Chapter seventeen

I was halfway through folding laundry when I heard the soft knock.

Not on the door.

On my window.

I froze, shirt clenched in my hands.

There it was again. A light tap. Familiar.

I crossed the room and pushed the curtain aside.

Kyren was crouched on the sill, grinning like he’d just won something illegal.

“You know,” I whispered as I slid the window open, “normal people use doors.”

“Normal people don’t get asked for space by someone they really like,” he said cheerfully, slipping inside. “Also, your aunt kinda scares me.”

I snorted “Fair enough.”

He closed the window quietly behind him and turned to face me. His smile softened when he really looked at me.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I am,” I said. “I asked for space, though. You promised.” I reminded him.

“I did,” he agreed easily. “I’m very bad at keeping that promise but I can keep any other promises. God, I sound like Maddox.”

I huffed out a laugh despite myself. “Kyren—”

“I missed you,” he said simply. That made my heart race and my wolf whimper in longing.

Before I could respond, he leaned in and kissed me.

It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t rough. Just warm and familiar, like he’d done it before and never stopped wanting to.

I was startled at first—then kissed him back.

For a second, everything else disappeared, only the feeling of his lips moving against mine and my hand threading through his hair remained. My wolf howled in pleasure and I felt that familiar heat in my lower belly.

Then reality rushed back in all at once.

I pulled away, heart racing. “Kyren, wait. I—this is confusing.”

“I know, I'm sorry” he said, voice quieter now.

He stepped closer anyway and rested his forehead against my shoulder, burying his face briefly against my neck. I felt him breathe in slowly, like he was grounding himself.

“Come out with me,” he murmured. “Just for a bit. You’re always here, or with Tessa and Naomi. You deserve something normal. Let's go to the mall.”

I hesitated.

He pulled back just enough to look at me—and then did it.

The puppydog eyes.

I groaned. “That should be illegal.”

He grinned. “So that’s a yes?”

“…Fine,” I said. “But give me time to shower.”

“Victory,” he whispered, pumping a fist.

I grabbed some clean clothes and headed for the bathroom. When I came back, Kyren was stretched out on my bed, arms behind his head. I had decided to put on a purple pleated miniskirt paired with a white colored inner wear that accentuated the curves of my breasts, a knee length lilac colored stockings and a matching purple jacket It was part of the outfits Tessa and Naomi gifted me. Kyren whistled appreciatedly. “Damn, you look hot.” I blushed and began putting on a pair of white sneakers.

Kyren lifted my pillow and pressed his face into it, inhaling deeply and sighing.

“Kyren!”

He looked entirely unashamed. “You smell heavenly.”

“I’m locking my window forever,” I muttered.

---

At the mall, everything felt louder, brighter, easier.

Kyren teased me through stores, made faces at mannequins, and bought me a pretzel even though I said I wasn’t hungry.

When we passed a jewelry store, I hesitated.

I reached inside my jacket and pulled out the necklace Maddox gave me, slipping it on properly this time. I had slipped it into my pocket when Kyren wasn't looking.

Kyren noticed instantly.

He didn’t tease. He smiled.

Soft. Genuine.

“Looks good on you,” he said.

“Thanks,” I replied, suddenly unsure why my chest felt tight.

“I feel jealous of Maddox now," he mumbled playfully and I chuckled.

He said nothing more, just walked a little closer.

As Kyren and I stepped into another store, the lights flickered briefly overhead.

I paused, my heart hammering as the familiar fear and familiarity gripped me.

“You feel that?” I asked, voice barely audible.

Kyren’s smile faded just a little. “Yeah.”

Somewhere far away, something that had been waiting stirred again.

And I was beginning to get wary.