In front of me stood two men one tied to my past, and one bound to my present. Both had been my mates in different lifetimes. And yet, I didn't truly belong to either of them anymore.
Still, I pushed down the strange ache in my chest and walked toward Lewis with a soft, practiced smile.
"Lewis," I said sweetly, letting warmth fill my tone the kind of warmth that always made wolves lower their guard.
As I passed Julian, our eyes met for just a heartbeat. I caught the flicker there pain, confusion, longing. I knew that look.
Even now, after everything, part of him hadn't let go. My death had left a wound that hadn't healed. And now, seeing me alive again in this new form, this new face it must have felt like his ghost had come back to torment him.
His scent shifted uneasily, tinged with regret. It made my wolf stir in satisfaction. If he wasn't uneasy, then none of this would be worth it.
Lewis's golden eyes lifted to meet mine sharp, unreadable, filled with Alpha caution. I could almost hear his thoughts: What game is she playing now?
Still smiling, I leaned closer and said softly, "What do you say we visit our new den this afternoon? The one we'll be moving into together."
He didn't respond right away. His gaze flicked over me, heavy with suspicion. So, I leaned in further and added with gentle conviction, "I want a place that's ours alone, Lewis. Somewhere we can build from the ground up. Just you and me."
Then crash!
A glass shattered behind us. The sound cut through the room like a growl.
All eyes turned to Julian. He stood frozen, pale as moonlight, his hand trembling. His eyes locked on me like I'd just clawed my way out of the grave.
"What did you just say?" His voice was low, rough, almost breaking.
Ah. He remembered.
I had said those exact words to him once in another life, back when I believed in love and loyalty and all those foolish human things. Back when I dreamed of building a home with him, a future filled with warmth.
That version of me had died with his betrayal.
I tilted my head and widened my eyes in mock concern. "Julian? What's wrong? Did I say something strange?"
"Say it again," he growled his control slipping, the Alpha in him rattling against the surface.
I almost laughed. Instead, I played innocent. "I said I want to build a home with Lewis. Something that's just ours. You're staring at me like I've grown another head. It's a little scary."
Then, without giving anyone time to react, I perched myself on Lewis's lap, curling against his chest like a frightened little wolf seeking her mate's protection.
He stiffened clearly not expecting it his body heat spiking. I could feel his heart beat once, twice, faster than before.
"Lewis," I whispered softly, trembling just enough to make it believable. "I'm scared."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, to my surprise, he placed a steady hand on my back and said, his voice calm and deep, "You're safe. I've got you."
I looked up at him with big, grateful eyes and smiled. "You're so good to me, Lewis. Tell me… would you want a son or a daughter first?"
If he'd been drinking something, I was sure he would've choked on it.
He blinked, his composure cracking, the tips of his ears turning bright red. He looked completely thrown off.
I leaned closer, teasing. "Or maybe both? Twins. A boy and a girl. The boy could take after you strong, calm. The girl… if she had your eyes, she'd be the prettiest pup in the pack."
Truthfully, that wasn't even a lie. Lewis was handsome painfully so. His features were carved with Alpha strength but softened with something deeper, something human.
And yet… when I saw that faint blush on his cheeks, I nearly laughed. The mighty Hale Alpha, undone by a few playful words.
Meanwhile, Julian looked like he was about to lose control completely. His eyes burned with emotion jealousy, guilt, confusion a storm barely held in check.
He couldn't understand why I felt so familiar. My voice, my scent, the tilt of my head all echoes of Elena. His wolf sensed it, even if his mind refused to believe.
Camilla stood nearby, trying to hide her panic. Her mask had cracked, the scent of fear rolling off her like smoke. She knew this could all come crashing down. One wrong move, and the truth would spill into the open.
Then, unexpectedly, Lewis reached for my hand.
His touch was careful this time gentle, almost hesitant. He avoided the spot on my wrist where his grip had bruised me before. His palm was warm, steady, grounding.
"There are eyes on us," he murmured, voice low but firm.
I blinked, surprised. Was he… protecting me? Or just keeping up the act for the pack's sake?
Either way, I wasn't about to waste the moment.
Leaning close, my breath brushing his ear, I whispered softly, "How about I tell you everything when we're alone in our den tonight?"
The effect was immediate.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his ears flushing pink against his fair skin. Even through his composure, I could feel the stir of his wolf alert, uncertain, drawn.
That small crack in his calm made something sharp and dangerous inside me purr with satisfaction.
He gave a stiff nod, muttering a low, "Mm."
Across from us, Julian's jaw tightened. I didn't need to look twice to sense the storm brewing in his aura. His wolf was restless, clawing beneath his skin as he fidgeted with the beads around his wrist the same way he used to calm himself before his temper broke loose.
Good. Let him burn.
I turned to Lewis, smiling sweetly. "We should visit the new den today," I said lightly, "the one we're supposed to move into together."
Neither of them looked eager, but backing out now would make them look weak before the pack. So they agreed.
Julian's silence crackled like static beside me, and Lewis's grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles pale. He kept glancing my way during the drive, trying to read me but I gave him nothing.
Because I wasn't focused on either of them anymore.
As the forest road opened up, I saw it in the distance the statue that marked the old Alpha grounds. My heart stuttered.
It had been years, lifetimes even, since I last stood there. Yet the pull was the same wild, magnetic, ancient.
By the time the car stopped, my pulse was racing.
I stepped out first, my boots crunching against the gravel, and before I knew it, my feet carried me forward.
Each step felt heavier, my chest tighter.
The world dimmed around me until only the statue remained a proud stone wolf raising its head toward the sky.
And then… warmth pricked at my eyes.
One tear slipped free, falling onto the cold ground with a soft sound that echoed louder than it should have.
Drip.