Chapter 45 New Trainer
ARYA
The morning of Sage’s arrival, I woke to Luca already dressed and staring out the window.
“You’re brooding,” I observed, stretching languidly in bed. “I can feel it through the bond.”
“I’m not brooding. I’m thinking strategically.” But his lips quirked. “There’s a difference.”
“What’s the strategic thought?”
“That Ryker’s new… friend is arriving today, and I’m curious what kind of woman makes him forget about you.” He turned, his eyes raking over my naked form appreciatively. “It would have to be someone extraordinary.”
“Jealous that you’re not the only one who found an extraordinary mate?”
“Jealous that I have to share your attention.” He prowled toward the bed. “I’ve gotten used to having you all to myself.”
“The summit is in ten days. You’re going to have to share my attention with hundreds of people.”
“Don’t remind me.” He climbed onto the bed, caging me beneath him. “I’m seriously considering canceling the whole thing and keeping you locked in this room for the next decade.”
“Decade?” I laughed. “What happened to respecting my autonomy?”
“It gets harder every day. Especially when people keep trying to kill you, or take you away, or generally exist near you.” His mouth found my neck. “You’re a very stressful mate to have.”
“You love it.”
“I really don’t.” But he was smiling against my skin. “Do you have any idea what it’s like knowing I’ll live for centuries but you—” He stopped, his expression darkening.
“But I what?”
“You’re mortal, Aeliana. Even with the bond, even with your Moonborne blood—you’ll age. You’ll die. And I’ll still be here.” His voice was raw. “I’ve existed for eight hundred years alone. Now that I have you, the thought of losing you to time itself is unbearable.”
My heart clenched. I hadn’t thought about that. About what it meant to be bonded to someone immortal.
“How long do Moonbornes live?”
“Longer than normal wolves. Maybe two hundred years if they’re powerful.” He traced my face like he was memorizing it. “But that’s still nothing compared to eternity.”
“Then we’ll make every moment count.” I pulled him down for a kiss. “Two hundred years is a long time. Let’s not waste it worrying about the end.”
“You make it sound simple.”
“It is simple. We have now. That’s all anyone really has.” I kissed him again, deeper. “Now stop being morbid and make love to me before Sage arrives.”
“Such romantic language from my Luna.”
“Fine. Fuck me. Better?”
His eyes flashed gold. “Much better.”
He was inside me in seconds, and all thoughts of mortality and time fled. There was only this—his body claiming mine, his love pouring through our bond, the perfect rightness of us together.
When we finally collapsed together, both sated and breathing hard, he held me close.
“I’d trade immortality for a single lifetime with you,” he murmured against my hair.
“Let’s hope you never have to make that choice.”
“If I did, I’d make it without hesitation.” He kissed my temple. “You’re worth more than eternity.”
The words settled warm in my chest. But underneath was a thread of unease. What if that choice did come? What if the prophecy demanded sacrifice?
I pushed the thought away. We had enough to worry about without borrowing trouble from the future.
“Come on,” I said, disentangling myself reluctantly. “We need to get ready. Sage will be here soon, and I want to make a good impression.”
“Why? You’re the Luna. She should be trying to impress you.”
“Because she’s important to Ryker. Which makes her important to me.” I headed for the bathroom. “Join me in the shower?”
“Always.”
\-----
Sage arrived like a storm.
The motorcade pulling up to the estate was loud, aggressive, and completely at odds with the peaceful morning. When the door opened, out stepped a woman who took my breath away.
She was tall—almost six feet—with a powerful, athletic build that spoke of years of combat training. Her hair was jet black, cut short and spiky. Multiple piercings decorated her ears, and a scar ran from her left temple to her jaw. She wore all black—leather pants, tank top, combat boots—and carried herself like she could take on an army single-handedly.
She was absolutely gorgeous in a dangerous, untamed way.
Ryker emerged from the second vehicle, and his entire face transformed when he looked at her. The hardness I’d seen yesterday melted into something softer, more open.
He loved her.
I could see it in every line of his body.
“Luna Arya.” Sage’s voice was deeper than I expected, with a rough quality that suggested she’d spent time screaming commands in battle. “Heard a lot about you.”
She didn’t bow. Didn’t show any deference to my position. Just looked at me with assessing amber eyes.
I liked her immediately.
“Just Arya, please. And I’ve heard absolutely nothing about you, which I’m learning is typical of Ryker.” I shot him a look. “He’s terrible at sharing details.”
“I’m selective,” Ryker protested.
“You’re secretive,” Sage corrected, but her tone was affectionate. She turned back to me. “I’m Sage Wildborn. Former Alpha’s daughter from the Western Mountain packs. Currently running from an arranged marriage and generally pissing off my entire family.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“Exhausting, mostly.” She glanced around the estate. “Nice place. Very… civilized.”
“You don’t like civilized?”
“I like it fine. Just prefer things with a bit more edge.” Her eyes found Luca, who’d appeared on the terrace. “That your king?”
“That’s Luca, yes.”
“Damn.” She whistled low. “You did good. He looks like he could break me in half.”
“He probably could.”
“I’d like to see him try.” She grinned, feral and challenging. “I like a good fight.”
Luca descended the steps, and I felt the shift in the air. Power recognizing power. He moved with that predatory grace that marked him as something ancient and dangerous.
When he reached us, he extended his hand to Sage.
“Sage Wildborn. Ryker speaks highly of you.”
“Ryker speaks?” Sage let out a mocked gasp.