Chapter 12
Kade
I’m going to fucking kill him.
Sniffing around Alanna like that, how dare he. She is mine. My mate. My Librarian. Mine.
I fight to keep my hands from gripping her tighter, appeasing myself with the knowledge that she is right here, where she belongs, away from anyone who even dares look at her with that kind of hunger.
But I can still smell Seb on her. That motherfucker. And now my instincts are running rampant, demanding that I drag her away, scent her, mark her, make it crystal-fucking-clear to every other Lycan in a 100-mile radius that she is mine.
I want to pin her down and ruin her until she forgets that anyone else exists.
I’ve seen the possessiveness that comes with the mating bond in other shifters, but I had never imagined it would be this powerful, this all-consuming. It’s a fire in my blood, burning me to ash. And the sheer, overwhelming force of my need makes me feel like the absolute worst kind of beast.
It takes every bit of self-control I possess to resist. While her eyes are closed and she’s focusing on her magic, I take the moment to close mine and inhale, letting her intoxicating scent ground and calm me.
Floral, rosy and rich. Old parchment and books. And something beneath it all that is distinctively Alanna.
There. That’s better.
I will not mark her, I will not claim her. She’s relying on me for protection, and I will not take advantage of that. She doesn’t even know what a mate bond is, and even if she did, she sure as shit wouldn’t want it with me. And I don’t want a mate at all.
The air around her shimmers with a soft glow, those same iridescent colors dancing around her hypnotically as she focuses her Cognitive Resonance on the books. I keep my hands on her, gently, so I don’t distract her by removing them. No other reason.
A head of jet-black hair peeks out from the alcove, and Seb’s mouth opens in astonishment at the display before him. The Librarian’s magic is beautiful and impressive—just like its wielder.
I add to my list: I will not kill Seb. He didn’t know.
And now he does. So there will be no more transgressions.
The light twines upward from Alanna in myriad spirals, curling and twisting, seeking.
Higher and higher, like a new galaxy spinning into existence to join the constellations painted above.
Then, select books begin to float down from their shelves, suspended in the air, pulled toward her like she’s their true north.
I wrench my hands from her, with colossal effort. She doesn’t stir, still lost in her focus. Good.
Seb is still watching, and I have some explaining to do.
I knew bringing her here would put her under the scrutiny of the Wardens, but I didn’t see any other options.
With silent steps, I stalk toward Seb, an unfortunate involuntary growl arising in my chest as I draw near.
He sees me coming and his expression shifts from awe to wariness, though he doesn’t flinch. He knows better.
Glancing back at the Librarian to make sure she’s safe and not getting overwhelmed by her magic, I grab Seb’s arm and pull him into the alcove, where she won’t be able to hear us.
“Listen, I didn’t know. I’d never fucking come between a mating bond, you know that, brother.”
I almost roll my eyes at his use of “brother.” Sure, it’s the usual Lycan shorthand for other shifters, and yeah, our Warden affiliation adds another layer, but I can see right through what he’s doing, and I’m not impressed.
He continues, “I don’t have a death wish.”
“Good,” I rasp, my voice still rough with the lingering growl.
“A human, though? The Conclave won’t like it.”
“The Conclave can go fuck themselves.” Nosy busy-body Lycans who think they control all the packs and everyone in them.
“I guess it’s not unheard of . . . But they’d have your head for bonding a human without authorization.”
I don’t need him to tell me this shit. The Conclave can’t have us running around extending human lifespans without their knowledge. As if it’s any of their business. “It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re not going to claim her?”
“No.” My voice is hard. “I’m protecting her.”
He scoffs a little. “Then you better keep your distance. Do you even have any idea the way you look at her? It’s only a matter of time before your wolf makes the decision for you.”
“Listen to me, brother.” I lean in, pinning him with a glare. “I said I won’t, so I won’t. End of fucking story. And if you breathe a single word to her about any of this, you’ll regret it. She doesn’t know. And she’s not going to.”
Seb’s eyes widen, genuine surprise replacing the wariness. He glances toward Alanna, then back at me. “You’re not—you’re not even going to tell her?”
“No. She doesn’t need that shit right now. Neither do I.”
Seb studies me for a long moment, assessing. He knows me too well. Knows my history, my reasons for keeping everyone at arm’s length. So he should know why having a mate is a bad idea for me.
“You have to forgive yourself, Kade.” His tone is softer now, sincere and devoid of its usual charm. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Shut up, Sebastian. It’s not up for discussion.”
“All right, Kade,” he says, looking at me with a concern that I don’t appreciate. “My lips are sealed. You have my word.” He gives a curt nod, sealing his promise. “But you can’t keep it from her forever, you know.”
I ignore the last part. “Just focus on your job.”
“Yeah, about that,” he scratches the back of his neck, reluctance etched on his features. “She isn’t just a human, obviously. What’s the deal with her? The Wardens will need to know. You’ll have to file a report.”
My jaw tightens. A report. Of course. Always the damn paperwork, the protocols, the endless scrutiny. We can’t just let an anomaly like Alanna, a human with an unexplained, untamed magical mark—and a mate bond to a Warden—simply exist without dissecting her. Without controlling her.
“I’ll file the report,” I say, my words clipped, “when there’s something to report. Right now, she’s a civilian with an uncontrolled magical signature. Nothing more.” Technically, true. “I’m handling it.” Also true.
Seb reads my evasion easily. He knows I’m bullshitting him.
“Kade, you know how this works. A signature that strong, uncontrolled and of unknown origin, especially one that’s growing—they’ll want you to bring her in.
For observation. For containment.” His voice drops, a warning.
“You’re risking a lot, keeping her off the books. ”
“I’m aware of the risks,” I growl, my patience wearing thin. “I’m containing it. She’s with me. That’s all they need to know for now.” I stare him down, daring him to push further. He’s loyal, but he’s also a stickler for protocol.
He holds my gaze for a long moment, then sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. “Fine. For now. But don’t think you can keep this quiet indefinitely.”
“By the time anyone finds out, I’ll have it figured out.”
“Sure, brother, whatever you say,” Seb says, slipping back into his easy charm. “Now are you going to let me help or just stand around marking your territory all day?”
I narrow my eyes. “You can help. Just remember what I said.”
“Yeah yeah, sworn to secrecy, stay away from my mate, I know, I know. Come on, let’s go see what she’s found.” Seb claps a hand on my shoulder.
I turn, the weight of the conversation still heavy, but the pull toward the Librarian stronger. Seb falls into step beside me, and as we emerge from the shadows of the alcove, the sight of her hits me with a fresh burst of that possessive instinct.
She’s tucked into one of the plush leather armchairs, her notebook balanced on her knees.
Her head is bowed, with a loose strand of hair falling over her cheek as she rapidly scrawls notes.
Completely absorbed. The books she pulled with her magic float gently around her, a silent, colorful orbit, waiting for her attention.
She’s entirely at home, a natural part of this rarified, magical space.
And I’m in deeper trouble than I thought. Because looking at Alanna right now—seeing the radiant intensity of her brilliance, wholly engaged in her research—I am utterly rapt. Not because of the mate bond, but because of her.
This is exactly the kind of entanglement I needed to avoid. Attachments lead to mistakes. Mistakes that get people killed. I, of all people, understand that.
I’ve known her for less than a month. And already my judgment is fucked.
That terrifies me more than any echo-beast ever could.