Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
F innar’s body trembled as he raced away from Scarlett’s grandmother’s cottage, his beast clawing its way to the surface. His bones cracked and reformed, muscles rippling as thick grey fur sprouted across his skin. The transformation did nothing to ease the hollow ache in his chest.
He burst through the tree line, a snarl ripping from his throat as he spotted Korrin’s lean form waiting in the shadows. The other male’s eyes gleamed, but instead of returning Finnar’s aggression, his lips curved into an unexpected smirk.
“Race you to Thunder Peak? Unless you’re afraid you can’t keep up with me.”
His ears flicked forward in surprise. He hadn’t heard that playful tone from another Vultor since… since before. The prospect of physical exertion, of pushing his body to its limits, called to his aching heart. Perhaps it would help quiet the overwhelming need to return to her.
He snapped his teeth at Korrin, accepting the challenge. Korrin crouched, then exploded into motion, transforming as he ran, and Finnar chased him. Their powerful legs ate up the ground as they raced up through the forest, weaving between ancient trees and leaping over fallen logs.
The wind whipped through his fur as he stretched out his stride. Korrin matched him pace for pace, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization as they climbed higher into the mountains. The physical demands of the race forced him to focus on each breath, each placement of his paws, leaving no room for thoughts of warm brown eyes or soft lips.
For a few precious seconds, he lost himself in the pure joy of running, of testing his strength against another of his kind. It reminded him of racing his younger brother through a different set of woods, back when the world had been simpler. Back before humans had destroyed everything.
By the time he and Korrin burst through the tree line onto the cliff’s edge, his lungs burned and his muscles ached. He dropped onto his haunches, chest heaving, staring out at the mountains ahead of them, a patchwork of dark forest and misty meadows painted in the soft colors of dawn.
Despite the physical exhaustion, his mind refused to quiet. In an attempt to overcome the overwhelming need to return to Scarlett, he found himself replaying the conversation in the kitchen. Her grandmother spoke as if she were familiar with things that only Vultor knew—old alliances and sacred peaks. How had she known about them? And why had she mentioned them?
Korrin shifted beside him, his breathing already steadying. “Good run.”
He grunted in response, his thoughts still circling around the old woman’s knowing looks. She must have recognized what he was immediately. But why had she seemed so calm about finding her granddaughter in the company of a Vultor?
The morning breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers up from the valley, reminding him painfully of Scarlett’s scent. But mixed with those memories came the unsettling feeling that there was far more to her grandmother than he knew. Perhaps he should mention it to Seren. Perhaps Seren would send him back to talk to her again and he could see Scarlett again…
No. He slammed the door against a flood of hope. Seren was going to exile him. Was that why the alpha hadn’t been waiting for him? Because he’d already dismissed him?
“Where’s Seren?” he asked. “I thought he’d have been waiting.”
“He said he had somewhere he had to be,” Korrin said slowly. “He told me to talk to you about the human female.”
Amber eyes studied him with unsettling intensity.
“Don’t.” His claws scraped against stone.
“You act as if she’s your mate.”
He couldn’t bring himself to deny it so he whirled to face Korrin, fangs bared.
“I said don’t.”
The other male held up his hands, but a hint of amusement played across his features. He forced his claws to retract, frowning at Korrin. He knew nothing about him other than that he’d only shown up a few months ago.
“Where did you come from?” he asked.
“Northern territories.” Korrin stretched, muscles rippling beneath his sleek fur. “Seren found me three winters ago after mother died.”
The shared weight of loss hung between them. He recognized the shadows in Korrin’s eyes—he saw them in his own reflection often enough.
“Humans?” he asked, though he already knew the answer.
“Raiders.” Korrin’s voice went flat. “Took everything.”
He nodded, unwilling to speak of his own losses, but his usual rage didn’t consume him. Instead he saw Scarlett’s face, so different from the humans who’d destroyed his family. He shoved the thoughts aside.
“How did you find Seren?”
“He found me. Half-dead in the snow, mad with grief.” Korrin’s lip curled. “Wouldn’t let me die.”
