whatever darkness he was battling in there. I cursed my own stupidity, my face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and hurt. "I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice small and tight. "I'll leave you alone then." I turned away, the weight of the plate now feeling like lead, my feet heavy as I prepared to retreat to the safety of the kitchen.
I heard the frantic scuffle of feet against the hardwood floor the moment I spoke. Before I could even take a step toward the stairs, the heavy office door swung open. Kayden stood in the doorway, and for a second, the breath caught in my throat. Kayden stood there, looking beautifully disheveled. His dark hair was a mess, standing up in jagged tufts as if he'd spent the last twelve hours relentlessly running his fingers through it in frustration.
He looked more like a high-powered CEO than a werewolf leader. He wore a slim-fit black sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showcasing the intricate tattoos that climbed his tanned forearms. A gold watch glinted on his wrist, catching the dim hallway light, and his sharp gray slacks and polished dress shoes completed the image of a man buried in the business of war. He looked tired—bone-deep, soul-aching tired—and as his eyes locked onto mine. I stood there, rooted to the spot, my heart skipping a rhythm it couldn't quite catch. Even with his hair in disarray and the exhaustion clear in his eyes, he looked devastating. He was like a Greek god carved from shadow and ink, standing in the doorway of his office in all his frustrated glory.
For a long minute, I just stared. My brain had completely short-circuited; the apology I'd been ready to offer evaporated the second his gaze locked onto mine. I'd forgotten how to breathe, let alone how to speak. A slow, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he tracked my expression. He leaned against the doorframe, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction as he took in my wide-eyed silence. "Cat got your tongue?" he asked, his voice dropping into that low, silky register that made my toes curl. The cocky remark was exactly what I needed to find my footing. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, but I managed to pull myself together enough to roll my eyes at his sly comment. "Ha, ha. Very funny," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm to mask the flutter in my chest.
I lifted the plate slightly, the scent of cinnamon and sugar wafting between us. When I did so, his eyes dropped to the plate in my hands. He raised an eyebrow, a question forming on his lips, but I beat him to it. "I wanted to see if you wanted any of the baked goods I made," I said, meeting his gaze. "I promised you'd be the first to try anything I bake from now on." He looked at me, then back at the treats, a small grin tugging at his mouth. "Yes, thank you. I'd love that." I smiled, holding the plate out for him to take. But his grin shifted, sharpening into a sly, knowing smile. Instead of reaching for the food, his hand shot out and caught my wrist.
My eyes widened in shock as he pulled me flush against him. He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "Since you are already here, you should feed it to me." My heart hammered against my ribs. Sparks from the mate bond erupted up my arm, searing through me from the point where his fingers gripped my wrist. Before I could even find my voice to protest, he turned on his heel. He didn't let go; he pulled me toward his desk, forcing me to follow in his wake. The office wasn't empty. Amelia and Luca were already there; Amelia wore a smug, pleased grin, while Luca just shook his head, looking completely unfazed. But they weren't alone. As my mate pulled me further into the room, the other pack members fell silent. Their expressions were a blur of surprise and confusion—they clearly weren't expecting an outsider to crash their high-level meeting, let alone one held so closely by their leader.
Once we reached my desk, I took the plate from Artemis's hand and set it aside. I wrapped my arm around her waist and hauled her flush against my side; she let out the most delicious, surprised squeak. My inner wolf growled in approval. A surge of possessiveness hit me so hard it made my head spin, replaced quickly by a dark, vivid image of her on this very desk—naked, claimed, and entirely mine. I felt my groin jerk and harden at the thought of tasting every inch of her and finally burying myself inside her. It was becoming damn near impossible to think rationally. Forcing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I sat in my black office chair and pulled her down, positioning her comfortably on my lap in front of everyone.
Her eyes were wide with shock as she scanned the room, the tips of her ears flushing a delicate shade of pink. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face; it was the cutest thing I had ever seen. My amusement vanished the moment I looked up and saw the rest of the room still staring. I rolled my eyes and let my voice drop into a low, commanding growl. "Enough gawking. Take ten minutes. Get out." The pack members exchanged uncertain glances, hesitant to move until Luca and Mia stood up without a word. As the two of them headed for the door, my mate spoke up. Her voice was soft but remarkably clear. "If any of you want," she said, "I made plenty of treats downstairs. Please, help yourselves. They're in the kitchen."
She didn't need to say another word; that was all it took. The room cleared in seconds, a blur of bodies heading for the kitchen. Only Luca and Amelia lingered. Amelia—or Mia, as she preferred—wore a sickeningly sweet smile. "That's assuming you can last ten minutes without trying to tear her clothes off," she teased, her eyes dancing with mischief. "I wonder what we're supposed to do if you can't manage to pull yourself out of your 'bout of passion' long enough to finish the meeting?" I felt Artemis stiffen against me at the bluntness. A low growl vibrated in my chest, but Mia just gave a dismissive wave as she sauntered out, leading Luca by the hand. Luca followed her obediently, but before disappearing behind the door, he gave me a nonchalant shrug—a silent apology for his mate's mouth, though it was clear he wasn't going to do a thing to stop her.
I looked up at Kyaden "I didn't mean to disturb you all," I whispered, shifting slightly on his lap. "I can go back downstairs." Kayden's eyes softened instantly, the Alpha's edge replaced by genuine concern. "You aren't bothering me in the slightest, Artemis. Trust me, we all needed a break, and you provided the perfect excuse to take one." I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "That's good to know."
"You truly are too cute—and far too perfect," he murmured, his voice dropping an octave. My eyebrows knitted together, and I shook my head with a small sigh. "I don't understand your thought process at all." He smirked, leaning in until his lips brushed my cheek in a lingering kiss that sent a fresh wave of sparks through me. "You don't need to understand it," he breathed against my skin. "You just have to accept it." I raised an eyebrow, ready to retort, but he leaned back in his chair. That predatory smirk was still firmly in place as he gestured toward the desk. "Well? Don't you want me to try your sweets? You'd better start feeding me before they get cold."
Her eyes went wide with genuine shock. "You were being serious about that?" That reaction—the pure, wide-eyed innocence of it—was so damn cute that it sent a roar through my wolf. Every instinct I had screamed at me to claim her, to tie her to me so tightly that she could never even think about leaving my side. A sly grin spread across my lips as I reached out, my fingers firm but gentle as I captured her chin. I tilted her face up, leaning in until there was nothing left for her to see but me. I stared deep into her blue eyes, making sure she felt the weight of my gaze. "I'm always serious when it comes to you, kitten."
