The Revelation

Mona’s POV:

“Who in the world is who?” she replied, pausing her task to look at me.

“Him,”  I said, tilting my head toward the green-eyed man now hoisting a giggling child onto his shoulders.

“Oh,” Keisha laughed, following my gaze. “You mean Kade?”

“Uhhh…” I drew out the word, my eyes still locked on him. “If we’re talking about the dangerously attractive man who just roared up on a motorcycle, then yes, I mean Kade.”

“You’re crazy,” she chuckled. “Well.. That’s my cousin. Uncle Sebastian’s son.”

I whipped my head toward her. “Wait, you mean he’s the son to the man we’re all supposed to stay out of his way?”

“Yhup.” she confirmed, resuming her work. “That  same uncle.”

“Wow.” I replied, stunned. 

“But wait, why have you never told me about your cousin?” I continued, my voice barely a whisper.

“Mona, please,” she laughed, nudging me aside. “What’s there to tell?”

“Everything, Keish. Every single thing.” 

“You’re unbelievable.” She shook her head, taking the plates from me.

“He’s kinda sexy, though,” I admitted, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly as I watched him.

Her head snapped up. 

“Okay, chill.” She held up a hand. “I know you’re going through it with Marcello, but trust me, Kade is not rebound material.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I took a step back, one eyebrow arched.

“It means exactly what you think it means. I don’t want you to get your heart broken again.”

*Heartbroken?*

Please. This had nothing to do with my heart. I just needed someone to fill the very specific, very physical gaps Marcello had left vacant for years. 

And from the look of him, Mr. Kade seemed perfectly qualified for the job.

“I don’t think you need to worry about that, Keish,” I said, waving a dismissive hand before leaning in to whisper. “I just need someone who could fuck me back to life. Someone to perform..” I fake-coughed before continuing. “..a thorough inspection down there.” 

Her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes going wide with shock before she burst into stifled laughter, shaking her head and wagging a finger at me. 

“Mona, there’s no way—”

“Don’t be a buzzkill, Keisha.” I cut her off. “You’re the one who told me to come here and heal, weren’t you?”

“I did, but I didn’t mean for you to ‘heal’ using my cousin!”

“Once the wedding is over, we go our separate ways,” I said with a mischievous smile. “No strings.”

“Girl, he hasn’t even spoken to you yet and you’re already planning to—”

“Evening, ladies.”

The rough, easy voice cut through our hissed conversation. We both turned.

It was him.

The green-eyed biker.

I swallowed. Hard. 

A  slow, knowing smirk tugged at his lips, as if he’d heard something he wasn’t supposed to.

*Fuck.*

“Hmm,” Keisha hummed, a confident smirk spreading across her face as she crossed her arms. She looked utterly unbothered, while I stood awkwardly beside her, my boldness having evaporated entirely. “Didn’t think you’d bother to come to my farewell dinner.”

“Now, why would I miss my baby cousin’s big night?” he said, his smile charming.

“Oh, please,” she waved him off. “Don’t pretend. I know your father forced you to come.”

“Hmm,” he shrugged. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe you’re not.”

Keisha rolled her eyes. I turned my head away, feeling like an intruder in a private family banter.

*Where did all my boldness go? Goddess, have mercy.*

“You’ve got pretty eyes,” I heard him say from beside me.

“You’re such a weirdo,” Keisha laughed. “Since when do you give me compliments?”

“I’m not talking about you, silly,” he replied, his voice dropping slightly. “I mean your friend.”

What the—

My head snapped back toward them.

“Who?” Keisha asked.

“Her,” he said, his gaze fixed directly on mine.

My cheeks flushed a burning red. It suddenly felt ten degrees hotter in the open space. 

“T-thank you,” I stuttered, nodding shyly.

“Have we met before?” he asked, his brow furrowing with a curious intensity.

“N-no, I doubt it.” I managed.

“Hmm,” he rumbled, a low, thoughtful sound. Then he extended his hand. “I’m Kade. And you are?”

I slipped my hand into his, my skin tingling at the contact. His eyes never left mine. 

“I’m Mona.”

“Ahem.” Keisha coughed pointedly. “I’ll just… go see if they need any help in the kitchen.”

“Sure,” I nodded, barely hearing her.

As she walked behind Kade, she made a sharp, playful ‘I’m-watching-you’ gesture, pointing two fingers from her eyes to me. A giggle escaped me before she finally turned and disappeared, leaving me alone with the green-eyed storm.

“So, I’m guessing it’s your first time at our family house?” he asked, finally letting my hand go.

“Yeah,” I laughed softly as I nodded. “I couldn’t afford to  miss Keisha’s big night.”

“I see,” he chuckled, nodding as he ran a hand through his hair.

*Damn. His smile was devastating.*

“But you live in Nightfang, right?” he continued, his eyes curious as he crossed his arms. The motion made the muscles in his shirt strain.

*Oh, shit.*

I couldn’t tell him the truth—that I was from Blackwood, that I was the Luna of another pack, that I was legally bound to another man. Telling him would slam every door before I’d even stepped through. If Marcello got to live a secret, then so did I.

“Yeah, I do,” I lied smoothly. “It’s just… quite far from here.”

“That’s not a problem,” he smirked. “I’d go any distance to keep seeing these pretty eyes.”

I forced a light chuckle, my pulse quickening.

“So…” he dragged out the word, slipping his hands into his pockets. “I guess I’ll see you at dinner?”

I nodded. “Y-yeah.”

He took a slow step back, his gaze holding mine for one last, charged moment before he finally turned and walked away.

I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep, steadying breath. His scent—spice, leather, and wild pine—lingered in the air.

*Gods, I needed some of that in me.*

Just as I was savoring the fading warmth of the moment—

“Uncle Sebastian’s home!!!” a chorus of  children’s voices shrieked from the front of the house.

My heart gave a strange, anxious lurch at the sound of their chanting. I didn’t know if it was the fear Keisha had planted in me or the sudden terror that he might become an obstacle between me and Kade.

Either way, I refused to be stopped. Kade was too magnetic, too perfect a distraction to lose over some intimidating uncle. We’d find a way.

“Mona!”

A voice snapped me from my plotting.

“Yeah?” I turned to see Keisha striding toward me.

She grabbed my hand, pulling me along as she leaned in to whisper. “First, you owe me all the details about Kade. But right now, you need to meet my uncle. I’ve talked you up, and he wants to meet you.”

“Wants to meet me?” I laughed, skeptical.

“Okay, maybe ‘wants’ is a strong word,” she shrugged. “But he’s in a decent mood, and I paved the way. Just be polite.”

“I thought you said he was intense.”

“He is,” she confirmed. “But today seems… different. Come on.”

She navigated us through the crowd of gathered family, her grip firm on my wrist. He was facing away, speaking softly to a child.

“Uncle, she’s here!” Keisha announced brightly.

He turned.

And in that single, suspended moment, the world stopped.

It was him.

Keisha’s uncle, the grumpy Alpha I was supposed to avoid… was the golden-eyed stranger from the bar.