The words struck uncomfortably close to his own experience. He remembered Seren dragging him from the ashes of his former life, forcing him to keep living when all he’d wanted was to follow his family into death.
“I found a new occupation after that. Bounty hunting.” The other male’s eyes gleamed. “It turns out there’s good coin in tracking down those who need finding.”
The words pulled him from thoughts of soft brown eyes and the lingering sweetness of her scent.
“Who do you work for?”
“Whoever can afford to hire me.”
“Even humans?”
“If they can afford my rates.” A cold smile crossed Korrin’s face. “They can’t even hunt down their own kind without help. But their gold spends just as well as anyone’s.”
The casual contempt in the other male’s voice bothered him more than it should have. A week ago, he would have agreed without hesitation.
“Is that what brought you here?” he asked, trying to focus on the conversation rather than memories of Scarlett’s fierce defense of him before Seren.
Another cold smile.
“I came to see Seren, but it turns out there’s plenty of work for someone with my skills.”
He barely heard the response, his mind drifting back to the way Scarlett had returned his kisses, how right she’d felt in his arms. He forced himself to nod at whatever Korrin was saying about his latest contract, but his thoughts remained trapped in that moonlit clearing.
He pushed himself to his feet, muscles still burning from their run. One last visit to his den, empty and cold without her presence.
“Wait.” Korrin’s voice cut through his brooding. “I told you Seren wanted me to talk to you about the human female.”
He paused, his body tensing.
“He was impressed by her defense of you and admitted that she didn’t seem scared or harmed. He is willing to admit that there might have been… circumstances that brought the two of you together.” Amber eyes narrowed. “But it can’t continue—it’s too dangerous. Stay away from humans. All of them. Especially the female.”
The pain of his words was sharp and immediate. Never seeing her again… the thought alone made his beast howl in protest.
“That’s his condition?” The words came out rough, his throat tight.
Korrin nodded. “Accept it or leave the territory. Your choice.”
He turned away, unable to bear the knowing look in the other Vultor’s eyes.
“Tell Seren I understand.”
He left without another word, each step carrying him further from the cliff’s edge. The forest blurred past as he ran, but distance couldn’t ease the ache in his chest. His den waited ahead, the one place he’d finally started to think of as home again. But what was the point now? The warmth Scarlett had brought to those cold stone walls would fade, leaving only memories of her smile, her touch, her scent.
This pain cut deeper than any thoughts of revenge ever had. His hatred of humans had driven him for years, given him purpose. But losing Scarlett… that loss carved into his soul, leaving him hollow.
He pushed open the door to his den, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Her scent still lingered, sweet and tempting, mixing with the fresh scents of soap and herbs. Everything gleamed with the results of their shared labor—the polished dishes stacked neatly on the shelves, the swept floors, even the cushions arranged just so on the chair by the fire.
His claws extended involuntarily as memories flooded back. The way she’d hummed while working. How naturally they’d moved together in the small kitchen. The flash of her smile when he’d brought in wood. The sound of her laughter.
He crossed to the table, touching the flowers she’d arranged, remembering their shared meals, their conversations. He’d watched her eyes sparkle as she described her weaving, imagined more evenings filled with her presence.
His beast stirred restlessly. Mate , it insisted. The word echoed through him, impossible to deny. The connection between them had sparked instantly, growing stronger with every moment they’d shared. Even now, he felt the pull drawing him back to her.
Could he really walk away from her? The thought of never seeing her again made his chest ache. Years of isolation suddenly seemed unbearable now that he knew what he was missing. The warmth of her touch. The way she’d thrown herself into his arms, accepting both man and beast. The fierce way she’d defended him to Seren.
He sank onto the bench, inhaling her lingering scent. He could submit to Seren’s command or risk everything in pursuit of what they could have together. His fingers traced the fabric where she’d slept as the magnitude of the decision weighed on him.
The pack was his last connection to his past, but Scarlett… she represented a future he’d never dared imagine. One filled with warmth and purpose instead of bitter revenge. In the end, it wasn’t a difficult choice.