chapter 9

~ Kaiden’s POV ~

My wolf had lost his mind.

That was the only explanation I had for why I Kaiden Wolfe, Lycan King, supreme Alpha of every pack on this continent was standing outside a coffee shop at seven in the morning holding two cups I hadn’t ordered for myself, waiting for a woman who didn’t know I existed.

She knows you exist, my wolf corrected smugly. She just doesn’t care.

“That’s worse,” I muttered aloud.

The barista behind the counter gave me a look. I ignored her.

I had waited twelve years for my mate. Twelve years of sitting through pack ceremonies watching bonded pairs and feeling nothing but the specific, hollow ache of absence. Twelve years of my council suggesting I choose a suitable she-wolf and produce heirs, and twelve years of telling them to mind their business.

The Moon Goddess had a plan, I had told them. I had believed that.

And then she had put my mate in the same room as a bloodsucking ancient vampire and a warlock with cheekbones sharper than his own daggers, and apparently decided that was funny.

She is beautiful, my wolf sighed dreamily.

“I know.”

Did you see her walk? Like she owns every room she steps into?

“I was standing right there.”

Her scent, he growled losing his mind.

“Shut up! I know,” I hissed through my teeth.

The barista was staring again, I smiled tightly at her and moved toward the door.

Mira’s morning route was precise. She left WyrmTech’s private parking garage at 6:52 AM, stopped at the corner of Meridian and Fifth for exactly four minutes. I timed it twice, then walked the remaining three blocks to the office. She didn't change that.

I had spent three days learning her routine.

My beta, Drake, had called it “stalking.”

My wolf called it love and that was more embarrassing.

I spotted her the moment she turned the corner, black coat, hair down today, moving through the morning crowd like she was the only person in it who had somewhere worth going. My wolf, Randolph, sat up so fast I nearly stumbled.

Go. Go now. Walk faster. No…. wait, don’t run, we’ll look desperate,

“We ARE desperate.” He shouted in my head.

I fell into step beside her.

She didn’t break stride nor glance sideways.

“Kaiden,” she said flatly.

“Good morning.” I held out the coffee. “Black, two sugars, You switched from the latte three weeks ago, I noticed.”

She looked at the cup, then at me, her expression said several things simultaneously, none of them particularly warm before she took the coffee.

My wolf threw an internal celebration so enthusiastic I nearly tripped over a crack in the pavement.

She took it! SHE TOOK IT……

“Don’t read into it,” she said, as if she could hear him. “I haven’t had caffeine yet and you’re convenient.”

“I’ll take it conveniently,” I said.

“You shouldn’t.”

“Mira,” I kept pace with her easily, my longer stride deliberately relaxed so I didn’t crowd her. “I’ve waited twelve years for a mate. I’m not particularly proud of admitting that but I also don’t have the energy to pretend I’m not completely undone by you, so.” I shrugged. “There it is.”

She slowed, almost imperceptibly. “Twelve years,” she repeated.

“My council has strongly suggested I just pick someone approximately forty-seven times.” I paused……

Something moved at the corner of her mouth. Her eyes for just one second softened at the edges in a way she hadn’t intended.

My wolf made a sound like a lovesick teenager.

Tell her she’s pretty.

“Don’t,” I thought back at him, hard.

Tell her she smells like….

“Absolutely not.” I shunned him

TELL HER…….

“Mira,” I said out loud, slightly louder than intended. She raised an eyebrow. “Sorry, Internal conflict.”

“Your wolf?”

“He has opinions.”

“About me?” she asked.

“Constantly.” I exhaled. “He’s currently suggesting I compliment your scent which I am actively vetoing because we’ve only just stopped you from walking away and I refuse to ruin the first thirty seconds of progress I’ve made in three weeks.”

She stopped walking.

I stopped too, bracing myself for the dismissal, the cold eyes, the angry voice that sliced through ego like a blade.

Instead, she laughed, enough that two people walking past turned to look at her. It lasted exactly three seconds before she caught it and pressed her lips together, composing herself with visible effort.

But I had heard it, My wolf had heard it too. And everything in my body reacted like she had set off a flare.

There she is, my wolf breathed reverently.

I felt my chest tighten.

“Your wolf has bad advice,” she said, but her voice had lost its Sharpness.

“He really does,” I agreed. “Last Tuesday he suggested I send you flowers. I reminded him you run a billion-dollar empire and probably receive flowers from heads of state.” I paused. “He said to send more flowers.”

Another almost-smile, She was fighting it hard. I could see the war happening in real time on her face and it was the most fascinating thing I had ever watched.

“Kaiden.” My name in her voice, this time, was different, very gentle. “I was married to a man who was also my fated mate. He framed me, exiled me, left me to die.”

The air between us changed.

I held her gaze and didn’t look away.

“I know,” I said quietly.

“Then you know why I can’t….” she added quickly.

“I know why you won’t,” I said. “That’s not the same thing.”

Her eyes flickered and she looked down at the coffee cup in her hand. A long beat of silence passed.

“I have a meeting,” she said finally, her voice quiet.

“I know.” I stepped back, giving her space. “Same time tomorrow, Meridian and Fifth?”

She didn’t answer and just walked away, coffee still in hand.

My wolf watched her go with the devotion of someone who had found a new religion.

She kept the coffee, he said softly.

“She kept the coffee,” I agreed.

My phone buzzed, Drake’s name on the screen.

I picked it up.

“You need to come back,” Drake said, his voice carrying the specific tension of bad news.. “Now, Kaiden. Something’s happened.”

“What is it?”

A pause that lasted one second too long.

“Someone reported a Wyrmblood sighting to the Supernatural Council this morning.” Drake’s voice dropped. “They’re hosting an emergency session. They want her found, Kaiden.”

The coffee shop disappeared, The morning crowd disappeared, Everything narrowed to one cold, terrible point.

They knew about Mira.

“I’m on my way,” I said, and broke into a run.