Chapter 55 Unguarded
~ Lyra's POV ~
I paced the length of the room for what felt like the hundredth time, my fingers twisting together as my thoughts refused to settle.
“Do you think he is alright?” I asked quietly, pressing a hand to my chest as if I could still the restless pounding there.
Lunaris stirred within me, her presence warm and familiar. “You worry too much,” she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep yet tinged with the same concern I felt. “He the return soon. I just know it, and I need you to calm down. Remember he is Alpha Kael of ironfang pack. He can't go down easily.”
“I know that,” I replied, lowering myself onto the edge of the bed. “But knowing does not stop the worrying.”
She sighed softly, a gentle brush against my thoughts. “Calm yourself. He is our mate. He will return soon.”
Her reassurance helped, even though I could sense that she, too, had remained slightly troubled throughout the day. Lunaris had been my companion since morning, filling the quiet moments with her presence and easing the loneliness that I had been feeling. Ever since I arrived here, there had been an emptiness that surprised me with its depth, but she softened it, reminding me that I was not alone.
We had bonded so easily, Lunaris and I, as though our souls had been waiting for one another. It felt natural in a way that was difficult to explain, as if she had always been part of me and I had only just remembered, which was the case but in a more complicated manner.
Time stretched, each minute dragging into the next, until finally I heard footsteps approaching the door with purpose. My breath caught, and before I could second guess myself, I was already standing.
The door opened, and Kael stepped inside.
Relief washed over me so quickly that my knees almost weakened. He looked exhausted, his shoulders tense and his eyes shadowed with the weight of responsibility, but he was here, standing in front of me. Instinct took over, and I moved toward him without thinking, my heart urging me forward.
Halfway across the room, I stopped.
I didn't know why my feet refused to carry me further, only that a sudden shyness rooted me to the spot.
The expression on Kael’s face shifted instantly, irritation flickering through his eyes, but he did not voice it. Instead, he closed the distance between us in long strides, his presence overwhelming in the best way.
Before I could speak, his hands were on my face, warm and firm, and his lips were on mine.
The kiss stole the breath from my lungs. It was not gentle or tentative, but full and certain, as though he had been holding it back all day. I melted into it, my hands lifting of their own accord to rest against his chest. The world narrowed to the warmth of his mouth and the familiar scent of him that wrapped around me like a promise.
When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against mine as we both caught our breath.
“Why did you stop yourself from coming to me?” he asked quietly, his voice low but edged with curiosity.
I swallowed, my cheeks warming under his gaze. “I honestly don't know,” I admitted. “I wanted to, but something held me back.”
His eyes searched my face, then softened. “You don't have to be like that with me anymore. I want you to be free with me. Is that okay?” he asked.
“Okay,” I replied. “i’ve been worried. You said you would return earlier, and I thought you will be back last night.”
“I’m sorry,” Kael said sincerely. “I was held up longer than expected. Defense matters needed my attention.”
“Taren explained some of it to me,” I said, only realizing after I had said it that I probably shouldn't have mentioned Taren's name. But when I searched his face, there was no sign of irritation or annoyance.”I hope everything has been sorted out.”
He reached out, his thumb brushing gently along my cheek. “Everything is sorted out,” he assured me. “The borders are secure for now.”
A breath I had not realized I was holding finally escaped me. “That is good,” I whispered.
“I missed you,” he continued, his gaze intense. “I couldn't stop thinking about returning to you all day.”
My heart fluttered at his words, and before I could respond, he leaned down and kissed me again.
This kiss was deeper than the first, slower and more intense, filled with a need that made my toes curl. His hands slid into my hair, fingers tangling in the strands as he held me close. I felt weightless, as though nothing existed beyond the two of us in that moment.
I kissed him back with equal passion, surprised by the confidence that surged through me. It felt natural to meet him like this, to give as much as I received. When he began to pull away, a sudden fear tightened in my chest.
Without thinking, my hands fisted in the fabric of his clothes, holding him to me and refusing to let his lips leave mine.
The realization of what I had done hit me all at once, and heat flooded my face. Mortification washed over me, and I loosened my grip slightly, unsure whether to apologize or hide.
Kael pulled back just enough to look at me, and instead of confusion or reprimand, there was amusement dancing in his eyes.
“I see you want me just as much as I want you,” he said with a soft chuckle.
I lowered my gaze shyly, my voice barely above a whisper. “I only did that because I thought you wanted to leave again.”
His expression changed then, the teasing giving way to something tender. He stepped back slightly, giving me space, and smiled.
“Tonight, I am all yours.”
Before I could fully process his words, he reached for the buttons of his shirt. One by one, he undid them, his movements unhurried and deliberate, as if he knew exactly what the sight would do to me. When the last button was free, he shrugged the fabric from his shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
He stood before me, shirtless and unguarded, and I forgot how to breathe.
His body was nothing short of breathtaking. His chest was broad and muscled, the lines of his toned abdomen catching the light and giving his skin a subtle glow. Every inch of him spoke of strength and confidence, of battles fought and survived, and yet there was nothing harsh in the way he looked at me.
I could feel my pulse in my ears as my eyes traced the contours of him without permission from my mind.
“You like what you see?” Kael asked, his voice dropping into a sultry murmur that sent a shiver through me.