The silver was beginning to swirl in Kayden's eyes, a clear sign that his wolf was pushing to the surface. His gaze dropped to my lips, and my heart didn't just quicken—it hammered. My stomach did a violent flip as a million 'what-ifs' raced through my mind. I knew exactly where that look led, and my body was already starting to hum in response. He began to lean in, his intent unmistakable. Panicking, I scrambled for the first defense I could find. My hand shot out, grabbing a cookie off the plate and thrusting it upward just as his lips were about to meet mine. I held it there, a sugary shield between our faces, effectively blocking his path.
Kayden's eyes widened in shock. He stared at the cookie for a heartbeat before bursting into a rich, deep laugh. The tension broke as he let go of my chin, his shoulders shaking with amusement. With a lingering smile, he leaned forward and opened his mouth, taking a slow, deliberate bite of the cookie I was still holding. He never broke eye contact. Even while eating, he managed to look effortlessly seductive, his gaze heavy with a passion that made my skin tingle. When he finished the bite, he slowly licked his lips, his smirk returning with a vengeance. My heart rate didn't just increase; it felt like it was racing out of control. A sudden, sharp heat blossomed in my core, and I felt a traitorous dampening sensation between my thighs.
I could see the exact moment her composure began to fray. Her chest rose and fell in quick, shallow breaths, and that intoxicating scent of hers began to bloom in the air—sweet, warm, and heavy with the unmistakable tang of arousal. It called to my wolf, making my blood hum with a sudden, sharp hunger. I leaned in, my lips brushing the shell of her ear as I whispered, "You smell so good right now, my dear." She stiffened against me, a beautiful, high-bloom blush creeping up her neck and staining her cheeks. "There's no point trying to hide it," I rumbled, my voice vibrating against her skin. "I can tell you want me just as much as I want you. That scent will always give you away, Artemis."
Startled by my bluntness, she made a move to stand, her eyes wide with a mix of embarrassment and desire. But I wasn't nearly finished with her. I hooked my hands around her hips, my fingers digging slightly into the soft fabric of her clothes, and yanked her back down. In her scramble to find her footing, she twisted, her legs swinging over mine until she was straddling my lap. We both froze for a heartbeat, her hands resting on my shoulders for balance as the breath hitched in her throat. She looked as stunned by the new position as I was, but I recovered first. I let my hands slide slowly up her waist, a triumphant smirk tugging at my lips as I looked up at her. "We haven't even finished the desserts you so kindly brought me," I murmured.
His eyes darkened to a stormy silver. I felt frozen to the spot, my breath hitching as I sat straddled across his lap. The solid, heavy heat of him pressed firmly against my innermost region, making my composure crumble. I was rooted there, trapped by my own desire, as I watched him reach around me toward the plate on the desk. He picked up a fork and neatly broke off a piece of the cinnamon bun, the scent of sugar and spice filling the small space between us. Mimicking my move with the cookie, he held the fork up in front of my face. "We should find out just how delicious everything is," he murmured, his smirk widening. "After all, you put in so much work. Don't you agree?"
He held the fork to my lips, his gaze demanding. With a small, defeated sigh, I parted my lips, allowing him to feed me the sweet, warm bite. His eyes never left mine, tracking my every move. Once I swallowed the bite, he murmured, "Was it good?" I rolled my eyes, trying to reclaim some of my dignity. "I wouldn't have brought it to you if it tasted bad."
"Maybe I should try some for myself," he countered, his voice dropping to a low rumble. I started to sigh, but before a sound could leave my throat, his hand shot out. He captured my chin, tilting my face up and crashing his lips against mine. The claim was instant. A second later, his tongue was sliding past my teeth, exploring my mouth with a hunger that eclipsed the sweets on the desk. My reasoning crumbled. I gripped his shoulders, my fingers digging into his muscles as I leaned into him for support. Beneath me, I felt his cock jerk against my heat, the friction sending a sharp, electric bolt of pleasure straight through me. When he finally pulled back, he was breathing hard, his eyes dark with a mix of triumph and lust. He slowly licked his lips, his smirk returning. "You're right; it is delicious. Though I think you taste much better than the cinnamon roll."
Her eyes widened, a flicker of shock crossing her features at my bluntness, but she couldn't mask the dark fire of desire still burning in her gaze. I let my eyes wander, tracing the line of her body with a slow, possessive hunger. In this light, she wasn't just my mate; she was a masterpiece. I knew with a bone-deep certainty that I would never find another creature as breathtaking as the woman currently claiming my lap. Her silver hair was pinned back in a loose, effortless updo, though several silken strands had escaped to frame her flushed face. She looked like a dream wrapped in a dangerous shade of powder-blue—the color of a clear winter sky just before the stars emerge.
The dress was a delicate, floral-patterned lace that seemed to glow against her skin, featuring a sweetheart neckline ruched at the bust and held by a dainty tie. As she shifted, the long bell sleeves flared dramatically, trailing like gossamer wings against my dark sweater. The dress was short and playful, ending in a soft scalloped hem at her mid-thigh, but in our current position, the fabric had bunched around her waist, exposing the smooth silk of her skin to the cool air of the office (picture of the dress up top). The dress looked soft enough to tear, yet elegant enough to make her look like royalty.
My eyes dropped to the ruched bodice of her dress. The delicate powder-blue lace did nothing to hide the way the cool air—or perhaps my proximity—had affected her. I could see the sharp, hardened peaks of her nipples pressing through the floral fabric, a silent testament to the arousal she was trying so hard to contain. A slow, wicked grin spread across my face. "Oh no," I murmured, my voice dropping into a dark, velvet purr. "Are you cold, my dear? Don't worry. I know exactly how to fix that."
Confusion flickered in her wide eyes for a fraction of a second, but it was quickly replaced by a sharp intake of breath. I didn't wait for her to catch up. I reached up, my palms sliding over the gossamer lace as I found her through the fabric. I traced the curve of her breasts before dragging my thumbs slowly, deliberately, over those hardened points. Artemis stiffened, her fingers digging into the fabric of my sweater as a jagged gasp escaped her lips. I didn't let up. I pinched the sensitive peaks between my index fingers and thumbs, a low growl vibrating in my chest when she let out a soft, broken moan.
