gether. When his hand held hers, it was steady-warm without tightening, present without

horus of night insects and the whisper of wind through leaves. The

w why she hadn

till pool. Moonlight reflected across its surface, turning the water

ed at the

w her hand. He let

his place?

ied. "One that existe

ring m

uiet. And because I wanted you a

ou're the Alpha. Wh

"Because tonight, they wou

dawned, slow a

ention," Lyra sai

ever," he said honestly. "The bond

tensed. "Not

eful not to invade her space. "Someth

e. "So I'm a problem

ly. "You're a trut

stole he

ing. Lyra took a step back, needing space. Kade didn

at me like that?"

d who you are," he said. "Not wh

nd," she replied, folding he

with anger, but certa

the

corrected. "And it d

tightened

ice low. "But I know what it looks like when

allowe

," he said. "It never does. It o

d, a rustle sounded at

tantly-alert, focused, pro

ere," h

th warriors from his pack. They stopp

," one

ed," Kade replied even

ergy," the other explain

t to shield her, but to reassure hi

," he said. "And no

icked to Lyra, curiosi

ce forward, his presen

ed their eyes. "Of cou

" he

and disappeared

ased a sl

ighten you?"

d honestly. "

d slightl

t for me," she said. "A

ection doesn't require poss

. "You feel resp

admitted.

w," she

"Lyra, I won't cross a line you don't choose to step o

art st

hes from her cheek. "If you w

ent str

t demanding, not pa

ened he

uldn't

s hand. "That's enough for tonight

ppointment tang

back," he added

no

s together, Lyra realized the

aid of the Alp

how easily he ma

n more

didn't want tha