CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
“Yes,” Luna Celeste admitted softly, her voice carrying the weight of conflicted emotions. Alpha Thorne studied her expression closely, his heart hanging on the edge of her words. She hesitated before continuing, “But it’s not the bond… nor love.”
Her confession cut through him like a blade. Hope, fragile as it was, faltered in his chest. Still, he tried to gather strength, forcing himself to prod gently, “Then… you hate him?”
He expected a quick answer. Instead, she shook her head slowly, as if untangling a knot of emotions she’d rather not confront. “I tried,” she whispered, “but I can’t. He saved my life, and for that I’m grateful. But gratitude is tangled with fear. I can’t deny it—he terrifies me. He’s unpredictable, and his absence lately has been a strange kind of relief.”
Alpha Thorne’s jaw tightened at her words. Her bitterness toward him—toward his other self—was understandable. Yet hearing that she felt safer without him cut far deeper than any wound. He longed for her presence, every single day. Even if he had to disguise himself at night as “Ryker,” he was desperate just to be near her. If she wouldn’t welcome him in his true form, then at least this way he could stay by her side.
He took a breath, deciding to soften her heart, even if just a little. “Our Alpha has carried more burdens than most wolves could endure,” he murmured. “He wasn’t always so cold. Losing his parents… and others he loved, including his mate, carved a hollow inside him. Pain changed him, Celeste. People cope differently, and that was his way.”
Her gaze lingered on him, softened by his words. Then, to his surprise, a faint smile curved her lips. “Ryker, you speak of him with such understanding. You must love your Alpha very deeply.”
He swallowed, the irony nearly choking him. “Like you, we sometimes fear him. But on the battlefield… when danger closes in, he stands unyielding. He shields us, even at the risk of himself. That is why we follow him—not out of duty alone, but because he is ours.”
He wasn’t praising himself, not really. He was echoing the whispered loyalty of his Shadow Elite, the quiet devotion they never dared voice aloud.
Celeste sighed, falling into silence, though she made no effort to dismiss him. Part of her seemed reluctant for him to leave, craving the company after so many long nights alone. Perhaps that was why she nudged the conversation along. “So,” she asked lightly, “are you finally going to show me those moves you promised?”
But Alpha Thorne wasn’t done. Not yet. “Before that, I need to ask you something.”
Her brows lifted slightly, curiosity flickering in her tired eyes. “What is it?”
He studied her, struck by the patience she granted him, even cloaked in disguise. Was it loneliness that made her so tolerant—or something deeper?
“I heard Alpha Alaric threw some of your people into the dungeon,” he said carefully, watching her reaction. Instantly, her expression darkened, a storm gathering behind her eyes.
“He’s a bastard,” she spat, her voice edged with fury. “I want nothing more than to rip him apart with my bare hands.”
Thorne bit back his own rage. He was secretly relieved he hadn’t slaughtered Alaric yet. No, Celeste deserved that right. It would be far sweeter for her to mete out justice herself.
“I want to free them,” she continued, her voice lowering with grief. “Or at least appeal to the council. But I’m trapped here—just a prisoner.”
Thorne’s chest constricted at her words. She truly saw herself as caged, powerless. “You are no slave,” he insisted firmly. “If he thought you were, he’d never have brought you here. Do you know what Alaric does to those he calls slaves or traitors? You’d be ashes by now. He knows your worth—even if he twists it.”
She faltered, considering his words, then nodded faintly. “Maybe I am lucky, then. At least he hasn’t broken me.”
“What if I freed them?” he asked suddenly, his voice low, dangerous. “What would you give me in return?”
Her eyes widened, disbelief flickering there. “You can do that?”
“That depends,” Thorne replied smoothly. “On how much you’re willing to pay.”
The thought of Alaric being manipulated, dragged deeper into panic before Celeste finished him herself, was a delicious prospect. His patience had purpose now.
Her expression fell. “I told you—I have nothing left to give.”
A sly smile curved Thorne’s lips. “I already told you what I want.”
Her brows furrowed. “And what if you find your true mate?” she challenged. A bitter thought struck her: was she cursed to always face heartbreak, destined to never be chosen?
His lips twisted in a smirk, his wolf Kaelion pacing with restless anticipation inside him. “I don’t think I will. But even if fate throws her before me, I won’t be like Alaric. I’ll choose my heart over the bond.”
Celeste’s shoulders slumped slightly. “It’s not as easy as you imagine. The bond isn’t just a choice—it consumes you. Trust me, I know. Don’t say things you can’t keep.”
But he wasn’t backing down. “That’s all I ask. Or…” his tone turned teasing, “perhaps just a kiss on the cheek instead?”
He surprised himself with his own boldness. Being near her, even in disguise, stripped away his restraint. He longed for her. She deserved his first true kiss, and if she offered it willingly, he would seize it without hesitation.
Her lips quirked despite herself. “How would you even manage to rescue them?” she asked, deflecting. “One warrior against an Alpha’s dungeon? Unless the entire Shadowglen Pack declared war on Wolfsbane, you’d never stand a chance.”
“I won’t tell you how,” he said simply, voice firm. “But I will do it.” Whether she gave him what he wanted or not, he would still see it through. But his heart ached for some sign of intimacy, something more than fragile friendship.
She studied him with disbelief, then smirked faintly. “Fine. If you succeed—and bring me proof—I’ll give you more than a kiss on the cheek. I’ll kiss you on the lips.”
The promise hit him like lightning. His wolf Kaelion howled with joy inside, thrashing with anticipation. His pulse thundered. That kiss wasn’t just a reward; it was hope. “Keep your word, Celeste. I’m a man who honors his vows.”
“I’m serious,” she said, her tone firm. “But for now… will you show me those moves?”
He chuckled softly. “You’ll need your wolf abilities—especially your claws.”
Her smile faded, a shadow crossing her face. She couldn’t admit that her wolf was silent, unreachable. “Maybe another time. I’m tired tonight.” She stretched, feigning a yawn.
He didn’t push. They had wandered for hours under the dead of night. “Come, I’ll walk you back.”
When they reached the cottage, they lingered on the garden chairs, words weaving between them until exhaustion claimed her. Her head slowly tipped against his shoulder, her breathing soft and even. He let her rest, then scooped her up carefully, carrying her into her room.
He laid her gently on the bed, brushing a kiss across her dark hair. After pulling the duvet over her, he closed the windows and moved toward the door.
“I’ll hold you to that promise, Cel,” he whispered, voice low with yearning. Then, stepping outside, he pulled out his phone and dialed Don. Orders had to be given. There was work to be done before he confronted Alpha Alaric.