Chapter 6 Kaidan
SIX
KAIDAN
Kaidan positioned himself behind a ridge of ice as he tracked every movement Tessa and Elora made across the treacherous terrain below.
He shouldn't be here. He'd specifically assigned Elora as Tessa's guide to avoid exactly this situation—his overwhelming need to personally ensure his mate's safety.
Mate. The word sent a jolt through his system every time his mind formed it.
Twenty-four hours ago, he'd been a disciplined king focused solely on protecting his territory and people. Now he crouched in the snow like some lovesick adolescent, unable to concentrate on anything except the woman whose sweet floral scent still lingered in his memory.
This was precisely why he'd avoided searching for his fated mate for so long. He'd witnessed what the mate bond did to other shifters—the complete upheaval of priorities and the dangerous distraction from duty. As king, he couldn't afford such weakness.
Yet here he was, abandoning his responsibilities to follow Tessa around like a territorial animal.
His polar bear prowled restlessly beneath his skin, demanding he get closer to her.
The primal urge was becoming harder to ignore with each passing hour.
Last night had been torture—every instinct telling him to return to the research station and bring her back to his palace where she'd be safe. Where she'd be his.
The rational part of his mind recognized how problematic this obsession was becoming.
Bjorn had already given him several questioning looks this morning, and he'd caught whispered conversations between clan members that died the moment he entered a room.
It wouldn't be long before everyone realized their king was compromised.
But watching Tessa move across the ice with such confidence and grace, seeing how naturally she read the environmental cues that would keep her alive in his territory... she belonged here. She belonged with him.
The moment Tessa and Elora disappeared into the research station, Kaidan began counting. He forced himself to wait exactly two minutes before following, his control stretched to its breaking point.
This is beyond forward, he acknowledged as he approached the station's door. But I can't spend another minute away from her.
He knocked firmly, his heart hammering in a way that would have embarrassed him under any other circumstances.
Eli opened the door, his eyebrows rising in surprise. "Kaidan. What brings you by?"
Behind Eli, Kaidan could see Tessa and Elora pulling off their parkas, their cheeks flushed from the cold. Tessa's long dark hair had escaped from its ponytail, framing her face in waves that made his fingers itch to touch.
"Just happened to be in the neighborhood," Kaidan said, fighting to keep his voice casual.
Elora burst into laughter. "Sure. The same neighborhood you've been lurking in all afternoon?"
He shot his sister a warning look. "I thought it would be a nice gesture to invite Tessa to dinner at the palace tonight. Help her get better acquainted with Frosthaven."
"How unusually hospitable of you," Elora said, her blue eyes sparkling.
Kaidan's glare intensified. "Watch yourself."
Elora raised her hands in mock surrender, but her grin didn't fade.
Tessa stepped forward. "That's very kind, but I don't want to impose—"
"No imposition at all." The words came out more forcefully than he'd intended, his alpha nature bleeding through his attempted charm.
Eli waved a dismissive hand. "I'll stay here and organize today's data. Tessa collected some fascinating readings."
Pride swelled in Kaidan's chest at the praise for his mate's work. "Excellent." He turned his attention back to Tessa, drinking in the sight of her flushed cheeks and bright green eyes. "Are you ready now?"
Uncertainty flickered across her features, but he caught something else there too—anticipation. The same magnetic pull he felt seemed to affect her as well.
"Sure," she said, reaching for her parka. "Why not?"
The simple words sent satisfaction coursing through him. She was coming to his palace, his personal territory. His bear practically purred with contentment.
Kaidan led her outside to where his snowmobile waited, its sleek black frame designed for both speed and navigating Frosthaven's most treacherous terrain. He helped her settle onto the seat behind him, his hands lingering at her waist longer than necessary.
"Hold on tight," he murmured, his voice roughened.
The moment Tessa's arms wrapped around his waist, Kaidan nearly forgot how to breathe. Her body pressed against his back, her warmth seeping through the layers of winter gear to reach his skin. The mate bond sang with satisfaction and every cell in his body recognized her touch.
Breathe, he commanded himself, but his hands trembled slightly as he gripped the handlebars.
The urge to turn around and capture her mouth with his was almost overwhelming. He wanted to taste her, claim her, make it clear to every shifter in the territory that she was his.
Instead, he gunned the engine and shot forward across the snow, taking the most direct route to his palace. Behind them, he could hear Elora's snowmobile following at a discrete distance.
The three-mile journey passed in a blur of sensation—Tessa's arms tightening around him as they navigated sharp turns, her soft gasp when they crested a particularly steep ridge, and the way she leaned into him when the wind picked up.
By the time his palace came into view, Kaidan felt drunk on her proximity.
This was what he'd been missing his entire life. This connection, this perfect sense of completion.
The palace rose before them like something carved from winter itself—massive walls of pale stone and ice that caught the dying sunlight and reflected it back in crystalline patterns. Towers stretched toward the darkening sky, their peaks crowned with ancient banners that snapped in the Arctic wind.
Kaidan brought the snowmobile to a stop in the courtyard and reluctantly climbed off, immediately missing Tessa's warmth against his back. He turned to help her down, his hands settling at her waist as she steadied herself on the snow.
"Your palace is incredible," Tessa breathed, her green eyes wide as she took in the imposing beauty. "The architecture is unlike anything I've ever seen."
Pride expanded in Kaidan's chest at her obvious admiration. "It's been the seat of power in Frosthaven for over two centuries. My family has ruled from here for thirty years."
The palace represented everything he was, everything he'd inherited, and everything he was responsible for protecting. Seeing Tessa appreciate its grandeur felt like she was accepting a part of him.
