"May, you may just be exaggerating." Mark tried to keep his tone light, careful—like he was defusing a bomb—but she could hear the thread of dismissal in it.
Her lips parted, then pressed tight again. "You don't get it," she said finally, and this time her voice snapped, brittle with frustration. She jerked away from his touch, shrugging off his hand from her shoulder. "You never get it." The click of her heels on the pavement was sharp as she stalked toward the car, not even looking back to see if he followed.
Mark stood there for a heartbeat, watching her retreat, jaw tightening. He let out a long, slow sigh and ran a hand over his face.
He didn't know what to do with her fear. He didn't know how to help without making her feel like she was losing her grip on reality. They were supposed to be talking about flowers and venues, cake flavors and guest lists. Instead, their conversations always ended up here- shadows of a man named Kingsley looming over them.
He finally moved, pulling the car keys from his pocket and sliding into the driver's seat beside her. She sat rigid, staring straight ahead, her hands clasped in her lap.
He started the engine. The drive home was silent. He kept glancing at her, hoping she'd look back. But she didn't.
*****
"Any report on the rogue wolves? Have they appeared again? Has anybody seen them?"
Kade's voice carried across the training yard. The early morning air was crisp, a faint mist curling over the field where the Gamma unit stood assembled.
No one responded. The Gammas shifted awkwardly, boots scuffing against the gravel.
Kade's gaze swept over them. "Well… where is John?" he demanded, looking for the commander who should have been standing front and center.
Still nothing but a few nervous glances exchanged among the men.
"Of course, he's not here," Kade muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. His patience was running thin, and the faint throb at his temple wasn't helping.
He straightened. "Okay. When he decides to show himself, get your orders for the day and get to it. Thank you. Dismissed." He clapped his hands once, the sound cracking through the yard.
The Gammas dispersed quickly. Kade's gaze caught on one figure.
"Elliot!"
"Yes, sir!" The young Gamma jogged forward, boots kicking up bits of gravel, his youthful face pale but eager. Kade could see the boy's pulse jumping in his throat—Elliot was fresh out of the academy, all muscle and nerves.
"Find me John. Now." Kade's tone brooked no argument.
Elliot swallowed hard, gave a sharp nod, and sprinted off toward the barracks. Kade watched him go, jaw tightening. John's absence was inconvenient. A Gamma commander didn't simply miss morning roll call without damn good reason.
Kade turned to leave the training ground, but a familiar voice halted him mid-step.
He looked up and there she was—Luna Ava, moving across the yard with that effortless grace that always drew attention, her hair catching the light. On her hip, little Nolan clung to her dress with one chubby hand, the other clutching a wolf toy.
"Did we miss training?!"
Kade's lips curved faintly despite himself. "We skipped training this morning for a meeting." His gaze softened as it dropped to the boy. "Hey, Nolly." He reached out a large hand, and Nolan's bright eyes lit up instantly. The resemblance to Alpha Lucas was uncanny—same sharp jawline in miniature, same piercing stare.
"Oh…" Ava shifted her weight, a little sheepish but not enough to hide her pride.
"But really," Kade said, one brow raised, "is it necessary to bring Nolan for these trainings so young? He barely even understands what's happening."
Ava huffed, clearly ready for this argument. "Well, he has big shoes to fill when it's time for him to be Alpha. It's good he begins early. Besides," she added, brushing a stray curl from Nolan's forehead, "I don't know when his powers are going to begin manifesting."
Kade let out a quiet chuckle. "You're just in a hurry for nothing. His father is there to train him. I'm there. Let the boy be a child. He should begin daycare soon anyway."
Nolan's small hands patted Kade's stubbled cheek before grabbing a fistful of his collar. The gesture was so trusting, so open.
"You think so?" Ava's brows arched.
"I know so," he replied firmly, adjusting Nolan's weight on his arm. "It'll get him out of his mother's skirt. Meet other children his age. Have friends." He flashed a grin, deliberately adding, "His mother is crazy."
Ava's mouth dropped open in mock offense. "Yeah? And you are an idiot. You found your mate, and you let her be with another man."
That one was below the belt. Kade smirked tightly, swallowing the little jolt of pain. "Yeah," he exhaled, "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
"Yes," Ava said sweetly, brushing a hand over Nolan's hair. "And any opportunity to give you grief, I will take it."
Kade gave her a long, flat look that didn't quite hide the hint of amusement in his eyes. "You're ruthless, Luna."
"I prefer honest," she countered.
"It's been a year and a few months since my father died," Kade said suddenly. "He died a traitor, Ava. His actions have defined how people look at me ever since." He stared past her for a moment, toward the line of pines beyond the training yard, as if the trees might offer a cleaner truth than the whispers in the pack.
Some days, he could almost feel those whispers brushing against his skin—rumors that Beta Kade had treachery running in his blood.
"Some still think I don't deserve this position," he went on, his grip on Nolan unconsciously tightening. "They think I'll turn out just like him. Now… imagine me bringing home a human who isn't one of us."
Ava tilted her head, studying him. "You think that would make them question you more?"
"I don't think, Ava," Kade said with a dry laugh that held no humor. "I know. First, I have to let her deal with the fact that I'm a scary werewolf—"
"You are scary," she cut in.
"—and then," he continued as if she hadn't spoken, "she also has to find her place here. In this world."
He shifted Nolan again, but his eyes stayed on Ava. "On top of all that, her weakness…" He paused, jaw tightening. "Her weakness also defines my strength. In the people's eyes."
Ava's gaze softened, but her mouth stayed sharp. "Or maybe your choice of her will define you. Not your father. Not their fears."
Kade almost smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You always make it sound simple."
"That's because it is simple," she said, her voice gentler now. "You either choose her or you don't. Everything else? Just noise."
Her words lingered, but so did the image in his mind—May, fragile and beautiful, standing in the middle of the packhouse, surrounded by wolves who looked at her the way they looked at him: like they were waiting for her to fail.
And Kade… wasn't sure which would break him first—watching her try to survive here, or watching her walk away because he never let her in.
"I understand, I get it. Lucas's strength was questioned because he dared to choose a wolfless mate. But look at us now." Ava added. "But at some point, you have to realise you're merely torturing yourself, Kade." Her eyes flicked over him, searching for a crack in his armor, for some sign that her words might sink deeper than the surface.
Kade let out a breath that was almost a laugh. "Well, the good thing about being Beta," he said, "is there's a long line of women willing to warm my bed." His smirk was lazy. "That counts as a nice distraction from the mate pull."
Ava's lips pressed into a flat line. "You're so stupid," she said, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
Kade chuckled, the sound low and rumbling as he turned his attention to the toddler. "Told you your mother is crazy," he murmured to Nolan, who was sucking his thumb with utter indifference to the grown-up drama swirling above his head. The boy's innocent gaze seemed to strip Kade bare in a way no accusation could. "Nolan will be one soon. I'm guessing the entire pack will be celebrating."
Ava's features softened slightly at the mention of the milestone. "Yeah… Zari is already neck-deep in party planning." She sighed.
"Zari…" Kade's mouth curved into a half-smile. "She is quite efficient."
Ava's gaze snapped to him, sharp as a blade. "Yes, I know you're fucking her too, Kade," she shot back. There was no outrage—just the irritation of someone used to his shamelessness.
Kade shrugged. "I didn't say anything," he replied.
"Idiot." Ava shook her head, but the corner of her mouth twitched as if she were fighting the urge to smile. He always did have a way of toeing the line between aggravating and charming.