Chapter 15
Caidrik ran in wolf form with the female beside him and eased his pace so she could keep up.
Taryn was faster than most wolves he’d run with, her stride smooth and efficient, but he still shortened his without conscious thought.
Dark Lake curved wide and silver under the night sky, the packed trail beneath their paws.
Frost clung to the low brush, and their breath plumed white in the cold air, each exhale sharp and clean.
The night smelled of pine and ice and distant smoke from pack fires. It was the kind of night meant for running. His muscles felt loose and powerful, responding without strain.
It had been a good run. An easy one. He wished, not for the first time, that Nadia was at his side. She loved to run when she let herself, when she forgot about duty and rules and expectations. He could almost picture her pacing him, her laughter carrying through the dark.
The long run back from Copper Pack territory to Slate Pack land had surprised him.
It had been fun. Free. For a while, anyway.
Then he’d felt it, that subtle shift in her scent and posture.
Her lightness had dimmed the moment they crossed back over the boundary.
It sat heavy in his chest now, a weight he hadn’t shaken since.
Maybe this wasn’t the right place for her. He would never force her into a life that dulled her shine. Nadia was meant to be light and happy. If this pack couldn’t give her that, then asking her to stay would be selfish.
Or maybe the trials were just weighing on her, and once everything had calmed down, she could relax. Yeah, that could be it.
He slowed as they reached the fourth and final post, shoulder-checking it until it toppled into the snow.
The sound echoed briefly before the forest swallowed it.
As challenges went, this one had been straightforward.
Run the lake circuit within a set time, gain the four talismans, and carry them forward.
He’d done it easily, even holding back, the restraint chafing more than the effort.
He shifted slowly back into human form, the cold biting harder against his skin.
Taryn did the same, breathless and laughing, her cheeks flushed from exertion. “That was fun,” she said.
“I agree,” he said, and meant it.
The final task remained. He lifted the four totems he’d carried in his teeth, their carved surfaces slick with frost. They had to be taken beneath the ice and secured to hooks sunk into the lakebed, proof of endurance and control. “Why don’t you stay up here?” he asked. “I’ll be back.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m supposed to do all of this with you.”
The clouds parted then, revealing a full moon that spilled light across the frozen surface.
Snow sparkled like scattered glass. He extended the claws of one hand and slashed into the shoreline, carving a rough opening through the ice, water sloshing dark and cold beneath.
He could shift just part of his body at a time, if needed, although it took energy.
His claws were the easiest to extend. “It’s going to be cold,” he said.
“Taryn, wait on the ice. I can handle it.”
She straightened, shoulders squared. “Being Alpha means strength and agility. I need to prove I have both.”
He swallowed, the words he hadn’t planned forcing their way up.
“You need to know Nadia’s my choice.” Saying it out loud felt like drawing a line in the snow.
And still, doubt lingered. Was this pack really hers?
Had he ever truly asked her what she wanted, without the weight of expectation hanging over them?
Taryn cocked her head. “Are you sure she belongs here? I saw how much she lit up talking about her farming friends the other day. We were at the lodge while you all were off doing trials.”
The truth of it hit hard. If he didn’t have Nadia, what was he going to do?
The pack needed him. He could become Alpha and remain unmated.
He could serve, protect, endure. Maybe in a hundred years someone else would take over.
Maybe he’d walk away and farm, trade blood for soil.
It was a thought. But could he stay away from her for that long, knowing how easily she filled empty space?
What did she need?
Protection.
The answer growled through him, instinctive and fierce. He stomped out to the middle of the frozen lake, bent, and smashed his fist down. The ice shattered in one brutal punch, and cracks spidered outward into the moonlit dark. The entire lake groaned beneath the sudden violence.
Sucking in frigid air, he pummeled the surface, striking again and again until the ice finally gave way. Water surged up around the opening, steam curling faintly where cold met colder. He kept hitting until a clean, round hole remained. It was big enough. More than big enough.
Taryn murmured and placed her hand on his shoulder.
He looked up at her. “I want you to stay here.” He let the Alpha edge settle fully into his voice, calm and immovable.
She dropped her hand, eyes wide. She had lovely eyes. Sharp and expressive. Still, they weren’t Nadia’s. Nobody had eyes like Nadia.
“I’d like to prove I can do this,” Taryn said.
“I already know you can,” he said. “That’s not the point. The point is you don’t need to. It’s freezing down there, and you’re staying up here.”
She blinked, then nodded. “All right.”
Good. The last thing he wanted was another female nearly frozen in his vicinity.
He gathered the four totems and dove, the shock of the water stealing his breath as it closed over him. Cold slammed into him instantly, brutal and unforgiving. God, he was tired of water and cold.
He reached the bottom quickly, his vision clear despite the darkness.
Wolves saw well. Always had. He found the metal ties embedded in the lakebed and secured the totems one by one.
As challenges went, this wasn’t terrible.
It tested speed, strength, and tolerance for cold.
It made sense. Still, he’d rather be anywhere else. Preferably with Nadia.
He needed to talk to her. Really talk. About what she wanted. About whether she was staying because she chose to or because she thought she should. He wasn’t going to let her sacrifice herself for anyone, not even him.
