The massive black wolf Ed spotted through the trees shifted form at approached, revealing Kalus in his human shape. Behind him stood Frost and several pack soldiers, all tensed for battle,
“Kalus!” I didn’t care about dignity or restraint. I launched myself into his arms, clinging to him as if he might disappear.
His arms tightened around me, lifting me off the ground. The family scent of him–earth and leather and power–washed over me chasing away the lingering taint of Alaric’s presence.
“Are you hurt… are you okay?” Kalin’s voice was rough with emotion as his hands moved over my face, my shoulders, checking for injuries with frantic concern. “We’ve been searching for you for hours, Elowen–all through the night. I thought I’d lost you.”
found.
I couldn’t speak, could only bury my face against his neck and breathe. I was safe, I was fo
“Uhmm, hey,” Frost’s voice broke through our bubble. “You do know there are others watching, right?”
I lifted my head, suddenly aware of our audience. The pack soldiers stood awkwardly, some openly staring while others made a show of scanning the forest. Heat rushed to my cheeks.
“Perverts,” I muttered, though I made no move to extract myself from Kalus’s embrace.
The tension in Kaius’s budy hadn’t eased. His eyes, when they met mine, burned with barely contained rage. “Tell me, Elower. Who
Kajus s body
did this?”
I hesitated, thinking of everything that had happened so quickly, How much should I reveal? How much could I withhold? “I dont know,” I said finally
His jaw tightened, “I need a name, and you can either tell me or Ind out myself.”
Would
you
force a name out of me with your Alpha… thingy?” I asked, trying to deflect with humor.
A flicker of amusement crossed his features. “Is not called the Alpha thingy, is called an aura. And no, I won’t use that, I do not need that to get what I want.”
The soldiers were still watching, waiting for orders. I couldn’t lie–not completely. “I just… It was Alpha Alaric,” I admitted.
Kaius expression darkened. A low growl escaped him, so primal it sent shivers down my spine. “Get her back to the pack house,” he ordered Frost, already turning toward the forest depths. “Tll handle this.”
“No!” I grabbed his arm, panic surging through me. “Kaius, please. Not now.”
He hesitated conflict evident in his eyes. “Elowen-
“Please. I just want to go home. The plea was authentic, as was the exhaustion in my voice.
Something in his expression softened. With a curt nod to the soldiers, he swept me into his arms as if I weighed nothing and began walking toward the pack house.
By the time we reached our rooms, I was nearly asleep. Kalus shoped the healers away after a cursory examination, insisting he could tend to my minor injuries himself.
The door had barely closed behind the last of them when his careful control fractured. His hands trembled as he applied salve to the rope burns on my wrists.
1/2
Chapter 96
“I’m fine, Kalus. Really,” I sala: trying to sound more reassuring than felt.
your wrists aren’t,” he said, his voice tight with suppressed fury,
Did he do anything to you?”
I covered his hand with mine, stilling his movements. “No, Kalus, heidn’t… violate me. He would have if you hadn’t been faster.”
“That bastard,” he growled,
He fell silent for a moment, struggling to contain his fury before continuing in a more controlled voice.
“How did you even manage to escape?”
“Actually… Ophelia helped me.”
His head snapped up, eyes wide with disbelief, “Ophelia helped you?
Yes, she unchained me and let me go.”
Kalus sat back, genuine shock written across his features. “Who would have thought Mother capable of such a thing?
“She hadn’t done it just because of me,”
“Are you sure about that?”
I nodded. “Yes, she said, she did it for my mother.”
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