As he’s focused on the screen, my own phone vibrates in my hand. Caelan again.
Raegan says you’re not with her.
My stomach drops.
Reeyan’s head snaps up. “What’s wrong?”
“My sister just messaged. She talked to Raegan.” I stare at the screen, at the words that just shattered my carefully constructed lie. “I told her this morning that I was with Raegan, but Raegan told her I’m not there.”
“That’s a problem.”
“You think?” I type quickly.I meant I’m in Grayhide territory, working with someone Raegan knows. Sorry for the confusion. Everything is fine.
“That’s not going to hold for long,” Reeyan comments. “Your sister is going to have questions. Your matriarch is going to have questions. And if Raegan’s confused about why you’re using her as an alibi—”
“I know.” I drop onto the nearest chair, phone clutched in my hand. “This is exactly what I was afraid of. The lies are already falling apart. I wish I knew why this stupid vision didn’t want me telling anyone in my pack about it.”
“Then we tell them the truth.” He sits across from me. “Or at least, a version of it. You’re investigating Llewelyn’s history as part of the inter-regional treaty work. You’re collaborating with Grayhide’s historian to understand historical patterns that might be relevant to current security concerns. All of that is technically true.”
“Without mentioning the vision or the curse or the kidnapping attempt.”
“Right. We keep those details need-to-know until we have more information.” He reaches across the table, hand outstretched palm up. “Trust me. We’ll figure this out.”
I look at his hand for a long moment. Taking it feels like accepting something bigger than just a partnership on an investigation. It feels like acknowledging that maybe, despite everything, he’s actually trying to help rather than control me.
My wolf whines, wanting me to touch him. Wanting that connection.
I place my hand in his.
The contact sends a shock through my entire system. Like touching a live wire, except instead of pain, there’s warmth and recognition and this overwhelming sense of rightness that makes no logical sense.
His fingers close around mine, and I watch his pupils dilate until only a thin ring of green remains.
We’re both leaning forward now, drawn together by some invisible force. The table between us feels like both a barrier andthe only thing keeping us from doing something we can’t take back.
His thumb strokes across my knuckles, and I shiver despite the warm morning sun streaming through the windows. This is insane. I know that. I barely know him. I’m here under duress. This whole situation is built on manipulation and coercion.
But my wolf doesn’t care about rational thought. She wants him. Wants this. And for once, the human part of me agrees with her.
Reeyan swallows hard before he leans in even closer, until his lips are mere centimeters from my own. I lick my lips in a silent gesture of consent as I suck in a breath, imagining what he will taste like.
But then a knock at the front door shatters the moment like glass.
We both freeze, staring at each other across the book-covered table. My heart pounds against my ribs hard enough to hurt.
The knock comes again, more insistent this time.
“You should probably get that,” I tell him, though part of me wants to ignore whoever’s outside and return to whatever was happening between us.
The sensible part wins. The part that remembers I’m supposed to be investigating a curse, not developing feelings for the man who’s keeping me here.
Reeyan stands slowly, like he’s reluctant to break whatever remains of the moment we just shared. His eyes hold mine for a beat longer than necessary before he finally turns toward the door.
I watch him go, my hand still tingling where he touched it, and my lungs screaming for air as I tell myself to just breathe.
Chapter 8 - Reeyan
Wyn Lemay stands on my doorstep looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