Something slammed into his side.
What the fuck?
He twisted as another object struck him, small and hard, propelled by something mechanical. Then another. And another.
What in the world?
He swatted one away, holding his breath as more came at him.
They buzzed and collided, sharp impacts rattling his ribs and legs.
Machines. Underwater drones. The audacity of it almost made him laugh, but there was no room for humor.
He fought back, punching and kicking, sending pieces spinning into the dark.
Several struck his legs. One clipped his left ankle. Pain ignited beneath his skin. Was it broken?
Irritation roared through him and he kicked upward, driving himself hard toward the surface. The current shifted unexpectedly, dragging him sideways.
Ice loomed above him.
Damn it. Where was the hole?
Anger surged through his entire body as another drone slammed into his dick. He punched once. Twice. A third time. Cracks raced outward, spidering fast until the ice finally gave way.
Strong hands reached in. He grabbed Taryn’s arm and hauled himself out, flopping onto the ice and rolling clear.
“Oh my gosh,” she said. “You’re a bloody mess.” She moved toward him. “Are you okay?”
“There’re underwater drones or something down there,” he said. Leave it to Solomon to throw in modern weapons to mess with him. “I didn’t expect that.”
She helped him up. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s fine.” Cold air washed over his skin as he forced his body to start knitting itself back together. He shivered despite himself. “Let’s get out of here.”
She leaned into him, fully naked, wrapping her arms around him. “Let me warm you.”
Before he could respond, lights blazed along the shoreline, bright and sudden, cutting through the darkness.
“Are you kidding me?” Nadia yelled.
Caidrik froze.
He turned toward the sound of her voice and saw her standing at the edge of the lake with Bussy and Margaret just behind her. Taryn was wrapped around him, both of them naked in the moonlight, steam rising faintly from their chilled skin.
Ah, crap.
Nadia stood framed by moonlight and twin headlights, her expression sharp and furious and hurt all at once. The sight of her out there hit him harder than any of the underwater projectiles had. Not because of jealousy. Because she was exposed. Because Bulwark was still out there.
“All right,” he said shortly. Enough. Just bloody, freaking enough.
He disengaged from Taryn immediately, grabbed her hand, and marched across the ice, careful of the spreading cracks beneath his feet.
Blood slid down his side and dripped onto the snow.
His feet felt like he’d been walking on nails, and each step sent a jolt of pain up his legs.
He barely noticed. His focus remained locked on Nadia.
He reached the shoreline where Nadia stood flushed and furious, her eyes blazing. Bussy and Margaret hovered just behind her, both pale now that they could see the blood.
“This isn’t what you think,” he said.
“Well, it kind of is,” Taryn muttered.
Nadia gasped. “You’re bleeding. What happened?”
“Underwater drones,” he snapped, then looked past her to the two women behind her. “Do either of you know anything about that?”
Their mouths fell open.
“Underwater drones?” Bussy said. “Are you kidding? We’re practically in the stone ages. Where would anyone even get underwater drones?”
“I don’t know,” he ground out. “But when I find Solomon, we’re going to have a discussion.”
He looked at Taryn, then back at Nadia. He was done. He was pissed. He was exhausted. He was freezing his ass off, standing naked in front of a bunch of females with blood drying on his skin.
“Nadia,” he said flatly, “if I choose a mate, it’s you.”
Taryn stiffened.
“Taryn, you’re strong and capable and likable,” he went on. “But we’re not mating. You need to know that.” Then he turned fully to Nadia. “You, on the other hand, have a very real chance of becoming my mate. But we’re going to have a serious discussion about what you actually want out of life.”
He pointed at Bussy and Margaret. “And you two are not going to be part of that conversation.” His voice dropped, dangerous now.
“She should not be out here after what happened yesterday. Bulwark is still unaccounted for, and he wants Nadia dead. You should’ve kept her inside.
I didn’t even know she was out of the house. ”
That failure burned. It had been his job to keep her safe, and somehow she’d been standing on ice in the dead of night. “There should be three enforcers on that house,” he continued. “And she should be behind locked doors.” He pointed at Nadia. “Now. You’re going back.”
He exhaled hard and then let out a short whistle. Seconds later, several patrolling wolves burst out of the forests. “Get these females all back to safety, and make sure Bulwark doesn’t get anywhere near them.” The soldiers were good and well trained.
Nadia kicked an ice chunk toward him. “You’re being too bossy.”
Too fucking bad. He glared at them. “All of you get back to safety. Now. I’m going to find a hot spring before I freeze solid.” He turned and stormed off, blood streaking behind him on the snow, done with the entire situation for now.
“Well,” Bussy said faintly, her voice carrying on the breeze behind him, “he’s got a cute ass.”
“I wish he’d look at me like that,” Margaret murmured.
Nadia groaned. “God, he’s grumpy.” She coughed. “Where in the world did anyone get underwater drones? We could use drones in farming.”
Even pissed off, even bleeding, even furious, Caidrik felt a reluctant smile tug at him. There she was. Still thinking. Still planning. He shook ice from his hair, leapt into the air, and shifted mid-motion into wolf form.
God, he needed to run.