Chapter 18

Rhys

The rhythmic thrumming in my head intensified the moment I came awake, and I groaned, pulling the quilt higher up my body in hopes of completely disappearing into it. Disoriented, I blinked away the remnants of sleep, and the events of the previous night came flooding back.

I could almost hear the guttural snarls of our attackers as they attacked viciously, the desperate clang of fangs against fangs and claws against claws. Kai's frantic shouts when they had found me injured—all of it was a hazy memory. There was a dull ache in my muscles that I knew would only get worse as the day went on.

Then came a sharper detail, a glint that pierced through the fog—the eyes of our attackers. Those icy blue orbs had definitely belonged to Silas' hunters, and the realization that slammed into me with the force of the revelation was enough to send a jolt of dread coursing through me.

It confirmed what I had once tried to deny. Elara wasn't our enemy. Silas would have never placed a bounty on her head if he had been the one to send her here, and those hunters from last night looked like they had been paid well to try to infiltrate the pack and get her back. I knew the way Silas' hunters worked. For them to carry out a mission like last night they had to have been paid heavily. She was just like myself, another escapee who had clawed her way free from Silas' clutches.

No matter what she did, she would forever be marked by her experience. I wanted to get out of bed and run to her to try to force the truth out of her. I wanted her to confide in me and give me all the details that could help me properly protect her from that maniac's clutches but I, of all people, knew how difficult it could be opening up about the truth.

It had been more than ten years since I left, and not a soul knew about it. Silas was the kind of secret you guarded with your life, because once the people around you found out, there was really no telling what their reactions would be. That risk had never seemed to be worth it for me. Still, I longed to ease her of this burden.

The memory of her face, etched with worry as she had treated my wounds, surfaced next; the gentle ministrations of her hands, the focused intensity. That thought was quickly followed by the searing intensity of our unexpected sexual encounter. The soft mewls that had fallen from her lips, the way she had felt wrapped around me. A comforting warmth bloomed in my chest, and it created a sense of fascination.

Most people never recovered from the horrors that they experienced within Silas' castle, especially his Sirens. Yet she possessed a strength that had allowed her to move about without that burden trailing behind her or dancing within the depths of her eyes. I needed to talk to her, to thank her first, and then to bridge the chasm of unspoken emotions that hung heavy between us. Maybe, just maybe, honesty could pave the way for trust.

I moved to disentangle myself from the sheets, the movement sending a fresh wave of pain through me, and I winced at the protest from my muscles as I forced myself to my feet before trudging into the bathroom. The feel of the warm water against my aching muscles was blissful and even after I finished washing, I stood still under the shower, enjoying the way it eased my aches and pains.

It wasn't until the water began running cold that I stepped out, pulling a towel off the rack to dry my body. I pulled out a pair of jeans and a soft T-shirt. I could still feel my wounds as they throbbed, and the last thing that I wanted was the annoying feel of a shirt rubbing over my arm and torso throughout the day. I had just finished dressing when a knock came on my door. Before I could respond the door was pushed open.

"I didn't say you could come in," I said and I heard Kai's annoying snicker from behind me.

"Well, you should have spoken more quickly. It's a good thing you're dressed too, because Anyah is here to see you, and that sweet elderly woman doesn't need to see your junk hanging around," Kai said. I whipped around to face him.

True to his words, Anyah trailed into the room behind him and her face flushed with embarrassment at Kai's words.

"I'm here to check on your wounds, Alpha Rhys," she said, clearing her throat after she spoke. I offered her a small smile.

Fuck you man , I said to Kai through the mind link and the idiot had the audacity to snicker.

I love you too. Stop by my office for a brief meeting once you're done here, he responded before moving out of the room and shutting the door behind him.

I moved to settle on the bed, pulling my shirt off so she could observe my injuries.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get to you early enough. Alpha Kai had given instructions that all the warriors that needed urgent care be taken care of first, and some of them were in really critical condition," she apologized as she began prodding my wounds. I nodded in understanding.

"It's okay. Elara was able to attend to us as soon as we got back home," I consoled her, and a smile danced over her lips at the mention of Elara.

"She did a good job with you three. The healing salve was applied correctly, and it has allowed your wolves to begin healing you properly. I just have to speed up the process even more," she said as she began applying a sweet-scented oil that felt surprisingly cool against my skin.

"You're all good to go now. Your wolf has done a good job with healing you already, so the ache and strain should be gone in a few days. Although I do expect that your side will scar," she said.

"Well, what's another scar to add to the collection?" I said playfully, and the older woman smiled.

"I'll leave these oils here. Should your wounds get itchy or painful at any point, you can apply them for relief," she offered, moving to place a small vial on the drawer beside my bed.

"Thank you, Anyah. You look tired. It must have been a long night. You must get some rest," I instructed as I pulled myself to my feet.

"Just like you have done your part in protecting us, I must do my part in healing," she responded with a small bow before moving to exit my room.

I sighed heavily, moving to pull my shirt back over my head before emerging from my room and heading straight to the home office. Kai was bent over some papers, barely acknowledging my presence as I stepped into the space.

"How are you feeling?" he asked without raising his head to me. I nodded even though I knew he couldn't see me.

