Chapter 8 Ashlyn
ASHLYN
My stomach twists.
Because I recognize what’s about to happen. I’ve seen it before.
Not the kissing. Or the writhing in the bed. Or the feel of Grey’s big hands on me.
But this moment—the one where he tells me he has to leave.
It’s the beginning of a sequence of departures, all of which lead to the same end.
Swallowing, I fix my shirt, and leave the bed, all the while ignoring the dampness between my thighs. He felt it. He knows I’m aroused. Or that I was, anyway. There’s still evidence of it on his sweatpants.
However, I can’t muster the energy to be embarrassed about it. Nor do I think I should be embarrassed. I’m an Omega. He’s my Alpha. Of course I’m aroused around him.
I join him in the kitchen and watch as he cleans the fish—the very ones I was going to clean before when he grabbed me and kissed me.
Alas, he’s clearly not thinking about that anymore.
“What do you want to talk about?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Gold Sector.”
My brow furrows. “Gold Sector?” That’s not… that’s not what he was supposed to say. Why is this moment changing? I wonder, glancing around to make sure I have the right scene. Or maybe—
“They have caves. Underground tunnels.” He glances at me. “Do you think that could be the vision of all the candles?”
I blink at him. “I… I don’t know. It’s possible?”
“Have you seen any gold or any dragons in your visions?”
“I…” I frown. “I don’t think so.”
He looks disappointed.
So I feel compelled to ask, “Why?”
“Oros, the Prince of Gold Sector, agreed to that meeting with Cael. But he added some cryptic commentary about an Omega acquisition that he wants to tell us about.”
“Oh.” My nose scrunches because none of this matches my expectations for this moment. It feels all wrong.
Why haven’t I envisioned this?
Or this utterly unrelated?
“I was wondering if it could be related to Nikiski,” he goes on, his gaze still on me. “Any feelings or thoughts on that?”
“I… no,” I admit. “But I think you should probably attend that meeting to hear him out.” Because I want more information now on what I’ve missed.
My seeing abilities are usually much more accurate than this.
“It’ll require me to go to Lunar Sector,” he says.
I nod. “Yes, that makes sense.”
“I would take you with me—”
“But you can’t because Kieran or Lorcan will shadow in to take me back to the sanctuary, I know,” I interrupt, very aware of this part.
Because this we’ve discussed in my head.
However, the cause for why he needed to go home were much different.
Unless this is leading to him finding Nikiski?
I wonder, then shake my head. “Yeah, no, you have to go. I know you do. That’s fine.
I’ll be okay here.” For now, I nearly add out loud.
Instead, I step away and say, “I’ll help you make this lunch or dinner or whatever it is, then you can eat before you go. ”
“Ashlyn,” he says.
But I’m ignoring him and grabbing things from the fridge.
“Ashlyn,” he tries again.
When I don’t instantly respond, he takes hold of my wrist.
A shock rolls up my arm, his touch electrifying.
I meet his gaze. “Grey?”
“I’m coming back,” he tells me.
It takes everything inside of me not to wince. Because those words haunt my nightmares.
“I’m coming back,” he always says.
Only he doesn’t.
He doesn’t come back at all.
“Hold on,” he murmurs, turning to the sink to wash his hands.
I watch him, not sure what he’s planning to do. Because, again, this isn’t something I’ve foreseen. Everything is so muddled. So strange.
Gold Sector? I think, still trying to process that potential shift in location.
None of my predictions have involved dragons; only ever wolf clans.
But if the dragons are involved, that could explain some of the fuzziness in my sight. They’re mystical creatures, similar to the V-Clan wolves. Only their powers are less known outside of their various sectors.
Could a dragon be messing with my visions?
“All right,” Grey says, facing me again as he dries his hands. “I’m going to draw a protective rune on you. It’ll be one that’s linked directly to me as well, so if you have any issues, you can use it to alert me.”
I blink at him in confusion. “I thought runes were for inanimate objects.”
He smiles, the motion showcasing part of a dimple on the left side—one I’ve never noticed before. “Many are, but there are a few that work in this manner.”
He steals the items from my hands—ones I forgot that I took from the fridge—and sets them on the counter. When he grabs my wrist again, more electricity dances along my skin, making me shiver.
I’m again at a loss for what’s about to happen. And it’s both unnerving and thrilling.
His eyes are kind as he stares down at me, the softness new.
Because we kissed?