The sound was like a match to a fuse. I squeezed her softly with one hand, feeling the incredible softness of her against the callousness of my palm, while my other hand continued to toy with her through the lace. The "peace offering" on the desk was forgotten; the only hunger I cared about satisfying was the one currently arching her back and making her grip my shoulders as if I were the only thing keeping her grounded.
"God, I love that you don't wear a bra," he rasped, his voice a husky, gravelly growl that vibrated straight through my skin. Before I could even process the words, I felt his hands move with lightning speed. He hooked his fingers into the sweetheart neckline of my dress and pulled, the delicate lace giving way as he bared my breasts to the cool office air. The relief of the cold was short-lived; a second later, Kayden leaned forward and claimed one. The moment his mouth closed over one peak, his tongue circling the sensitive tip in a wet, rhythmic heat, a bolt of pure electricity shot through my spine. I arched my back, my head falling back as a broken moan escaped my throat.
He was relentless, his hand squeezing my other breast with a firm, possessive grip that grounded me even as my mind began to haze over with pleasure. I felt his large, warm hand slide down to the back of my thigh, his fingers digging slightly into my skin as he hauled me flush against his chest. Then, his hand began a slow, torturous climb up my inner thigh. My stomach flipped in frantic anticipation. A primal instinct made me want to clamp my legs shut to protect the sensitivity building there, but it was useless—his own powerful thighs were wedged between mine, acting as a solid, immovable barrier. I was pinned, open, and vulnerable to him, as his hand moved higher toward the scalloped hem of my dress.
I felt the heat of his palm through the thin silk of my underwear, a jolt of pure fire that made my breath hitch. He claimed my other breast with a hungry desperation, his mouth hot and insistent, while his fingers found the sensitive folds beneath the cloth. He applied a steady, rhythmic pressure, rubbing against my center until my entire body began to shudder. A broken moan escaped me—a sound of pure, unadulterated surrender. My fingers curled into claws, my nails scraping against the dark fabric of his sweater as I gripped his shoulders, trying to anchor myself in a world that was spinning out of control.
Kayden finally pulled back, releasing my breast from his assault. As I gasped for air, our eyes locked. The dark, businessman-like composure he'd worn earlier was completely shattered. His eyes were swirling with molten silver, glowing with the ancient, predatory light of his wolf. The hunger in his expression was a mirror of my own—wild, reckless, and consuming. Without breaking eye contact, he reached up, his large hand tangling in the hair at the nape of my neck. He didn't ask; he simply claimed. He pulled me forward, closing the distance until his lips crashed against mine in a kiss that tasted of sugar, heat, and the dark, silver-tinted promise of a night that was only just beginning.
The second her lips crashed into mine, the last of my restraint disintegrated. A dark, primal urge roared to life in my chest—a need to devour her, to mark her so deeply that the very thought of leaving me would become an impossibility. I hooked my free hand around her waist, my fingers digging into her skin through the delicate lace as I hauled her flush against my chest. The movement forced her center directly against the heavy, aching length of my cock, and a strangled groan caught in the back of my throat.
Artemis didn't pull back. Instead, she leaned into the chaos. Her hand found its way into my hair, her fingers tangling in the messy dark strands and pulling tight, anchoring me as I deepened the kiss. Then, she shifted. I felt her hips roll, a deliberate, agonizingly slow rub against my length that sent a jolt of pure pleasure straight to my brain. Before I could even attempt to regain my composure, she began to move in earnest—grinding against me with a desperate edge, seeking the release that only I could give her.
A deep, guttural groan tore from Kayden's chest as I continued to grind against him, the friction sending violent shockwaves of heat through my core. But as our bodies collided, something else happened—something deeper than skin and bone. I felt the sudden, dizzying rush of our minds merging. It was like a dam breaking. Suddenly, I wasn't just feeling my own frantic pulse; I was feeling the heavy, thrumming beat of his heart against my chest. I could feel the agonizing ache of his desire as if it were my own. Our pleasure began to bounce off one another in a psychic echo, amplifying every touch, every breath, and every spark of friction until the intensity was almost more than I could bear. Every shred of logic and reasoning I had left vanished into that silver-tinted haze.
He tore his mouth from mine, his breath coming in ragged hitches as he traced a searing trail of kisses along my jawline and down the sensitive column of my throat. I arched my neck, giving him total access, my mind spinning as I felt his hand slide with purpose between my thighs. When his fingers slipped beneath the thin silk of my underwear, the world tilted. He traced my clit with a devastatingly slow thumb before his fingers finally slid home, sinking into my wet, aching center. My body buckled. I collapsed against his chest, the sheer, unadulterated pleasure acting like a physical blow that robbed my legs of their strength. "Oh god," I gasped, the words barely a breath, lost against the dark wool of his sweater. A low, vibrating growl erupted from Kayden's chest—a sound of pure, silver-eyed dominance. Through the merge of our minds, I felt the electric jolt he received from my reaction.
He leaned in, his lips grazing my ear as he whispered in a voice thick with a dark, possessive promise, "I'm not anywhere near done with you yet, kitten." My heart skipped a frantic beat, but before I could even catch my breath, he withdrew his fingers only to plunge them back inside me with a sharp, rhythmic intensity that shattered my remaining composure. I surged upward, my hands tangling in his hair as I pulled him back into a bruising kiss, desperate to swallow his groans. He met my desperation with his own, his other hand squeezing my bared breast with a firm, grounding grip as he continued the relentless, driving pace of his fingers.
My hands explored every inch of her, using our mental tether to pinpoint the exact nerves that made her breath hitch and her body tremble. I mapped her out with a hunter's precision, finding every hidden spark that brought her closer to the sheer drop of the edge. The sounds escaping her—those soft, breathless whimpers—were intoxicating. I savored the knowledge that I was the sole architect of her undoing.
But then, she struck back. Her hand slid down, finding the heavy, pulsing length of my cock through the fabric of my slacks. The contact was electric. A violent wave of pleasure shot through me, making my dick jerk in her palm. I hissed through my teeth, a jagged sound of pure, unadulterated need that quickly dissolved into a low, rumbling growl. I felt the vibration of her smile against the sensitive skin of my neck. She knew exactly what she was doing. She began a torturous trail of kisses along my jawline, her lips hot and insistent, while her hand continued to move against me with a rhythm that made my vision blur.
