Three days.
Three days of waiting. Three days of patrols. Three days of Kael's tension humming through the bond, constant and exhausting.
I tried to help. Took over Luna duties. Met with pack members. Handled disputes. Did everything I could to lighten his load.
But nothing eased the weight he carried.
On the third night, I found him on the porch, staring at the forest.
"You should be sleeping."
"Should be." He didn't turn. "Can't."
I sat beside him. Took his hand.
"Talk to me."
He was quiet for a long moment.
"I keep seeing it. His eyes on you. The way he looked at you lik" He stopped. Jaw tightening.
"Like what?"
"Like he wanted you." The words came out rough. "Like he was imagining what it would be like to have you."
I felt his rage through the bond. His fear. His desperate need to protect.
"Kael." I squeezed his hand. "I'm here. I'm yours. Nothing changes that."
"I know." He finally looked at me. "But knowing and feeling are different. My wolf doesn't care about logic. He only cares about you. About keeping you safe."
"And what does your wolf want to do?"
"Kill him. Burn his pack. Tear apart anyone who looks at you wrong." He shook his head. "But that's not who I am. Not anymore. You taught me that."
I touched his face.
"Then what do you want to do?"
He was quiet for a long moment.
"I want to meet with him. Alone. Talk without the pack watching." He met my eyes. "I want to know if he's worth trusting."
"And if he's not?"
"Then we prepare for war."
The meeting was set for midnight.
Neutral ground. Just Kael and Torin. Jax would be close, hidden, in case things went wrong.
I waited at the cabin, pacing, the bond humming with tension.
Stay calm, I sent through the bond. Whatever happens, I'm here.
His response was immediate. Warm.
I know. I feel you. It helps.
I held onto that feeling. Held onto him.
An hour passed. Two.
Then the bond flared relief, not danger. Kael was okay. Coming home.
I met him at the door.
"Well?"
He pulled me inside. Kissed me hard.
"He's telling the truth. About the poachers. About needing help." He pulled back, looked at me. "We're forming the alliance."
"You trust him?"
"I trust that he's desperate. I trust that his wolves are dying. I trust that he'll keep his word because he has no choice." He touched my face. "But I don't trust him with you. That hasn't changed."
"Then what?"
"Then you stay close. You stay protected. You don't go anywhere without an escort." His eyes burned. "I'm not taking chances."
I nodded. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"I trust you. If this is what you need to do, I support it." I kissed him. "That's what mates do."
He pulled me close. Held me tight.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now let's go to bed. You need rest."
The alliance was announced the next morning.
The pack gathered in the clearing. Torin stood beside Kael, his wolves behind him. Tension crackled in the air.
Kael spoke first.
"This alliance doesn't come from trust. It comes from necessity. Poachers are killing our kind. We're stronger together than apart." He looked at Torin. "But make no mistake if you betray us, I'll destroy you."
Torin nodded. "Fair."
He stepped forward, addressed the pack.
"I've lost three wolves this month. Good wolves. Young wolves. Killed by humans who see us as sport." His voice was rough. "I'll do anything to stop that. Even ally with wolves who hate me."
Murmurs through the crowd.
"The alliance is simple," Kael continued. "Shared patrols. Shared intelligence. Shared protection. Nothing more."
The pack slowly dispersed. Talking among themselves. Processing.
Torin approached me.
"Luna." He inclined his head respectfully. "I owe you an apology. My behavior at the border was unacceptable."
I said nothing. Just watched him.
"Your Alpha made his position clear. I respect that." He met my eyes—briefly, carefully. "You're safe with me. With my pack. That's a promise."
I nodded. "Thank you."
He moved away. Back to his wolves.
Kael appeared at my side.
"Okay?"
"Okay." I leaned into him. "You did the right thing."
"I hope so."
---
That night, Torin and his wolves joined us for dinner.
Strange, sharing a meal with wolves who'd been enemies days ago. Strange, watching them interact with my pack. Strange, feeling the tension slowly ease.
Sasha sat beside me, watching everything.
"What do you think?" she murmured.
"I think they're desperate. I think they're honest. I think—" I watched Torin laugh at something Jax said. "I think they might become friends."
"Wolves don't make friends easily."
"Neither do humans." I smiled. "But sometimes it happens anyway."
Later, after the guests left, Kael pulled me aside.
"You were amazing tonight."
"I just sat there."
"You watched. You learned. You made them feel welcome without being weak." He kissed me. "That's leadership."
I leaned into him.
"I'm learning from the best."
"Damn right you are."
I laughed. "So modest."
"Never." He pulled me closer. "Now let's go to bed. Tomorrow, the real work starts."
"What work?"
"Building an alliance. Trusting wolves we don't trust. Hoping we're right." He looked at me. "Together."
"Together." I kissed him. "Always."