Chapter 19

It was late afternoon when they arrived at the pack borders.

Kian was tense, his nostrils flaring as he looked ahead of them, his posture stiff. “The patrol is here,” he announced. “I smell three wolves.”

Layla moved closer to Kiara, putting a hand on hers. “If I don’t get to tell you this later, I love you, sister. As shocking as it is to have you pop out of nowhere, I wish we had more time together.”

Kiara chuckled, trying to fight off the stupid tears. “I love you too, Layla. I never had anyone my age to call a friend or a sibling. I would love it if we had more time.”

Layla gripped her hand and squeezed. “Let’s not die today then.” She forced a smile. “You hear that, Wolfie? She loves me.”

Kian’s chest rumbled with a growl. His wolf itched to bite her ears and make her take those words back.

“You better get us both alive outta here, Wolfie,” Layla continued as if he wasn’t growling at her only mere seconds ago.

However, before Kian could form a response, three wolves broke out of the tree line. Two stopped just inside the border while one shifted. Kiara recognized the guy immediately as Selan. He was a friend of Kian. They sometimes went hunting together. She couldn’t tell who the other two were.

“Kian.” Selan’s gaze flicked to the three of them, inspecting them from head to toe. “You shouldn’t have come here.” His gaze cut back to Kian.

“I’m here to meet Lucille.” Kian straightened, his features hard.

Selan folded his hands across his chest. “That’s foolish, and you know it,” he growled. His nostrils flared. “Who is this new wolf?” He eyed Layla. “Wait. Don’t answer that. It’s just the three of us on patrol. Leave, and we will pretend this didn’t happen.”

Kian shook his head. “I can’t do that, Selan. I have news for Lucille and the elders.” He pulled the scroll from his jacket pocket. It wasn’t the original. Layla’s father had made a few copies for safety purposes. The original scroll was nestled deep in Kiara’s jacket. “This is a matter of huge importance, and I can assure you that this would change every fucking thing we have come to believe. Lucille is expecting this.”

Selan’s jaw clenched, and he cursed under his breath. “Stay right here.” He reached for the scroll, but Kian pulled back.

“Promise me you’d guard this with your life, Selan, and you wouldn’t hand this to anyone else other than Lucille.”

Selan’s features hardened. “I promise.” He turned to the other two wolves. “Jay, run to the pack and summon Rommik. Tell him his brother is here. Be discreet. Ryan, stay here and don’t let them anywhere near the pack borders.”

The wolf, now Kiara recognized as Jay, took off in the direction of the pack while Selan put the scroll between his teeth and nodded at them once before changing into his wolf form and dashing into the woods in a different direction.

Layla whistled low under her breath. “He’s hot,” she whispered to Kiara. “Does he even realize he was naked all this time? Man, he was packed.” She put her hands in front of her to exaggerate with a gesture.

Kiara slapped at her hands with a hiss. “He can hear you.” He gestured toward Ryan, who had his head tilted to the side with what looked like a smirk lifting on the side of his lips.

Kian clasped his hands behind his back. “You can shift, Ryan. I won’t trespass.”

The wolf eyed him for a moment before he shifted and cracked his neck. “Never thought you’d come back,” he said, gaze flicking to Kiara. “We thought the hunters would have got to you by now.”

“Those assholes are dead,” Layla informed, clasping the straps of her bag with a boring look. “The idiot almost ripped my throat, but I killed him first.”

Ryan growled at that, and Kiara immediately jumped in front of her sister.

“Do you even know what your actions have caused?” Ryan hissed at Kian. “The pack order is in chaos. Rommik went against the alpha and was whipped in public. It led to huge strife between the pack members and the alpha. They caught two wolves that tried to escape and imprisoned them. They are going to behead them next full moon in front of the pack as a lesson. Everything is a mess here.”

“It was bound to happen anyway.” Kian shrugged. “Konrad is wrong to think he can silence the people for so long. He is just an evil wolf who is misusing the ancient pact to exercise control over the pack.”

Ryan opened his mouth to say something but whirled around hearing some noise behind. Two men broke out of the tree line, dressed only in shorts.

“He was out on a run,” Jay said, pointing at his companion.

“Uncle Rommik!” Kiara felt relief wash over her, but before she could run to him, Kian’s hand shot forward, stopping her from trespassing.

However, Rommik closed the distance, throwing his arms around both of them and pulling them into a bone-crushing embrace. “I thought you were both dead,” he growled. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? You’re an idiot, Kian.” His hold tightened around them. When he pulled away his eyes were filled with tears. He caressed her cheek. “How have you been, little one?”

“Better.” She smiled up at him.

Rommik stepped back and schooled his features. “You shouldn’t have come. What were you even thinking?”

“We had to,” Kian said. “Lucille sent us away with a motive. We now have what she needs.”

A frown tugged at the corner of his lips. “What? She sent you away? She had known where you were all along?” He glanced between them only noticing Layla now. “And who is this?”

“Hi, I’m Layla Miller.” Layla stepped forward and extended a hand for him to shake. Rommik eyed her hand with a lifted brow. Layla dropped with an awkward laugh. “Well, I’m Kiara’s twin.”

Rommik’s frown deepened even more. “What?”

“Moira gave birth to twins.” Kian blurted, taking a step forward. “It’s a long story, but, brother, it’s all a huge misunderstanding. Trust me, please. They lied to us for all these years, and we might have an idea why. Selan has taken the proof to Lucille. You need to make sure it reaches her and it’s the only way to bring down Konrad and his rule.”

Rommik shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“You will, but you must go now,” Kian urged. “Lucille will explain it to you and tell her she was right. Kiara is human.”

“Shit!” Rommik cursed under his breath. “You okay, Kiddo?” He looked at Kiara with concern, his gaze conveying that he didn’t care if she was human.

Kiara returned his smile. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. You should go now.”

“Fine. But be careful. Leave and stay away from here. I’ll come to find you once I have talked to Lucille.”

Kian nodded immediately. He glanced at Layla and Kiara. “We will be on the edge of the forest,” he said.

With a nod toward them, Rommik shifted into his wolf and dashed in the same direction as Selan.

Ryan turned to them. “You heard him. Go before anyone else sees you.”

Kian stepped back, tugging at Kiara. “Okay. Thanks, Ryan.”

Before he could take another step, Kian stopped as if he heard something. His head whipped around in the direction the sound came from and eyes grew wide.

“Shit. You need to leave,” Ryan hissed, sensing another presence.

Kiara sensed the rising panic in Kian as he gripped her hand in a tight hold. She didn’t have enough time to ask what was wrong because stepping out of the opening was none other than the pack alpha, Konrad. Kiara shuddered involuntarily at the sight of him. He looked the same, if not more bitter. His features contorted at the sight of her.

“Hello, daughter… so you’re back.”