Chapter 90 Chapter 90

Chapter 90 Chapter 90
E L A R A

He propped himself up on one elbow, wincing just a fraction from the fresh bandage over his wound, but his eyes gleamed with that familiar spark of mischief.

"I am still alive," he said, his voice a low rumble laced with humor, as if we'd just shared a light spar instead of fucking like the world was ending.

A chuckle bubbled up from my throat before I could stop it, light and breathless, cutting through the haze of pleasure still fogging my mind.

"Barely," I teased back, my fingers tracing lazy circles over the hard planes of his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart beneath my palm.

It grounded me, that rhythm, proof that he was here, whole, despite the ambush and the poison that had nearly taken him from me.

He grinned, all teeth and satisfaction, then rolled to his side with a grunt, careful not to jar his injury.

In one smooth motion, he tugged me with him, my body molding to his like it was made for it.

My head tucked under his chin, my breasts squishing against his ribs, one leg draped over his hip.

His arm banded around my waist, possessive and secure, holding me flush against the heat of him.

I could feel the semi-hard length of his cock nestled against my belly, already stirring faintly, but for now, it was just this quiet closeness, his breath stirring the damp strands of hair at my temple.

The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls, and outside, the distant murmur of the pack's evening routines filtered through the heavy door. But here, it was only us, the tension from earlier melting away like wax under flame.

Still, Alric's shadow loomed in my thoughts, a cold undercurrent to the warmth pooling in my limbs.

Kane had come back battered, but victorious in his way, Yet I knew it wasn't over. Not with that bastard Alric still out there, plotting his next move.

"You worry too much," he murmured, his lips brushing my forehead as if he could read the flicker of unease in my eyes.

His hand slid down my back, cupping the curve of my ass, squeezing gently. "No one's touching what's mine."

I tilted my head up, meeting his gaze, the gold flecks in his irises catching the firelight.

Loyalty burned fiercely in me, not just from the mark on my neck or the ring of twisted silver on my finger, but from something deeper something that had taken root amid the chaos of this new life.

I pressed a kiss to his collarbone, tasting salt on his skin, then nipped lightly, drawing a low chuckle from him.

We stayed like that for a while, bodies entwined, the world outside fading as his fingers idly stroked along my spine. But peace never lasted long here.

Kane shifted slightly, the bandages on his side stretching, but the fire in his eyes didn’t waver.

“If you want to train,” he said, voice low but carrying that familiar challenge, “I can train you.”

I blinked at him, caught between amusement and exasperation. “Do you really want to train me,” I asked, “or are you worried about Hunter?”

A slow, sly grin spread across his face. “Shouldn’t I be? He’s shamelessly laying claim on what’s mine, isn’t he?”

I leaned back slightly, arms crossed over my chest, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fluttering in my chest. “Yet you keep him close by because you know his loyalty lies with you more than anyone here. Even if you chose to train me, you wouldn’t have the time to deal with the issues on the border.”

For a moment, his grin faltered, replaced by the seriousness I knew all too well. His jaw tensed as his eyes darkened with the weight of responsibility. “I know,” he admitted quietly. “Hunter can handle things. I trust him to keep you safe if I’m occupied. But that doesn’t mean I won’t teach you myself.”

I studied him, wondering if this was a test or a genuine offer. “And what exactly would that look like? Sword drills while Alric is at the border? Running laps with a freshly poisoned wound?” I teased, trying to mask the tension with humor.

Kane leaned back on the pillows, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “I know we spoke about sharing…” he murmured, eyes flicking toward mine with a glint of mischief, “but Hunter is out of reach for you.”

I froze, the words catching me off guard. My pulse stuttered. Out of reach? One would think he wouldn’t be so concerned with things like this, Hunter was capable, controlled, and loyal. Why was Kane so worried about him?

I tilted my head, studying him carefully. I said slowly, measuring each word, “and like I said before… I don’t share.” My gaze sharpened, deliberate. “So Sera is off-limits for you.”

Kane’s grin widened, that spark of dangerous amusement lighting his golden eyes. He pushed himself up slightly, wincing, then leaned toward me.

“Very well,” he murmured, and before I could react, his lips claimed mine in a kiss that was slow, deliberate, and completely inescapable.

Heat flared across my skin, my breath catching as the familiar pull of him, the claim, the possession, the undeniable bond pressed in.

My hands went to his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as his tongue traced the seam of my lips, teasing and coaxing.

Kane pulled back just enough to look at me, his gold eyes dark and serious. “Hunter can train you,” he said slowly, each word deliberate, “but he is to keep his hands away from you.”

I blinked, caught between disbelief and the heat that still lingered on my skin from our kiss. How will that even be possible? I lacked basic skills and being hands on might happen.

I opened my mouth to argue, to protest, but something in Kane’s tone stopped me.

I swallowed, finally nodding. “Yes… Alpha.” I teased instead.

Kane’s jaw tightened slightly, his teeth catching on his lower lip. “I’m serious,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “I do not want to break his hands. And trust me,” a flash of wicked amusement crossed his face “I won’t regret breaking them if he dares to touch you.”

My chest tightened, half from the possessive threat, half from imagining exactly how serious he would be if Hunter crossed that line. I let out a small, almost reluctant sigh. “Yes,” I muttered, shaking my head, “he won't touch me with his hands...”