Page 55 of Wild Fated

Lana’s eyes were dark as she turned to the warriors, daring any of them to challenge her.I have claimed a mate, she announced.I thought being strong meant figuring out how to do this alone. But my strength isn’t in solitude. My strength is in my pack.

Her eyes locked on to each of theirs in turn, and she held her head higher.I am your alpha, and though I will be in the shadow realm, I need both of my packs to find the remaining relics. I will come for you.

One of the warriors stepped forward, his head lowered.You can’t stay here forever.

Lana dipped her head.I understand.She turned back to the others.I am a part of both packs. A protector to both. Of all.

Lana's head swiveled back to Kael.The alphas don't have the book. They’ve seen this display of power and will most likely lay low for a time.

He’d asked her a question. She was speaking to them through the pack bond. She was speaking to me. Emotion washed over me when I realized it had been over ten years since I’d heard another wolf in my head. Over twenty since I’d welcomed it.

Kael clenched his jaw. “Then we'll find the alphas before they come out of hiding.”

No, you won't.Lana’s voice was a growl. She turned to Kael, Callista, Evelyn, and Rowan, her eyes softening.Go back, she told them, her voice quieter now but no less commanding.The alphas don’t have the book. They’ll lay low for a while. I’ll come to you when we figure out our next move.

I gritted my teeth. I didn’t care about the damn alphas. I knew I should have, that the safety of my wolves depended on it, but all I could see was her.

Lana finally turned to me. Her golden eyes locked onto mine, and the weight of her gaze rooted me in place.Will you come with me?

The question hit me harder than I expected. Her words weren’t a command—they were an invitation. Being claimed by her didn’t feel like losing myself. It felt like waking up for the first time in years. Without a word, I stepped forward and reached out, running my hand through the thick fur along her neck. Her warmth seeped into me, the bond between us thrumming with quiet power.

I never wanted to be owned, and I sure as hell never wanted to own anyone else. But this . . . this was belonging.

Lana walked forward, and the fabric of the world rippled around us. I didn’t hesitate. I shifted into my wolf form and moved with her, the two of us stepping into the shadows as one.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Lana

The shadow realm swirled around us, an ephemeral haze that blurred the edges of reality. Destin's wolf was a dark silhouette beside me, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. My own paws moved soundlessly over the indistinct ground, each step sending ripples through the misty landscape.

I wasn’t sure who was leading, but when we ended up in front of Destin’s cabin, I decided it was me. From the moment I’d seen Destin in his room stripping off his shirt, I knew I wasn’t done with this place. Even if I hadn’t been able to see this far at the time.

This time, there was no struggle to push through. I didn’t have to slash the world with my dagger. We simply moved into the real world like passing through a door. The cabin materialized around us. The wooden beams and rustic decor solidified, and suddenly, we were standing in Destin's bedroom in our human forms, our clothing forgotten in the mountains.

I dropped the satchel at the foot of his bed and froze, my heart hammering. Destin's eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, we just stared. His chest rose and fell with each breath, the muscles rippling under his skin. He was beautiful.He was mine.

Destin moved forward and took me into his arms. I gasped at the intensity of his hands on my hips, his fingers pulling me tighter to him. “You made me wait,” he murmured, his lips traveling over my jaw, my neck.

“I had to take care of—” I sucked in a breath as Destin sucked my earlobe into his mouth.

“How did you know it would work?” His voice whispered against my cheek. I opened my eyes and met his. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice breathless. “But I couldn’t live without you.”

Destin growled low in his throat and pressed his forehead to mine. His hand moved to the back of my neck, his thumb stroking my skin. "If you're searching for the relics, how will I protect these wolves?"

I exhaled slowly. "I can move through the shadow realm. I’ll never have to be gone long."

Destin scoffed. "If you think you're leaving without me, you're crazy." He tugged, leading me to his bed. "Not as gorgeous as the one in the woods, but it serves its purpose."

I dropped to my back over his quilt, pulling him with me. "It smells like you. That's all I want." I needed his scent. I wanted him to cover every inch of me with it.

He smirked, but all traces of amusement disappeared as he leaned in and crushed his lips against mine. He was all tongue and teeth, rough and desperate. His hands wrapped around me like he was drowning and I was his buoy. His fingers left an impression.

“I can’t be gentle,” he gasped. “I need you Lana. If I don’t claim you, I’m going to die.”

I sighed, my body arching into him. “Claim me, Destin. Please.”

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