A groan ripped from my chest, deep and guttural. My free hand tangled in the heavy silk of her silver hair—the clip had been discarded long ago, leaving her tresses to spill over my arms like a shimmering waterfall. I tightened my grip, tilting her head back to find her eyes, which were now glowing with an electric blue fire.
I gripped the silken weight of her hair, gently but firmly tilting her head back until her silver eyes met mine. I nipped at her lower lip, a playful but sharp reminder of who had her, before plunging my fingers back into her heat. Her breathing was a chorus of labored, shallow hitches. "Kayden," she gasped, my name a prayer on her lips. Through our mental connection, I could feel the tension in her soul coiling like a spring. We were seconds away—a heartbeat from a dual climax. Her hands were frantic now, tugging at the waistband of my slacks until she finally managed to free me. "Kayden... I want... you," she breathed, her voice trembling with the weight of her need.
I didn't need the words; I could feel the demand echoing in my own blood. I withdrew my hand from her center, the loss of contact drawing a sharp whimper from her throat, and gripped her hips. I began to guide her, lifting her slightly to align her perfectly with my aching length. I was a fraction of an inch from finally claiming what the bond had been screaming for all day. Then, we suddenly hear the thud of multiple heavy footsteps echoing on the stairs leading up to my office. We both froze, the air turning from electric heat to ice in a split second. Artemis's eyes went wide, her pupils blown as she looked toward the door, her chest still heaving with the remnants of the pleasure she hadn't quite reached. My wolf roared in silent fury at the intrusion.
The footsteps suddenly stopped in front of the door were like a bucket of ice water poured over my head, instantly dousing the fire in my blood. The haze in my mind evaporated, replaced by a cold, sharp clarity. My heart, which had been thrumming with desire, now hammered with pure panic. I looked down at our tangled limbs—my dress hiked to my waist, his hands on my hips, and the undeniable evidence of our shared heat. We were seconds away from a scandal that would be talked about in the pack for decades.
Time seemed to stretch, slowing to a crawl. My mind raced a mile a minute, cataloging our situation with the cold precision of a soldier. The only thing saving us was the massive, dark mahogany desk; its heavy frame acted as a shield, obscuring our lower bodies from whoever was stepping into the room. If it weren't for that wood, they would be getting a front-row seat to the Alpha's private life. But the desk couldn't hide everything. Our scent was a heavy, sweet cloud in the small office, and our breathing was still loud and ragged—a rhythmic, tell-tale sign of the intimacy that had been interrupted. I stayed frozen, my hands still tangled in Kayden's hair, my eyes locked on the widening gap of the door.
I looked at Kayden, and for the first time, I saw his composure completely shattered. His wide-eyed shock mirrored my own, but as the silence stretched, his gaze drifted lower. He stared at my exposed breasts, and for a heartbeat, I saw that raw, silver-eyed hunger roar back to life, threatening to pull us both back under. Then, reality snapped back. With a low hiss, he grabbed the neckline of my powder-blue dress and yanked it up, covering me just as the door moved another inch.
My heart was hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. I realized then that he was just as vulnerable as I was. My eyes dropped to where his slacks were pushed down, and I saw him—still pulsing and only half-deflated from the interruption. Pure instinct took over. I reached down, my fingers closing around him with the frantic intent of helping him back into his clothes before we were exposed. The second my skin touched his, a jagged, warning growl ripped from his throat. He caught my wrists in a grip of iron, hauling my hands away and pinning them against his chest.
"Watch it, kitten," he rasped, his voice a dangerous, low-frequency vibration that made my knees weak despite the panic. His silver eyes were dark, swirling with a promise that was both a threat and a vow. "Or else I won't care who comes through that door. I'll fuck you right in front of them and have you screaming my name until they're forced to listen." I gasped, the sheer boldness of his words sending a fresh jolt of heat through me. The thought of that happening was now consuming my thoughts.
The tension in the room snapped, replaced by the heavy, rhythmic thud of familiar footsteps on the hardwood. I held my breath, my heart still lodged in my throat, as the door swung wide. "I knew he wouldn't last ten minutes before trying to force himself on her," Amelia's voice rang out, dripping with a mixture of amusement and "I-told-you-so" triumph. I slowly turned my head, my face burning with a flush that probably matched the powder-blue of my dress. Luca was casually strolling into the room, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as if he were walking into a casual brunch rather than an Alpha's private office. Amelia stood right beside him, her arms crossed and an incredibly smug, amused smile playing on her lips.
I glared at Mia, my jaw tight as I felt Artemis stiffen against me. Mia, never one to miss a theatrical moment, feigned a gasp of horror. She pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes wide with mock disbelief. "Kayden! Don't tell me you tried to use the mate bond to force yourself on her without asking if it was okay—or if she even wanted to have sex with you."
I rolled my eyes so hard it actually hurt. The sheer audacity of her accusation was classic Mia. Sensing the shift in the room, I finally released my iron grip on Artemis's wrists. The moment she was free, she scrambled off my lap with the speed of a startled doe. She stood to my right, her hands flying to her dress to smooth the lace and pull the scalloped hem back down to her mid-thigh. She wouldn't look at them, but I could see her chest still heaving from our interrupted heat.
I leaned back in my chair, trying to summon every ounce of Alpha authority I had left while my own body was still screaming in protest at the sudden stop. I narrowed my eyes at my sister, my voice a low, warning growl. "Do you know how to do anything besides annoy me all day, Mia?" Mia smirked, the picture of faux-innocence as she tilted her head. "Who, me? I would never," she cooed. "I'm only trying to ensure you're doing things properly this time, Kayden. We have too much to lose if you mess up again and she decides she's better off without us."
I pursed my lips, a growl building in the back of my throat, but she ignored my warning. She simply shrugged, her gaze sweeping over the cramped, paper-strewn office. "Besides," she added, her voice dropping into a casual, biting drawl, "I don't know any woman who wants her first night with her mate to be in a squeaky office chair." The words felt like a slap. My ego took a direct hit, but more than that, a wave of guilt washed over me. I looked at Artemis, expecting to see her blushing or perhaps nodding in agreement with my sister's sharp observation. Instead, she was a statue. She stood there, perfectly composed, her expression a mask of cool indifference. The woman who had been moaning my name and arching into my touch just seconds ago was gone, replaced by the guarded, tactical warrior I'd first met. It was as if she had flipped a switch, distancing herself from the conversation—and from me—the moment the door opened. Her silence was louder than anything Mia could have shouted, and it stung more than any insult.
