Chapter 57 Chapter 57

Chapter 57 Chapter 57
 Tiana
 He was right. From this position, I could see the wound clearly and I did not have to contort myself awkwardly.
 But goddess, this felt…
 I swallowed hard and reached for the supplies I’d dropped.
 Zane’s grip on my waist tightened fractionally as I leaned forward again, getting to work.
 I could feel every shift of his body beneath me. And I could definitely feel the hardness pressing against me, growing more insistent with every movement.
 I was still straddling Zane’s lap when I heard footsteps behind me.
 My hands froze mid-motion, the cloth I had been using to clean his wound pressed against his inner thigh. Zane’s fingers tightened on my waist, I don’t know if it was out of reflex or a way to inform me of the presence.
 “Uncle, I was thinking we could—”
 I heard Kaius’ voice and how it cut off abruptly.
 I turned my head sharply, heat flooding my face as I met his eyes.
 He stood at the edge of the clearing, one hand still raised like he’d been gesturing while he spoke. His expression shifted through several emotions in rapid succession. From surprise to a bit of confusion and blending into neutrality. 
 His gaze moved from my face to my position on Zane’s lap then to Zane’s hands gripping my waist, then back to my face again.
 “I was just treating his wound,” I said quickly, the words tumbling out too fast. Now I wondered why I was explaining.
 “Of course, I can see that. I am sorry for interrupting.” Kaius’s voice felt the same but his eyes had dimmed slightly.
 Zane’s grip on my waist loosened slightly. “What did you need, Kaius?”
 For a moment, Kaius didn’t respond. He just stood there, looking at us with an expression that made my vessels twist uncomfortably in my chest.
 Then he blinked, and whatever I thought I had seen was gone. Replaced by his usual easy smile.
 “I was going to suggest we scout the northern perimeter before the others wake up,” he said. “But I can see you’re… occupied.”
 “Give me ten minutes,” Zane said.
 Kaius nodded once. “Take your time.”
 He turned to leave, then paused. His eyes found mine again, and this time the look lasted a beat too long.
 “Luna, I hope you had a good night?”
 “Yes, I did. Thank you!”
 “Great.” He muttered. Then he walked away, disappearing into the trees without another word.
 I sat frozen on Zane’s lap, my heart hammering for reasons I didn’t fully understand.
 “Are you finished?” Zane’s voice pulled me back.
 I looked down at the wound. The worst of the infection had been drawn out, the dark veins already less pronounced. The bandage I had prepared sat ready beside me.
 “Almost,” I managed.
 I worked quickly now, wrapping the clean bandage around his thigh with shaking hands. The intimacy of the position—me straddling him, my hands on his bare skin—suddenly felt overwhelming in a way it had not moments before.
 When I finished securing the bandage, I moved to climb off him.
 I came off his lap on unsteady legs, gathering the soiled bandages and supplies with hands that still trembled slightly.
 “You should rest,” I said without looking at him. “The wound will heal faster if you’re not pushing yourself.”
 “I have patrol duties.”
 “Of course you do.”
 The bitterness in my voice surprised even me.
 When I finally looked up, Zane was watching me with an unreadable expression. His mouth opened like he wanted to say something.
 Then he closed it, stood, and walked away without another word.
 I stood alone in the clearing, clutching bloody bandages to my chest, and tried to ignore the way my throat had tightened.
 The camp came alive slowly as the sun climbed higher.
 Warriors emerged from their tents, moving with the purpose of wolves who knew their routines. Someone rebuilt the fire. Some other wolf I was seeing for maybe the sixth time in my entire existence all within this camp began preparing a simple breakfast of dried meat and flatbread.
 I cleaned up the medical supplies and returned them to the tent, then forced myself to join the others around the fire.
 Kaius was already there, speaking quietly with two of the warriors. He glanced up when I approached, and something flickered in his expression before he smiled.
 “Morning, Luna. Did you go back to sleep again?” Maybe I was overthinking but I caught the slight edge in his tone and I usually never hear it from me. 
 “Not really.” I smiled.
 He nodded, then turned his attention back to the warriors.
 I sat on a log across from them, accepting the food one of the wolves offered me with a quiet thanks.
 The conversation continued around me, but I barely heard it. My mind kept replaying that moment when Kaius had found me and Zane together. The look on his face and the way he had spoken afterward.
 What had he seen? It was not like we were making out in public. 
 Or was it Zane’s hands on my waist? The way we’d been so close and focused on each other.
 From the outside, it probably looked like something more.
 My stomach twisted uncomfortably.
 Zane emerged from the tent a few minutes later, fully dressed in patrol gear. When he entered, I was not sure. Because he was not there as at the time I was arranging the medical supplies.
 He moved with only the slightest stiffness in his gait in a way that most of the wolves around us might not even notice.
 But I did.
 His eyes swept the clearing, passed over me without lingering, then settled on Kaius.
 “Ready?”
 Kaius stood immediately. “Yes, Alpha.”
 “Rasmus, Dan you’re with us.” Zane gestured to two of the warriors. “We’ll scout the northern and eastern perimeters. Should take most of the morning.”
 “What about camp?” one of them asked.
 “Rowan stays.” Zane’s eyes finally landed on me. “He’ll keep watch.”