Rainwater dripped from his hair, curling down his back as he stood in silence, staring into the fire. The flames highlighted the hard line of his jaw and the tension that refused to leave his shoulders.
He had been so bothered, his lycan rumbling underneath his skin that he couldn't concentrate. He didn't look back when he charged into the storm, choosing to patrol the areas in his wolf form.
Yet his lycan didn't stop rumbling, although this time it was for a different reason.
He hadn't slept, couldn't sleep.
Not when she was curled into him, trembling like a leaf under the storm. Not even after she fell asleep, her small hand still tangled in his soaked fur.
He had stayed, guarded her through the night.
And now… he burned with the shame of it. He had stayed with her, guarding like a damn dog.
What the hell was he doing?
The door creaked open, and Caelum entered without knocking, eyes narrowing the moment he saw the state of him. Shirtless. Wet.
"Where have you been?" He asked, clearly tired. He'd probably been searching for him all night even if there was no need to.
Thorne didn't look away from the fire. "Out."
"Out where?"
At this, Thorne turned to look at him, eyebrows quirked. "Patrolling. What is this about?"
Caelum blinked, "Patrolling? There were no threats reported."
"I wasn't looking for threats," Thorne replied casually.
Caelum sighed internally. "You vanished. No horse, no protection. During the first storm of the season. And during a full moon week?
You shouldn't be out this close to the full moon. Your control frays. You know that."
"I know that!" Thorne barked, and Caelum went silent. "I don't need you singing it to me like a damn lullaby."
Caelum sighed but he wasn't backing down. "Your shifts are getting stronger. Your scent changes. You're not like you used to be."
Thorne's jaw clenched. "Do I look out of control to you?"
The room felt heavier than before. Thorne clenched his jaw, fists tightening. "Get on with the order of the day," he said finally, "I don't have time for lectures."
Caelum hesitated. "The council sent word. Mason has a report. Shall I call him in?"
"He's back?"
Caelum nodded. "He returned late last night."
Thorne didn't answer right away. His gaze drifted back to the fire. In his mind's eye, he saw her again, curled into herself in that broken shed, soaked and shaking.
His chest tightened. She had touched him without knowing. Without flinching. She had looked up at him like he was both monster and savior.
He didn't know which scared him more…
———-
Adina~
The maids rushed to the main hall, gripping their skirts and whispering about last night's storm.
Adina limped slowly toward the end of the hall, hoping to blend in, but the head maid caught her eye. She walked towards Adina, who had stiffened.
Matilda's gaze dropped to Adina's ankle, then lifted again. "Take the day off. That's an order."
Adina blinked. "What?"
Something akin to guilt flashed through Matilda's eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. "You heard me. Take the day off and rest. You look like death. I don't want you contaminating everyone."
Adina blinked, stunned. She nodded and slipped away, careful not to draw any more attention to herself. She made her way back to the slave quarters.
The room was quiet when she entered, save for soft humming. "Kora?"
Kora was there, folding linens, her thick braid trailing down her back. She glanced up and grinned. "Hey! You're here?"
Adina hummed, "The head maid asked me to take today off. What are you doing here still? Aren't you supposed to join the others?" She asked as she moved to her cot.
Kira shrugged. "My own chores don't begin until noon." She moved over to Adina's side, sitting down.
"The head maid's right though. You shouldn't put much pressure on that ankle."
Adina nodded, she'd been ready to bear the pain today and work, but thankfully Matilda asked her to stay behind.
"Storm was loud last night. Thought the roof would fly off." Kora voiced out.
Adina hummed, glancing down at her ankle. "Felt like it might."
Kora studied her. "You got caught in it?"
"Yes. The mines."
Kora tsked. "Let me guess, Matilda ordered you to work the mines this time, right? Bastards." She shook her head. "I bet that's why she asked you to stay behind. The guilt is probably killing her.
Adina didn't believe so, why would Matilda feel guilty about making her work? She's a slave, and that's her job.
They were quiet again. Then Kora asked softly, "What pack did you come from before?"
A lump rose in Adina's throat, but she quickly swallowed it. "What does it matter now? It's of no use."
Kora didn't press, she simply continued, "I was from the eastern valley pack. Had a small garden I loved so much…" her smile dimmed "…That was all before this."
Adina didn't want to press forward, so she stayed silent until a thought crossed her mind. "Can I ask you a question?"
Kora glanced at her, "Sure? What is it?"
"Is there…" Adina hesitated, feeling slightly ridiculous. "Is there such a thing as a wolf as large as a man?"
Kora blinked. Then she burst out laughing.
"A wolf?" she repeated, chuckling. "As large as a man? Oh, sweet girl, no. Even the largest alphas aren't as large as a human. They're significantly large in their wolf form. But, a human-sized wolf would be monstrous."
Adina's brow furrowed. "So… it's not possible?"
"Well—" Kora paused, tilting her head. "Not for regular wolves. A normal pack alpha is large but never as large as a human. The only wolves as large as a man are Lycans. They have the ability to shift to their wolves and lycan form but they prefer their lycans."
"Lycans," Adina whispered, her mind flashing back to the wolf that guarded her in the storm.
Kora nodded. "They're rare. Powerful. King Thorne is the last of them." She stood up, "I should get back to work and leave you to rest."
She got to the door then looked back at Adina, smiling. "You've nothing to worry about. Lycans rarely shift into their wolves. They've got better things to do."
Adina wasn't so sure.
She reached under her thin blanket and pulled out the black handkerchief. It was soft, lined with silver threading. The letter V stitched at the corner caught her eye.
She ran her thumb over the stitching, her heart beating faster than ever… could it be possible?