Chapter 174

Layla's POV

"You don't have to carry me," I protested weakly, though I made no real effort to escape his embrace. "I can walk."

"I know you can," he replied, pushing the bathroom door open with his foot. "But I want to."

He set me down on my feet, keeping one arm around my waist until he was sure I was steady. The bathroom was larger than I expected for a safe house, with a walk-in shower and a deep tub. Kael leaned over to turn on the shower, testing the temperature with his hand.

"Not too hot," he murmured, adjusting the knobs. "For the baby."

My heart fluttered at his thoughtfulness. When the water was just right, he guided me into the shower, stepping in behind me. The warm spray cascaded over us, washing away the evidence of our lovemaking. Kael reached for a bottle of body wash, squeezing some onto a washcloth.

"Turn around," he instructed softly.

I obeyed, presenting my back to him. His hands were gentle as he washed me, the cloth gliding over my shoulders and down my spine. When he reached the fresh mark on my shoulder, I shuddered involuntarily, a jolt of pleasure shooting through me.

"Sensitive?" he asked, his voice husky.

"Yeah," I breathed. "It feels... connected to you."

He pressed a kiss to the mark, and I felt it all the way to my toes. "It is. We're bound again, properly this time."

His hands continued their journey, washing my arms, my back, my legs. He knelt before me to wash my feet, looking up at me with such adoration that I had to look away, overwhelmed.

"Since when did you become so..." I searched for the right word.

"So what?" he prompted, rising to his feet again.

"So gentle," I finished. "So romantic. You used to be all growls and demands."

A smile tugged at his lips. "Would you believe I've been watching romance movies?"

I blinked in surprise. "You? Kael Stone? Watching romance movies?"

He nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. "I wanted to understand what women like. What you might like." He shrugged, water droplets sliding down his broad shoulders. "I thought it might help me be a better mate."

I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up. "That's... that's actually really sweet."

"Don't tell anyone," he warned, but his eyes were twinkling. "I have a reputation to maintain."

I reached up to touch his face, feeling the rough stubble under my fingertips. "Your secret's safe with me."

He helped me wash my hair next, his strong fingers massaging my scalp so perfectly that I practically purred. When he was finished with me, I was cleaner than I'd been in days, and more relaxed than I had any right to be given our circumstances.

"Your turn," I said, taking the washcloth from him.

He shook his head. "I can do it. You should rest."

"I want to," I insisted. "Let me take care of you for once."

After a moment's hesitation, he nodded, turning to present his back to me. I took my time washing him, admiring the play of muscles under his skin, the broad expanse of his shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. Scars crisscrossed his back, telling stories of battles I knew nothing about.

"I wish things had been different," I said quietly, tracing one particularly jagged scar. "If Olivia hadn't interfered from the beginning... maybe none of this drama would have happened. We could have had a normal life."

Kael's muscles tensed under my touch, then relaxed as he let out a soft laugh. "Love gets tested, Layla. It's normal. I just failed the test when I believed Olivia over you. But fate gave me another chance, showed me how much I truly love you. I'm grateful for that, at least."

I paused, the washcloth hovering over his skin. "You've never talked like this before."

He glanced over his shoulder at me. "Sorry. Too many romantic movies, I guess."

"No, it's nice," I assured him. "Just unexpected."

He turned to face me fully, taking the washcloth from my hands. "I noticed something in those movies. The couples always hide things from each other, and it always causes problems." His green eyes locked with mine, intense and sincere. "I don't want that for us."

"No," I agreed weakly. "Neither do I."

Kael finished washing himself quickly, then shut off the water. He stepped out first, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist before offering me a fresh one. Once I was dry, he helped me into a fluffy robe he found hanging on the back of the door.

As he secured his towel, I couldn't help but admire his body—the defined muscles of his chest and abdomen, the V-shape disappearing beneath the towel. He caught me looking and smiled, moving closer to me.

I took a step back, raising my hands. "Don't get any ideas. I'm clean now, and I'm tired."

He chuckled, stepping even closer. Before I could protest again, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "I'm serious, Layla. If you're ever unhappy, if you're angry with me, even if you want to end things—talk to me. Don't shut me out. Tell me, and I'll win you back. I'll chase you as many times as it takes."

His naked sincerity left me speechless, and I felt heat rising to my cheeks. "Can we... can we talk about something else?" I stammered, desperate to change the subject. "What about Alex's weaknesses? You're a general in the Alliance—you must know something useful."

A shadow passed over Kael's face. "Nothing gets past you, does it?" He sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. "Actually, there's another reason I brought you to this safe house. Not just for the armor." He hesitated. "There's something important here."

Curiosity sparked within me. "What is it?"

His expression grew serious. "A sword. It's called Soulrend. Whoever possesses it can command all wolf packs, regardless of location or allegiance."

My eyes widened. "A sword with that kind of power exists?"

Kael nodded grimly. "It's a Soulless Pack secret. Only the Alpha knows about it. But somehow, Alex found out." His jaw tightened. "He wants to take the sword, become the Wolf King. The thing is, Soulrend only responds to the greatest wolf of the packs. If anyone else tries to wield it, the sword won't leave its scabbard."

I leaned against the bathroom counter, trying to process this new information. "Did Soulrend obey Alex's command? Was he able to draw it?"