Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
THREE MONTHS LATER
The northern winds have shifted, bringing the first crisp hints of winter to Shadowmist territory. While the forest outside begins its hibernation, inside our den, a different kind of change is unfolding.
I stand before the mirror in our bathing chamber, studying my reflection with a mixture of wonder and apprehension. My hands trace the gentle swell of my belly—still small, but undeniably there.
“What are you thinking?” Ryker asks, leaning against the doorway. His wounds from the final battle with Thaddeus have healed, though several new scars mark his powerful frame.
“That I never imagined this would be my future,” I answer honestly, meeting his mismatched eyes in the mirror. “Alpha Female. Council member. And now…” I trace my fingers over my stomach. “Mother.”
He crosses the room, coming to stand behind me. His large hands cover mine on my belly, his touch gentle.
“Regrets?” he asks, his breath warm against my neck.
“Not one,” I reply, leaning back into his solid warmth. “Though I’m still terrified.”
Through our bond, I feel his understanding—deeper now than ever before. In the months since the battle, our connection has continued to strengthen, so much so that I often don’t know where one of us ends and the other begins.
“The healer says everything is progressing perfectly,” he reminds me, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. “And Elena has delivered dozens of pups without complication.”
I sigh, turning in his arms. “It’s not the birth that frightens me. It’s what comes after.” I lay my palm against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat beneath my fingers. “What if our pup can’t shift either? What if they—”
“Stop,” he interrupts, capturing my hand and bringing it to his lips.
“Nothing about you is broken, Kitara. Haven’t we proven that a thousand times over?
” His eyes—one gold, one crimson—hold mine with fierce intensity.
“Whether our pup shifts, sees, or possesses entirely different gifts we haven’t imagined yet—they will be perfect. Because they are ours.”
The absolute certainty in his voice soothes the anxiety that has periodically surfaced throughout my pregnancy.
My wolf stirs within me, equally reassuring. Our pup will be strong, she insists. She is an alpha.
“Besides,” Ryker continues with a small smile, “the world our pup will grow into is already changing. The council system is taking root. Territories are beginning to cooperate rather than compete. Even those who initially resisted are starting to see the benefits.”
He’s right, of course. The provisional council established after Thaddeus’s fall has evolved from idea into reality—a rotating body of representatives from each territory, meeting monthly to address common concerns.
Just last week, I sat in a council session where a newcomer from a distant eastern territory was welcomed with respect rather than suspicion. A small victory, but significant.
“Come,” Ryker says, taking my hand. “The pack has a surprise for you.”
He leads me through our private chambers into the main living area.
There, set before the stone hearth, sits a cradle carved from oak.
Intricate patterns trace its curved edges—wolves running beneath a crescent moon, stars scattered among them like watchful eyes.
The craftsmanship is exquisite, each detail rendered with loving precision.
“Heath made it,” Ryker explains, watching my reaction closely. “With help from some of the younger wolves. The entire pack contributed in some way—the cushioning is stuffed with down collected by the pups, the blankets woven by the elders.”
I approach the cradle slowly, tears blurring my vision as I trace the carvings with my fingertips. The gesture represents something I once thought impossible—acceptance by a pack.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, emotion tightening my throat.
Ryker slides his arm around my waist. “They wanted to show their support and their loyalty to you.”
Three months ago, such a demonstration would have seemed unlikely. The events surrounding Thaddeus’s fall changed everything. My actions during the crisis—particularly using our bond to help Ryker survive his wounds—earned me the respect of our pack.
A knock at our door interrupts the moment. Ryker tenses slightly—an instinctive protection response he hasn’t fully shed despite the relative peace of recent months.
The fact I’m pregnant hasn’t helped either. If anything, he’s become even more protective. Just last week he forbade me from participating in the pups’ schooling in case I got knocked over by accident.
He learnt rather quickly where he could shove that idea.
“Enter,” he calls, his body shifting subtly to place himself between me and the doorway.
Elias appears, his expression difficult to discern. “Forgive the interruption, Alpha, Alpha Female. The border patrol has returned with news.”
“What news?” Ryker asks, immediately alert.
Elias’s eyes flick to me briefly. “They found something at the northeastern boundary. Or rather... someone.” He hesitates, uncharacteristic for our stoic security chief. “Two someones, actually.”
