I’ve been wanting to ask, but I didn’t want to pry. I’ve been so curious to know how he got those injuries and what happened to him.
“I was nearly killed,” he says. “As you know.”
I put my hand on his and gaze into his gorgeous green eyes. “You can tell me, Kieran. I’m your mate. You can trust me.”
He nods. “My father was King Axton of the Stormfur Realm. He died two weeks ago. And I am?—”
He pauses, like the words still cost him something. Like they’re too painful to say.
“I am supposed to be his heir.”
“You’re going to be the next Wolf King?”
I stare at him in shock. This man keeps surprising me. What’s he going to say next, that he can fly?
“My father’s wish was for me to be crowned the next Wolf King,” he says after clearing his throat. “It’s my right. At the next full moon.”
My eyes drop to the pink scars on his torso.
“Who tried to take it from you?”
His face hardens as he looks over my shoulder with steely eyes. “My cousin Lucan. If I’m not there, he will take the throne. The same cousin who put those knives in my back and left me for dead in the river will rule the realm with a bloody fist. First, he will dominate the wolves, and then he’ll come for your people. There is hate in his heart. The next century will be one of pain and violence if I’m not back in time.”
I stand up and start pacing the room, thinking of wolves pouring over the borders—borders that have been secure for generations—and slaughtering my friends and family. I can’t let that happen.
“We’ll get you back in time,” I say, squeezing my hand into a fist. “Thisis why we found each other. I’ll do this for you.”
He takes a deep breath as he looks up at me. “It’s not all.”
I just wait to see what else he’s going to surprise me with. Nothing can be more shocking than finding out he’s a Wolf King.
“You’re my mate,” he says softly. “Which means, if we do this, you’ll be the next Queen of the Wolves.”
I stand corrected.
I don’t have words. I just stare at him as my mind swirls like a hurricane.
Leave my ship, leave the human realm, become a queen of a people I’ve never met. He doesn’t know what he’s asking me to do.
But when I look into his green eyes and see the worry and pain, I realize that he does know. He knows exactly what he’s asking of me.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I wish there was another way.”
I think back to my father and how he taught me how to handle a crew. How he groomed me to be a leader. How he made sure I was tough and smart and resourceful and could handle anything.
Little did either of us know, he was preparing me for this.
I turn to the door and push it open.
“Calista,” he says, looking sick with worry. “Where are you going?”
“To tell Isen we’re headed for the Stormfur Realm. We have a kingdom to claim.”
His shoulders slump. He looks at me with unspeakable relief.
“Really?” he says with a tired smile. “You’ll come?”
I march up to him, grab his cheeks in my hands, and pull his mouth to mine.
