- Will Protect You
Ara’s POV
The stone corridors of the underground packhouse blurred past me as I ran, my bare feet slapping against the cold floor. Water still dripped from my hair, leaving dark splotches in my wake. My knuckles stung as I pounded on Amara’s door frantically.
“Amara! Amara! Open up!”
The sound echoed sharply through the silent hallway.
The door swung open to reveal a bleary–eyed Amara, her dark braid mussed from sleep. She blinked at me, taking in my drenched clothes and heaving chest.
“Easy, Ara,” she murmured, rubbing her face. “Who died?”
“I saw a wolf,” I gasped, my fingers trembling at my sides.
Amara’s gaze trailed over my soaked shirt, my dripping hair. “You look… like you took a swim in your clothes.” “Did you even listen to me?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. The memory of those stormy gray eyes burned behind my eyelids. His jawline, his nose his lips and those dimples…. Oh goddess!
She sighed, leaning against the doorframe. “Werewolves pass through these woods all the time. They’re not
threats.”
“No one goes that deep into the forest,” I insisted, my pulse still racing. “Not near the waterfall. Not at this
hour.”
Amara’s eyebrows arched. “And what were you doing at the waterfall so late?”
“That’s not important.” I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. “We need to report this.” “Alright,” she relented, stepping aside to let me in. “But dry off first. We live in a civilization, not a cave.” The warmth of her room did little to ease the chill in my bones. As I changed into dry clothes, my hands. fumbled with the buttons, my mind replaying the encounter- the way he’d moved like liquid shadow, the way my blade had meant nothing to him, the way silver and wolfsbane bafely harmed him… what was he?
Amara dressed quickly, her usual playful demeanor replaced by quiet efficiency.
“Kade’s on his way,” she said as we approached Celestine’s chambers.
The Luna opened the door before we could knock, her silver–streaked hair loose around her shoulders.
“Amara. Ara.” Her keen eyes swept over us. “What’s wrong?”
Before I could answer, Kade arrived, his massive frame filling the doorway. His golden eyes locked onto me immediately.
“I was at the waterfall, I began, forcing my voice steady. “I met a wolf.”
Celestine’s posture stiffened almost imperceptibly. “Did he engage you?”
“Yes, but
–
I swallowed hard: “I held my dagger to his throat. Wolfsbane and silver. It cut his skin but, he
didn’t even flinch.”
Will Protect Your
Kade’s growl rumbled through the room. “Did he hurt you?”
“No.” The word tasted bitter. “He could have killed me in one move. But he didn’t for some reason.”
But why? What do you want? I thought to myself.
Amara crossed her arms. “What rank?”
“Alpha. Definitely.” My fingers twitched at my side, phantom sensations of his grip on my wrist lingering. “But that’s not what worries me.” I met Celestine’s gaze. “He masked his scent until he was right in front of me. I didn’t even feel him closing up.
The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on
Celestine exhaled slowly. “Two possibilities. Either someone’s hunting us, or it was an alpha who stumbled upon you and thought a lone she–wolf would be… amusing.” Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Let’s hope it’s
the later.”
“And if it’s the first?” My voice sounded small in my own ears.
Kade stepped forward, his shoulder brushing mine. “No one hunts rogues alone. If it were a threat, there
would be a troop.”
“Agreed.” Celestine nodded, though her eyes remained troubled. “Still, we’ll investigate.”
“Understood,” Kade nodded.
As we left, Kade fell into step beside me. “Why were you out so late?”
The lie came easily. “Just needed air”
Amara snorted. “Were you walking in the river, half naked?”
“I fell during the encounter,” The words tasted like ash. I couldn’t bring myself to tell them how he’d held me, how my body had betrayed me by responding to his touch.
Kade stopped abruptly, turning me to face him, His hands were warm on my shoulders. “It’s dangerous, Ara. Don’t go alone again,”
It wasn’t a suggestion, rather it was almost an order. I looked into his eyes. They were filled with worries.
“I won’t,” I whispered.
Amara nudged me playfully.
“Relax. We’ve got strong warriors too.” She jerked her chin at Kade. “This lump of muscle could take on a
whole pack.
The stranger’s face flashed in my mind- the effortless way he’d disarmed me, the heat of his body against mine. Could Kade really stand against that?
I returned d to my room. Sleep never came.
By four a.m., I gave up, dressing quickly and heading to the training grounds. The dim artificial lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows across the packed earth.
The training room was too hot
Or maybe it was just Kade
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The moment I stepped into the dimly lit space, his eyes locked onto me. Sweat already glistened across his bare chest, the hard planes of his abdomen flexing as he rolled his shoulders.
“Good morning, Vaclcrest. Couldn’t sleep?” His voice was a low rumble, the smirk playing at his lips telling me
he already knew the answer.
I tightened the straps of my training leathers, ignoring the way my pulse jumped. ‘Let’s just train.”
Kade chuckled, circling me with that infuriating, effortless grace.
“You looked tense. His fingers brushed my waist as he passed, sending an electric jolt up my spine, “need me to help you relax?”
I spun, slamming my forearm toward his throat. He caught my wrist an inch from impact, his grip like iron. “Angry today,” he mused, dragging his thumb over my racing pulse. “That wolf really got under your skin,
didn’t he?”
I wrenched free, kicking at his ribs. Kade dodged, but not fast enough, my boot grazed his side. His eyes
darkened.
“Better.”
Then he struck.
One moment I was standing, the next, my back hit the mats with a breathless thud, Kade’s massive frame caging me in His thighs bracketed mine, the heat of him searing through my clothes.
“Too slow,” he murmured against my ears.
I bucked against him, but he didn’t budge. His hand slid up my arm, pinning it above my head. The rough calluses on his fingers scraped deliciously against my skin.
“Get. Off.” I ground out between clenched teeth
Kade leaned down until his lips nearly brushed mine. “Make me.”
The challenge in his voice sent a reckless thrill through me. I arched up, twisting violently, only for him to catch my other wrist, slamming it down beside the first. Now both hands were trapped, his body a solid weight pressing me deeper into the mats.
“You’re distracted,” he said, his voice gone gravelly. His hips shifted minutely against mine, and I nearly choked on my breath. “What’s the matter?”
Fire licked through my veins. Every inch of me was hyper–aware of him, the sweat dripping down his neck, the corded muscle of his arms flexing as he held me down.
“Move,” I struggled and he finally let go of me.
“Talk to me, what’s up?” He asked in a warm tone.
I gritted my teeth, “he was right in front of me, Kade. My dagger was at his throat, and he still won. What does this make of me?”
He sat beside me, as his hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek.
“Hey.” His voice was rough, but comforting. “Don’t worry. I’ll always protect you. You won’t be alone next time.”
I pulled away, my chest tight. “That’s what I’m afraid of. That wolf… I think he could take you down in one
C
5 Will Protect You
move.”
Kade’s smile was fierce as he spoke, “even if a lycan showed up, I’d protect you with everything I have.”
“Why?” The word burst from me, raw and aching. “Why are you so patient with me? Why are you so
protective?”
His fingers traced my jaw, his touch feather–light this time, “Because you’re special to me.”
The simple honesty in his voice shattered something inside me. When he booped my nose with that infuriating smirk, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
All I knew was that I wasn’t alone anymore. I had people who really cared.
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