Chapter 8

KENDRICK POV

Astrid was halfway to the door when I caught her wrist and pulled her back.

"I'm sorry," I said. The words tasted like gravel.

She looked at me for a moment, then turned to Kaiden as he approached behind me. Her expression was unreadable, but there was hurt in her eyes, the kind that lodged itself deep.

"I won't stay here if this is how you and Kaiden will be," she murmured. "You're both the Alphas, and no matter how hurt you are that he left, it's time to move on and forgive him. And you shouldn't let sharing a mate come between you."

Kaiden came to stand at her other side. He took her hand and kissed it like he’d rehearsed the gesture. Smooth. Predictable.

"You're right," he said. "It isn't fair of us to put you in the middle. I promise, we won't fight over it again."

Astrid looked at me, waiting.

I hated how easily Kaiden could say the right thing. Like he hadn’t shattered everything just by leaving. Like he hadn’t left me alone to carry Lunaria on my back.

Still, I forced my expression to soften.

"We won't fight over it anymore," I said finally. "I promise you."

She didn't look entirely convinced, but she nodded. "You're both my mates. I don't want to have to choose between you, so don't put me in that position."

I took her other hand and caressed it lightly. I gave her a smile I didn’t feel, the one that said everything was fine. That she didn’t need to worry.

But everything was far from fine.

[Don’t think I’ll forget this because of our mate,] I said to Kaiden through the mind link. [It’ll take a long time to forgive you for what you did.]

[I understand. But for Astrid’s sake, we have to put this behind us,] he replied.

[I’m not putting shit behind me,] I snapped. [I’m pretending—for her. You and I are not cool.]

[Fine. If that’s what you want.]

Astrid stepped away, unaware of the silent war still raging between us.

"I need to take a bath," she said. "I'm hungry too."

"The maids have prepared breakfast," Kaiden told her. "Go have your bath and come join us."

She smiled and nodded. Brushed her hand gently over his arm. Then mine. Then she disappeared upstairs.

Kaiden and I stood there in silence, watching the last glimpse of her vanish up the stairs.

Then I turned to him.

"If this is going to work, you need to understand something, Kaiden," I said quietly. "I don’t want a competition. I don’t need you trying to outdo me to impress her. Remember—if it hadn’t been for me, we wouldn’t have found her."

"I could say the same for you," he replied. "But fine. You won’t get a competition from me."

His gaze flicked back to the stairs.

"Do you know anything about her?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you know anything about our mate? Her life before we found her."

I didn’t answer immediately. My jaw clenched at the memory.

"She’s from Iron Claw Pack," I muttered. My voice darkened as the image returned—Astrid, running through the forest, terrified, bleeding. Hunted.

"What’s wrong?" Kaiden asked. He must have noticed the shift in my energy.

"It’s Kael," I growled. "The Alpha of Iron Claw. He hurt her. Badly enough she had to escape. He sent lycans after her the night I found her."

Kaiden’s expression darkened. "Why? Why would he do that?"

"I don’t know. I haven’t asked her yet. But the fading scars on her arms, the way she talks about her past—I know she was abused. Raised by omegas. Treated like trash."

Kaiden’s temper snapped like a whip. "Then what the fuck are we waiting for? We should rip Kael apart for even touching what belongs to us."

"That’s the plan," I said. "But I’m not leaving her here alone. Not until she’s safe."

"What’s your plan then?"

"I was about to send a letter to Stefan."

"Your Beta?" He raised a brow. "That reminds me—why did you send them all away?"

I shot him a glare and turned, walking off.

"Come on," he called after me. "Tell me."

"Why do you think I did?" I said. "You left, Kaiden. Without a word. I had to run Lunaria alone. I didn’t trust anyone—not even myself. So I pushed everyone out."

Kaiden grabbed my arm. "I’m sorry, Kendrick," he murmured. "For everything. I never should have left. We were always together. And I knew it would hurt you, but I did it anyway. I just… didn’t think it through."

I didn’t respond at first. But something in his voice cracked through the wall I’d built.

My jaw relaxed. A little.

"It’s alright," I said at last. I clapped him on the back. "I’m sending the letter to Stefan. We need the guards back. Astrid’s going to be crowned Luna. She’ll need protection."

"We should host a celebration for her."

"Eventually. Not yet. Let her adjust first. This is all new to her. And we still don’t know why she’s wolf-less."

"It’s strange. She can feel the bond, so her wolf has to be in there somewhere."

"I think she’s a late bloomer," I said. "Her wolf will emerge. But until then, she needs to feel safe. She needs time to learn who we are. What this place is. Lunaria needs a Luna who knows her own strength."

Kaiden nodded.

We stood in silence while I finished writing the letter. He leaned on the desk beside me, watching.

"What I said earlier," he began quietly, "about you being scared she might choose me… I didn’t mean that. I was pissed. I wouldn’t put her in that position."

I looked at him. Briefly. Then back at the parchment.

"I wouldn’t either."

He smiled faintly. "Glad we’re on the same page."

"We better be."

---

By noon, I handed the sealed letter to two maids and sent them to the outskirts of the territory. Within hours, the sound of boots echoed outside the mansion. The guards and warriors had returned—led by Stefan and Andrea.

They halted outside the steps, waiting.

I stepped out with Kaiden beside me.

When they saw him, a surprised gasp rippled through the crowd. They bowed in unison.

Stefan strode forward and threw his arms around me.

"It’s good to see you again, Alpha," he said, clapping me hard on the back.

"Good to see you too, Stefan," I smiled. Then Andrea appeared and flung herself at me.

"Alpha Kendrick," she laughed. "You haven’t aged a day. Still as handsome as ever."

"Glad to see you too, Andrea. Stefan must be taking good care of you."

She winked. "Always."

Then Stefan turned to Kaiden and offered his hand. Andrea gave him a respectful bow.

"Alpha Kaiden," Stefan said. "Didn’t expect to see you back in Lunaria."

"I’m back now," Kaiden replied, gripping his hand. "And I’m staying."

I cleared my throat. "Stefan, there’ll be some changes. I called you back because your Luna has been found."

His eyes widened. "You found your mate?"

"We found our mate," Kaiden corrected.

"Kendrick and I share the same Luna."

Shock flashed across Stefan and Andrea’s faces, but before they could say a word, a scream pierced the air from inside the mansion.

Astrid.

My heart stopped.

"Astrid," I whispered.

Then I ran. Kaiden was right behind me.