For a long moment we just lie there, catching our breath. His hands stroke my back soothingly as aftershocks ripple through me. The bond hums contentedly, stronger than ever before.
“You’re incredible,” he murmurs, pressing kisses to my shoulder. “So perfect for me. And a fast study too, my little minx.”
I snuggle closer to his warmth, feeling thoroughly claimed and cherished. “Think we can stay like this forever?”
“If I had my way…” He starts to answer, but breaks off as urgent howls pierce the air.
We both freeze, recognizing the emergency signal being passed from pack to pack. The peaceful afterglow shatters as more howls join the first.
“No,” Kieran breathes, sitting up abruptly. “That’s Pack Jade’s call for help.”
Fear grips me as more howls join the first. Through our strengthened bond, I can feel Kieran’s mounting dread.
“The fae,” I say grimly, already moving to gather our clothes. “They’re attacking the pack.”
We dress quickly, the passionate mood shattered by urgency. But as we prepare to leave, Kieran catches my hand.
“Whatever we find when we get there,” he says seriously, “we face it together. No more running from each other.”
I squeeze his fingers, drawing strength from his touch. “Together.”
The howls grow more urgent as we race to pack our things. Whatever reconciliation we’ve found here will have to wait. Our people need us.
And this time, we’ll fight as true mates should—side by side, stronger together than apart.
Ready or not, it’s time to go home.
Chapter 37
Kieran
The road back to Pack Jade seems endless, each mile stretching out before us like a physical manifestation of my growing dread. Aurora’s motorcycle roars ahead of me as I race alongside in wolf form, both of us pushing ourselves to our limits to get there as quickly as possible. The urgent howls of our pack echo in my ears, driving us forward through exhaustion.
My father. What has he done now?
The bond pulses between Aurora and me, carrying waves of shared anxiety. Even in wolf form, I can smell her fear—not for herself, but for our people. For Gran. For the pack that never fully accepted her, yet she still fights to protect. My brave, selfless, wonderful girl.
When we reach the outskirts of pack territory, a familiar scent hits my nose. I signal to Aurora to slow down, and she brings her bike to a stop as a figure emerges from the shadows of the trees.
Dana.
The sight of her makes my wolf bristle with guilt and shame. This is the woman who protected my mate when I abandoned her, who gave her a home and taught her to fight. Who helped her become strong despite my rejection.
I shift back to human form, barely remembering to pull on clothes before approaching. Dana’s eyes are hard as steel as she looks at me, her lips curled in a snarl that would do any wolf proud.
“Well, if it isn’t the prodigal son,” she spits, then turns to Aurora with visible relief. “Thank fuck you’re okay, Rory. When I got word from the coven that you’d done the ritual, I thought…”
“I’m fine,” Aurora assures her, dismounting her bike. “Better than fine, actually. Dana, things have changed. Kieran and I?—”
“Have worked things out?” Dana’s voice drips with skepticism as she eyes me. “Yeah, I can smell him all over you. Just remember what happened last time you trusted him.”
The words hit like a physical blow, but I can’t deny their truth. Before I can speak, Aurora steps between us.
“It’s different now,” she says firmly. “He’s different. But we can talk about that later. What’s happening with the pack? The emergency signals?—”
“It’s worse than you can imagine.” Dana’s expression darkens. “Your father has lost his mind completely, McCade. He’s made a deal with the fae.”
Ice floods my veins. “What kind of deal?”
