Chapter 28 Comfort and Chaos
Lycian was on the phone for an hour.
I sat on the couch. Staring at that message. Reading it over and over until the words blurred.
See you soon.
Who was “you”? Who knew my number? Who cared enough to keep threatening me even after the vote passed?
“Okay.” Lycian finally hung up. Came back to the living room. “Cade’s tracing the numbers. All of them. We’ll know who it is by tomorrow.”
“What if we don’t? What if they’re using burner phones or something?”
“Then we’ll figure out another way.” He sat next to me. Pulled me into his arms. “But right now, you need to breathe. And eat. And stop spiraling.”
“I’m not spiraling.”
“You’ve been staring at that message for twenty minutes. That’s spiraling.” He took my phone. Set it face down on the coffee table. “Come on. I’m making dinner. You’re helping.”
“I can’t cook.”
“Then you’re learning. Kitchen. Now.”
He dragged me to the kitchen. Started pulling out ingredients. Chicken. Vegetables. Rice. Things that looked complicated.
“I’m going to burn something,” I said.
“Probably. But that’s part of learning.” He handed me a knife. “Chop the peppers. Small pieces.”
I chopped. Badly. The pieces were uneven. Some huge. Some tiny.
Lycian didn’t comment. Just showed me how to hold the knife properly. How to use my knuckles to guide the blade.
“Like this. See?” His hand covered mine. Warm. Steady. Guiding the knife through the pepper.
The smell of fresh-cut vegetables filled the kitchen. Clean. Bright. Normal.
“Now the onion,” he said.
“I hate onions. They make me cry.”
“Everyone cries. It’s part of the process.” He handed me an onion. “Just go fast. And don’t touch your eyes.”
I chopped. Eyes watering. Nose running. It was terrible.
But also kind of nice. Doing something normal. Something that had nothing to do with packs or votes or threats.
“You’re doing great,” Lycian said. Stirring something on the stove.
“I’m crying into produce.”
“That’s how you know you’re doing it right.”
I laughed. Despite everything. Despite the fear sitting heavily in my chest.
He moved around the kitchen with easy confidence. Adding spices. Tasting. Adjusting. His sleeves were rolled up. A dishtowel slung over his shoulder. He looked domestic. Comfortable.
I loved him like this. Relaxed. Not Alpha Lycian. Just Lycian.
“What are you staring at?” he asked. Not looking up from the pan.
“You. You’re really good at this.”
“Told you. Years of practice.” He glanced at me. Smiled. “You’re good at it too. Just need more time.”
“I burned toast last week.”
“Toast is hard. This is easy.”
Dinner was actually good. Stir-fry with perfectly cooked chicken and vegetables that weren’t mushy. I helped. Sort of. Mostly I just handed him things and tried not to get in the way.
But we did it together. And that felt important.
We ate at the kitchen island. Talking about nothing. About Emma’s endless Barbie stories. About Garrett’s terrible jokes at training. About Elena’s insistence that I come to the book club next week.
Normal things. Pack things.
“I still can’t believe they voted yes,” I said. Pushing rice around my plate. “Seventy-three people. That’s more than I expected.”
“That’s because you’re amazing. People see that.”
“Or they felt pressured by your dad.”
“My dad doesn’t pressure anyone to vote. He just permitted them to vote early.” Lycian reached across the island. Took my hand. “They voted for you because they want you here.”
“Not all of them. Twenty-two voted no.”
“Twenty-two people don’t know you yet. Give them time.”
“What if they never come around?”
“Then screw them. You don’t need everyone to like you. Just the people who matter.” He squeezed my hand. That spark raced between us. Familiar now. Comforting. “And I matter. And I like you very much.”
“Just like?”
“Love. I love you very much.” He grinned. “Better?”
“Much better.”
We cleaned up together. He washed. I dried. Our hips are bumping in the small kitchen space. It felt intimate. Easy.
Like we’d been doing this for years.
My phone buzzed on the counter. I tensed.
“It’s probably just Tessa,” Lycian said. “Check it.”
It was Tessa.
CONGRATULATIONS PACK GIRL!!! Elena texted me. Said you’re official now. So proud of you!
I smiled. Texted back.
Thanks. Still feels surreal.
When are we celebrating? I’m thinking drinks. Lots of drinks.
Tomorrow? After my exam?
Perfect. I’ll tell the girls. We’re getting you drunk.
