Chapter Twenty Four - The Wolf That Chose Me

Aria’s POV

Something was wrong with me.

I had spent most of my life believing I had complete control over myself.

My emotions, my temper, my wolf, and my decisions.

But this….This was different.

I sat on the edge of the bed inside Kael’s cabin, staring blankly at the floor while my wolf paced restlessly inside me.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Stop please.”

She didn’t listen. She hadn’t listened since my heat began.

Every few minutes, she would surge forward, demanding Kael.

Demanding his scent, his touch, his wolf, and everything about him seemed amplified.

The sound of his footsteps, the scent of his skin, and even the memory of his hands holding mine during the ceremony.

It was maddening.

I wanted him, I wanted him so badly that it frightened me and at the same time, another part of me screamed that I wasn’t ready.

I had told him that.

I had made my decision that I wasn’t prepared to sleep with him.

I wasn’t prepared to have pups, and I wasn’t prepared to surrender the control I had only recently regained over my life.

My body didn’t seem to care, but my wolf certainly didn’t.

She kept chanting MATE in my head.

“Enough!” I pressed both hands against my temples.

A knock sounded and I immediately straightened.

Kael opened the door slightly. “Are you all right?”

I looked at him and that was my mistake.

His scent rushed toward me. My wolf practically threw herself against the bond.

I swallowed. “I’m fine.”

Kael studied me. He didn’t look convinced.

“You’ve been pacing for almost an hour.”

“I can’t sleep.” I said softly.

“ Try again.” He urged me.

“I’ve tried.” I leaned next to the wall.

He leaned against the doorframe.“Your heat is making your wolf restless.”

“No kidding.” I rolled my eyes.

A faint smile almost appeared on his face, then his expression became serious.

“Sleep might help.” He suggested.

“How?”

“It will give your body a chance to settle.” He nodded

I laughed bitterly. “My body doesn’t seem interested in settling.”

He looked away. “I know.”

The awkward silence that followed made me want to disappear.

Kael cleared his throat. “Try to rest.”

“You make it sound easy.” I frowned.

“I didn’t say it was easy.” He stepped away. “Just try.”

I watched him leave.

I lay down again, closed my eyes, and turned onto my side, then my back and my other side but nothing worked.

My skin felt too warm.

My heart wouldn’t slow down, and my wolf kept whining.

I finally sat up. “Wonderful.”

I climbed out of bed because I needed water. Maybe cold water would help.

I walked out of the bedroom and toward the kitchen.

The cabin was quiet, the only sound was the faint crackling of the fireplace.

Then I saw him. Kael stood at the kitchen counter, shirtless.

I stopped dead.

Oh my God. I had seen Kael shirtless before but seeing him now, with my senses heightened by the heat, was an entirely different experience.

His back was turned toward me.

His shoulders were broad and Muscles shifted beneath his skin as he reached for something on the counter.

His arms were thick and defined, and his waist narrowed before disappearing beneath the loose trousers he wore.

I swallowed. My wolf practically howled.

I stared. There was something almost unfair about him.

How could one person look like that?

He turned and our eyes met.

I immediately looked away. “You scared me.”

“I didn’t hear you come in.” He smirked.

“I can see that.”

He picked up a cup. “Water?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

He filled it, then he paused.

Instead of handing me water, he poured something from a different pot.

“Coffee.” He asked.

“I asked for water.” I frowned.

“I know.” He handed me the cup.“Drink this.”

I stared at it suspiciously. “Why?”

“Because you’re exhausted.” He admitted.

“It’s coffee.” My brows furrowed.

“Decaf.” I looked at him. “You made decaf coffee?”

“I know what you’re like.” He chuckled.

My eyebrows rose. “You remember that?”

“I remember everything about you.”The words came out casually.

My heart skipped. Kael seemed to realize the effect they had.

He turned toward the counter. “I’m making toast.”

“At this hour?” I folded my hands.

“You’re hungry.” He said without looking back.

“I’m not.” I lied.

“You haven’t eaten much since we left.”

I frowned. “I ate.”

“Two pieces of fruit.” He turned slightly.

I stared at him. “You were counting?”

He glanced over his shoulder.“Apparently.”

I didn’t know what to say.

He placed bread into the toaster.“When you’re done, we’ll go to the lake.”

I almost dropped my cup. “The lake?”

“It might help you relax.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What exactly are you planning?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged.

“You’re sure?” I eyed him suspiciously.

“I’m trying to help.” He stared at me.

I studied him. There was no hidden smile, no teasing, and no expectation. Just concern.

Still, I shook my head. “No lake.”

“Why?” He looked confused.

“I don’t want to.”

“Fine.” He didn’t argue.

