Chapter Forty-Seven

Willow

Selling village secrets. Relinquishing our status to prisoners of war. Trading our freedom for refuge.

I wish I could be angry with him. My mate certainly is.

Kane chokes on a mouthful of bread. “He what ?”

Watching from the corner of the kitchen, Tristan—a thirty-something alpha with dirty blond hair and a perpetually exasperated expression—groans. “Here I thought even rogues had basic table manners.”

“It’s okay, Kane,” I sooth him before he can throw his plate into Tristan’s face. “If anything, it proves Silas was telling the truth.” Anyone willing to betray their post so severely is more than a deserter.

They’re a traitor.

“You don’t know that,” Kane says.

Kelina, roughly the same age, with cunning blue eyes and dark hair she wears pulled back, scoffs. “Trust me—if he was yanking our chain, you’d all be executed by now.”

Silas growls. “Not helping.”

“Who’s to say he’s not, huh?” Kane stands making all three guards feel for their swords. “Besides, what do you assholes care about shitty intel from Southside?”

Defiance thickens in the room. Plus more than a little pride.

“That shitty intel comes straight from the mouth of Southside’s chief of recruitment,” Tristan reminds him. Then, at Silas’s warning look, he rolls his eyes. “ Ex- chief of recruitment. And as long as he keeps giving it to us, the three of you are under our protection.”

“As your prisoners,” I mutter.

Kelina leans over the kitchen table to cock her head at me. “I’m sorry, princess. Is that gonna be a problem with you?”

Princess. My stomach turns. My ears blare white noise.

“You’re ours now, princess .”

When I’m aware of my body again, I realize I’m in Kane’s lap. His furious, animal growl thrums through me.

“Don’t call her that,” Silas orders. His voice is deep and taut. “ Ever.”

Kelina hesitates, debating whether to provoke us further, but wisely restrains herself.

The truth is, the more they talk over my head—Silas re-spilling his secrets from behind enemy lines—the less I care. Taking down the Southside sentinels was never going to be in my power. Why should I start pretending now?

I’m pissed with Silas, but I’m also grateful to him. Without his foresight, and his damning history, we wouldn’t have this safe den. Do I like the idea of being pupsit by three Northside guards? Of course not. But Silas found a way to keep me, him, and Kane safe.

What gives me the right to demand any more than that?

“How long?” Kane suddenly asks, bringing my attention back.

The Northside guards look at each other uncertainly. “Until your chief over there runs out of gossip,” Tristan says at last.

“Then what?”

“Then we leave.” Silas stares at the guards meaningfully. “Isn’t that right?”

I can tell by their gloating pheromones that no, that isn’t fucking right. But suddenly my ribs hurt, and my heart hurts, and I’m way too tired to question it.

“Bunny,” Kane murmurs, propping me up as I slump forward.

Silas starts. “She needs to get back to bed.”

I don’t have the energy to fight them, not that Kane gives me the chance. He scoops me up under my knees, letting Silas guide us back to my room at the end of the hall.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, noting Kane’s displeasure as he lies me in bed. “I know you’d rather be in the wilds.”

His gaze lowers, those harsh eyes soft only for me. “You’re not the one who got us stuck here.”

“Here is warm,” Silas says, leaning in the doorway, “and protected from Southside sentinels.”

“Wouldn’t need protection if you’d done your job,” Kane grunts.

Silas sighs. “I fought them off as best I could.”

“ Best you could would be a pile of sentinel corpses.”

“I don’t make a habit of murder.” Silas darkens. “Unlike another alpha I know.”

“That’s enough,” I snap. “Kane only did what he had to do. If he hadn’t … I wouldn’t be here.” The same applies to me. I can still remember the knife’s weight in my hands, slashing out that alpha’s knees.

“Damn straight,” Kane mutters.

“That’s enough from you, too,” I shoot at him. “If Silas hadn’t put his ass on the line, we’d be all kinds of screwed.”

Kane bristles. “What about your ass?”

Fire burns in my cheeks. Even Silas clears his throat.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Come on ,” Kane groans. “He keeps talking like he did something noble, selling off his precious secrets. But what about yours?” He glares at Silas, hatred black in his eyes. “You told them what they did to her. Didn’t you?”

My gut twinges. I’d be lying if I said the same thought hadn’t crossed my mind, though I haven’t let myself dwell on it.

Silas is quiet. My inner omega aches for a bond—something that’ll let me read his mind, his feelings.

Finally, he bites out, “It wasn’t mine to tell.”

“Bullshit,” Kane grunts.

“As far as Northside’s guards know, Willow left to escape the mother program. Not exactly a lie, but not the whole truth.”

That’s the thing I love about Silas. Sure, he’ll omit the facts, bide his time, but he’s not a liar. Back when we first met, I figured it was a manipulation tactic, but now I see it— him— for what he is.

You love him? my inner omega is all-too eager to point out.

The realization doesn’t startle me like it did with Kane. If anything, it settles over me like a relief. At least I don’t have to fight it anymore.

“Thank you,” I whisper. At both alphas’ looks, I add, “Not just for that. For everything. Fighting off the sentinels. Finding a way to protect us.” I glance at Kane. “I don’t know how long we could’ve gotten by if the Northside guard hadn’t intervened.”