"Much better. How's the situation?" I asked, my voice rough as I spoke.

"The attackers retreated after we took down a lot of them. I sent out a fresh set of warriors after them, but they seem to have disappeared into thin air. Although we found Silas' insignias on some of the bodies. Now it's obvious this was no ordinary attack. Looks like they were scouting for something."

Scouting. It confirmed my fears. They were scouting for Elara, and knowing Silas, as long as he could confirm that she was alive, he would stop at nothing to try to get her back.

"What I don't understand is, what could they possibly be scouting for on our lands? He might be well-known for his viciousness and dark magic, but it still doesn't take away from how powerful we are as a pack. We might not have dark magic, but our reputation for viciousness precedes us. Why would he want to make an enemy of us for no reason?" Kai asked, finally raising his eyes to meet mine. For the first time in a very long time, I saw uncertainty dance within his grey orbs.

And although I knew the answer to his question, I chose to remain silent about my own truth and instead I said, "Where's Rowan?"

"I already had a meeting with him earlier and he left to check up on the situation and reinforce the security at every border," he explained, and I hummed in understanding.

"What were our losses last night?" I asked the final question that had been running through my mind.

Even though it had been years since I last experienced contact with Silas, I was still familiar with his thought processes. Last night was merely a warning from Silas, and I knew that the evil fucker was scheming in his castle. We needed to be prepared for a real attack.

"Not too many, thankfully, but I think we need to be prepared for another attack just in case," he said, and I immediately agreed, bringing the meeting to a close.

I moved out of my seat after that, itching to find Elara. This last week without her had been so damn torturous, and I knew that I couldn't continue to go on with her. I had been willing to give her the time to come to me, willing to give her the space that she wanted, but after last night, it was the last thing that I wanted. I needed her close to me, close enough so I could protect her, close enough to keep me grounded.

"Rhys," Kai called just as I reached the door, and I paused in my steps before turning back around to face him.

"I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I know that skirting around this issue of our mate bond to Elara has been quite provoking for you and Rowan, but I thought that I needed more time to process it. After last night, I realized that time isn't exactly a commodity that we can afford. I could have lost my life last night, but it's not even that thought that scares me. It's the thought that I would have never seen her again, I would have never explored the bond between us or gotten to at least try to build a relationship with her. The thought of that kept me awake all night, and it made me realize that you were right," Kai said and the vulnerability in his voice resonated deep within me.

"At first, it was just the mate bond that attracted me, but now it's starting to feel like more than just the mate bond. Instead of treating it with fear like I've been doing, I realize that it's time to explore it. Try to figure it out, just like you suggested," he said finally and the grin that painted my lips threatened to split my face in half. It grew even wider when Kai rolled his eyes.

"Well, you're in luck because I was just on my way out to find her and ask her to spend the rest of the day with me. If you're done here, you can join me, and I could try to reach out to Rowan to join us after his routine," I offered and Kai nodded, pulling himself to his feet, reorganizing the documents he had been working with before moving out of his seat and following me out the door.

Once we were out of the door, Kai moved in the direction of the stairs instead of Elara's room and I frowned in confusion. "Last I saw her, she was tending to the herb garden. I'm willing to bet that she's still there," he said and I chuckled, following him down the stairs.

Kai's gaze flicked toward me with a knowing grin, and I immediately knew I wasn't going to like whatever came out of his mouth next. "Seems she made quite an impression on you last night, huh?"

I knew it. I rolled my eyes at his words, ignoring the heat that flared up my neck at those words.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just grateful she patched me up." The excuse sounded flimsy even to my own ears.

Kai chuckled, the sound laced with amusement. "Sure, buddy. Whatever you say."

Ignoring his playful jabs, I quickened my pace, my steps echoing on the wooden floorboards. Kai pushed open the back door, and I stepped out into the dappled sunlight that filtered through the leaves of the towering oak trees.

And there she was, kneeling amidst a riot of color and fragrance. Her raven hair was pulled back in a loose braid, and it shimmered in the sunlight. Her movements were measured and purposeful, as she pruned the vibrant herbs with a pair of small shears. Rowan was perched on a nearby bench, and he watched her with a goofy grin plastered on his face. I quickly whipped out my phone to capture it in a picture. The fool looked love-struck, and I fully intended to tease him about it later.

Elara's head snapped up as we approached and her beautiful emerald eyes widened in surprise, before a warm smile bloomed on her face. "Rhys! You're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Sore, but alive," I replied as I approached, and she dropped the shears and took off the gloves she had been wearing.

Rowan, still sporting a bandage around his arm, gave me a mock salute. "Hey, captain. Feeling better?" he asked teasingly, and I rolled my eyes but affirmed his question, my gaze lingering on Elara.

"I just wanted to thank you," I began, my voice low. "For patching us up last night and for…" I faltered, struggling to find the right words.

A beat of awkward silence stretched between us. Then, Rowan, ever the social butterfly, piped up. "And for giving it to him good too, that's what he's trying to say." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively, earning a swat on his good arm from Elara.

"Rowan!" she hissed, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

"It was nothing, I'm just glad you three are okay," she murmured.

"Well, we were hoping you would like to spend the day with us and take a tour around the pack property…"