“It was supposed to be.” Rowan pulls her hand back and takes a step away. “You’re welcome.”
He snorts, then smirks. “You know, touching an alpha like that usually only happens behind closed doors.”
My wolf surges forward, and Elias tries to hold me back again, but I’m already moving when Rowan reaches back and presses her hand to my chest.
Just one touch, steady and firm, and I stop instantly.
Not because I can’t move, but because I don’t want to disappoint her. I don’t want to take this moment where she shows her strength away from her. For not really knowing what she’s doing, her instincts seem to be spot on.
I look down at her, pulse hammering, and she meets my gaze with absolute certainty. No doubt. Just truth.
“I’m yours,” she says quietly. Not for Bram. Not for anyone else. Just for me. “Always.”
The rage bleeds out of me like it was never mine to begin with, leaving only the steady certainty of her hand against my chest and the bond humming low and sure between us.
Bram watches the exchange with open amusement, but wisely keeps his mouth shut.
Rowan catches my eye again and smiles, soft and knowing, mouthingthank youwhen I finally step back. What she doesn’t know is that I’ll repay Bram for this moment eventually. Because, at some point, Rowan won’t be standing between us, and when that happens, I’m fairly certain my fist is going to meet his nose at least once.
Still, there’s a larger truth settling into place.
Another council member has now seen what Rowan can do and what shechoosesto do with that power. The more of them who understand that her gift isn’t a threat but a safeguard, the better it is for all of us.
While I might be the one who intends to keep her safe, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have hundreds of wolves standing between us and the rest of the world.
Chapter 26
ROWAN
Well, that was fun.Not. But at least it’s done now. Another council member who won’t be running off to whisper that I’m some kind of existential threat to the supernatural world. At least, I hope not.
Bram Stone is hard to read, but I’m certain of one thing—Malrik’s dark energy isn’t influencing the alpha any longer. That alone feels like a win worth counting. Still, my nerves haven’t settled, and there’s one conversation I can’t keep putting off.
Which is why Liz leads Bram inside while Elias starts muttering about logistics and how to dispose of Calder’s body without starting a war with Riverstone.
Honestly? That’s the least of my worries right now.
I drift through the house beside Cade, my limbs heavy in that post-adrenaline haze where everything feels both too loud and too distant. We stop inside the library near the meeting room—close enough that we can intervene ifBram turns out to be a disaster, but far enough for a little privacy for the two of us.
The door barely clicks shut before Cade has me in his arms.
His face buries into my neck, breath warm, familiar, and possessive. “I don’t like that you were touching him.”
I huff softly. “And I think it’s weird that you’re marking me by breathing on me, but here we are.”
My tone is light, teasing, but it still makes him pull back just enough to look at me.
“You figured that out, huh?”
I grin, even as heat creeps up my neck. “I might not know everything yet, but Wolf’s been doing a pretty good job filling in the blanks.” My cheeks warm further before I can stop it. “Well, except the biting part. That was Liz’s area of expertise earlier.”
His fingers tighten at my waist, grounding. “You know you can talk to me about anything, too, right?”
“I do.” Gods, why does this suddenly feel harder than facing down an alpha? “But some things are just easier to say out loud to another woman first.”
He frowns, clearly not following, but nods anyway. “So, what did Liz share with you?”
I laugh quietly. “Girl talk isn’t something you get access to.” I glance up at him. “But you can rest assured—and maybe feel a little less rage-y—I’d like to talk about when we might want to do the bonding bite.”
