“Barely,” Evelyne muttered under her breath.
Heidara chuckled. “Well, we’ll be stopping soon to rest. Alaric thinks we’ll reach the outpost by tomorrow.”
Evelyne nearly collapsed from relief. Fatigue was manageable. Hunger and a full bladder, however, were not so easily dismissed.
“I have to admit, I’m surprised you lasted this long,” Heidara said, giving her a teasing glance. “No offense, but I figured a southern lady wouldn’t have the stamina.” She had a glint in her eyes, no doubt remembering Evelyne’s words to Kaldrek the night before.I am a southern lady.
Evelyne scoffed. “I’m surprising myself, too.”
As they walked, Evelyne glanced over her shoulder, her eyes landing on the two dark-haired males near the rear of the pack. They moved in perfect step, eyes sharp as they scanned the trees, but it wasn’t them who caught her attention. It was the striking red-haired woman gliding between them, her presence so radiant it felt like the sun bowed to her. Evelyne remembered how both men had watched her as if she were their entire world.
Heidara noticed her staring.
“That’s Nathan and Ty. They’re brothers.”
“They look like twins,” Evelyne said.
“They do, but Nathan’s two years older.”
Evelyne raised an eyebrow. “And the woman they’re watching like she hung the stars?”
Heidara chuckled. “Ah, Reyna. That’s their mate.”
Evelyne turned fully to face her. “Mate?”
Heidara’s smile widened. “Wolves find mates. Sometimes, we even have two.” She sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “Can you imagine? Two gorgeous men devoted entirely to you?”
Evelyne nearly tripped over a tree root. “I—I don’t think that’s something I’ve ever… considered.”
“Oh, come on. You mean to tell me you wouldn’t enjoy having two devastatingly handsome men worship you every night?” Heidara grinned.
A blush rose to Evelyne’s face. No lady at court would ever speak with such boldness. There, people spoke in careful whispers, never this openly. But Heidara said it so casually, like it was nothing unusual. Evelyne opened her mouth to respond, but laughter spilled out instead. And before she knew it, the two of them were laughing so hard that even Kaldrek turned around to glance at them.
“She could have chosen just one, you know,” Heidara continued, shaking her head. “But I guess she couldn’t decide. And honestly? I don’t blame her.”
Evelyne wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, still giggling. “And you? Do you have a mate?”
“Not yet. The elders say you’ll just know when it happens,” Heidara said, her voice taking on a dreamy, almost wistful tone. “They say the scent hits you like a bullet to the chest, so strong it can stun you. And that the bond is so powerful, mates can communicate mind to mind. Of course, we can all speak with our alpha that way. It’s how he commandsus in wolf form, and only alphas can reach other alphas. But mates—they can hear each other, no matter the distance.”
The idea of something so powerful and irresistible binding two people together felt strange, yet undeniably intriguing. “That sounds intense.”
“It is,” Heidara said, her green eyes shimmering with excitement. “But until then? I’m going to have my fun.” She winked.
Evelyne shook her head and smiled. She didn’t doubt it for a second.
***
The pack had only stopped for an hour, just enough time to eat, drink, and stretch sore limbs before pressing on. Evelyne’s legs screamed in protest, every step an aching reminder that she was not built for this kind of travel. But she pushed forward, refusing to let anyone, least of allhim, see her struggle.
Kaldrek called out just before dusk that they were nearing camp, and she had no idea how he knew. There were no markers, no visible trails, just endless trees and tangled undergrowth. But he led them with unwavering certainty, like he’d memorized every inch of this wild terrain since childhood.
The moment they halted, the pack sprang into motion like a well-oiled machine, each member slipping into their role without hesitation or instruction. Some unrolled tarps and stacked logs, assembling makeshift shelters, while others gathered stones, arranging them into the familiar shape of a fire pit. A few disappeared into the trees, returning moments later with thick branches to serve as tent supports. They moved efficiently, like they’d done this a thousand times before.
Evelyne stood in the middle of it all, aimlessly shifting her weight and watching. She wanted to help, but where would she even begin? Alaricwas already moving through the camp, much more adept at fitting into this world than she was. He wasn’t struggling, wasn’t wandering around feeling lost. And maybe that stung a little.
Kaldrek’s voice cut through the noise. “Will someone help Lady Defiance pitch her tent, please?”
Every muscle in her body went rigid. He was talking abouther. A few heads turned, and some younger pack members snickered at his remark. Her jaw clenched so tight she thought her teeth might crack. She knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to embarrass her, remind her she didn’t belong. But if he thought that would break her, he was dead wrong.