I showed Lycian. “Tessa wants to celebrate. Girls’ night tomorrow.”
“Good. You deserve it.” He hung up the dish towel. “And I have packed stuff anyway. Training with Cade. You’ll have the night to yourself.”
“I’ve never really done a girls’ night before.”
“Then it’s about time.” He pulled me close. Wrapped his arms around me. “You have friends now. Real friends. Pack and human. You’re allowed to have fun.”
I pressed my face into his chest. Breathed in his scent. Pine and something uniquely his.
“Thank you,” I said. Muffled against his shirt.
“For what?”
“For this. For making me dinner. For distracting me. For loving me.”
“You don’t have to thank me for loving you. That’s easy.” He kissed the top of my head. “Come on. You have an exam tomorrow. You should sleep.”
“I should study.”
“You’ve been studying all week. One night off won’t kill you.”
We went to our separate rooms. Like always. But it felt harder tonight. Leaving him.
I lay in bed. Staring at the ceiling. My mind wouldn’t shut off.
The vote. The threats. The exam is tomorrow. Girls’ night. All of it swirling together.
A knock on my door made me sit up.
“Yeah?”
Lycian opened the door. Still in his sweatpants. No shirt. Hair messy. “Can’t sleep?”
“How did you know?”
“The bond. I can feel you overthinking from down the hall.” He hesitated. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
He came in. Closed the door behind him. Stood there looking uncertain. “I don’t want to assume anything. Or push boundaries. But I can’t sleep knowing you’re anxious.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Just… being close. Nothing else. Just sleeping in the same room.” He ran a hand through his hair. Nervous. “We don’t have to. I just thought…”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes. Stay. Please.” I pulled back the covers. “I don’t want to be alone tonight either.”
He climbed in. Carefully. Staying on his side. Giving me space.
I moved closer. Pressed against him. His arm came around me. Pulling me into his chest.
We fit together perfectly. Like we were made for this.
“Better?” he whispered.
“So much better.”
His hand played with my hair. Gentle. Soothing. His heartbeat was steady under my ear.
I felt safe. Completely safe.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too. So much.” He kissed my forehead. “Sleep. I’ve got you.”
I did. Finally. Completely.
And for the first time in weeks, I slept through the night.
No nightmares. No anxiety. No fear.
Just peace.
I woke up to sunlight and the smell of coffee.
Lycian was already up. Dressed. Holding a mug.
“Morning,” he said. “You snore.”
“I do not!”
“A little. It’s cute.” He handed me the coffee. “You have two hours until your exam. Drink this. Eat breakfast. Then we’ll review your notes one more time.”
“You don’t have to…”
“I want to. Now come on. We have a biology exam to ace.”
We spent the morning reviewing. He quizzed me. Made me explain concepts. Corrected me when I was wrong.
By the time I left for campus, I felt ready. Actually ready.
“You’ve got this,” Lycian said. Kissing me goodbye at the door. “Text me when you’re done.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too. Now go show that exam who’s boss.”
The exam was hard but fair. Three hours of questions that made my brain hurt. But I knew the answers. Actually knew them.
When I walked out, I felt good. Really good.
I texted Lycian.
Done. I think I passed. Maybe even got an A.
His response was immediate.
Told you. So proud of you. Celebrate tonight. You earned it.
I met Tessa at our coffee shop. She had three other girls with her. Her girlfriend Malthida. Two friends from her art classes.
“Ladies,” Tessa announced. “Meet the pack girl. Elowen, meet the squad.”
We spent the evening laughing. Drinking too much coffee. Talking about everything and nothing.
It felt normal. Human. Separate from pack politics.
I needed it. Needed to remember I was still me. Still, the girl who loved bad coffee and stupid jokes and friends who didn’t care about wolves or mates or any of it.
Around nine, my phone buzzed.
Text from Lycian.
Having fun?
So much fun. These girls are crazy.
Good. You deserve crazy. See you later. Love you.
Love you too.
I was smiling when another text came through. Unknown number.
My stomach dropped.
Enjoy your night out. Make the most of it. You won’t have many more.
My hands started shaking.
“You okay?” Tessa asked. Seeing my face.
“Yeah. Just… pack stuff. It’s fine.”
But it wasn’t fine.
Because whoever was threatening me wasn’t stopping.
And I had no idea what they were planning next.