Several of the wolves immediately offer their services, and Lithia nods in acknowledgment. “We’ll meet in the war room at noon to go over details.”
She turns to leave, but I can’t let her go so easily.
“No ‘good morning’ for me, Beta?” I ask, injecting a teasing note into my voice. “I’m wounded.”
She stiffens slightly, then turns to face me directly for the first time. “Good morning, Kier. Sleep well?”
“Like a baby,” I lie smoothly. “Though my bed felt strangely empty without a certain white-blonde wolf hogging all the blankets.”
I hear Dane choke on his drink beside me, and several ofthe other wolves suddenly find their breakfasts fascinating. But I keep my eyes on Lithia, watching the subtle play of emotions across her face—surprise, embarrassment, and something that looks suspiciously like longing before she locks it all down behind her Beta mask.
“I’m sure you’ll manage,” she says dryly, but there’s a hint of color in her cheeks that wasn’t there before.
“Oh, I’m managing just fine,” I reply with a deliberate wink. “But if you find yourself with a few minutes to spare, I’d love to show you what Ryker taught me this morning.”
Her eyebrow arches. “You’ve been training with the Alpha?”
“Got to stay sharp somehow.” I take a bite of toast, maintaining eye contact. “Though I’m open to other forms of exercise if you have suggestions.”
The double entendre isn’t lost on her. Her eyes narrow, but I catch the subtle quirk of her lips—not quite a smile, but close.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she says finally. “Noon, war room. Don’t be late.”
With that, she turns and strides away, her posture perfect but her scent carrying notes of arousal and frustration that make my wolf preen with satisfaction.
Still want us,he rumbles.
Dane nudges me with his shoulder. “I think my sister might murder you later.”
“Worth it,” I reply, watching her disappear through the hall’s main doors. “Besides, she can try.”
The other wolves at the table are watching me with expressions ranging from amusement to grudging respect. Felix lets out a low whistle.
“Either you’re the bravest wolf I’ve ever met,” he says, “or the most suicidal.”
“Little of both,” I admit, returning to my breakfast with renewed appetite.
“You’ll only hurt her in the end,”Adelaide whispers from somewhere behind me.“Better to let her go.”
Shut up,I tell the voice firmly.You’re not real. She is.
“So Kier,” Dane pokes his fork toward me. “Think you could keep up on a perimeter run?”
My wolf ripples eagerly under my skin.
“Just watch me.”
Chapter
Twenty-One
I’m done lying in bed like a lady of leisure.
The silver restraints are gone, my ribs are healed, and my wolf paces restlessly beneath my skin, desperate to move, to hunt, todosomething useful.
I stand in the main council chamber, maps spread across the massive oak table that’s served Shadowmist’s leadership for three generations. The familiar weight of authority settles on my shoulders as pack members file in—security chiefs, trackers, senior wolves, all looking to me for direction.
This is where I belong.