"Now that we've ensured you won't be... indisposed... should we get back to work?" Amelia asked, her voice dry as bone. I felt Kayden shift beside me, his head snapping toward her with a fierce glare. He scoffed, the sound sharp and defensive. "I would never be 'indisposed,' Mia." She rolled her eyes with practiced ease. "Yeah, of course not. It's not like every piece of research and centuries of pack history don't state that when new mates find each other, the brain literally can't handle the shared pleasure. Not until it's had years to adjust."
She stepped further into the room, her expression turning uncharacteristically serious. "Be real, Kayden. Everyone knows the Shared Pleasure phenomenon. It's the reason fated mates never look at anyone else—sex can never be the same once your souls are echoing each other. But it's an overload. Reaching a climax with a fated mate is like a physical short-circuit; it knocks both of you out cold. You have to be cautious about the where and when, because if a Rogue hits while you're both unconscious in that chair, we're all dead." Kayden let out a long, frustrated breath. "Thanks for the history lesson, Mia, but I think I can handle my own body."
Beside her, Luca finally spoke, his hand coming to rest on Amelia's shoulder in a grounding gesture. "Don't worry," he murmured to her, though his eyes were on Kayden. "He'll figure it out soon enough." Mia smiled up at the Beta before turning a sharp look back at Kayden, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "If he even gets the chance, you mean." The growl in Kayden's chest was audible this time, but Mia just shrugged it off. "So? Do you want to get back to work or not? We can't exactly be as complacent as you and spend the day in bed." "I would not have—" Kayden started, his eyes narrowing, but Mia held up a hand, flat and final, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Try saying that after you've actually experienced it," she countered. "Until then, I don't want to hear it."
While Kayden and Amelia continued to bicker like the lifelong friends they were, I felt the heavy gaze of the room shift away from me. Luca had already checked out of the argument, dropping into a leather chair with a bored sigh. I followed his lead, putting distance between myself and the desk—and the man sitting behind it. As I moved, a massive vellum map pinned to the right wall caught the light. I stopped in my tracks.
It was a masterfully detailed territory map. I traced the jagged lines with my eyes, recognizing the familiar borders of the surrounding packs. I knew these lines. I had memorized every shift, every expansion, and every lost acre of the territories for years. It was how I stayed alive. It was how I remained a ghost. But then, my eyes settled on the center—the heart of the map. There sat a massive expanse of land, lush and strategically fortified, marked as the territory I currently stood in. I felt a cold prickle of unease. I'd studied every map, both ancient and updated. I could navigate the continent by the scent of the trees alone. So how was it possible that a pack of this size—this sheer power—had managed to remain invisible to me?
I've always known when borders changed, when packs were absorbed, or when they moved entirely. This wasn't just a hidden village; this was a kingdom. How had I, a woman who specialized in knowing exactly where the wolves were, been blind to this place for so long? You don't hide a pack this large by accident. You hide it with intent.
The bickering behind me died out, replaced by a heavy, curious silence. I could feel someone—likely Kayden—approaching my back, his warmth radiating through the small space between us, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the vellum. My eyes raced over the borders I knew by heart, tracing the jagged edges of the neighboring territories to the north. There, nestled between two of the most aggressive packs in the region. It was a narrow, treacherous corridor of jagged terrain that humans would find impossible to navigate. To a casual observer, it looked like a natural barrier.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, a headache beginning to bloom. No leader could be stupid enough to leave a back door wide open like this. But then I remembered where I was. I'd seen the overconfidence of this pack firsthand; they were so blinded by their own perceived strength that they'd stopped looking for shadows. Their inability to assess a real threat made my skin crawl. I let out a sharp sigh and tapped a finger firmly on the gap. "If there are more rogues out there," I said, my voice cold, "this is where they're hiding."
I turned to find Kayden leaning against the back of a leather chair, his intense gaze never leaving me. He looked curious, almost fascinated by the way my mind was working. Beside him, Amelia sat perched on the arm of Luca's chair, her eyes darting between the map and me. Luca was the first to break the silence, his voice laced with suspicion. "There is no way you could know that. Not unless you're in cahoots with them."
I rolled my eyes, the frustration bubbling up. "It's called reasonable deduction, Luca. Or do you need me to explain the definition of that to you as well?"Luca merely huffed, his jaw set. "And why should we believe you?" I crossed my arms, meeting his gaze with a steady, unblinking stare. "How about because, while I couldn't care less whether you live or die, my mate does. I dislike pointless bloodshed, and I don't attack people unless they come for me first. My interest is in ending this, not playing games."
"You realize how insane you sound, right?" Luca countered, gesturing toward the map. "No one, especially not a large group, would be stupid enough to attempt that route. One person? Maybe. But a whole cell of rogues? Impossible." I felt a headache beginning to bloom behind my eyes. I pinched the bridge of my nose, my voice dropping an octave. "Your overconfidence is exactly what will get your people killed." I turned back to the map, my finger tracing the jagged, 'impossible' path. "If you move in small groups—three, maybe four at a time—the terrain is manageable. You travel light, you travel fast, and you regroup here." I tapped a secluded basin just inside the pack's outer sensory range. "Once there, they have enough cover to set up a forward base before making their move. It's not about safety, Luca. It's about being where you aren't looking." Luca rolled his eyes again, shaking his head. "That's assuming nothing went wrong. That land isn't safe, not even for people like us."
She raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning cold. "You're forgetting what kind of people we're dealing with. They don't care if they lose half their numbers—or even the majority—as long as they achieve their goal. To them, soldiers are just fuel for the fire." I watched as Luca went silent, the gears practically grinding in his head. "What makes you so sure?" Luca huffed, crossing his arms over his chest in a defensive stance. Artemis rolled her eyes, her voice taking on a hard, clinical edge. "This isn't my first time dealing with rogues, Luca, and I doubt it's yours. But I've been in more battles than you've likely had the chance to dream about. This is a basic military tactic—one that only overconfident fools ignore. If the neighboring packs are as arrogant as you, they won't have a single set of eyes on that gap. When you have lives depending on you, you don't get the luxury of being 'sure.' You have to account for every possibility and have a plan to kill it before it kills you."