I was surprised. Instead, he pushed the toast toward me when it popped up.

“Then we’ll run.”

“Run?” My eyes widened.

“There’s a field behind the cabin.” He pointed towards the window.

I looked outside. “You want to run?”

“It may help.”

I hesitated. Running sounded better than sitting in that bedroom fighting my own body.

“Fine.”

Kael nodded. “Eat first.”

We ate in silence. The toast was simple but somehow, sitting across from him in that quiet kitchen felt strangely intimate.

I kept my eyes on my plate.

Kael didn’t stare at me and I appreciated that.

When we finished, he stood.

“Ready?”

I nodded and we walked outside.

The morning air hit my face and I inhaled deeply.

It felt wonderful, cold, fresh, and clean. For the first time in hours, my body relaxed.

Behind the cabin was an enormous field of green grass stretching toward the forest.

Wildflowers grew along the edges and the mountains rose beyond the trees.

I smiled despite myself. “This is beautiful.”

Kael looked at me. “I come here when I need to clear my head.”

“I understand why.” I gasped.

He stepped forward. “Let’s run.”

“Wait.”

He smiled. “What?”

“I’ve never seen your wolf.” I said.

His expression changed. “You haven’t?”

I shook my head. “You’ve seen mine.”

“Several times. When we were children.” He nodded.

“Yes.” I folded my arms. “You always refused to show me yours.”

“I didn’t refuse,I was embarrassed.” He looked away.

I laughed. “You?”

He shrugged. “I was younger.”

“And now?” I grinned.

He looked at the field. “Now I don’t care.”

Before I could respond, he stepped back.

His body shifted, bones cracked, and dark fur emerged. Within seconds, a massive black wolf stood before me.

I forgot how to breathe.

He was enormous, his shoulders were broad, his legs were powerful, and his black fur looked almost blue beneath the morning light.

But it was his eyes that caught me.

Those same dark eyes only now they belonged to something wild, powerful, and ancient.

I took a slow step toward him. “You’re huge.”

His ears flicked.

I laughed. “That’s all you have to say?”

He lowered his head and I reached out.

My fingers brushed his fur. It was incredibly soft.

My wolf stirred and I almost laughed.

“Don’t start.”

The black wolf suddenly stepped back then I heard his voice inside my head.

“Shift.”

My eyes widened. “Did you just…”

“Shift, Aria.” He demanded.

I smiled. “Fine.”

I closed my eyes and my body shifted. Bones rearranged, silver fur replaced skin, and when I opened my eyes, the world looked different, sharper, and brighter.

The black wolf was waiting for me.

He turned and ran while I barked.

“Wait!”

He didn’t and I took off after him.

The wind rushed through my fur as my paws struck the soft grass.

For the first time since my heat began, I felt free.

I ran faster while the black wolf was ahead of me.

I pushed harder but he was still ahead.

I increased my speed , he increased his, but I still couldn’t catch him.

I could hear the faint rhythm of his paws ahead steady, powerful, and untiring.

I growled playfully. “You think you’re fast?”

His voice echoed through my mind.

“I know I am.”

I ran harder but he stayed ahead.

I pushed until my lungs burned and finally, I stopped.

I stood in the grass, panting. The black wolf had already reached the far end of the field.

He turned and stared at me.

I could almost feel his amusement.

“You give up?” He teased.

I growled. “I’m catching my breath.”

“Excuses.” He rolled his eyes

I wanted to chase him again, then I smelled something and my entire body went still.

The scent was wrong, wild, unfamiliar and musky.

My ears lifted and I turned slowly.

The grass behind me moved.

My wolf growled. Kael’s black wolf noticed immediately.

He started toward me but he was too far away.

A brown wolf exploded from the grass.

He slammed into me and I hit the ground hard.

A growl ripped from my throat.

The wolf’s weight pinned me down. While I struggled, he snapped near my face.

Panic surged through me as my wolf fought back.

I kicked and twisted but the rogue was strong.

His eyes were wild, and his attention fixed on me and my scent.

He wasn’t trying to kill me and that almost made it worse. He wanted something else.

I understood immediately.

“No!” I tried to push him away.

His claws scraped my side and pain exploded through me.

Then a roar shook the entire field and the rogue froze.

The black wolf came charging toward us. His eyes were no longer calm, they now burned with fury.

He hit the rogue with such force that the other wolf flew sideways.

I scrambled backward. The rogue recovered quickly and lunged again.

Kael intercepted him and the two wolves collided. Their growls echoed across the field.

The rogue snapped at Kael, but Kael dodged, then he struck.

The brown wolf stumbled. Kael grabbed him by the neck and threw him into the grass.

The rogue tried to rise, but Kael was faster.

