We slipped out together, moving fast and quiet through the empty halls toward the hangar. As we approached it, a stream of pale light stretched out into the hallway. Once inside the hangar, we could see daylight again. The sun was rising, setting the sky ablaze with soft pink and yellow hues.
Outside, the Northern Borderlands stretched wide and unforgiving. Frost clung to the ground, and thick, resilient evergreen trees canopied the forest.
Killian drew one of the nesting blankets around Rowan, shielding her from the cold without waking her.
Cade led our party, glancing back and confirming with his brother that she was secure.
Killian tightened his hold in silent agreement, and together we slipped into the untamed world, bound by the small omega who now belonged at the center of us all.
Chapter 25: Cade
We had been traveling for several hours. The farther north we pushed, the colder it became, the chill working its way into bone and muscle until every movement felt stiff. Aside from a small pack of direworgs we put down without difficulty, we encountered nothing else.
The absence of threats felt unfamiliar.
It had been over six months since our last mission north of the border, and the land felt changed.
Quieter. Calmer.
Almost as if the wall were shifting the balance on its own. New Arca had grown poisonous with ambition and greed, drawing danger inward, while the Northern Borderlands seemed to ease in response, settling into a watchful, uneasy harmony.
It certainly was not safe. But right now, it was far safer for Rowan than New Arca ever could be.
“Can I please get down? I need to stretch my legs, Cade! My wolf is clawing inside. She wants to shift.” Rowan complained in my arms, already wriggling like she expected me to give in.
She had been quiet for the first few hours of the trip, curled into a satisfied, post-heat ball against my brother’s chest. Calm, content, and compliant.
Of course, the moment Killian passed her off to me, she woke, restless, defiant, and demanding to roam. It was almost as if the brat sensed my nearness and decided this was the perfect time to test my patience.
She squirmed again, and I tightened my grip in response, keeping her firmly in place.
“Rowan, you just came out of heat,” I said evenly. “Your body needs rest.”
“I have rested, Cade. For hours!”
“That's not enough,” I replied. “Your body still needs time to recover.”
“My body is fine,” she shot back. “My wolf isn’t. I can feel her getting more restless. She needs to shift! If I don’t, I’m worried she’s going to get worse.”
I cut her off. “And I’m worried about this terrain. It isn’t secure. We still have another hour before we reach the safe house.”
“You’re not worried about the terrain,” she snapped. “You’re worried about me. Everyone else gets to walk independently. I don’t see you carrying Killian.”
Killian chuckled and signed,I’m too heavy.
"You’re right. I am worried about you. That's my job. Keeping you safe from outside threats and especially from yourself.”
She placed a small hand against my chest, forcing me to look at her. “I know you want to keep me safe. But we agreed to trust each other.”
“Rowan—”
“No, Cade!” Her voice was steady now. “I trusted you. When I was in heat, I let go and trusted you completely. Now you need to hold up your end and trust that I know what my wolf needs. Trust that I can handle myself. You promised we were going to do that.”
Her eyes searched mine. “Trust goes both ways. Are you a man of your word or not?”
I growled softly, feeling her words land exactly where she intended.
I studied my omega for a long moment. She was stubborn, brave, and exhaustingly persistent.