I stood there, the weight of her words settling in the air like dust after a collapse. I felt a surge of genuine impression, but beneath it, a sharp sting of sadness. She looked at us—at me—and saw overconfident fools playing at war. She didn't know the weight of the blood we carried. My pack wasn't just another territory on a map; we were the hidden shield of the royal family. Our military prowess was legendary among the select few who even knew we existed. We hadn't lost a fight in centuries—not to rogues, not to rival packs, and certainly not to the other species that lurked in the dark. We were superior in every way that mattered. I could see why she thought our confidence was a weakness, but to us, it was a proven reality. Yet, looking at the fire in her eyes, I realized that for the first time in our history, someone was looking at our perfect record and seeing a target waiting to be hit.
Luca scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I doubt you know anything." Before he could finish, Amelia's elbow connected sharply with his ribs. He winced, his breath hitching as he turned to her with a shocked expression. I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips; seeing Amelia defend me warmed my heart in a way I hadn't expected. It was sweet, even if the room was currently a battlefield of egos. I turned my attention back to Luca. "If you don't believe me, send a scout. If there are rogues out there, that's where you'll find them." Luca tore his gaze away from his mate to glare at me. "You sound insane. You haven't seen that terrain, but I have. No one is stupid enough to trek through it when there's a road right below it. And that road," he added pointedly, "is heavily guarded. We have eyes everywhere."
"Which is exactly why I know I'm right," I countered, my voice flat. "I don't need to see the land to know that a rogue would choose the 'impossible' mountain over the 'guarded' road." He opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off with a sigh. "You have two choices, Luca. You can keep trying to break that prisoner—though I doubt he'll talk before the first blood is shed—or you can send a scout and warn the neighboring packs. Personally, I think there's only one correct answer. You'd be beyond stupid not to take it."
I caught the slight twitch of Kayden's lips—a ghost of a smile as he watched Luca's expression sour. It was the look of a man who knew he had been outplayed but wasn't ready to admit it. Kayden finally turned his full attention to his Beta, his voice dropping into a smooth, challenging drawl. "I thought you said you were going to give her a chance, Luca. Instead, you're giving her a harder time than the prisoner in the basement."
Luca scoffed, shifting his weight defensively. "I didn't say I was going to make it easy for her. She still has to prove herself. I'm just not being a jerk about it—it's not a crime to question her knowledge or her abilities. That's my job." Kayden didn't buy it. He crossed his arms over his chest, his smirk widening into something more predatory. "You're just upset that she was able to pull a solid lead out of a map in thirty seconds, while you haven't made any headway with the prisoner all day." "If you can even call that hunch a lead," Luca muttered, rolling his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. But I could see the tension in his jaw. Kayden had hit the mark. Luca's pride was bruised because an outsider—a baker, no less—had seen the tactical hole he had missed.
Amelia stood abruptly, a triumphant smile lighting up her face. "Ignore my mate, Artemis. I think it's a marvelous idea. We lose absolutely nothing by checking it out, and I'll personally ensure Luca sends the best people for the job." Luca looked at her as if she'd grown a second head. "You can't be serious! You're going to send our people out on a suicide mission because of a feeling? That terrain is unstable. The way she talks... I bet she doesn't even know how to read the damn map." Amelia gasped, her mouth dropping open in indignation. "Luca, I can't believe—"
"I understand that map perfectly," I interjected, my voice cutting through her tangent like a blade. The room went silent. Kayden and Amelia both turned to me, their expressions a mix of surprise and intense focus. "I understand this map as well as I know the layout of every other pack on this continent," I continued, meeting Luca's skeptical gaze head-on. Luca scoffed, though there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes now. "I highly doubt that." I let out a long, weary sigh. "Tell me then, Luca—how do you think a lone female made it all the way from Texas to these woods without being detected by a single border patrol? This is the first pack I have stumbled into since I began my journey. That in itself is a mystery to me, because your pack doesn't exist on a single map I've studied. Unless you were established in the last few weeks, which is impossible given your size."
Artemis's gaze was dazed for a moment as she began to piece together the truth of our pack—the gaps in the records, the silent history. I saw Luca shift uncomfortably; he knew as well as I did that she was circling our greatest secret. Until she officially chose to stay, that knowledge was forbidden, a truth we guarded with our lives. "There's no way you could know all that," Luca interrupted, his voice tight. Artemis snapped out of her daze, her eyes narrowing into a cold, lethal glare. "Bring me a territorial map of any other region," she challenged, her voice dropping into a low, steady tone. "Or bring me a standard atlas, and I'll draw the borders myself. I'll show you exactly where the shadows are hiding."
Luca glared back, his jaw tight. "I hope you don't regret that statement." He turned to me, his frustration barely contained. "Can I use your computer?" I glanced at my mate, then back at my Beta, and let out a weary sigh. "Very well." The room was filled with the frantic, aggressive clacking of keys as Luca began pulling up the files. Mia watched him with a mix of disbelief and simmering anger, clearly appalled by his stubbornness. Artemis, however, didn't move. She stood with her arms crossed, her face a mask of cold indifference. She looked regal—like a queen waiting for a disobedient subject to realize his mistake. I found myself unable to look away, captivated by the sheer authority she radiated.
The printer whirred to life, a mechanical intruder in the tense silence. Luca marched back, slamming three sheets of paper and a pen onto the table beside Artemis. He wore a smug, superior smirk. "Still a chance to back out now and admit you're bluffing," he challenged. Artemis didn't even give him the satisfaction of an answer. She scoffed, grabbed the pen, and dropped onto the couch. I followed her, leaning against the arm of the chair, my breath catching as I watched her work. She didn't hesitate. Her hand moved with a fluid, haunting certainty, tracing the jagged lines of territories thousands of miles away. Luca had been clever—he'd printed maps of three entirely different regions—but she was faster. She mapped out the Blood River boundaries, the shifting lines of the Great Plains packs, and the coastal territories with terrifying accuracy. She even labeled the minor sub-packs that most Alpha-level scouts would struggle to name.
When the last line was drawn, she sat back, tossing the pen onto the table. She looked up at Luca, her eyebrow arched in a silent, lethal challenge. "There. Are you satisfied now?" The silence that followed was deafening. Luca's smug expression had evaporated, replaced by a look of pure, unadulterated shock. His mouth hung open slightly as he stared at the papers, his mind clearly reeling from how she just displayed a higher level of geographical intelligence than his own specialized scout teams. I couldn't help it. The sight of my usually unflappable Beta looking so completely defeated was too much. I burst into a roar of laughter, the sound echoing off the office walls. I sat on the arm of the couch, instinctively draping my arm behind Artemis, claiming her space as my own. Luca looked at me, wounded, but I just grinned. "She definitely proved you wrong, my friend," I said, my voice rich with pride. "You know what to do now."
