Chapter 244
Lynette's POV
Drake appeared with a medical kit. "Let me see."
I sat down on a fallen log. Let him peel back my jacket.
The wound was deep. Still bleeding.
Kael stood three feet away. Arms crossed. Jaw tight.
I could feel his Alpha presence. Warm. Soothing.
My wolf leaned into it. Let his energy wrap around the injury.
Mate bond behavior.
I gritted my teeth. Tried to pull away from it.
Couldn't.
My body was responding without permission.
Drake cleaned the wound. I didn't flinch. Just kept my eyes on the trees.
"Thank you." Kael's voice was quiet.
I kept my eyes on Drake's hands. "For what."
"For taking that hit."
"It was tactical."
"Was it."
Not a question.
I finally looked at him.
His amber eyes were steady. Intense. Reading me like a book.
"So you risk your life for me," he said slowly. "And that's just duty?"
My throat went tight.
"Yes."
"You're lying."
"I'm not—"
"You are." He took a step closer. "If it was just duty, your wolf wouldn't have reacted that way. I felt it, Lynette. The way she moved to protect me."
Drake finished bandaging my shoulder. Stood up. "I'll go check the perimeter with the others."
He left.
Now it was just me and Kael.
Perfect.
Kael grabbed a spare shirt from one of the guard's packs. Pulled it on. The movement was stiff. Controlled.
Like he was holding himself back from something.
"I'm not going to stop you from leaving."
The words came out of nowhere.
I blinked. Looked at him.
Kael's face was carefully blank. "I won't cage you. Won't force you to stay."
My heart was pounding.
"But before you go..." He moved closer. Stood right in front of me. "I need you to know something."
I wanted to tell him to stop, to get up and walk away, but I didn't.
"That night in my car." His voice dropped lower. "That wasn't an accident for me. It wasn't just biology or instinct or whatever you want to call it."
"Kael—"
"Let me finish." His eyes held mine. "My wolf chose you. And so did I. Every single day since then, I've been choosing you."
My eyes were burning.
No.
I wasn't going to cry.
"I don't need an answer right now," he continued. "I just need you to know. No matter where you go... I'll wait."
The words hit me like a punch.
I forced myself to look away. Stared at the trees. "You shouldn't waste your time waiting for someone who's not coming back."
"That's my choice."
Silence stretched between us.
My shoulder throbbed. My wolf was howling inside me.
And my chest ached with something I refused to name.
"We should head back," I said. Voice flat. Empty. "Make sure there's no more scouts."
Kael nodded slowly.
He didn't push.
Didn't demand anything.
Just let me be.
And somehow that made it worse.
Drake and the others came back. Reported no additional threats.
Kael gave orders to dispose of the bodies. Set up a watch rotation.
I stood off to the side. Watched him work.
He moved with confidence. Authority. His pack respected him. Trusted him.
He was a good Alpha.
The kind of Alpha who didn't need to prove his strength through cruelty.
My wolf whimpered.
I looked away.
The sky started to lighten. Pink and orange bleeding across the horizon.
Beautiful.
I used to watch sunrises like this in the northern territories. Alone. Cold. Free.
Now the sight just made my chest hurt.
"Lynette."
I didn't look at him. "Yeah."
"When you leave..." He paused. "Will you at least let me know you're safe?"
My throat closed up.
"I don't—"
"Please."
That one word broke something inside me.
I nodded. Once. Sharp.
"Okay."
His hand brushed mine. Just for a second.
Then he stepped back.
"Drake will drive you home," he said. Voice carefully neutral. "Get some rest. Your shoulder needs to heal."
Then he walked away.
I watched him go.
Watched his broad shoulders disappear into the trees.
And I realized something.
I wasn't running from the Wild Hunt.
I was running from this.
From him.
From the terrifying possibility that Victoria was right.
That a mate didn't have to be a cage.
That Kael could be something else entirely.
Something I'd never let myself want.
Drake touched my elbow. "Ready?"
I nodded.
The drive back was silent.
I leaned my head against the window. Watched the town blur past.
My shoulder throbbed. My body ached.
But that wasn't why I felt like I was falling apart.
Drake pulled up to the Grey house. Put the car in park.
"For what it's worth," he said quietly. "Alpha's never looked at anyone the way he looks at you."
I didn't respond.
Couldn't.
I got out of the car. Walked to the front door.
Elara was waiting inside. Eyes red from crying.
"Sister—"
"I'm fine." I brushed past her. Headed for the stairs. "Just need to sleep."
I made it to my room. Closed the door.
Sat on the edge of the bed.
Stared at the duffel bag in the corner.
Still packed. Still ready to go.
All I had to do was pick it up and leave.
Simple.
Easy.
So why did it feel like the hardest thing I'd ever done?
My wolf whimpered.
I closed my eyes.
I'll wait.
Kael's voice echoed in my head.
No matter where you go.
My hands curled into fists.
I wasn't going to cry.
I wasn't.
But my eyes were burning.
And my chest felt like it was caving in.
And I realized I was terrified.
Not of the Wild Hunt. Not of being weak. Not of losing my freedom.
I was terrified of wanting this.
Of wanting him.
Of letting myself fall and trusting he'd catch me.