Riley Hayes POV
The morning after the kiss, Garrett is different.
He's colder. More distant. He brings her breakfast like always but he doesn't stay. He answers her questions in short sentences. He looks at her like she's something dangerous instead of something he can't stop thinking about.
Riley feels the distance like a physical ache.
She tells herself it's fine. That he was right to pull away. That whatever happened between them last night was just heat and desperation and circumstances. But her body doesn't believe that. Her body remembers the feel of his hands in her hair. Remembers the taste of him. Remembers feeling like she finally belonged somewhere.
By afternoon, she's angry at him for shutting her out.
By evening, she understands he's not shutting her out because he wants to. He's shutting her out because he's terrified.
Garrett comes to her room after dark. He pulls a chair over and sits down without asking if she wants him there. His jaw is tight. His hands are clenched.
"I need to tell you things," he says. "And I need you to listen before you decide I'm a monster."
Riley sits up straighter. "I don't think you're a monster."
"You will once you understand what I am."
Garrett starts talking.
He explains pack structure. There are territories. Each pack controls land and the wolves living on it. Alphas rule through strength and strategy. They make decisions that affect everyone. They're responsible for keeping their people alive. They're also responsible for going to war when necessary.
Riley listens carefully.
He tells her about mates. When two wolves bond, they're connected for life. The mark on the neck seals the bond. It means they belong to each other. It means rejection would cause physical pain that most wolves can't survive.
She thinks about what that means. About being bound to someone forever.
Then he tells her about enemies.
"Silvermoon and Blackthorn have been at war for decades," Garrett says quietly. "My father started it over territory. Over pride. Over things that don't matter anymore. But the wolves who died in that war still matter. The families torn apart still matter. The hate between our packs still matters."
"Why are you telling me this?" Riley asks.
Garrett stands up and walks to the window. She can see him trying to figure out how to say something difficult.
"Because you need to understand why what I've done is so dangerous. Why keeping you here is a declaration of war. Why every person in my pack is watching me like I've lost my mind."
Riley's heart starts beating faster. "Have you?"
"Maybe."
He turns to face her and suddenly she can see it. The strain on his face. The weight of decisions he's made. The cost of protecting her.
"I found you dying in our territory," Garrett continues. "You were Silvermoon. You were enemy. Every rule I've lived by says I should have killed you. Or left you to die. Or turned you over to your pack and demanded payment."
Riley feels something shift inside her chest.
"But I didn't," Garrett says. "I brought you here. I healed you with my own blood. I told my entire pack that you're under my protection. And everyone knows that means war."
"Erik will come looking for me," Riley says slowly.
"He's already looking."
The words hang between them heavy and terrifying.
Riley realizes something then. Every decision Garrett has made has cost him. Every choice to protect her has weakened his position. Every moment she stays with him is another moment his pack questions his leadership. Another moment his enemies circle closer.
And he's done it willingly.
"Why?" she whispers.
Garrett doesn't answer with words. He just looks at her like that's answer enough. Like the reason is written all over his face for her to read.
He sits back down and keeps talking.
He explains hierarchy. The alpha is strongest. The second-in-command is next. Then warriors and regular pack members. Everyone has a role. Everyone understands their place.
"You were a Luna," Garrett says. "That's the highest rank. You're the mate of the alpha. You lead beside him. You're more powerful than most wolves."
Riley tries to imagine being that important. Tries to remember what it felt like to have that kind of responsibility. But her mind stays blank.
"I don't feel powerful," she says.
"You are. You just don't know it yet."
He explains pack bonds. The connection between pack members. How they can feel each other through a mental link. How they're stronger together than apart. How losing that connection is one of the worst things that can happen to a wolf.
Riley understands then why her pack link going dead was so terrifying. It wasn't just the attack. It was the complete isolation. The severing of everything that made her feel like she belonged.
"Is that why I feel so alone?" she asks.
"Yes. But you're not alone now. You're bonded to Blackthorn. You're under my protection. You have people who won't hurt you."
She looks at him and realizes he's not explaining this to scare her. He's explaining it so she understands him. So she understands why he kissed her. So she understands why keeping her is worth the cost.
And it works.
She understands him now. She understands the weight he carries. She understands why his face is always tense like he's holding something back. She understands that he's sacrificing everything because he's decided she's worth it.
The realization makes her feel closer to him than the kiss did.
"I'm putting your pack at risk," Riley says quietly. "They hate me because of me."
"They're at risk because I choose to keep you. That's different."
"Is it?"
Garrett leans forward. "Yes. Because that means I'm the one responsible. Not you. You didn't ask for this. You didn't ask me to save you. I made that decision. And I'm making it again every single day."
Riley feels her throat tighten. Someone is choosing her. Not because of who she was. Not because of duty or obligation. But because he wants to.
"You could give me to them," she says suddenly. "You could end this. You could turn me over to Erik and everything goes back to normal. Your pack stays safe. The war doesn't happen. You could be free of this problem."
Garrett's hands clench into fists. His eyes go dark and dangerous in a way that should terrify her.
"You think I want you to leave?" His voice is low and possessive and absolutely certain. "You think I want to be free of you?"
"I think I'm destroying you," Riley whispers.
"You're not a problem, Riley. You're mine to protect now. And nothing is going to change that. Not your memory. Not Erik. Not the entire world coming at me with fire and weapons. You stay. That's the only decision I'm making."