Artemis leaned back against my arm, crossing her legs with a dignified air. She watched Luca's expression of total disbelief with an unimpressed, steady gaze. "But how—this is—" Luca stammered, his mind clearly reeling. "Enough!" I barked. The word cracked through the office like a whip. Luca froze, his eyes snapping to mine in genuine shock. I didn't give him room to argue. "You have your orders, Luca. Go ensure they get completed." He shot one final, burning glare at Artemis, but the weight of my command was absolute. He turned on his heel and stormed out, the door slamming behind him with a finality that seemed to vibrate in the floorboards.
Amelia let out a long, heavy sigh, turning toward Artemis with a look of deep regret. "I'm sorry about him, Artemis. Truly. He's frustrated because he's hitting a brick wall with that rogue, and seeing you solve the puzzle in sixty seconds... it bruised his ego. But that's no excuse. I'll talk to him. I'll make sure he apologizes once his pride stops stinging." Artemis didn't even look bothered. She waved a hand dismissively, her expression smoothing back into that calm, untouchable mask. "It's fine, Amelia. You don't have to keep apologizing for his poor behavior. It's not your fault he is like that." "I know," Amelia murmured, "but I don't want you to think poorly of us. He isn't normally this pig-headed. If he were, I never would have agreed to be his mate."
A small, genuine laugh bubbled up from Artemis's throat—a sound that made my heart do a strange, serrated flip in my chest. "It's okay," she said, her eyes glinting with a touch of irony. "I tend to bring out the best or worst in people, especially those of the wolf variety." Mia smiled, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. "Sadly, I can believe that." As they shared a laugh, a heavy weight settled in my stomach. Her comment about bringing out the "worst" in wolves hit me like a physical blow as I remembered everything I had done to her since she first arrived.
As soon as the laughter stopped, it was like the mood in the room suddenly shifted, and tension suddenly filled the air. "As much as I hate to rain on the parade," Amelia sighed, her playful demeanor replaced by a sharp, professional edge. "We need to get back to work. If Artemis is right, they're closer than we ever anticipated. We have to warn the surrounding packs immediately. And until Luca reports in, we have to keep trying to crack that prisoner."
Artemis tilted her head, her analytical mind clearly still engaged. "Has he said anything at all?" Amelia shook her head, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. "Not a word. Honestly, I'm ashamed. Usually, I can get a prisoner to talk without needing Kayden's... more aggressive methods."
"There's nothing to feel bad about, Mia," I said, though my mind was already racing through the dark possibilities. "He just has a strong will." The room fell into an awkward, heavy silence. I could see the wheels turning in Amelia's head before she suddenly turned to Artemis. "You wouldn't happen to have any ideas? Tactics we haven't tried?"
"Amelia! Leave her out of it!" The words ripped out of me sharper than I intended, cutting through the air like a snarl. Both women flinched. Amelia's eyes went wide with confusion, but it was the flash of hurt in Artemis's silver eyes that made my stomach drop. I took a deep breath, trying to force my voice into a calmer, more measured tone. "I don't want my mate being pulled into our problems," I said, though it sounded weak even to my own ears. "This is a pack matter. This is something we have to deal with." Amelia raised a skeptical eyebrow, her hands moving to her hips. "You do realize she is our Luna, Kayden? This isn't just your problem. She has every right to be a part of this."
Kayden sat up straighter, the leather of the couch creaking under his shift in posture. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a gesture of growing frustration. "I'm fully aware she's the Luna, Mia. But as her mate, I have a right to protect her—to keep her from the darkness of this life for as long as I can." Amelia didn't look impressed. She glanced at me, then back to her Alpha. "I don't think she needs you to protect her from anything, Kayden. She's been doing a fine job of that herself for years." Kayden opened his mouth to retort, but Amelia held up a finger, cutting him off with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Also, you no longer have the right to call me Amelia." Kayden blinked, looking completely blindsided. "What? What the hell do you mean by that?"
"It's quite simple," she said, leaning back with a smug grin. "You can continue to call me Mia, but only Artemis is allowed to use my full name from now on." Kayden raised an eyebrow, looking at her like she'd finally lost her mind. "And why, exactly, is that the new law of the land?" "Because," Amelia replied, rolling her eyes as if explaining a simple math problem to a child, "I've grown fond of hearing my name, but only when she says it. She feels more comfortable using the full version, and since I've decided I like her more than you right now, she's the only one with the privilege. You're stuck with the nickname." A soft, surprised laugh escaped my lips. I looked at Amelia and felt a genuine spark of friendship. She was intentionally baiting Kayden's ego to lighten the mood, and it was working.
I stared at her in sheer disbelief. For as long as I'd known her, she had treated her full name like a curse. She'd never explained why, but the rule was absolute: call her Amelia, and you'd likely end up with a bruised rib or a week of the silent treatment. "Is that the same for Luca as well?" I managed to ask, still trying to process the shift. She rolled her eyes at me, a playful spark in her gaze. "Did you really think he was an exception just because he's my mate? Please."
Beside me, Artemis burst into a bright, clear laugh that seemed to chase the shadows out of the corners of the room. She looked at Amelia with a genuine, warm smile. "Well, I'm honored you feel that way. And thank you for the consideration... because I like you, too." I felt a dull throb behind my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose again. "Sometimes, Mia, you are a complete mystery to me. I truly don't know how Luca puts up with you."
I felt a light touch on my arm. The effect was instantaneous—sparks from the mate bond flared to life, sending a jolt of electricity through my skin that grounded me better than any deep breath ever could. I looked up to find Artemis watching me, her eyes soft and filled with a quiet understanding. She gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. "Is everything okay?" I covered her hand with mine, my thumb tracing the back of her knuckles. The chaos of the maps, the rogues, and the stubbornness of my Beta faded into the background. "Yes," I murmured, my voice dropping an octave. "Everything is just fine, my dear."
She looked as though she was about to say more, her lips parting, but a sharp, rhythmic clearing of a throat shattered the moment. "As much as I love a break, and as much as I hate to be the one to say it," Amelia interrupted, her arms crossed as she leaned against the desk, "can we put the love feast on hold? You two can pick up where you left off at a later date. Right now, we have a war to prevent."
