Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
F inally arriving at the Iron Claw guest quarters, Haley opened the door with so much force that it ricocheted off the wall, the sound echoing in the small space. Ian was by the window, his broad shoulders taut and his hands braced against the wooden frame as if it were the only thing keeping him steady. At the sound of the door, he turned sharply, his piercing blue eyes locking on to hers.
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Ian stood frozen, his usually confident expression unreadable, but there was something raw in his gaze—something that pulled her toward him like a magnet.
“Haley,” he said, her name rough on his lips, like he’d been holding it in for too long.
She didn’t wait for him to say anything else. She crossed the room in a heartbeat, throwing herself into his arms. Her hands clutched his shirt, and his arms wrapped around her immediately, strong and unyielding, holding her like a lifeline. The solid weight of him, the warmth of his body, melted the ice that had been gripping her chest since she left the hospital.
“I thought I wouldn’t see you again,” she gasped, her words tumbling out in a rush. “I thought—” Her voice cracked, and the tears she’d been holding back came flooding out.
Ian’s arms tightened around her, and he buried his face in her hair. “Shh, it’s okay,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m here, Hales. I’m not going anywhere.”
Haley pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. Her tear-streaked face was a storm of emotions—relief, fear, love, and something more profound that had been building for far too long. “I love you,” she blurted, her voice trembling. “I love you so much. I’ve been so stupid, running from this, from us. But I can’t anymore. You mean everything to me.”
Ian stared at her, stunned. His mouth opened as if to respond, but no words came. Instead, he cupped her face in his large hands and kissed her. It wasn’t soft or tentative—it was fierce and consuming, like he was pouring every unspoken word, every pent-up emotion, into that one moment. Haley melted into him, her hands fisting in his shirt as if afraid he might disappear.
When they finally broke apart, Ian rested his forehead against hers, his breathing ragged. “I love you too,” he said, his voice low and raw. “God, Haley, I’ve loved you since we were kids. Even when I didn’t know what the hell to do about it, it’s always been you. You’re everything.”
Haley let out a shaky laugh, her tears falling again, but this time they felt lighter, like a release. “Then we’ll figure this out,” she whispered. “I can’t do this without you.”
Before Ian could respond, the door burst open behind them. Bentley, Garrick’s Beta and Ian’s mentor, strode in, his face as grim as ever. “I hate to interrupt,” he said, his voice heavy. “The Alpha’s called a meeting. He wants to see you both.”
Ian turned toward his mentor, his arm instinctively pulling Haley closer. “Now?”
Bentley nodded. “Now. The pack’s restless, Ian. Garrick’s not happy, and if you don’t get ahead of this, it’s going to spiral out of control.”
Ian’s jaw clenched, and he looked down at Haley. “Are you ready for this?”
Haley’s stomach churned, but she met his gaze with quiet determination. “I’m with you,” she said. “No matter what.”
The lodge was packed, the tension in the air so thick it was almost suffocating. Haley’s hand was wrapped tightly in Ian’s as they stood before the Alpha. Garrick sat at the head of the long table, his presence commanding, his dark eyes scanning them with a mix of judgment and curiosity. The pack members lined the walls, their murmurs a low hum that quieted the moment Garrick raised a hand.
“Explain yourselves,” Garrick demanded, his deep voice echoing through the room. “You’ve jeopardized the safety of the pack, and I want to know why.”
Haley hesitated, her pulse pounding in her ears, but Ian gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.
“This wasn’t Ian’s fault,” she began, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. “It started because of me. Our neighbor... She saw us together the night Ian first shifted. She’s an old busybody who loves gossip. When she saw us kissing, she knew she had something juicy she could tell. Only, things spiraled out of control when she saw Ian’s wolf dragging me unconsciously across the yard.”
The murmurs in the room swelled, and Haley forced herself to keep going. “Ian began shifting inside , and I suppose I was in shock. Neither of us knew what was happening. All I knew was that he was in pain and something terrible was happening. Then right before my eyes he turned into a giant wolf. I blacked out after that and didn’t come until I was in Ian’s house.”
Her gaze flicked to Garrick, who was watching her intently, his expression unreadable. “Our neighbor must have been thrilled to spread some gossip, especially to her niece, Verity, who happens to be my best friend. Or at least I thought she was. Anyway, she saw Ian in his wolf form dragging me across the yard in a blanket. She went to get her husband to help, and then when they came outside, we were gone. Her husband insisted she dreamt the whole thing. Insistent that she hadn’t, she told Verity everything. As to why Verify made the cryptic post on social media—I don’t know. But I would like to find out.”
“Your best friend?” Garrick cut in, his tone sharp.
Haley nodded, her throat tightening. “I’d like to think that she didn’t know what she was doing. Maybe she thought it was just a silly post, or maybe she was making fun of her aunt. Honestly, I would like the chance to confront her and find out. Most of her posts go unnoticed, but for some reason this one went semi-viral. People started commenting, speculating, and now... now it’s out of control.”
“You expect me to believe this was a misunderstanding?” Garrick’s voice was cold, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.
“I honestly don’t know,” Haley said, her voice rising with emotion. “But I promise you. I didn’t betray the pack. I would never. Please, Garrick. Let us fix this. Let us confront Verity and make things right.”
Garrick leaned back in his chair, his expression skeptical. “And what makes you think the council will see that as enough?”
Haley hesitated, her chest tightening. She glanced at Ian, who was watching her with a mix of pride and worry. Turning back to Garrick, she squared her shoulders. “Because I have to try. This isn’t just about me or Ian—it’s about protecting the pack. If I can stop this from spreading, if I can fix the damage Verity caused, then maybe we can avoid any more fallout.”
The room was silent for a long moment. Garrick’s gaze flicked between her and Ian before he finally spoke.
“You have one chance,” he said slowly. “But make no mistake—if the council doesn’t find your efforts satisfactory, the consequences will fall on both of you.”
Haley nodded, her heart pounding. “I understand.”
“Haley, wait,” Ian interjected. “I don’t want any harm to come to you. This should fall on me alone.”
Haley shook her head. “We are mates, Ian. I love you, and I will stand by your side no matter what happens.”
“Then I suggest you get to work,” Garrick interrupted, his tone dismissive. “And may the Goddess be with you—you’re going to need all the help you can get.”