Chapter 7

After a few days of being locked inside this room, I was finally tired of the confinement. I hesitated at the door, my fingers curling around the handle, my nerves all over the place. I could no longer sit still while listening to the pack members laughing outside the door or hear them grunting while training.

The room I was given was a stark contrast to the one I was used to in the Bloodmoon Pack. It was painted in a soft pink color, with large windows to let the air in, and a large queen-sized bed to envelop every part of me. It was more beautiful than I was used to, and quite frankly, not what I was accustomed to. As much as I loved staying in there and hiding from the world, it was beginning to get tiring.

My wolf, whom I still wasn’t accustomed to, was whining and writhing inside of me, begging to be set free for even a second. After what happened with Aiden, she had gone silent until Kieran came along. Now, I could feel her excitement inside me, and as much as I tried to shove down the thought, she was there, making it impossible to ignore.

I sighed and finally pulled the door open. The cold air was the first thing that hit my face. I walked out of the room and down the hallway, not sure where I was heading but certain that I wasn’t going back into that room until my wolf was settled and wasn’t going to drive me crazy again.

The pack house was large, far larger than Bloodmoon. It was also elegantly decorated and painted, a stark contrast to the Bloodmoon Pack's environment. There, everything smelled like damp stone, sweat, and bitterness. Here, it was fresher and lighter, but it didn't make me feel any more at home.

I kept my head down as I passed a few pack members chatting near the staircase. The moment they noticed me, the air shifted. They stopped talking, and their eyes turned in my direction.

I stiffened, quickening my pace. I wasn’t sure if it was curiosity or suspicion that made them stare, but I had no interest in finding out.

By the time I reached the main living area, my hands were clammy. I hesitated in the doorway, unsure if I should keep going or turn around. The room was filled with more wolves than I expected, lounging on couches, playing games, laughing, and talking too.

I took a shaky step back and ran straight into someone.

A gasp left my lips as I turned sharply, my heart racing. A man stood behind me, tall, lean, with sandy blond hair and sharp hazel eyes.

"Whoa," he said, steadying me with a firm grip on my arm. "Didn’t mean to scare you."

I swallowed, my throat dry. "It’s fine."

His brows furrowed slightly as if he was trying to place me. "You’re… Alpha Kieran’s guest?"

Kieran’s guest? I guess that’s one way to put it, right?

Before I could respond, a cold shiver ran down my spine, the hair on my skin standing upright. I hated the way my body responded to his presence.

I didn’t need to turn to know he was there. His presence was overwhelming, my wolf whimpering inside of me. The air thickened, and the wolves around us suddenly looked much more alert.

The man in front of me immediately dropped his hand from my arm and stepped back, straightening like a soldier under command.

I turned to see Kieran standing a few feet away, dressed in black.

"Alpha, I was just going to the training grounds when I bumped into your guest. She seemed to be lost," the man rushed out. If I wasn’t so occupied with trying to quiet my wolf from how excited she was to see Kieran, I would’ve heard the slight tremor in the man’s voice.

Kieran nodded curtly. "Thanks, Brad. You may leave."

The man nodded and walked away, leaving me with the Alpha. I swallowed hard, shuffling on my feet. He still hadn’t said a word to me, only stared.

"I was looking for you when I ran into him," I blurted out, feeling a need to explain my presence.

Kieran arched his brows. "Looking for me? Why? You could’ve just asked Anita to help with—" he paused, his eyes taking me in again. "Why were you looking for me?"

"I need to go on a run."

He didn’t say a word, he simply stared at me for what felt like an eternity. "A run?"

"Yeah…I just got my wolf and haven’t had the opportunity to run in my wolf. She’s been very uncomfortable to work with," I replied, my heart beating harder than ever in my chest.

"A run," Kieran repeated, his gaze narrowing. He studied me, and for a second, I wondered if he could hear the frantic beating of my heart. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he gave a slow nod. "Fine. But you’re not going alone. I am going with you.”

"You are?" I asked, unable to hide the shock on my face. He’s a Lycan. A king too. Why would he want to come on a run with me?

Kieran smirked, stepping closer to me, and I swear my knees weakened. "I am…If you think you can escape me, Emma, you’ve got another thing coming for you."