"How could you?!" she shouted. "You shameless jerk!"
Kade and May snapped awake instantly. Kade grabbed at the sheets to cover them both.
"Nelly!" he barked.
But Nelly was not done. "How could you do that to her?!" Her hands trembled, from the effort of holding herself back from clawing at his face.
May scrambled upright, her hair wild, her cheeks pink with embarrassment. "Miss Nelly—it's not Mr. Kade's fault. I—"
"No!" Nelly cut her off sharply, stabbing her finger toward Kade like a dagger. "Don't you dare defend him! Whatever happened here has nothing to do with you!"
Her gaze, fiery and merciless, snapped back to Kade. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
Kade sighed heavily, dragging his palm down his face. He had called it last night—knew Nelly was going to kill him if she ever found out. And here they were, caught red-handed, no excuses, no way out.
"Nelly…" he started. But she wasn't listening.
Nelly marched forward, ignoring Kade completely, and sat on the edge of the bed beside May. Her hand was surprisingly gentle as she cupped May's jaw and tilted her head back. Then her eyes sharpened like knives as she tugged May's neck to one side, then the other, scanning frantically.
"Did you mark her?!" she shouted. "Did you mark her, you fucking idiot?!"
May froze, eyes wide, barely understanding what Nelly meant but too overwhelmed to ask.
Nelly's hands shook as she pushed May's hair away, searching her skin for puncture wounds, for proof of the irreversible. "Tell me he didn't. Tell me you didn't let him!"
"No." Kade managed to grind out.
May, still curled up under the sheets, blinked in confusion. Her wide eyes moved between Kade and Nelly. "What's happening?" she whispered. She had no idea the magnitude of the conversation or the weight of the secrets swirling around her. All she knew was that her heart still beat wildly from the night before, and now, a pit was opening inside her.
"You do not get to do this and run away again." Nelly stepped forward, her finger stabbing the air at Kade. "You tell her—you tell her right now, or I swear to the moon goddess, I will kill you myself."
Kade turned pleading eyes to her, a silent cry for mercy, for understanding. His head shook slowly, almost imperceptibly, as though even forming words might unravel him. May frowned, tilting her head, watching this silent war play out between them, and every instinct in her screamed that she was the missing piece in a puzzle everyone else had solved but her.
Nelly's fury faltered for just a heartbeat when she caught the fear in Kade's eyes. Her lips pressed tightly together, her shoulders lifting and falling as she tried to wrestle her own emotions under control. "I cannot believe you would do this," she muttered, shaking her head. "You cannot have your cake and eat it. You want her, you don't want her—make up your damned mind, Kade!"
Her gaze snapped to May, softer now, almost protective, then swung back to him. "Both of you get dressed. And when you get back from this Kingsley nonsense, you are fucking telling her!!!" she roared.
The slam of the door rattled the room, leaving behind a suffocating silence. Kade sat there for a moment, the echo of her words pressing down on him. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.
May sat up, the sheet clutched to her chest, her brow furrowed in worry. "What is it you have to tell me?" she asked.
Kade finally dragged his gaze to her. "It's nothing," he said. "Go get ready. We leave in an hour."
May's heart sank, watching him shove his legs into his pants.
Kade tugged his pants up and fastened them, his back turned to her as though he couldn't bear her eyes on him. His wolf raged beneath the surface, a snarling reminder of the bond that pulled him toward her. He wanted to reach for her, to soothe her fears, but he knew if he touched her now, he'd never find the strength to keep hiding the truth.
And so he did the only thing he could. He put another wall between them.
*****
Kade didn't say a word all through the ride out of Windhaven County. His hand rested lightly on the steering wheel, his other fist clenched against his thigh as if every nerve in his body was wound tight.
When the sign for Ravenbrook appeared, May's heart clenched so sharply it nearly stole her breath. Her body betrayed her almost instantly—palms clammy, sweat gathering along her temples, breath quick and shallow as though she had been dropped back into her nightmares. This place was supposed to feel familiar. Home. But the word home never sat right on her tongue when it came to Ravenbrook. Her family lived here. If she could even call them family. The memories stirred in her chest—cold voices, the back of her uncle's hand, the sharp taste of shame. A low, almost inaudible whimper slipped from her lips.
Kade noticed instantly. He glanced at her, his sharp gaze softening as soon as he took in her trembling fingers. He slid his hand over to her thigh. His thumb stroked once, a slow and deliberate reassurance.
May swallowed hard. The road curved, and she forced her shaking hands to point out the directions, guiding him toward the estate she had hoped never to see again.
At last, the mansion appeared, looming ahead. It didn't blend in with the quiet streets or modest homes around it. No, it dominated the landscape—white stone pillars, iron gates too tall to climb, manicured gardens that screamed of wealth and indulgence. It stood out like a sore thumb.
Kingsley, once an alpha, had been raised on power. Comfort was his birthright. Extravagance his natural language.
Kade pulled the car to a stop just outside the gates, the engine growling into silence. For a long moment, neither of them moved. May stared at the mansion, nails digging crescents into her palms, as if the building itself might swallow her whole. Kade finally broke the silence by getting out first, his height a commanding shadow against the bright façade. He came around to her side, opening the door.
"Whatever happens," Kade said, "all you have to do is stay by my side."
May's throat bobbed as she swallowed, nodding nervously. There was no safety in this town, no kindness waiting for her. But Kade was solid ground in the middle of a storm.
They approached the gates together, May trying to match his steady stride though her knees wanted to buckle. The man at the gate barely glanced at them at first, his cigarette dangling between two fingers as he leaned lazily against the iron bars. The acrid smoke drifted in the air. He was the picture of careless disinterest, until he looked closer—until he saw her.
His eyes widened for a flicker of a second, recognition flashing across his face. May's stomach dropped, and she instinctively inched closer to Kade, her shoulder brushing his arm as if to disappear behind him. Kade straightened.
"I'd like to see Kingsley Kincaid."
The guard gave Kade a lazy once-over. Finally, he snorted. "He's not here right now."
"I suggest you get him here right now." His hand slid almost imperceptibly back toward May, a silent tether. "Tell him I'm here with May."
The guard's gaze flickered toward her. He craned his neck to get a better look at her, but Kade shifted deliberately, blocking his line of sight. His presence was an immovable wall.
The guard's smirk faltered. He flicked the cigarette to the dirt and disappeared into the little guard station, leaving the heavy iron gate looming between them and the mansion.
"Stay calm," Kade murmured.
May swallowed hard, her heart racing. The sight of Ravenbrook again had already sent her spiraling, but standing here, on Kingsley's doorstep, the memories were sharper.
The guard reemerged a few minutes later. "Well," he drawled, "I have been instructed to take the lady off your hands. The boss is currently in Windhaven."
Kade's face was carved in stone. "Tell the boss, he is not getting her."
The man gave a humorless laugh. "I don't follow your orders. Out of my way." He stepped forward, his hand reaching around Kade.
"Don't," Kade warned. He leaned in, his shadow swallowing the man whole. "You touch her with just one finger, you lose an arm."
The guard sneered, not backing down. With surprising speed for a human, he threw a punch at Kade.
Kade didn't move until the very last second. Then he shifted, sidestepping the blow as though it were nothing more than a breeze. But in dodging, the path to May opened.
The guard's eyes lit with opportunity. He lunged, his hand clamping around May's wrist.
May gasped in alarm, the shock freezing her in place. Panic thundered in her veins. The man's grip was bruising.