He bristles. “I had it under control, omega.”

“I know. And I know it was my fault we got found out.” I take a breath. “I’m talking about the long term. That bounty isn’t going anywhere, and it’s not like we have anywhere else to run.”

“We can still try,” Kane insists. “The second it gets dark, I can get you out of here. Make our own den, deep in the wilds—like we talked about.”

The earnestness in his voice makes me want to agree, more than anything. But I know, even without Silas’s growling breaths, that it’s not that simple.

“The sentinels aren’t going to stop looking,” I say softly.

“And Northside’s not about to let us go,” Silas puts in.

Kane snarls. “Who’s fault is that?”

“When Southside comes for me,” I press, “we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to fight them off. Not out in the wilds, where anything goes. Northside is still our best option.” I look at Silas. “Doubly so, now Silas has bought our protection.”

Kane’s snarl deepens, but the sound lacks bite. It’s like he’s trying to muster up his usual hatred, the bond taut with effort, but he can’t quite reach it.

I reach for his hand. To my surprise, he stiffens at the touch.

“What the hell, omega,” he grumbles, clutching me tight. “How are you still cold?”

Silas straightens. “Wait here. I’ll get her something hot to drink.”

Kane gives a deep alpha chuff in agreement. I roll my eyes.

Turning, Silas suddenly stops, his shoulders tense. “Kane. Do you, uh … want anything?”

Kane scowls. “Huh?”

“You’ve been locked in a cellar for two days. Seems only fair I get you a drink.” Silas’s ears turn pink. “If you’re thirsty.”

I swallow my laughter, Kane’s expression almost pup-like with shock. “Yeah,” he grunts, “whatever.”

I wait until Silas’s footsteps disappear down the hall before returning my focus to Kane. My omega senses him searching through the bond, probing me.

Finally he says, “So, you love him, huh?”

I start. “How did you—”

“I felt it, when you talked by the river. Felt it again just now. I dunno what he said to you to earn your trust …” His jaw feathers. “But I’m guessing that’s not all he earned.”

The hurt in his voice makes me want to deny it, but what would be the point? Whatever I feel, like it or not, Kane feels it too.

“I also love you ,” I remind him.

His hums in acknowledgment, fingering his mating scar. The raised flesh has already transformed into a soft, pinkish silver. “It’s not gonna stop you from loving him.”

Right again. Loving Kane doesn’t replace my love for Silas. Nor, for the first time, am I sure I want it to.

“You’re upset,” I murmur.

Kane huffs. “Not at you.”

“At Silas?”

He grumbles like he wants to say yes , but instead answers, “Things made more sense when he was an asshole.”

I quirk a brow. “When did he stop being an asshole?”

He hesitates, his jaw tight. “I guess … whenever you started trusting him.”

Something inside of me preens, honored by my mate’s words. I’ve let him down before, putting my faith in the wrong people, yet he still respects my omega’s intuition.

“You took a risk on me,” he explains. “Let me in your den. In your body. In … here.” He feels my scar, his calloused palm making my omega purr. “Makes me the luckiest alpha alive.” Then he grimaces, like he resents what he has to say next. “I’d have to be a real arrogant prick to deprive someone else the same chance.”

I smile. “You’re a lot more noble than you give yourself credit for, alpha.”

“I said a chance ,” he mutters. “He fucks it up, I’ll knock his teeth out.”

“Always such a romantic.”

I sense him about to kiss me, and know I’m not going to do a damn thing to stop it, when Silas comes back into the room.

He thrusts a mug in Kale’s face. “Here.” He nods at me. “For your mate.”

My heart sings at the words. Even Kane seems pleased, glowing with poorly suppressed pride.

We drink, not speaking, until the hot liquid permeates my very bones. I can’t remember the last time I drank something so sweet. Honey is a luxury I didn’t realize I was missing, rolling smoothly down my throat.

Kane grips his mug like he’s drawing strength from its contents. I can already picture the ceramic shattering between his fingers, but before I can purr at him to take it easy, he locks eyes with Silas.

“Fine,” he declares, “we’re staying.”

Silas quirks a brow. “I wasn’t aware that was up for debate.”

“Don’t be an ass,” Kane growls. “If you think Will’s better protected here—” he side-eyes me, “and she agrees, then that’s that. Two against one.”

Now Silas looks genuinely confused. Probably wondering when his vote starting to count for anything in Kane’s eyes.

Before I know it, the tea is making me sleepy. The pain in my ribs and head is persistent, but easier to manage now Kane is here. I sense him in the bond, trying to take as much into himself as he can.

You’d heal a lot faster with a second bond mate. Especially an imprint mate.

My inner omega isn’t snarky like I expect. Instead, she’s gentle, reminding me of a truth I’ve been denying far too long. There’s one alpha’s bite I’m still missing.

Kane’s jaw sets. He must feel it, too.

Silas takes the empty mug from my hands. Kane squeezes into the bed, angling his arms around me with all the gentleness he can manage. I melt into his strong, solid heat while Silas watches over us.

He’s still watching as eyes finally, mercifully, flutter closed.