CROWNED BY BLOOD

ttered clues, and interrogated everyone from smugglers to shady pack elders. The conspiracy surrounding my pa

d safehouse in the Frostbone Mountains, poring over maps and stolen letters in front of a flickering fire. My legs were

scar just beneath his left ear, the slow, rhythmic tapping of his pen against his call

asked, gl

ked. "

ing his lips. "You've been staring at me for

neck. "No. Just..

to me, crouching so we were eye l

hard. "There

didn't wa

ood, giving me space. He always gave me space. That made it worse. If he had been

patient. Gentle. A

ater. "You need rest. W

surged up my arm, and I saw it in his eyes he felt

the fire. "Do you think we'll

I think we're closer than we know. Someone

but it also confirmed a suspicion I

low the trail and force the

ing to his wounds by the creek. Blood stained his shirt and his hand

dropped to my knees

d a cloth to the wound, d

waited for back

k them spotting

n me. I paused, staring up at him. "Why d

nto his coat pocket and pulled out a small, worn p

was Mira

eath

it was just rogue rebels, but I knew... I felt something else.

g the bloodied cloth,

ng to find answers," he said, voice l

n my chest. He wasn't just a warrior or an Alpha. He

s why I understood you from the beginning. Th

one had ever said that

is face, the way his jaw clenched and relaxed. There was something

d up and touched the edge of t

nd smile touched his lips. "You remind me of her..

ulders as he changed his bandages. I pretended not to notice. He didn'

window, the night air b

y helping me, Kai?

e close to my ear. "Because I believe

part. His hand lifted, brushing a strand

a fragile thread. His eyes dropp

en I s

reaking the conne

ression unread

to close the space again

ice rough. "But you deserve something real. And I

heart aching. "You'r

n his lips. "Good. It

rmured, "When you're re

but deep down, I

ire. And one day, that heat would ei