Page 38 of Beckett's Fate

“You don’t have to do this alone,” Beck said, stepping closer until there was barely a breath of space between them. “Let me help you.”

Her eyes snapped to his, the intensity of his gaze making her breath hitch. “Why? Why do you care so much?”

“You know why,” Beck said, his voice a low growl. “Because you’re mine, Irene. And I don’t abandon what’s mine.”

Her breath caught, her wolf stirring visibly behind her eyes. For a moment, she looked as though she might argue, might push him away again. But then her shoulders relaxed, and she nodded.

“Fine,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “We do this together. But on my terms.”

Beck arched a brow. “Your terms?”

“You don’t get to boss me around,” she said, her lips curving into a faint, teasing smile. “At least, not too much.”

A low chuckle rumbled in Beck’s chest, the sound warm and genuine. “Deal.”

The air was charged with emotion, but it didn’t seem as contentious as it had been in the past, the simmering attraction that had been building between them refusing to fade. Beck reached out, his fingers brushing her arm, and she didn’t pull away.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, his voice steady. “The hunters aren’t far, and I’d rather not run into them again.”

Irene nodded, slipping her map into her pack. As they turned back toward the trail, Beck fell into step beside her, his senses on high alert.

The danger was far from over, but for the first time, it felt as if they were on the same team—in the same pack. No matter what lay ahead, he wasn’t going to let anything—or anyone—tear them apart.

Beck kept close to Irene as they moved deeper into the wilderness. The mountain seemed quieter than usual, the usual hum of life muted beneath the weight of the conversation that had unfolded between them. Keeping his focus on the trail ahead, his wolf paced restlessly in his mind, ever watchful.

“You’re not going to talk me out of this or into revealing the location of my pack,” Irene said, breaking the silence. Her voice was steady but edged with uncertainty and concern.

“I’m not trying to talk you out of or into anything,” Beck replied evenly, his tone firm but not unkind. “I’m just not willing to let you do it alone, either.”

She huffed softly, a sound that was more resigned than annoyed. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.”

“Relentless,” Beck corrected with a faint grin. “If you’re going after this treasure, Irene, I’m going with you. End of discussion.”

Irene stopped abruptly, turning to face him with a mixture of frustration and amusement. “You don’t even know what you’re signing up for.”

“It doesn’t matter. I know the legends; I don’t believe them. What is important to you is important to me,” Beck said, his voice dropping to a low rumble. “I’m not walking into this blind. If I thought I could make you tell me and then keep you safe somewhere else, I would, but in the long run that’s not the way to overcome your distrust of the pack structure. I will say the more you tell me, the better I’ll be able to help.”

“And if I refuse to tell you anything?”

“Then you’ll find yourself being held at the pack’s estate while we search for the treasure ourselves.”

“You do know you have to sleep with your eyes closed, right?”

“That’s good to hear,” Beck chuckled. “Sounds like you’re planning to sleep in my bed.”

“It’s theonlybed I’ll be using at your estate. The question is whether or not you’ll be sharing it with me.”

Beck laughed out loud. “I think the pack is going to enjoy your spirit… and our arguments.”

“You think we will argue?”

“I know we will, and so do you. The difference is you think you’ll win all of them. Hot news flash, you won’t.”

Irene grinned and nodded. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

They continued walking, their pace slower now as Irene began to speak. Her voice was quieter, more subdued, as though she were sharing a secret she’d carried for far too long.

“My connection to the treasure isn’t just about my pack,” she began. “It’s personal. One of my ancestors was Isaiah Blakiston, one of the first to search for it after Old Garvin told the tale. He and three others—what they called the ‘Iron Four’—set out to find the treasure.”

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