Chapter 4: Returning to the pack

Kylie's POV

"Ding dong, ding dong."

I woke up with knitted brows. The chiming of my phone was especially loud, vibrating from somewhere between the sheets. 

Yawning, I reached out, my fingers pressing around blindly before I finally found it. 

I stared at the tons of unread messages flowing on the screen with half-lidded eyes. All of them were from my best friend.

[Are you okay?] 8:12 PM

[Where did you run off to?] 8:12 PM

[I can't find you anywhere. You're not at home either?] 8:30 PM

[KYLIE, WHERE THE FUCK IS YOU AT?] 8:31 PM 

I could feel her anger here. I massaged my brows as I could already imagine her seething when we met again. 

[Just respond, will you?] 8:35 PM

[Ky, honestly, it's okay. That man doesn't deserve you, so don't let him weigh you down. Thank the goddess you saw his true character early.] 8:36 PM

Another one was sent this morning.

[Good morning, Ky. Are you coming back? Training will start soon.] 11:00 AM

There were also several missed calls from her.

I sighed, tossing the phone aside while staring at the ceiling.

Yesterday's memories were still vivid in my mind. It felt like a nightmare, but it wasn't. I had caught Cole red-handedly fucking my step-mother, the one he knew I disliked. Not only that, he had cruelly rejected me — as if years of relationship were nothing but a joke. 

I also remembered getting drunk from the whiskey, and well… the hottie in the hotel room, who turned out to be Cole’s dad… And fucking wait… the kiss!

Yes, WE KISSED. 

DAMN. 

What happened after that? I couldn't remember.

But first… where was Elijah? 

My eyes scanned the room, and I was ready to check the bathroom when I noticed something crazy. 

My clothes.

Gone!

Not entirely gone, as I still had on my underwear and… someone else's oversized black shirt?

I couldn’t help but take a sniff, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply. Then I smiled.

It smelled like him.

The door opened at this moment, and he was standing there with a bowl of something, gazing at me with a smile in those warm blue eyes.

I felt my heart pound in my chest.

"You're awake."  He approached, handing me the bowl. “Hangover soup. I figured you might need one since you lost your wolf.”

A rush of warmth gushed through me as I reached out to take the bowl.

It was warm… just like my current feeling. 

I took a sip then met his eyes. I muttered softly, “It must’ve been difficult to get, right?”

Most of us here were werewolves, and generally, we don’t suffer hangovers even when we’re wasted the day before.

“Someone here knew how to make one.”

“Thank you.” That was all I could say. 

“My pleasure.”

I smiled then drank everything.

I set down the empty bowl and finally asked the most important question. “Did we—?” I didn’t think we did, but who knows... I couldn’t explain how my clothes came off either.

He reached out and gently wiped the remnants from my lips with his thumb. His hand was rough with callouses, yet his touch was so gentle. 

“You passed out while we were kissing,” he stated teasingly, “One second you were clinging to me like your life depended on it, and the next? You were snoring.”

My eyes widened. “No way…”

I SNORED?!

He chuckled, dragging a chair beside the bed and sat down. “It was kind of impressive, honestly.”

“And my clothes?” I asked hesitantly.

He tilted his head. “I had one of the waitresses put my shirt on for you. You looked uncomfortable sleeping in that dress. Figured it’d be tough sleeping in it.”

My cheeks flushed. “You… didn’t look?”

His eyes locked with mine, a hint of seriousness in them. “I didn’t touch you, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Was I shocked? Yes.

But mostly disappointed.

Everything went silent, not the awkward kind, but a peaceful one.

At the same time, I couldn't help but hesitate… Should I tell him we were from the same pack?

He should’ve already known, but maybe he didn’t?

After all, he only made appearance once or twice. Honestly, I’d nearly forgotten he existed, until now.

In the end, the urge to come clean won, and I told him.

“I… actually know you.”

“You know me?” He raised a brow, intrigued.

I hummed. “I’ve heard about you…”

“Oh, really?” There was a touch of interest in his eyes as he leaned forward slightly. “What did you hear about me?”

Elijah King.

He was the reason our pack was one of the greatest. Under his leadership, we were like rockets, unstoppable.

Apart from tales of his strength and leadership, there were rumors about his looks. Before now, I hadn’t paid much attention. But now? People weren’t lying when they said he was hot.

I wondered if any of them had ever seen him naked like I had. He looked like a Greek god.

“I’m from your pack…”

He chuckled. “I smelled that already.” 

Then he murmured softly, brushing my hair aside as he stared into my eyes like he was delivering some fucking confession. “I just wonder why I never noticed you until now.”

Something shifted in me and I averted my gaze. I was about to drop the bombshell when my phone rang again.

I glanced at the screen. It was Mia.

I sighed, swiping to answer.

Her worried voice filled my ears. After gently responding to all her questions, she mentioned, “The trainer requested to see you. You missed the last one too. He’s quite insistent and even wanted to go to your house.”

“Uh, what? Hell no!” 

Our trainer is very strict. When I say ‘very’, I mean ‘insanely’. He's the kind of person you don't want to cross. 

I accidentally missed one session before because I was out of town. I couldn’t miss another or I’d be punished.

I shuddered at the thought of that punishment. It wasn't meant for werewolves. 

I sprang up from the bed and slipped right back into my dress. “I gotta leave now.” I glanced at the man who had been watching me quietly the whole time. He stood up.

“Did something happen?”

“Mmm, no. Not much. But I really gotta go.” I had pure fear of that big-bearded man.

“Do you want me to drop you off?”

“No, thanks. I brought my car.” I shook my head as I slipped into my heels. 

I really wished I could spend more time with him though. 

“Then… we’ll meet again?”

I paused for a moment, turning to look at him with a soft smile.

Would we?