I swallow, sort of wanting to forget all of this and just kiss him again.
His tongue felt like velvet against mine. Dominant. Soft. Addictive.
I want to experience so much more from his mouth. So much more of him.
He draws his finger along my inner forearm, tracing the veins up from my wrist. “Are you going to watch so you can try to learn later?” he asks me, his voice holding a touch of amusement.
“You think I’m crazy for wanting to learn how to make runes,” I mutter. “But other mates share gifts, you know.”
His touch stills and I realize I’ve just given something away. Not intentionally. Nothing drastic. Just why I wanted him to teach me.
“Will you inherit my talents when we mate?” he asks, studying my features. “Will I inherit yours?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, my heart beating a little faster.
He said when.
When we mate.
Does that mean…?
No.
I squash the thought train entirely. I know that will never happen. Not the way he’s insinuating, anyway.
“It’s a silly desire,” I tell him, trying to brush all this off. “I just thought it might be fun to know how to do… if it ever happens.”
“It’s not silly at all,” he replies, his thumb caressing my wrist. “So, pay attention. This design is a little trickier since it’s on the skin.”
He starts slowly, showing me the pattern and explaining the angles. It’s basically like learning a foreign language, only with lines and dots, not words.
But I focus on everything he says, doing my best to commit the design to memory. It helps that it’s actually glowing on my skin, almost like a fiery tattoo.
“Will it stay like this?” I ask when he’s done, admiring the sharp edges and knotted pattern.
“Until I remove it, yeah,” he replies. “So if you need me, you just have to press your thumb here.” He grabs my other hand and uses it against the golden pattern sketched across my skin.
When my thumb meets the heart of the design, a soft hum stirs in the air. It’s kind of like an alarm, but not loud. Just a presence that can be felt.
“You sense it, right?” he asks.
I nod.
“Good.” He releases my arm, but brings my hand up to his lips to press a kiss against my palm. “All you have to do is touch the rune like that and I’ll feel the same energy buzz.”
I blink at him. “I’ve never seen any of this.” It’s a confession, one he seems to understand.
“Then perhaps we’re altering fate—in a positive manner,” he replies, leaning down to brush his lips against my cheek. “Now, I have about sixty minutes left to cook, eat, and recharge the protective wards outside. So, let’s work on lunch next.”
“Lunch?” I echo, wanting to confirm the time. Because it’s been a little weird living in a cave.
He glances at me. “When I get back, we’ll go for a run. I’m sure your wolf would like some exercise.”
“But it’s lunchtime?” I press.
“Yes.”
“So the sun is out and high in the sky?”
His brow furrows a little. “Yes.” He faces me again. “Why?”
“Just curious,” I say, shrugging. “It’s been a while since I saw the sun.” That’s not a lie. But it’s not the truth either.
Deep down, I’m concerned.
Because night is when bad things happen.
If it’s sunny… then maybe I’ll be fine. Maybe he really will come back.
Clearing my throat, I ignore my racing thoughts and focus my energy on helping him in the kitchen. It’s our fifth fish meal for the week. Good thing I’ve spent the last few decades on an island in the arctic, I think. Otherwise, I might be sick of salmon already.
Grey doesn’t say much as we eat, but I can feel him scrutinizing me. I’ve revealed a lot more than I ever intended to reveal today. So he might be right about changing fate.
I really hope he’s wrong, though.
By the time we finish, he needs to leave. So he quickly changes into a pair of jeans and a black sweater, then comes back into the kitchen after putting on some boots.
I force myself to smile as I say, “See you soon.”
He studies me for another beat. “Remember the rune, Ash.” He draws his finger over it, like I may have forgotten about the glowing symbol on my arm. “If you need me at all, call.” He presses his lips to my temple, the intimate gesture stirring butterflies in my stomach.
Then he shadows out of the cave.
I know he’s nearby still, just recharging the wards, as he said. But I can’t sense him.
Instead, I simply feel alone.
In a cave.
Where I’ll eventually meet my doom.
My stomach clenches with the thought, my eyes falling closed. No point in dwelling, Ash, I tell myself, then shiver when I hear Grey’s voice in my head calling me by the same name.
The nickname was unexpected, and again, unseen.
But I like it.
I open my eyes again and focus on the kitchen. It’s a mess again.
Might as well clean it, I decide, craving a distraction.
Afterward, I’ll take a shower.
Then I’ll wait for Grey.
And see if he actually comes back.