24. Adrianna

24

ADRIANNA

A shiver of euphoria zips down my spine as Cassian takes off into the forest, and I scramble to race after him. My heart pounds with every leap I take through the trees, the adrenaline spiking through my veins only making me move faster.

I feel free.

As I run through the forest that surrounds the entire Kenner compound, I feel nothing but the wind through my fur and the ground beneath my paws.

I’m not the queen. I’m not supposed to have all the answers. I’m nothing but a wolf.

It’s stunning.

I succumb to the needs of my wolf and bask in the simplicity of life. I think we’re on our eighth exploration of the compound when Cassian slows enough to run beside me. Our bond strengthens with every lap we take together, promising that we’re here for each other despite the madness that surrounds us, and by the fifteenth pass around the compound, I’m exhausted.

Cassian must sense it because he slows by his cabin, coming to a complete stop before I pass out from pure bliss. He doesn’t shift until we’re safely inside his four walls again, and I do the same, opting to lie on the floor as I catch my breath.

“You’re not supposed to tire of that, Addi,” he says, amusement clinging to his words as he saunters over to the kitchen area.

“I don’t care. That was perfection,” I admit, my cheeks warm as I bask in the joy.

“At least your crown is still here.” He points at the jewels on the dining table and I hum in acknowledgement, opting to stay where I am rather than put it back on my head. It’s not needed in moments like this, but I’m definitely trying to spend the next few hours like I have no responsibilities. Which is slightly embarrassing since those responsibilities are everything I’ve been fighting to achieve.

The whirring of the coffee machine cuts through my thoughts and I rush to stand, eager to taste the bitterness only caffeine can offer so that I don’t wind up asleep before I’m even remotely ready.

Approaching Cassian, he tugs me under his arm, pressing a kiss to my head as I lean into him.

“How come we didn’t run into any other wolves while we were out there?” I ask. The thought came to me on our fourth run through, but I didn’t want to stop running to find out.

He rubs the back of his neck with his free hand, avoiding my stare as he clears his throat. “I may have made sure they were all occupied without calling for a complete lockdown so we could be alone,” he admits, but it feels like I’m missing something. His eyes find mine a moment later, like he knows I’m waiting for more, and he sighs. “They’re not too happy about us. I didn’t want them to impede on our time.”

I gape at him, surprise nearly overwhelming me from the initial impact of his words, but they wear off when I realize it kind of makes sense. “They don’t like me,” I state and he shakes his head.

“No, they don’t like the fact that you’re a distraction to me,” he corrects, and my eyes widen.

“So they don’t like me because I’m a distraction for you?” I reiterate, and he gives me a pointed look.

“They like you.”

“Janie definitely. Jake possibly. Everyone else, definitely not.”

“Addi—”

“It’s okay, Cassian. I get it. They’ve gone from having a leader who was driving them into the ground and focused on his own intentions and need for power to having someone willing to guide them to something better, but he’s distracted by the new queen of the entire kingdom.” I try to soothe him with my words, but they don’t seem to hit the mark.

“You’re the best person I’ve ever met in my life. They don’t understand,” he rambles, and I shake my head, squeezing his arm in comfort.

“Let’s be real, Janie is probably the best person you’ve ever met. I just happen to have that magic pussy,” I say with a snicker before I meet his eyes. When I do, the moment grows more solemn.

“Best. Person. I’ve. Ever. Met,” he states, punctuating each word with a kiss, and I melt a little, but it doesn’t distract from the issue he’s struggling with.

“We can agree to disagree, but the reality is, they’re never going to like me if we never give them a chance to get to know me.”

My words hang in the air like a guillotine ready to fall, his eyebrows furrowing in distaste as he tries to find a way to refuse my plan, but it’s pointless. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him so when he shakes his head.

“I’m worried about someone getting some cute idea of challenging you to another duel. I feel like we’ve been through enough of those to last a lifetime. Besides, you don’t need the added stress of that on top of casually running the entire kingdom too.”

The tension in my shoulders eases as I smile up at him. “Until I’m no longer a threat, they’re always going to challenge me. But I’m quite sure we’ve both been challenged under this moon already so I think we have a free pass,” I offer, racking my brain to recall which fucking moon is what and who challenged who, but I’m sure I’m right.

“What is it you’re suggesting?” he asks, like he doesn’t already know the answer to that. So I stare at him, long and hard, until he rolls his eyes and sighs in defeat. “Janie’s holding a gathering in the restaurant tonight. I was going to pass on it but?—”

“That’s perfect.”

“But—”

“No buts. If you don’t show, they’re going to know it’s because of me, which is just another strike against my name.” The pointed look I give him is matched with a frown, but I’m not shying away from this.

Maybe the wolves seeing us together on their own turf will help us. Maybe it will give us a glimpse of the unity I’ve been working so hard to facilitate. Maybe, just maybe, it will be enough to see us through the time apart that’s inevitably coming.

I’ll take whatever I can get. If that means spending the evening completely outnumbered by an entire pack of wolves, then so be it.

I’m Adrianna fucking Reagan.

I don’t back down from anything, especially not when it’s as important as this.

“Are you sure?” he asks, the glint in his eyes offering a sliver of insight into his mind.

I nod, adding a little wink as I answer.

“Completely.”