Chapter 36 Thirty six
It was far past midnight by the time Harper finally managed to slip away.
Her arms ached. Her legs felt like they might detach from her body. For hours she had been helping hang lanterns, arranging silver ribbons, carrying trays, adjusting floral arches—tasks that never seemed to end because the Bloom Moon ceremony had to be perfect.
Perfect.
Harper pushed her bedroom door open slowly, glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one had followed her. The hallway was finally quiet. Most of the pack had retired to rest before tomorrow’s grand event.
She exhaled in relief.
“Gosh, that was a lot of work,” she muttered under her breath.
She shut the door carefully and locked it immediately, leaning against it for a second as silence wrapped around her like a blanket. Finally. Peace.
Without bothering to change, she shuffled toward her bed and threw herself onto it dramatically.
Except—
She didn’t land on empty mattress.
She landed on something solid.
Warm.
Very much alive.
Harper shrieked.
“Ouch!” a familiar voice groaned beneath her.
Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she scrambled up, ripping the blanket back with shaking hands.
Kai stared up at her, rubbing his shoulder dramatically.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she hissed, still breathless from the shock.
He blinked lazily. “Relax. You almost broke my ribs.”
“You’re in my bed!” she snapped, glaring at him.
“Sheeeesh.” He sat up slightly, pressing a finger to his lips. “Keep your voice down unless you want both of us dragged back downstairs to help with decorations.”
Her mouth snapped shut immediately.
She glanced toward the door.
Silence.
She lowered her voice. “Okay. Fine. But what are you doing in my room?”
Kai sighed like he’d been deeply inconvenienced by life. “I’m tired of people downstairs. Every five seconds someone’s asking me something. ‘Where should we put this?’ ‘What color should that be?’ ‘Are you excited for tomorrow?’ It’s exhausting.”
Harper crossed her arms. “At least they’re just asking silly questions. I’ve been working like a servant for hours. I don’t even understand why. There are literally dozens of actual servants.”
Kai leaned back against her pillows like he owned them. “You could’ve ignored them. Told them you’re the Alpha’s daughter now.”
She shook her head immediately. “No. I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t,” she replied simply, dropping down to sit at the edge of the bed. “I don’t need that title.”
Kai studied her quietly for a moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, he groaned dramatically.
“Your room is boring.”
Harper shot him a flat look. “Then leave.”
He stood up abruptly, stretching his arms over his head. “No. This won’t do.”
Before she could react, he stepped forward and gently pushed her back onto the mattress, climbing on top of her in one swift movement.
Her eyes widened instantly.
“Kai! What are you doing?”
He hovered above her, one hand planted beside her head, his expression suddenly serious.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked, staring directly into her eyes.
Her brain short-circuited.
Her face burned hot.
She could feel his breath. See every detail of his face. The faint curve of his lips. The way his gaze didn’t waver.
She had never expected this.
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears.
Before she could even form a response, Kai broke into laughter.
“Will you calm down?” he teased. “I was joking.”
Her embarrassment flared into annoyance. “Good. Now get off me.”
“Before I do,” he said softly.
He leaned down—not to her lips—but to her forehead.
He pressed a gentle kiss there.
It was quick.
Warm.
Unexpected.
Harper froze.
Something unfamiliar sparked in her chest.
He pulled back and grinned. “Let’s go to my room.”
She blinked up at him, still stunned by the forehead kiss.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Do you want more kisses,” he asked lightly, “or are you coming with me?”
That snapped her back to reality.
“I don’t want to,” she groaned.
“Come on,” he insisted, grabbing her wrist gently and tugging. “I have video games. The good ones.”
She hesitated.
Video games.
That at least sounded harmless.
After a little whining and dramatic complaining on her part, she finally allowed him to drag her toward the door.
They both paused, listening carefully.
The hallway was quiet.
Slowly, quietly, they slipped out, closing her door behind them.
They moved like criminals sneaking through their own house—tiptoeing past corners, ducking when they heard distant footsteps, barely suppressing laughter when Kai almost bumped into a decorative stand.
By the time they reached his room, Harper’s heart was racing again—but this time from the thrill of almost getting caught.
Kai opened his door and gestured for her to step inside.
Harper walked in—
And stopped.
His room was enormous.
Twice the size of hers.
The walls were deep charcoal with subtle silver accents. Large windows stretched from floor to ceiling, draped in dark curtains. A massive bookshelf lined one side. A gaming setup occupied the far corner—multiple screens, sleek consoles, glowing controllers.
“This is…” she murmured, looking around.
“Better than yours?” he teased.
“Shut up.”
He laughed.
They settled on the floor in front of the gaming setup, controllers in hand.
Kai picked a competitive fighting game.
“Prepare to lose,” he said confidently.
“In your dreams.”
The first round started.
Kai dominated immediately.
His movements were precise, calculated, infuriatingly smooth.
“You’re cheating,” she accused.
“I’m just better.”
She glared at the screen.
Round after round, he won effortlessly.
Then suddenly—
He made a mistake.
A big one.
Harper seized the opportunity.
She button-mashed desperately, somehow landing the final hit.
Her character stood victorious.
“YES!” she shouted, throwing her hands up. “I won! I won!”
She turned toward him, smiling widely—genuinely happy.
Kai stared at her for a second.
Then a slow smile curved his lips.
“You’re welcome.”
Her grin faltered. “Wait. What?”
“I let you win once.”
“You did not!”
“I did.”
She smacked his arm. “You’re so annoying!”
He leaned back slightly, resting his elbow on his knee.
“Well,” he said casually, “if I let you win… I deserve a reward.”
Her laughter faded slightly.
“A reward?” she repeated cautiously.
He nodded, eyes locking onto hers.
Before she could fully process what was happening, he leaned forward.
And pressed his lips to hers.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Her breath caught.
The controller slipped from her fingers, clattering softly against the floor as the screen behind them flashed “Game Over.”
And everything else faded away.