“I’d kill him if he were,” she adds with a smirk.
“That’s comforting.” I nudge her with my hand. “And appreciated, but probably not necessary.”
She bumps me back. “Exactly. But don’t let me convince you. This is your choice. Your bond. Only you know what’s right for you and when.”
I swallow. Because she’s right, but also because I know Cade is it for me. Deep in my soul, nothing else could replace where the essence of him is. I already know I don’t want to picture what life might be like without him. I may have only met him a month or so ago, but he consumes me in a way that I never want to stop.
“Maybe…” I start, then stop.
Liz raises a brow. “Maybe?”
“Maybe I’ll talk to him about it,” I say slowly. “Tonight. See how he feels. What if he’s not ready either?”
She laughs softly. “Rowan, that man has been ready since the second he realized you existed.”
“Still,” I insist. “I don’t want to assume. This is his bond, too.”
Liz nods once, approval flickering across her features. “That’s fair. And very you.”
I swing my legs off the bed, suddenly restless. “I’ll go find him. Before I talk myself out of it again.”
“There it is,” she says with pride in her voice. “The courage kicking in.”
I stand, smoothing my shirt, heart thudding a little faster now, but not with fear, more anticipation. The thought of Cade, of telling him I’m ready to consider more… It’s exhilarating.
I take two steps toward the door.
Then a voice cuts through the air from outside, sharp and commanding enough to raise every hair on my arms.
“Cade Westin, get out here.”
Liz and I both freeze.
“What the hell was that?” she mutters.
We rush to the window, shoving aside the curtain until we can see the yard below.
A man stands near the gates—tall, broad-shouldered, posture rigid with authority, wearing a flannel and jeans. His presence feels heavy even from this distance, like the world subtly reorients around him.
More importantly, the newcomer drops a body on the ground.
Blood stains the shirt of the prone man, dark and unmistakable.
“Who the hell is that?” I ask, tensing every muscle in my body.
“I’m not sure, but based on the energy rolling off him, I’d guess that’s Bram Stone looking up at us and a very dead Calder Rivers next to him.”
Of course. The other council members.
Down below, Cade steps into view—still, dangerous, and unmistakably alpha as he faces off with the newcomer.
So much for finally talking about what the future holds for us.
We have a dead body, or maybe two, depending on how Cade reacts, to deal with.
Chapter 25
CADE
