Shattered and Saved (Ashen Wolves #2)

21

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A V R I L

As soon as I spotted Koen, I rushed toward him. He was probably heading back to his cottage. The past few days had drained all of us - I wouldn’t be surprised if he was planning on going to bed without supper. I just hoped he wasn’t too tired to hear me out.

When he noticed me running up to him, he halted, a small smile illuminating his face. “Everything’s back to normal, huh?”

“Thanks to you,” I said once I caught up with him. “Honestly, Koen, I…don’t know what would have been of Azure Smoke if it weren’t for you,” I told him truthfully, pure gratitude coating my words.

Shoving his hands into his front pockets, he shrugged me off. “I’m sure you would’ve figured it out.” From the corner of my eye, I watched his smile slowly turn into a smirk, playfulness in his tone as he added, “After all, you were doing just fine before I came along.”

I stiffened at his remark. He obviously meant it as a joke, but I was still guilt-ridden about the accusations I had thrown at him a day ago. It was the reason I wanted to talk to him.

With a sigh, I admitted, “I owe you an apology, Koen.”

“You weren’t yourself then, Avril,” he promptly reassured me, eyes searching for mine as he perceived my seriousness, but I refused to look up. “You were overwhelmed. Stressed. Worried.” He paused briefly before insisting, “I won’t hold it against you.”

“But you should,” I countered, earning a confused glance from him.

Perhaps it was a consequence of my stubbornness, or simply the effort I put into not making mistakes as I tried to be the best leader I could, but I wasn’t quite used to apologizing. It was hard for me to admit I was wrong, especially when it came with acknowledging that I needed someone else’s help. But Koen deserved that much, and for once, I couldn’t let my pride get in the way.

“The rage only caused me to reveal what was already on my mind. Even if I couldn’t control the anger, I still chose to believe that you could really be the problem,” I confessed shamefully. With a snort, I recognized, “Ironically, you’re the one who solved it.” I finally lifted my gaze, staring straight into his eyes as I declared, “You saved us, Koen.”

He watched me in silence for a moment, taking in my vulnerability. Finally, his lips curved softly as he offered, “I'm glad I could help.”

Lost in the moment, I barely noticed Koen reaching for my hand until his fingers laced through mine, a slow heat spreading through me in waves. Such a simple, innocent gesture, yet it set butterflies loose in my stomach. Before him, all I knew was the fiery rush of lust and desire. Now, he was showing me the quiet, steady warmth of romance.

As we walked together with our hands intertwined, an idea sparked. “How about I make it up to you?” I suggested, grinning at him. “Let me take you to the city for a nice, relaxing evening.”

He raised his brows, mirroring my expression as he recognized his own words. Playfulness shone through his features as he replied, “Sounds like a great idea. Did you come up with it yourself?”

“Well, I might have been inspired by another very wise alpha,” I said with a pause. “Meet me here in an hour?”

“If it’s good with you, it’s good with me,” he agreed, though I noticed a hint of uncertainty in his expression. “Aren’t you tired, though? I mean, after everything…”

“Yeah, a little.” I grimaced. “But I could use a night out to unwind.”

Koen nodded. With our date set, he returned to his cottage to get ready, while I headed back to my room. There was no need to rummage through my wardrobe for the perfect outfit - I knew what I was wearing from the moment I made the invitation. After a nice, relaxing shower, I donned the fancy piece I had only worn once and slipped into my only pair of high heels.

Before leaving my chambers, I inspected my reflection in the mirror, almost stumbling back at how different I looked. Since I barely ever left the pack, dressing up was new to me - but then again, so was dating. My look accentuated my femininity and made me feel...glamorous. Yet another unfamiliar sensation, but one I felt I could get used to.

Punctual as ever, Koen was already at the meeting spot. As soon as he set eyes on me, even from a distance, I caught the sound of a breath escaping his parted lips. His gaze lingered, a mix of surprise, pride, and longing as he recognized the dress I was wearing - the dress he had gifted me. The devotion in his eyes made my heart flutter, causing Kea to release a soft purr. No one had ever desired me as intensely as he did, and it ignited a fire inside me.

Only when I was standing in front of him did he blink the daze away, a mix of surprise and validation in his voice as he uttered three simple words. “You kept it.”