I forced a long breath out through my nose, watching the frustration dissolve into the air. "You know, Mia, if you weren't one of my oldest friends, I wouldn't stand for half this insolence." "It's not insolence if I'm only speaking the truth," she countered with a smirk that was entirely too comfortable. "If you can't handle the reality of things, you're always welcome to try running this pack with just Luca by your side." I rolled my eyes, leaning back. "One of these days, I might just take you up on that."
She scoffed, her smugness reaching new heights. "Yeah, right. We both know you'd be crawling back within the hour, begging me to fix the mess you made." I glared at her, but she only beamed back, clearly waiting for me to admit she was right. I didn't give her the satisfaction. "Didn't you say there was work to do?" I sighed. "Shouldn't you get to it instead of trying to bait me?" Amelia's laughter filled the room, a sharp contrast to the maps of war on the table. Beside me, I saw Artemis's lip twitch upward; she was clearly finding our bickering more amusing than she wanted to admit.
Once Amelia caught her breath, she straightened her jacket. "I'll go grab the others," she said, her tone shifting back to business. She turned to Artemis with a softer look. "Sorry to cut this short, Artemis." But before she reached the door, she paused, her hand on the frame as she looked back at me. "Unless... you plan on allowing her to sit through the briefing? She found the lead, after all." My eyes narrowed, my posture stiffening instinctively. "I already told you, I don't want her involved in our matters," I growled, the Alpha's protective edge returning. "This is our problem. Not hers."
Amelia rolled her eyes, her gaze lingering on me with a soft, almost pitying smile. "I figured you'd say that, Kayden." She turned to me, her voice dropping into a tone that sounded suspiciously like a performance. "I'm so sorry, Artemis. I'll try my best to have us wrapped up for dinner, but... I just don't know. Between the strategy meeting and the hours we'll spend contacting the other packs, we might be up all night. And that's not even counting the prisoner. If he keeps being stubborn tonight, we'll just have to start the whole cycle again tomorrow morning."
She was rambling. It was clumsy, detailed, and entirely deliberate. Each word felt like a nudge, as if she were pointing at a locked door and handing me the key. She wanted me to realize that without my help, they were going to fail—or at the very least, they were going to be miserable. "Enough, Mia," Kayden groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose again as if a migraine were settling in. "Just go already." Amelia shot him a look of pure, unadulterated annoyance for the interruption. "Fine." She stepped out, but before the door could close, she popped her head back in, stuck her tongue out at the Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in existence, and vanished into the hallway.
Kayden let out a long, weary sigh. "That girl will be the death of me, I swear." I couldn't hold it in anymore. I burst into a fit of laughter that made my sides ache. Kayden looked at me as if I had finally snapped under the pressure. "I'm sorry," I gasped, wiping a tear from my eye. "I just... I can't help it. It's hilarious how you can all be stone-cold professionals one second and then behave like toddlers the next."
Kayden's smile was soft, a far cry from the fierce commander who had just barked orders at Luca. "Well," he murmured, "at least we aren't boring." I laughed, the sound light even to my own ears. "Nope. Not boring at all." He reached for me, his hands steady and inviting. I didn't hesitate; I placed my palms in his, and he pulled me to my feet with effortless grace. For a moment, we just stood there, the height difference making me tilt my head back to meet his gaze. He cupped my face, his thumb grazing my cheekbone with a tenderness that made my skin hum. "You truly are perfect," he whispered. "I don't know how I managed to get so lucky."
His hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me flush against him. He dipped his head, nuzzling into the crook of my neck, and took a deep, shaky breath of my scent. The mate bond sparks erupted into a wildfire, threatening to haze my vision and drown out the world. But then, his voice—thick with an emotion I hadn't expected—broke through the fog. "After all of this is over... could you please consider staying here? With me?"
I stiffened. The instinct to flee slammed into my ribs like a physical blow. Kayden felt the change instantly. He pulled back, his eyes searching mine, no longer commanding but pleading. "I mean it, Artemis. I don't want to lose you. I've waited so long... and I know I was stupid. I was an idiot to let the fact that you're a tiger get in the way of seeing who you really are. I know I can't force you. I wouldn't. But... please. Just think about it?"
My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant's hand. I looked into those pleading eyes, and the "no" that had been sitting on the tip of my tongue for a thousand miles suddenly dissolved. "Okay," I whispered, the word feeling heavy and foreign. "I will think about it. But I make no promises, Kayden." The transformation was instant. His face lit up with a radiance that made my chest tighten with guilt. I shouldn't have said it. I knew I was handing him a thread of hope that I might eventually have to snap, but in the glow of that grin, I couldn't bring myself to take it back.
He didn't give me time to overthink. He leaned down, his lips crashing against mine with a hunger that spoke of years of waiting. One hand anchored me at the small of my back while the other tangled in the hair at the nape of my neck, tilting my head to deepen the contact. The sparks weren't just tingling now; they were an inferno. My brain felt shrouded in a thick, sweet fog melting against the hard planes of his chest. His hand slid from my back to my hip, his grip firm and possessive, pulling me so close there wasn't a breath of air between us. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew Amelia was coming back. I knew the "others" would be walking through that door any second. But as the mate bond flooded my senses, the outside world felt like a distant, fading memory.
The rhythmic thud-thud-thud of boots in the hallway acted like a bucket of ice water, snapping me out of the daze. I pulled back, putting just enough distance between us to breathe, though I couldn't bring myself to let go entirely. I leaned my forehead against his, my eyes fluttering shut as I took one last, grounding lungful of his scent—forest rain and sandalwood. When I opened my eyes, Kayden was watching me with an expression so raw and filled with affection that it made my throat tight. He kissed the top of my forehead, his hand lingering on my cheek with a feather-light touch, as if he were handling a piece of ancient, fragile glass. He was terrified I would bolt. And he was right to be.
Dread pooled in my stomach, cold and heavy. My instincts screamed at me to run—to find the nearest window and disappear into the treeline before these roots grew too deep to cut. But I couldn't. Not yet. I couldn't leave him to face a threat I understood better than any of them. I had to ensure his safety, and the safety of the people he loved, even if it meant staying long enough to break my own heart. The door handle turned. I stepped out of his embrace just as Amelia led the three commanders into the room. I didn't wait for introductions. I didn't look back at the confusion or the longing I knew would be etched on Kayden's face. I swept past the group, a shadow slipping through the doorway, and disappeared into the hall before the first map could be unrolled.