Page 15 of Wild Fated

Questions swirled in my head. Had Destin built this place? Had he dug a well? Built a septic system? Regardless of whether I was convinced he was crazy, it was impressive. And it was a stark contrast to my life with the pack, where there was plenty of luxury and comfort.Or had been.What did that say about Destin? About me?

My mind buzzed with the events of the day as I brushed my teeth, and I couldn't help but replay my conversation with Destin over and over. He hadn't said anything to the alphas. He'd let them beat the shit out of him, but he hadn't divulged his secret.Why?It was stupid. He didn’t care about any of it. He could've talked and gone back to his solitary life in the woods, but instead, he'd taken the abuse and kept his mouth shut.

Maybe they wouldn’t have let him go. Maybe they were waiting for Kael, regardless.

My thoughts spiraled. What if the alphas decided to go ahead without him? Had they already sent wolves to Lava Rock? My gut twisted at the thought of them finding something before we did—something powerful enough to shift the balance of power in their favor.

Tomorrow. We’d find out at least some of the answers then.

My thoughts wandered back to Destin. What had happened to him? Kael had protected him when I brought up Lava Rock. What had driven him to live alone in the mountains, to fashion traps and keep people at more than arm's length? Had he been betrayed? Abandoned like Kael? Or had he chosen this life, casting off the bonds of pack and family for reasons only he understood?

I blew out a breath and closed my eyes, trying to shut off my racing thoughts. I needed to be ready for whatever came next. For the alphas and their power plays. For the secrets Lava Rock might reveal.

I stalked back into the room, settling next to the crackling fire. I lay down on the mat and pulled the blanket over me, but my mind still raced. I reached for my pack and pulled out the book, turning to the same page I’d read earlier.

There once wasa man named Thorne Moreau . . . One by one, he claimed them . . . But power has its price . . . Lost to madness.

What had he done?I turned back, taking in the swirling color and the goblet that lay at the center of it. I read the subtitle.

The mate of Thorne Moreau,once stricken with disease, then revived with wine from the everlasting goblet.

Must be nice.I flipped back, this time finding another picture of Thorne, a gilded crown sitting atop his head.

The alpha and the crown.No wolf’s mind is his or her own.

I frowned.What the hell kind of kid’s storybook was this? I closed the book and set it aside, then flicked off the lamp. My muscles began to relax, and I almost drifted off when I felt a twinge in my bladder.Damn it.Had I forgotten to use the toilet or had I drunk too much at dinner? I groaned and pushed off the blankets and made my way across the room, careful not to disturb Kael or Callista.

The cabin was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the flickering flames and the soft glow of the oil lamp on the table. I found the hallway and turned the corner, my eyes adjusting to the dark.

I was halfway to the bathroom when I heard a rustling sound and looked up. My breath caught in my throat. Destin stood in his room past the open door, his back to me, shirtless. He must have just come from the bathroom. I hadn’t heard anything in the hall, but?—

His muscles flexed as he pulled a shirt over his head. His skin was taut over defined muscle, and his shoulders were broad, tapering down to a narrow waist. I tried to rip my eyes away, but couldn’t.

My wolf let out a low hum, and I almost laughed. Days of nothing from her, and now she was wide awake?Down girl.I finally succeeded in forcing myself to look away, then slipped into the bathroom.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood there, staring at the porcelain sink.What the hell, Lana?It was just a body. Just a very nice, very attractive body that I’d never seen before. Eventhough I’d seen him shift outside of the alpha’s building, he looked nothing like that. He’d healed. Grown strong again. And it was a sight to behold.

I pumped water and splashed it on my face, trying to cool the sudden heat that had risen to my cheeks. I took a deep breath, then reached for the towel hanging on the rack. I nearly forgot to use the toilet, but thankfully remembered at the last second. I relieved myself, then washed my hands and dried them.

I opened the door and stepped back into the hall, tiptoeing back to my bed. I needed to stay focused. To keep my eyes on the prize.

Not on Destin’s muscular back.

Chapter

Eight

Destin

The bed was a mess when I woke up. Sheets tangled and twisted, the pillow halfway across the room. I must've thrashed around like a wild animal.

An apt description.

I dreamed of her. Or my wolf did. One of the two. Either way, images of Lana beneath me played through my mind’s eye as I threw on clothes and silently made my way out the front door. I peeked at Lana on my way through. She was still asleep on her cot. Her dark hair splayed out over her pillow.

That wasn’t helping.

I stepped out onto the porch and sucked in a breath of crisp morning air. Going for a run in human form wasn’t something I usually did, but I was so full of restless energy I thought I might burst out of my skin.

---