Chapter Twenty-Eight

Willow

I can’t stay here. I know that.

But I also can’t leave until I’m finished throwing up all the fluids in my body.

It’s the same as last time, if not a little worse for lack of replenishing tonics. Nausea. Shakes. Bleeding. All promising signs.

Whatever blend Silas gave me, it’s doing the trick.

Kane rubs my back. He gathers my hair off my face as I retch. “That’s it,” he rumbles. “Breathe.”

I close my eyes, waiting for the wave to pass. Kane’s body is solid behind me, like no matter what happens, he’ll still be there. Nothing can hurt me. Not a bear, not Silas, and certainly not a contraceptive tea.

Finally I have nothing left to throw up. I lean back, letting him catch me.

He lifts a cup to my lips. “Small sips.”

The water is tepid, soothing my raw throat. With each tiny gulp, I feel a little steadier. “Thanks,” I say.

“Mm.” He puts the cup down. “Think that’s all of it?”

I nod. For now.

Gently, he helps me into bed. A part of me wants to resist—I should be packing, hastily gathering everything I might need to survive out in the wilds—but I can barely move without feeling dizzy.

Kane clears his throat. “Is this, uh, normal?”

I follow his gaze to the bucket, left on the floorboards, and realize what he’s asking. “Yeah. Same thing happened last time.”

He grimaces, clearly unhappy that what just happened to me is anything akin to ‘last time’, but he just grits his teeth. “So, you’re gonna be fine.”

Despite everything, I smile. “Yeah.”

The two of us sit in silence. Kane’s breathing is deep, almost like he wants to purr, but isn’t sure how I’ll react. I’m not sure, either. Now my heat has passed, I definitely don’t want any alpha telling me what to do or how to feel—that much I made perfectly clear last night. But he’s just … been here. Taking care of me.

Like he’s done from the start.

“You know,” I whisper, “you don’t have to stick around.”

He stiffens. “We had a deal.”

“Things have changed. For all I know, Silas is already on his way back to Southside. Once the other sentinels figure out where I am, they’ll come for me. Which means … I can’t stay here.”

He doesn’t fly into a rage like I expect. Instead, his body taut, he growls, “Thought you might say that.”

I frown. “You’re not angry?”

“ Angry doesn’t touch it.” His eyes flash. “But it’s got nothing to do with you. Silas—” his lip curls, “—that piece of shit lied to me. Said he was gonna help you. And, like an idiot, I believed him.” He grits his teeth. “If you don’t feel safe here, I’m not gonna force it.”

“Oh …” I turn away. “Good.”

Good? My inner omega is incredulous. After everything me and Kane have been through, am I really content for him to let me go?

“Just so you know,” he grunts, nodding to the bucket, “you’re not goin’ anywhere until you’ve got this shit out of your system.”

I laugh, though the sound is bitter. “Don’t worry. You’re free to keep tabs on me until then.”

“ Until then ?”

I want to face him, but his pheromones—potent, pissed off—keep me cautious. “Think of it this way. Once I’m gone, you’ll have what you always wanted: the entire territory all to yourself.”

Kane grabs me by the hips, swiveling me around so I’m straddling him.

“If you think,” he snarls, “you’re going anywhere without me—think the fuck again.”

Just looking into his eyes casts my whole body in a harsh ruby glow. I blush, my nerves set alight. I thought these feelings would go away after my heat, but now here he is, and here I am … sitting in his lap. And despite everything that’s happened, I know what I want.

“Alpha,” I whisper.

With that single word, Kane’s lips crash into mine, claiming me in a long, bruising kiss. My inner omega sings. My senses flood with cinnamon.

He pulls away, his gaze flicking to my neck.

“You’re mine,” he growls.

A chill runs down my spine. It’s not the first time I’ve heard those words.

Kane kisses me again. “And I’m yours,” he breathes.

Mine. Yours. With him, they’re one and the same.

And suddenly, I know why I’m not afraid anymore.

***

By dusk, I can keep down a meal. By dawn, Kane and I are leaving the cabin for the last time.

He walks in front, checking on me over his shoulder every ten seconds. I assured him I was perfectly capable of travelling, but either he doesn’t believe me, or he’s more worried about the wilds than he let on.

We’ve been walking long enough that the sun is high in the sky, though I don’t know how much progress we’ve made.

Suddenly Kane stops. “You’re shivering.”

Of course I’m shivering. Out here, ‘freezing my ass off’ is kind of the default.

He unties his cloak, draping it over my shoulders before I can protest. Pure alpha warmth seeps into me.

“Kane,” I huff, “come on. You’ll freeze.”

Now shirtless, he picks up the pack—complete with bedsheets, crockery, and sparse rations. “I’ll live.”

I want to fight him, noting the goosebumps on his tough flesh, but for the first time all morning, my blood is pumping through my veins, and I feel like I can actually move .

When asked where we’re headed, Kane simply says ‘north’. It’ll be colder. I’m sure he knows that. But he also must know that further north is directly further away from my village.

Further away from Silas.

The thought pierces me like a dagger. I double over, breath hitching.

Instantly Kane turns. “Will?”

“I’m—” what? What am I?

Kane puts his hands on my shoulders. “Hey. Look at me. What is it?”

I remember Silas’s hands. Did he ever hold me like this? Dammit . Why can’t I remember?

“I’m fine,” I finally get out. “Sorry. Just felt a little nauseous.”

I’m not sure he believes me— I sure don’t believe me—but he reluctantly lets go. “Alright. Let’s break here.”

We find a half-dry log and sit, sharing sips from the water canister. Kane gives me a handful of dried fruits and watches to make sure I eat. For what might be the first time, I’m barely aware of his eyes on me.

Instead, I sneak glances into the trees, my inner omega searching.

Twisting the dagger a little deeper.