“I couldn’t bring myself to leave it behind when I fled from Whispering Hills,” I replied, glancing down at the beautiful black dress before my eyes found his again. “It was such a thoughtful gift.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’m glad you liked it. You look stunning in it.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks at his compliment. Afraid he would notice it, I tried to switch the spotlight to him by saying, “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

It was true. His all-black look - consisting of a button-up long-sleeved shirt and trousers - made his neatly combed-back blond hair and emerald-green eyes appear even brighter. The outline of his well-shaped muscles showed through the thin fabric, and I had to hold Kea back from wanting to free them by tearing off his clothes.

Thankfully, my strategy worked. Koen averted his gaze to glance at his own outfit. “To be honest, it was Theo and Elijah who insisted I should wear it,” he confessed. Since he moved here, my beta and gamma had been lending him some of their clothes. I should have guessed they would run to pester my date the second I let them know I would be out for the night. “They said I’m more fun to dress up than you,” he added playfully as he glanced back at me.

“I might give it a try someday…” I joked, leaning in to place my hand on his hard chest. My eyes flickered black as Kea pushed closer to the surface, and I felt bold enough to whisper to him, “Though I might prefer undressing you.”

A low growl reverberated in his throat, his lips moving closer to mine as he huskily replied, “Easy, Alpha. Shouldn’t you wine and dine me first?”

It took all my restraint to pull away from him, Kea barking at me to pounce on him in the middle of the town square. Drawing in a breath to get her under control, I told him, “Fair enough. Ready to go?”

I offered him my hand, which he gladly took. Together, we headed to the car, where one of the warriors who had volunteered to drive for me was waiting. Koen seemed slightly taken aback by the presence of our driver, but the pack would freak out if I tried to cross the borders without backup.

Throughout our ride, he appeared hesitant, as if he were holding back. I wondered if he was trying not to make it obvious to the warrior that we were together.

Once we reached the city, Koen asked, “So, where are we going?”

“Well, I might not be a VIP like you,” I remarked playfully, calling back to the fancy bar he took me to. “But I know a place that serves the best pasta in town.”

Koen smiled, his curiosity piqued. “I trust your taste.”

In a matter of minutes, we turned a corner and approached the charming upscale restaurant nestled among the city’s bustling streets. As we climbed out of the car, I led him toward the entrance. The exterior was inviting, with warm lights glowing against the deep blue of the night sky. Stepping inside, I was greeted by an ambiance of elegance: soft music played in the background, and the decor was tastefully done, featuring rich colors and tasteful art.

As a waiter guided us to a table for two, Koen whispered to me, “For someone who’s never taken a guy out, you sure know how to pick a place.”

I chuckled, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness. “I thought it was time to show you something special.”

We were seated at a cozy table in the corner, where the atmosphere felt intimate. As we scanned the menu, I felt my nerves settle. Our conversation flowed effortlessly, laughter mingling with the sounds of clinking glasses and gentle chatter.

I had never done this with anyone before, yet it seemed like Koen and I had been doing it for ages. Although it had been less than two extremely turbulent months since we reconnected, our connection was undeniable. From the very first day, he had made me feel things I didn’t know I could feel, and through every challenge, we persevered. After he played a key role in saving my pack today, I was finally able to let go of my fears.

And once I did, I could see it clearly - I truly wanted Koen, regardless of whatever complications our union could bring.

After finishing our meal, we stepped back into the night, hand in hand, the warmth of the restaurant still lingering as we embraced the cool evening air. We met our driver further down the street and got into the car to head back home.

But this time, when Koen tried to act like a friend in front of the warrior, I didn’t let him. I drew closer to him in the backseat, surprising him as I boldly took his hand in mine. He shot me a quizzical look - after all, I had been the one to ask for discretion.

I met his unspoken question with a playful smile. “Ronan, roll up the partition, please.”

Without hesitation, the warrior obeyed. Lust danced in Koen’s eyes as I leaned closer, unable to contain my desire until we got home. I dove in, pressing my lips to his. His hand gripped my neck, angling my head to deepen the kiss before sliding down to caress my collarbone, his touch igniting a fire within me. Just as I started to unbutton his shirt, he stopped me, pulling away slightly.

“He’ll still know what’s going on here, even if he can’t see it,” he warned, his voice low. “And you know how fast gossip spreads in wolf packs.”

My grin widened at his concern. “I would hope so.” Then I crashed my mouth onto his again. This time, he didn’t protest, fully giving in to his cravings.

Something had changed today - I no longer cared what anyone thought about us.