My heart leaps. “Lithia?”
A small smile breaks through Elias’s composed facade. “Yes. Alive, though not unharmed. And she’s not alone.” Something in his tone catches my attention. “She’s with a rogue wolf. Male. Says he helped her escape.”
Ryker stiffens, his hand finding mine and squeezing tight. Through our bond, I feel a storm of emotions—relief about Lithia, rage at whatever was done to his second, and wary suspicion about this unknown male.
“Where are they now?” he demands.
“The healers have them both. Elena says Lithia’s injuries are significant but not life-threatening. The male is in better condition. She’s conscious and asking for you both.” Elias clears his throat. “Levi is already there.”
This last detail brings Ryker’s head up sharply. “Levi? I didn’t summon him.”
“No, Alpha,” Elias confirms with a slight twitch of his lips. “He was... already in the healing chambers when they arrived. He hasn’t left Lithia’s side since.”
Ryker’s brow furrows at this unexpected information. But I’m unsurprised. Levi’s determination to track Lithia down since her disappearance went well beyond the normal dedication of a pack mate for another.
“Thank you, Elias,” I say, already moving toward the door. “We’ll go immediately.”
As we hurry through the winding corridors of the den, wolves step aside respectfully, their expressions revealing they’ve already heard the news.
Lithia’s kidnapping had left a wound in the pack that couldn’t fully heal until her return.
The timing seems almost prophetic—one chapter closing as another begins.
“She survived,” I murmur, partially to myself. “All this time... and with help.”
Ryker’s face is tight with controlled emotion. “Lithia is one of the strongest wolf I know,” he says, voice rough. “If anyone could survive what they planned for her, it would be her. But a rogue...” He shakes his head, clearly concerned about this unknown variable.
We reach the healing chambers, where the scent of medicinal herbs hangs heavy in the air. Elena, our lead healer, meets us at the entrance, her expression somber but not grave.
“She’s stable,” she informs us quietly. “Dehydrated, malnourished, with evidence of silver restraints used long-term. Several poorly healed fractures that we’ll need to re-break and set properly. But her mind is clear, and her wolf intact.”
“And the male with her?” Ryker asks, his voice tight.
“Calls himself Kier. No pack markings, but strong. He has silver burns too, though not as severe. Says he was held in the cell next to hers.” Elena’s professional demeanor slips slightly. “I warn you, there’s... an unusual dynamic between them and Levi. You’ll see.”
Curious now, we follow Elena into the healing chambers.
The room is warm and dimly lit, the air filled with the scent of healing salves and the unmistakable metallic tang of silver residue.
Lithia lies on a pallet near the hearth, her once-powerful frame diminished by captivity.
Her silver-blonde hair has been shorn close to her scalp, and new scars mark her already scarred face.
But her eyes—those striking silver eyes—are clear and focused as we enter.
On one side of her sits Levi, his posture protective, fingers intertwined with hers in a gesture of intimacy.
On her other side stands a wolf I don’t recognize.
He’s tall and lean, with unusual dark-copper hair and eyes the color of burnished gold.
His stance is alert but not threatening, and there’s something in the way he positions himself, equally protective of Lithia, yet with an awareness of Levi that speaks of concerns far more complex than simple rivalry.
Lithia attempts to rise, a gesture of respect ingrained through years of pack hierarchy.
“Don’t,” I say quickly, moving to her side and gently pressing her back down. “You need to rest.”
Lithia’s gaze meets mine, surprise flickering across her features before she nods slightly. “Alpha Female,” she acknowledges, her voice hoarse but steady. Then her eyes shift to Ryker. “Alpha. It’s good to see you survived.”
A muscle ticks in Ryker’s jaw as he kneels beside her, his gaze flicking briefly to Levi’s hand holding hers, then to the rogue wolf standing vigil on her other side.
“What happened?” he asks, the question encompassing everything—her capture, her treatment, her escape, and clearly, these unexpected connections.
Lithia closes her eyes briefly, gathering strength or perhaps ordering her thoughts.
“They separated us immediately after the ambush,” she begins.
“I was taken southeast to Moonclaw territory, then north. They kept me in silver to prevent shifting—and to ensure I couldn’t be tracked through pack bonds. ”