“It’s so strong. How does it not bother you?”
“It does, but Kaldrek thinks it means we’re getting closer. Trust me, I’m doing my best not to vomit.”
A shiver crawled down Evelyne’s spine. Kaldrek must have been communicating with his pack mind to mind.
“Closer to what?”
“To her. To Vaelora’s magic. We’ve caught traces of it on the Noskari before, but never this strong. Kaldrek also warned us to stay alert. He’s been sensing shadows, but says they feel… different.”
“And he’s the only one who can sense her magic?” Evelyne asked.
“As far as we know, yes. And thank the gods he’s our alpha.”
When they finally stopped for the night, the pack lit small fires along the walls of rough stone and twisted roots. The space was tight but not unbearable. But it had only been a day, and Evelyne was already weary of the darkness. The wolves could see without issue in their shifted forms, but as humans, they needed the firelight to navigate.
A hush fell over the pack as the flames crackled to life, casting flickering light against the stone. What they had assumed were roots turned out to be something else entirely. Thick strands lined the walls and ceiling, red and twisting and pulsing.
Not plant roots, but veins.
“What the hell are those?” Evelyne breathed.
The pack murmured among themselves, some reaching out, running their fingers over the strange growths—
“Don’t touch them!” Kaldrek’s voice sliced through the air. “We don’t know what they are.”
The moment his voice rang out, the veins moved. Like living things, they shuddered and slithered, recoiling into the walls, sucking themselvesback into the dirt and rock. They vanished in an instant, leaving no trace behind. And the smell disappeared with them.
Evelyne’s skin prickled as she turned to Heidara. “The smell is gone.”
Heidara’s eyes widened. “That’s… unsettling.”
“What the fuck was that?” Holden called out to Kaldrek, but he stood rigid.
“Stay away from the walls,” he ordered. “We stick to the middle.”
Which meant less space and less breathing room. Everyone was pressed in closer now, forced to settle around the fire like caged animals.
After assigning scouts to keep watch, Kaldrek approached where Evelyne, Heidara, Holden, and Alaric were gathered. He and Holden would be taking the second watch, and Evelyne couldn’t help but wonder if he ever slept. He was a fierce and commanding leader, yet the quiet way he cared for his pack made something stir deep in her chest—a soft, aching pull that felt dangerously close to love.
She wanted him. His touch, his kiss, but they hadn’t had a moment alone to talk. What did he think about whatever this was between them, especially with the eyes of the pack always nearby? Still, the little things, like how he reached for her at night and how his body curved protectively around hers, spoke louder than words ever could.
Before she could sink too deep into thought, Kaldrek’s arm slipped around her waist, grounding her. She looked up just as he leaned in and softly kissed her lips.
Her heart stuttered.
He’d done it in front of everyone. To the untrained eye, it was nothing more than a tender moment. But to the wolves, it was a declaration. A claim.
She’s mine.
The unspoken words echoed through her, curling heat low in her belly, and she almost laughed at how much she loved hearing them, even just in her head. Kaldrek pulled back with a smile, gentle at first but layered with something darker. Something daring. Like he was waiting for someone to challenge it.
Someone did.
“What is going on between you two?” Alaric’s tone was laced with frustration and something else.
Evelyne’s stomach twisted. Shit.
Kaldrek, damn him, only tilted his head with mocking innocence. “Whatever do you mean?”
