Words Without Sound
Kieran POV
The heavy oak doors of our private quarters groaned open, breaking a silence that had lasted for nearly three weeks. As we stepped out into the cool, torch-lit corridor, I immediately spotted the familiar silhouette leaning casually against the stone wall.
It was Silas. My Beta looked tired, a testament to the fact that he and Torin had been relentlessly taking turns standing guard outside our wing for nineteen days straight.
At the sound of the doors opening, Silas pushed off the wall. A massive, relieved grin broke across his face as he took in the sight of us standing together.
“Well, look who finally decided to rejoin the land of the living,” Silas teased, his voice warm and laced with his usual charismatic energy. “I was starting to think Elian had to take over the grain tithes permanently, Kai.”
I chuckled, clapping a heavy hand on my brother’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I was not planning on neglecting my duties forever. Thank you for holding the line.”
Silas’s gaze shifted to the woman at my side. His playful demeanor softened immediately into absolute, genuine respect. He took a deliberate step back and offered her a courteous bow, mirroring the absolute devotion he had shown her back in the Forbidden Lands.
“It is an absolute honor to properly introduce myself,” Silas said, his tone entirely warm and welcoming. “I am Silas, the Beta of this crazy Alpha. Welcome home, my Luna.”
Aurora stiffened slightly against my side, her pale cheeks flushing slightly.
“Thank you, Silas,” she murmured, her voice still holding a trace of that beautiful cadence. “But... you don’t have to call me that. Not yet, anyway. I haven’t gone through the formal Luna Ceremony, and I’m not officially integrated into the pack structure.”
Silas let out a bright, easy laugh, completely unbothered by Valdoran court technicalities. He relaxed his posture, leaning slightly to put her feral nerves at ease.
“With all due respect, ceremonies are just politics for the old dogs in the Council,” Silas said, offering her a disarming, crooked smile.
He gestured casually toward the junction of her neck and shoulder, right where my fangs had permanently scarred her skin.
“You are our Alpha’s fated mate, and you bear his mark. As far as the pack and this guard are concerned, you were our Luna the absolute second he pulled you out of the Forbidden Lands. No ceremony required.”
I felt a massive surge of pride for my Beta. I pulled Aurora a fraction closer to my side, feeling the rigid, nervous tension slowly bleed out of her spine as Silas’s effortless acceptance washed over her.
----
Aurora POV
A wave of profound, unexpected warmth washed over me, completely melting the icy dread that had been sitting heavy in my stomach.
I couldn’t help the genuine smile that finally broke across my face.
For eight long years, my only interactions had involved teeth, claws, and fighting for my life in the ruins.
To be accepted so easily, so completely, without a single trial or sneer from the Beta of the most powerful pack in the kingdom, felt like an absolute gift.
I instantly liked Silas. His casual, easy-going charm and unwavering loyalty were the perfect counter to the rigid, terrifying court politics I had been bracing myself for.
Beside me, Kieran’s chest rumbled with a soft sound of approval, his hand tightening affectionately on my waist. He could undoubtedly feel the shift in my emotions through our fresh mating bond.
“As much as I’d love to stand here and watch you charm my Beta all morning,” Kieran interrupted smoothly, his voice a rich, teasing baritone, “we need to go see my mother. Once we are done with that, we can gather the rest of the gang for a proper reunion.”
Silas grinned, offering us a quick, mock salute before stepping back to let us pass. “Good luck you two. I’ll round up the others.”
“Alright, see you soon.” I smiled at him before following Kieran.
As we started down the wide, torch-lit stone corridor, Kieran adjusted my hand on his arm. “My mother is in the royal greenhouse,” he added entirely too casually. “And relax your shoulders. She’s actually quite happy to see us.”
I blinked, my steps faltering for a fraction of a second as I looked up at his sharp, handsome profile. “Wait. How do you know she’s in the greenhouse? And how do you know she’s happy?”
Kieran just tapped the side of his own head, a knowing, playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
It hit me a second later, making me feel ridiculously foolish. The mind-link. I slapped my free hand to my forehead, letting out a soft, embarrassed groan. “Right. Pack telepathy. I completely forgot about that.”
Kieran laughed outright, a rich, booming sound that echoed beautifully off the high corridor walls. “You forgot about one of our species’ most basic traits?”
“Hey, cut me some slack!” I defended playfully, nudging my elbow into his side.
“My mind has been a completely silent, solitary fortress for almost ten years. I haven’t exactly had anyone in my head to chat with about the weather. Plus, you didn’t even give a tell! Most wolves get that glazed-over look when they’re mind-linking,
but you were having a full telepathic conversation while physically talking to Silas. You’re entirely too sneaky, Your Majesty.”
Kieran’s eyes danced with golden amusement as he leaned down, pressing a quick, unapologetic kiss to my temple. But instead of answering aloud, a warm, rich vibration suddenly echoed through the very center of my mind.
“It is just ‘Kieran’ to you, my love. Never ‘Your Majesty’,” his deep baritone purred directly into my head, the mental projection wrapped in a feeling of pure, absolute adoration that flooded through our new mating bond. “But yes... Alpha’s privilege. I am quite skilled in mind-linking I guess.”
I gasped softly, my steps faltering again, but this time not from embarrassment. Suddenly hearing another voice in my mind, to feel the intimate, tethering weight of my mate’s soul slotting perfectly into my consciousness, was overwhelming in the best possible way.
“You okay?” His voice was soft in my mind.
I looked up at him, a genuine smile touching my lips as I leaned into his side. Taking a shaky breath, I tentatively pushed my own thoughts back along that warm, glowing tether that now connected our minds.
“I forgot how much I missed this,” I projected softly, marveling at how naturally the mental words flowed toward him. “And it’s incredibly nice to finally be able to do this. And with my fated mate nonetheless....”
He let out a soft breath, his chest rising as he squeezed my hand gently. His eyes softened with profound tenderness as he felt the sheer magnitude of my relief and joy through the bond.
“I am happy we can mind-link too. Now come on,” he added, his mental voice a gentle, comforting caress. “Let’s go have a chat with my mother.”
We navigated the sprawling stone corridors of the royal wing, my hand resting comfortably in the crook of Kieran’s elbow. Every step brought us closer to the palace gardens, and despite the reassuring warmth of our new mind-link, a fresh flock of butterflies took flight in my stomach.
Soon, the heavy, torch-lit architecture of the keep gave way to the open air of the royal grounds. Ahead of us stood the greenhouse. It was a breathtakingly beautiful structure. A massive, intricate dome of glass and pale metal that shimmered brilliantly in the late morning sun.
As Kieran pushed open the ornate doors, a wave of warm air washed over us.
The scent inside was instantly intoxicating, a rich, pleasant floral perfume that eased the lingering tension in my shoulders.
The sheer scale of the collection was magnificent; hundreds of rare plants, blooming vines, and exotic flowers spilled out of elegant terraced beds, their vibrant petals turning the massive dome into a kaleidoscope of color.
A winding, manicured path of smooth white stones led us through the lush foliage, guiding us toward the center of the conservatory. There, nestled among the vibrant greenery, sat an elegant white gazebo.
Kieran’s mother, the Queen Mother of Valdora, was already seated within it.
She looked every bit as regal as I remembered, her posture immaculate and her silver-streaked hair elegantly pinned back.
Two maids in crisp uniforms fluttered around her, silently and efficiently pouring steaming tea and arranging plates of delicate finger sandwiches and tarts.
As we drew closer, I noticed that the maids were just finishing up and they had set the small table for exactly three people.