Kyra’s POV
"Kyra..."
A familiar scent of mint filled my senses before I even opened my eyes—the unmistakable aroma of my forr mate. A soft hand caressed my cheek, and a gentle voice woke from my deep sleep. When I opened my eyes, Nathan’s brown eyes greeted , glowing faintly in the dim cabin light.
"Wake up. We’re here."
That woke completely. I looked around and realized we were still on the private yacht.
"Where did you bring ?" My voice ca out hoarse from sleep and grief.
"To my safehouse villa. It’s warded against tracking spells and scent markers."
That shocked . Why did he bring here, and more importantly, why was he helping ? I understood if he still considered his best friend, but this wasn’t right. He was getting mated. Helping like this would only cause misunderstanding between him and his intended Luna.
"Don’t look at like I’ve grown a second head, Kyra." He looked away, his jaw tightening the way it always did when he was avoiding difficult truths. "You know why I’m doing this."
He pulled himself up and carried my bag. The muscles in his arms flexed beneath his shirt. He offered his hand, but I stood without accepting his help, ignoring how my legs trembled from more than just exhaustion. The broken mate bond between us still ached like an open wound.
My legs were still weak, and my heart still ached because of what happened to my dad. If Kieran was responsible for my father’s death, I’d tear his throat out with my bare teeth, consequences be damned. I didn’t care if I’d once loved him. Hurting my dad and attempting to hurt my pup was on a different level. I would never—could never—forgive him.
A black SUV with tinted windows waited at the private dock. Nathan opened the passenger door and looked at . Without a word, I slipped inside.
He’d brought to a different country instead of our ho territory. He was doing this to save from Kieran, and as much as I wanted to avoid him because of our past, I had no choice but to endure his presence and accept his help. The bitter irony wasn’t lost on —running from one Alpha straight into the arms of another.
"Are you the one who paid Emily to help ?" I asked, staring straight ahead as the engine roared to life.
I rembered Emily’s words—soone had paid her to assist . If it was Nathan, even through my confusion and lingering anger, I owed him a debt that could never be repaid.
"I just honored the vows I made to protect you," he said quietly, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel until the leather creaked. "I failed you once. I won’t fail you again."
Sylvia whined softly at his words. "Protector."
"Thank you," I whispered, the words tasting strange after so much bitterness between us.
I felt his gaze on for a heartbeat too long. He didn’t speak, but I knew he was shocked by my calm acceptance. The Kyra he rembered would have snarled and spat curses by now. But grief had hollowed out, leaving no energy for our usual battles. I needed his help, and that painful truth settled between us.
The villa erged from the jungle like a mirage—all sleek lines and floor-to-ceiling windows, designed for a wolf who valued sightlines. Nathan opened my door before retrieving my bag.
I stared at the two-story house, its architecture eerily similar to our old house. "This is private property, so we won’t have neighbors," he explained.
"Why bring here? I could stay at a hotel, Nathan." Even as I said it, I knew the answer—no hotel could guarantee protection from a determined Alpha like Kieran.
A low growl rumbled in Nathan’s chest before he spoke. "This is the least I can do, Kyra." His brown eyes darkened with remorse. "I know you can’t forgive , and I’m not here seeking absolution. But I won’t rest until I know you’re safe."
I t his gaze with empty eyes, the kind of hollow stare only a wolf who’s lost their Alpha parent could understand. "Are you staying or leaving?"
His scent spiked with sothing bitter—hurt, maybe, or frustration. "Do you want to go?" The question ca out rougher than intended, his wolf close to the surface.
I turned toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the moonlit jungle. "This is your territory. Your call."
"Then I’m staying."
I hated how my wolf instantly relaxed at his words, admitting I still carried a torch for him. But having an Alpha at my back, even a disgraced one, soothed instincts I couldn’t outrun.
We crossed the threshold in silence. Nathan stopped with a hand on my elbow while I stared at the pool that mirrored the starry sky, so like the one we’d built at our old house.
"Moon Goddess," Sylvia whispered. He rembered.
"I ordered from a shifter-run delivery service. Should be here soon." His nose wrinkled at so distant scent only his Alpha senses could detect. "Want to shower first or eat?"
"I need to see a pack doctor." My hands cradled the swell of my belly, where tiny kicks answered my touch. I didn’t need to look up to feel his gaze burning into .
His growl this ti was pure protectiveness. "I’ll have Dr. Bennett co here. You’re in no state to travel." The unspoken addition hung between us—not with Kieran’s hunters prowling every supernatural clinic within three territories.
I nodded, too drained to argue. The pup’s safety trumped my pride. Sinking onto the couch, the silence between us grew thick enough to choke on. After ten agonizing minutes of listening to his restless pacing, Nathan vanished outside, returning with takeout.
"Co eat," he ordered, all Alpha again despite himself.
I followed him to the dining hall. The dining table was good for only four people. He pulled a chair for , and I sat there silently. He prepared the food while I just watched him.
Everything in this house, and about him, reminded of how we were in the past. This brought back mories, and it sohow helped feel comfortable, because, even if I admitted it or not, with Nathan, I was always comfortable. I think the fact that we’d been best friends before helped. We were friends before we got married, and that was one of the things I didn’t regret.
"I’m going to make them pay," I announced around a mouthful. I wasn’t telling him to help ; I just wanted him to know that I wouldn’t stay here forever. Once I was strong enough and my pup was grown, I’d go back and get back at Amanda and Kieran.
His brown eyes and the emotions within them were so familiar. He still cared, his eyes confessed.
"I won’t stop you, but for now, you have to delay your plans of revenge because you’re going to give birth soon. I will stay with you until then. And once you don’t need anymore, I’ll leave you alone."
User Comments
0 comments from readers