Chapter 11
Trent’s POV
I hadn’t meant to kiss her. At least, not yet. Not when her trust in me was still so fragile, her heart still bruised by the people who had used her and left scars in places no one could see. But when her eyes lifted to mine—wide, trembling, uncertain—it felt impossible not to.
Her lips were soft, hesitant, tasting of everything I hadn’t known I’d been starving for. For one dangerous heartbeat, my wolf surged forward, urging me to deepen the kiss, to claim her, to mark her and make it so no one could ever doubt where she belonged.
But I couldn’t—not like this. Not when she deserved more than a hungry alpha taking what his instincts craved.
So I pulled back, though every muscle in my body screamed to stay close.
Ariel blinked up at me, confusion flickering in her gaze. “Did I… do something wrong?”
My chest tightened. I hated that her first instinct was to blame herself. I reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “No, sweetheart. You didn’t do anything wrong. That’s exactly the problem. You’re perfect. And I don’t want to rush this. You deserve to be kissed when you know you’re safe, when you’re sure of me. Not because I couldn’t control myself.”
Her lips parted, a breath caught between them. For a moment, silence hung heavy, broken only by the fire crackling in the hearth. Then she whispered, “I’ve never felt… safe like this before.”
The words punched through me harder than claws ever could. Safe. That’s all I wanted her to feel with me.
I forced a crooked smile. “Then I’ll keep proving it until you never doubt it again.”
Her eyes softened, and she nodded, though a faint flush lingered on her cheeks. I stepped back reluctantly, needing to put some space between us before my wolf shredded what little restraint I had left.
“Come on,” I said gently, steering her toward the dining table. “You haven’t eaten all day. And I know for a fact Amelia will come storming in here with a wooden spoon if I let you go hungry.”
That earned me a small laugh. Gods, the sound of it—it was like sunlight breaking through a storm.
We sat together, the meal simple but warm. She picked at the food at first, like she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to take more than a few bites, but when I teased her—told her she’d offend the pack cook by leaving a full plate—her lips curved, and she ate properly.
Watching her relax, seeing the shadows of fear ease from her eyes, was worth more than any treaty, any victory I’d ever fought for.
After dinner, I walked her back to her room. She lingered by the doorway, her gaze flicking to mine as if she wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how.
I leaned one shoulder against the frame, keeping my tone light even though my chest felt tight. “Sleep well, sweetheart. I’ll be just down the hall if you need me.”
She hesitated, then whispered, “Thank you… Trent.”
Two words. That was all. But the way she said my name—soft, trusting—lodged deep inside me.
When I finally left her room, it took every ounce of control not to turn back and stay. My wolf howled, restless, wanting her close. But this wasn’t about what I wanted. It was about what she needed.
The next morning, I found her by the window, her hair loose, sunlight glinting off the strands. She turned when I entered, an uncertain smile tugging at her lips.
“I was hoping to see Amelia today,” she said. “She… she feels easy to talk to.”
I swallowed a rush of gratitude toward my healer. Amelia had always been a bridge where I was nothing but sharp edges. “Of course. She’ll be thrilled. And if you’re comfortable, maybe later you could walk with her through the village? Meet some of the pack. At your own pace, of course.”
Her eyes widened, a flicker of nerves there, but then she nodded slowly. “I… I’d like that.”
Pride swelled in my chest. It was a small step, but a step nonetheless.
Not long after, Kyle appeared with the day’s reports, his expression as steady as ever. “The investors from the northern territories are here, Alpha. They’re waiting at the council hall.”
Duty called. I ran a hand over my jaw, then looked at Ariel. “I have a meeting, but you’ll be in good hands. Amelia will stay with you.”
Her lips pressed together like she wanted to protest, but Amelia breezed in at that exact moment, grinning. “Don’t look so nervous, Ariel. I’ve been meaning to introduce you to the dressmaker. You can’t keep borrowing pack clothes forever.”
Ariel’s cheeks flamed, and she shot me a mortified look. I chuckled softly, brushing my fingers over hers in a fleeting touch. “She’s right, sweetheart. Let Amelia spoil you for a bit. You deserve it.”
Her gaze softened again, and for the first time, I didn’t see only fear there. I saw trust.
The council hall smelled of parchment and ink, stale with the tension of old men arguing over borders and trade routes. My mind should’ve been sharp, calculating every word. Instead, it kept drifting back to the image of Ariel laughing with Amelia, her eyes brighter than I’d ever seen them.
By the time the meeting adjourned, I was ready to tear the walls down just to escape the suffocating air.
And that’s when Kiara appeared.
She leaned against the doorway, her long dark hair tumbling over one shoulder, lips painted into a smirk. “You look distracted, Alpha. Not like you.”
Kyle stiffened beside me, his gaze narrowing. “What are you doing here, Kiara? You weren’t summoned.”
Her eyes flicked past him, landing on me with deliberate boldness. “I was only concerned. There’s been… talk. About your little guest.”
My wolf bristled instantly. “Careful,” I said, my voice dropping.
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Don’t get me wrong. She’s pretty in a fragile sort of way. But people are whispering. That she’s weak. That she doesn’t belong in a pack like ours. And you know how rumors spread.”
Kyle stepped forward, but I lifted a hand, stopping him. I wanted to be the one to end this.
I moved closer until I could see the flicker of unease in her eyes. “Let them whisper. Ariel belongs here because I said she does. And anyone who questions that will answer to me. Are we clear?”
Kiara’s smirk faltered, just slightly. But she recovered quickly, bowing her head with mock sweetness. “Crystal.”
As she slinked away, Kyle muttered under his breath, “That woman’s trouble.”
I exhaled, forcing the tension from my shoulders. My wolf still prowled under my skin, furious that anyone dared speak of Ariel like that. “She won’t lay a hand on Ariel. Not while I’m breathing.”
And as I headed back toward the manor, one truth burned clearer than anything else: protecting Ariel wasn’t just duty anymore. It was instinct. Need. The very core of who I was.