Chapter 2 #2
"I knew you'd see reason. She's flying in this afternoon. Do try not to terrify her on first meeting, won't you? Humans can be delicate when encountering territorial Alphas."
The call ended with Gerri's trademark knowing laugh, leaving Kaidan alone with a growing certainty that his life was about to change in ways he couldn't control.
He pressed one palm against the cold glass of the frosted window.
The research station was visible in the distance against the pristine landscape.
Somewhere in there, Eli was probably pulling his hair out over seismic readings that made no scientific sense.
Dr. Tessa Monroe.
That name kept rolling through his thoughts like smoke, carrying implications that made his bear pace with increasing agitation.
In all his years as king, he'd developed an almost supernatural ability to compartmentalize—to separate duty from desire, strategy from instinct.
But something about this woman, this stranger he'd never met, was already breaking down those carefully constructed barriers.
He tried to focus on practical matters. Patrol routes needed adjustment. The zones of unstable ice required mapping and monitoring. His people needed protection from both environmental hazards and Magnus's increasingly aggressive tactics.
But underneath the tactical planning, something primitive and possessive was awakening.
The same instinct that had driven his ancestors to claim territory and defend it with their lives was stirring.
But instead of being focused on land or resources, this instinct was on a woman whose name alone had shattered his composure.
She's human, he reminded himself. The clan's fragile acceptance of Eli had taken years to cultivate, built on consistent proof of the scientist's value and discretion. Introducing another human—especially a female who might command his attention—would require delicate political maneuvering.
Magnus would see it as another weakness. Evidence that Kaidan prioritized outsiders over shifters. The rivalry that had simmered for decades would undoubtedly intensify, adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.
And yet, as he watched the glaciers in the morning light, Kaidan felt something settle into place. A rightness that had nothing to do with logic and everything to do with the ancient wisdom his bear carried.
The oak door of Kaidan's office swung open without warning, admitting his Beta and sister with the casual confidence of people who'd never needed permission to enter his space.
Bjorn's sandy brown hair was still damp from patrol duty, while Elora's pale blonde locks caught the morning light streaming through the frosted windows.
"Well, well," Elora drawled, her striking blue eyes sparkling with mischief as she surveyed his position by the window. "The mighty king brooding again? What catastrophic thoughts are weighing down that massive brain of yours today?"
Kaidan turned from the glacier view, his jaw tightening at his sister's teasing tone. "I don't brood."
"Right," Bjorn said dryly, settling his muscular frame into one of the leather chairs facing Kaidan's desk. "And polar bears don't fish."
Heat crawled up Kaidan's neck—irritation mixed with something more vulnerable he refused to acknowledge. His bear stirred again, still unsettled by Gerri's call and the strange anticipation that had been building in his chest.
"Gerri Wilder called," he said finally, moving back to his desk with deliberate control. "There's another human scientist coming to assist Eli at the research station. The seismic activity has been beyond what one person can handle."
Elora perched on the edge of his desk, her athletic build radiating a casual confidence that had made her one of his most trusted advisors. "And this is causing your current state of brooding because...?"
"I told you, I don't—" Kaidan caught himself, recognizing the trap his sister had laid.
She'd been reading his moods since they were cubs, and deflection wouldn't work.
"We need to discuss patrol adjustments. Magnus has been increasing surveillance around the station, and adding another human to the mix will complicate things. "
Bjorn's brown eyes sharpened with interest, his strategic mind immediately engaging. "What kind of complications? Environmental or political?"
"Both." Kaidan pulled out the territorial maps, spreading them across his desk.
"Dr. Tessa Monroe is a climate scientist specializing in fault lines and glaciers.
She'll be valuable for understanding what's happening to the land, but her presence will give Magnus additional ammunition for his arguments about human contamination to our territory. "
"Tessa," Elora repeated thoughtfully, her voice carrying a note that made Kaidan's bear prickle. "Interesting name. Pretty, even. What does she look like?"
"How the hell would I know?" The words came out sharper than intended, betraying the restlessness that had been building since Gerri's call. "I've never met the woman."
Bjorn's eyebrows rose slightly, his keen intelligence picking up on the defensive tone. "Caution might be warranted. Adding another human—especially a female—could destabilize the careful balance we've maintained."
"If she's as capable as Eli, the clan will respect her competence. They always do," Elora added, her tone lighter than Bjorn's concern.
Kaidan nodded, trying to focus on the practical implications while his thoughts kept circling back to the way Gerri's voice had carried satisfaction when she'd mentioned Tessa's name. As if she knew something he didn't. As if she was orchestrating something beyond simple research assistance.
"The real concern," Bjorn continued, "is how Magnus will interpret another human presence. He's been looking for any evidence that your leadership is weak."
"Let him keep looking," Kaidan growled, his territorial instincts flaring. "My decisions aren't subject to his approval."
"No," Elora said slowly, her blue eyes studying his face with uncomfortable intensity. "But they might be subject to other influences. You seem unusually... invested in this particular scientist's welfare."
"She'll need protection. That's standard protocol for any human in our territory."
"Mmm-hmm." Elora's expression turned knowing, the same look she'd worn when they were children and she'd caught him stealing honey cakes from the kitchen. "Standard protocol. Of course."
Heat flooded Kaidan's cheeks—embarrassment, frustration, and something deeper that felt dangerously like hunger. His bear paced beneath his skin, responding to implications he couldn't deny.
"What exactly are you suggesting?" he demanded.
"Nothing at all," his sister replied innocently. "Just noting that there's this look in your eyes..."
"What look?"
"The same one you get when you're planning to claim something new," Bjorn observed with clinical precision. "Focused. Determined. Possessive."
The accusation hit like a blow, mainly because Kaidan couldn't entirely deny it.
"She's human," he said roughly, as if that explained everything.
"Brother dear," his sister said with fond exasperation, "you're practically vibrating with tension. Either you're worried about this woman's safety, or you're anticipating something that you've been ignoring for years."
The words struck too close to truth for comfort.