Chapter 7

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 (First-Person – Astrid)

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The next morning, the tension between Kaiden and Kendrick exploded.

I woke to the soft creak of the bed as Kendrick gently rose beside me. He must have thought I was still asleep. The air was chilly, and without a word, he pulled the blanket up over my shoulders and tucked me in.

I stayed still, not opening my eyes, but I felt his presence lingering at my side. A long silence passed, and then I heard the soft brush of fabric as he leaned down and kissed my cheek, gently brushing a strand of hair off my face.

Mine.

The word rang clear and possessive in the air around him—even though he didn’t speak it aloud. I could feel it in every movement, every touch, every look. Kendrick had no intention of sharing me. Not with anyone. Not even his brother.

And yet… fate had made other plans.

The door closed quietly behind him.

I waited a few more minutes, then sat up, hugging the blanket around me. I didn’t know what to feel. I was mated to both Kendrick and Kaiden. Both of them wanted me. And at the rate things were going, they might destroy each other trying to prove who deserved me more.

When Kendrick left the room, he didn’t know he was walking straight into a storm.

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He entered his study to find Kaiden already there, standing by the window.

Kendrick’s steps paused in the doorway. Kaiden turned slowly.

“Hey.”

Kendrick’s tone was ice. “What do you want?”

Kaiden’s brow lifted slightly. “Last I checked, this study belongs to me just as much as it does to you.”

Kendrick turned to leave, clearly not in the mood, but Kaiden’s voice followed him.

“Kendrick, we need to talk.”

“We have nothing to talk about.”

They stared at each other—two halves of the same whole, now fractured. The silence between them was a dark, bitter thing.

“If you have nothing better to say, get out,” Kendrick snapped. “I have things to do.”

“Refusing to talk won’t change anything.”

Kendrick slammed down a parchment and walked behind the desk, trying to ignore him. He reached for his pen and began scribbling, probably hoping Kaiden would take the hint and disappear. He didn’t.

Instead, Kaiden walked over and leaned against the desk, right beside him.

“I’m your brother, Kendrick. Whether you like it or not. We can’t keep pretending we don’t exist to each other—especially not now. Not with Astrid.”

Kendrick didn’t even look up. “Then do us both a favor and give up your Alpha title. You left. You walked out. You abandoned everything—me, the pack, Lunaria.”

Kaiden’s jaw clenched. “No fucking way in hell will I do that.”

That finally made Kendrick look up. His eyes flashed with anger, and he stood slowly.

“Fine,” he spat. “You want to talk? Here’s something. I wish you hadn’t come back. I’ve been better off without you. Still am. And let’s not pretend this has anything to do with me. You came back because of her. Because you felt the mate bond.”

Kaiden flinched like he’d been slapped.

“I know I fucked up,” he said, voice strained. “You have every right to be pissed. But if we’re going to get through this, we have to set our differences aside and—”

“Our differences?” Kendrick barked a humorless laugh. “Tell me again, who walked out without a word? Who left me to rule alone? You think you can come back now and pick up where you left off? Not this time. You can crawl back into whatever hole you disappeared into.”

Kaiden was visibly trying to hold himself together, but I could see the cracks forming. The tightness in his fists. The trembling tension in his shoulders.

He finally spoke, voice low and dangerous. “Tell me the truth, Kendrick. What are you really mad about? That I left—or that we share the same mate?”

“You’re damn right it’s both,” Kendrick snapped. “You walked out. And now you want to waltz back in and claim her like nothing happened.”

Kaiden’s voice turned cold. “We’ve shared everything since we were kids. Why is this so different?”

Kendrick didn’t answer. He couldn’t. The silence said it all.

“Why so quiet now?” Kaiden taunted, pressing the bruise Kendrick was trying to hide. “Is it because you’re scared she might choose me?”

Kendrick’s fist clenched at his side. “Fuck off, Kaiden. And fuck you.”

Kaiden’s voice dropped lower. “Why not just give this a chance—”

“Why don’t you reject her?” Kendrick roared. “Because I won’t share her. Nothing—nothing—would make me do that.”

Kaiden’s temper snapped.

His eyes shifted, glowing that telltale red. He stepped forward until they were toe to toe, nose to nose.

“Say that again,” Kaiden growled. “And I swear—”

“Do your worst!” Kendrick shouted and shoved him.

Kaiden flew backward a step, then lunged.

The first punch came fast—aimed for Kendrick’s jaw. Kendrick blocked it and threw his own. They grappled, shoving, fists flying, snarling like animals.

And then—

A familiar scent filled the room. Earthy. Wild. Sweet.

Me.

“Stop!” I shouted, pushing between them with both palms, my hands landing flat on their chests.

They froze.

The room was buzzing with energy—rage, hurt, betrayal, confusion. The mate bond flared as I pressed between them, standing between the two people fate had tied me to.

I turned to Kendrick.

That’s when he saw I was crying.

“Kendrick, let go,” I whispered.

His grip loosened immediately. He stepped back, pulling me with him—away from Kaiden.

But I yanked my arm free and stepped away from both of them.

“What is wrong with you?” I cried, tears burning down my cheeks. “Neither of you are acting like the men you claim to be. Get it together.”

Kaiden tried to approach. “I came to talk to him, Astrid. I swear—”

I held up a hand. “Don’t come near me.”

He stopped in his tracks.

“You want to sort this out?” I continued, voice trembling. “Then do it the right way. I didn’t escape an abusive pack just to watch my mates try to tear each other apart. If you can’t accept this bond, then reject me. Right now. Both of you. Reject me, and I’ll leave. I won’t look back.”

Silence fell over the room like a guillotine.

Neither of them could meet my eyes.

Kaiden looked ready to speak, but Kendrick’s expression was unreadable. He was holding too much pain inside him—pain I wasn’t sure he knew how to express. He wasn’t just angry about Kaiden returning. He was hurt. He felt betrayed.

And I… I was caught between two wounded wolves who didn’t know how to stop bleeding.

“If this is how things are going to be,” I said quietly, “then there’s no reason for me to stay.”

I turned, wiping my eyes.

“I’m leaving. Don’t come after me. Not until you’ve figured out how to stop being enemies.”