He seized the wolf by the neck and for one second, everything went still.

Then Kael snapped his jaws and the rogue dropped dead.

I stared. The brown wolf didn’t move.

Kael stood over him as his chest heaved and his black fur was stained with blood.

For several seconds, he didn’t move then he turned toward me.

I could feel his anger. Not toward me, but for me.

He rushed over and I immediately stood.

“Are you hurt?” His voice thundered inside my mind.

I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

His eyes scanned me , then he saw the scratch along my side. His entire body stiffened and he stepped closer.

“He touched you.” I could hear the fury in his voice.

“It’s only a scratch.” I chipped in quickly.

He didn’t respond. Instead, he lowered his head and sniffed near the wound.

I expected him to calm down, but he didn’t.

He looked back at the dead rogue, then his expression changed.

His body suddenly jerked and he stumbled.

I stared. What was wrong? Then I saw blood and a deep gash ran along his side.

My eyes widened. “Kael!”

He looked at me and I ran toward him.

“You’re hurt.” I whispered

“ It’s nothing.” Kael tried to act brave.

“It’s not nothing.” I frowned.

I moved closer. The wound was deep. Three long claw marks stretched across his side and blood soaked his black fur.

My stomach twisted. He had been injured protecting me.

I looked at the dead rogue, then back at Kael.

“You could have been seriously hurt.”

His eyes softened. “So could you.”

“I…” I started but I didn’t know what to say.

He lowered his head. I reached out and touched his fur near the wound.

He flinched.

My heart sank. “We’re going back.”

“Aria…” he grumbled.

“No.” I glared at him. “You need to be treated.”

“ It’s a scratch.” He insisted

“Then you won’t mind letting me clean it.” I pressed on.

He stared at me.

I crossed my arms. “Come on.”

He finally stepped back and his body began shifting.

A moment later, Kael stood before me again.

He was still shirtless and blood ran down his side.

I stared at the wound. “That needs to be cleaned immediately.”

“I’ll handle it.” I said as he pulled away.

“No.” He raised an eyebrow.

“No?” I frowned. “You saved me and now I’m taking care of you.”

Something flickered across his face. Perhaps it was even tenderness.

“All right.” He nodded.

We started walking back toward the cabin. Neither of us spoke for several minutes.

Then I looked at him. “Kael? Thank you.”

He glanced at me. “For what?”

“For coming back.” I said shyly.

He knew what I meant.

The rogue, the field, and me.

He nodded.“I’ll always come back for you.”

My heart skipped and I looked away.

I didn’t know why those words affected me so much.

Perhaps because they sounded like a promise, or perhaps because some part of me believed him.

When we reached the cabin, I opened the door.

“Sit.”

Kael obeyed and I disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a first-aid kit.

He watched me kneel beside him.

I carefully cleaned the wound.

He didn’t complain, not once.

I looked up. “Does it hurt?”

“Not much.” He said softly.

“Liar.” I chuckled.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.“Maybe.”

I continued cleaning. For a while, neither of us spoke then I realized something.

I wasn’t thinking about my heat, I wasn’t thinking about the strange cravings, and I wasn’t thinking about what my wolf wanted.

I was simply focused on Kael, on the blood on his skin, and on the fact that he had thrown himself between me and danger without hesitation.

I looked at his face. “Why did you do it?”

He frowned. “Do what?”

“Go after him like that.”

His answer came without hesitation

“Because he attacked you.”

“Anyone would have helped.”

“No.” His eyes held mine. “Not like I did.”

I swallowed. “Why?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked away.

“Because you’re my wife. We are married now.”

That shouldn’t have affected me, but it did.

I lowered my gaze. “Right.”

I finished wrapping the wound. “There.”

Kael looked down. “Thank you.”

I stood and he caught my wrist gently.

He released me immediately. “Sorry.”

I looked at him. “It’s okay.”

For a few seconds, neither of us moved. Then my wolf stirred.

Mate.

I closed my eyes. This time, the word MATE didn’t frighten me as much.

I opened them again and noticed Kael was watching me.

There was no demand in his eyes, no expectation, just patience.

I pulled my hand away gently. “I need to rest.”

He nodded. “Then rest.”

I walked toward the bedroom but before entering, I looked back.

Kael was still sitting there, one hand resting over the bandage I had wrapped around his side.

He caught me looking.

Neither of us spoke so I turned away.

But as I closed the bedroom door behind me, one thought refused to leave my mind.

Maybe my heat wasn’t the only thing making me look at Kael differently, maybe something else had already begun changing.

Something much more dangerous and something my mind wasn’t ready to admit.

I was beginning to see the man behind the Alpha and I was beginning to wonder if I had been wrong about him all along.