Someday, his bear whispered hopefully, this could be her home too.
The thought should have terrified him. Instead, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Kaidan guided Tessa through the towering entrance doors, their ancient wood carved with intricate scenes of polar bears and Arctic landscapes. The warmth hit them immediately—a welcome contrast to the biting cold outside.
"This is extraordinary," Tessa breathed as she took in the soaring ceilings and tapestries that depicted centuries of shifter history.
Kaidan moved behind her, his hands settling on her shoulders to help ease off her parka. The simple act sent electricity racing through his veins, and he had to force himself to step back once the heavy coat was free.
"The great hall dates back to the original settlement," he said, hanging her parka on an ornate hook. "My ancestors believed in creating beauty even in the harshest environments."
Elora appeared behind them, shaking snow from her blonde hair. "Someone's showing off, I see."
"Tell the kitchen staff to set an extra plate for dinner," Kaidan commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "And inform them we'll be eating in an hour."
Elora's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Of course, Your Majesty. Anything else your special guest requires?"
The emphasis on 'special' wasn't lost on him, but Kaidan chose to ignore his sister's baiting. "That will be all."
He turned back to Tessa, who was studying a massive painting of his grandfather leading a hunt across frozen seas. "Would you like to see more of the palace?"
"I'd love to." Her enthusiasm made his bear purr with satisfaction.
He led her through corridors lined with portraits of past kings and queens, pointing out architectural details and sharing stories of their reign. With each room they explored, he watched her face light up with genuine interest.
"The craftsmanship is incredible," Tessa said, running her fingers along the carved banister of the main staircase. "How do you maintain everything in these temperatures?"
"Centuries of practice and a deep respect for what came before us." He paused at a window overlooking the courtyard. "Tradition matters here. It's what keeps us strong."
"You've been an excellent host so far," she said, turning to face him. "I wasn't expecting such... warmth."
The word 'warmth' from her lips made heat spike through his system. "I'm not as rigid as I may appear."
You have no idea how much I'm restraining myself right now, he thought, fighting the urge to pull her against him.
"Good to know." Her smile was soft, almost shy, and it took every ounce of his willpower not to trace the curve of her lips with his thumb.
When they finally reached the dining room, Bjorn and Elora were already seated at the long table that could accommodate thirty but felt intimate with just the four of them.
Kaidan pulled out the chair to his right, positioning Tessa close enough that her sweet scent would surround him throughout the meal.
"Thank you." She settled into the seat, and he caught himself memorizing the graceful way she moved.
The staff appeared with dishes of roasted venison, root vegetables, and fresh bread that filled the room with mouth-watering aromas. Kaidan served Tessa, another breach of protocol that earned him a raised eyebrow from Bjorn.
"The increased patrols are in place," Bjorn reported once they'd begun eating. "Though I should mention the clan is feeling stretched thin with the additional human activity."
Kaidan's jaw tightened at the barely veiled criticism. "The clan will adapt to the new circumstances."
"Of course." Bjorn's tone remained respectful, but the tension underneath was sharp enough that even Tessa seemed to notice.
"I hope my presence isn't causing too much disruption," she said diplomatically. "The last thing I want is to create problems for your people."
"You're not the problem," Kaidan said firmly, his gaze holding Bjorn's until his Beta looked away. "Change is difficult for some to accept, but necessary progress rarely comes without resistance."
Elora jumped in to lighten the mood. "Tessa collected some great data today. Tell them about those seismic patterns you noticed."
As Tessa launched into an explanation of the anomalous data, Kaidan found himself completely captivated.
Her intelligence shone through every word, her passion for her work evident in the way her hands moved expressively as she spoke.
She was brilliant, beautiful, and sitting close enough that he could reach out and touch her.
His bear was becoming increasingly restless, demanding he claim what was rightfully his. The mate bond pulled at him with every breath she took and every gesture she made. He wanted to sweep everything off the table and show her exactly how much she affected him.
Instead, he made himself maintain his kingly composure while allowing glimpses of his charm to surface. "Your expertise will be invaluable in understanding what's happening to our land."
"I hope so. Tomorrow I'd like to investigate the areas showing the most instability." She turned to meet his gaze. "Will that be possible?"
The thought of her venturing into potentially dangerous terrain made his protective instincts flare. "Elora will accompany you again. The terrain can be unpredictable."
"I can handle myself in the field," Tessa said, a hint of steel entering her voice.
"I don't doubt your capabilities." His tone softened with genuine admiration. "But even the most experienced Arctic residents respect the land's ability to turn deadly without warning."
She nodded, seemingly satisfied with his explanation, but he caught Bjorn and Elora exchanging meaningful looks.
When dinner concluded, his Beta and sister made their excuses with suspicious efficiency.
"Early patrol tomorrow," Bjorn announced, rising from his chair.
"And I promised to check on the perimeter sensors," Elora added, her grin barely contained.
Suddenly, Kaidan was alone with Tessa in the spacious dining room, the crackling fireplace casting dancing shadows across her face. Every instinct in his body urged him to take her to his chambers, to finally give in to the mate bond demanding completion.
Instead, he stood and extended his hand. "I should drive you back to the research station. It's getting late."
The words sounded hollow even to his ears, but he couldn't afford to push too hard too fast. She'd been in Frosthaven for barely twenty-four hours. Revealing the mate bond now would likely send her running back to whatever life she'd left behind.
"Thank you." She placed her hand in his, and the contact sent fire racing up his arm. "For dinner, for the tour, for everything."
As he helped her to her feet, Kaidan realized that taking her home might be the most difficult thing he'd ever done as king.