Page 15 of Howl For A Kiss
She's my equal in every way,he realized with growing hunger. Leadership, brilliance, and courage—Elena possessed everything he'd never dared to want in a mate.
"What about you?" Elena asked, pulling him from his thoughts. "What drives a skilled Silvercrest rebel to leave comfortable pack territory for this chaos?"
The question hit closer to home than she knew. Damon considered how much truth he could reveal without exposing himself completely.
"I've spent fifteen years following orders without question," he said carefully. "Recently, I started wondering if blind obedience was the same as honor."
Elena studied his profile with those perceptive eyes. "That's a dangerous realization for someone raised in traditional pack structure."
"Dangerous," Damon agreed, "but necessary."
Their conversation was interrupted by Daniel, Elena's senior fighter, jogging back from the advance scout position. "Elena," he called, slightly breathless. "Cade's base is just ahead. Quarter mile through those pine groves."
Elena nodded. "Good. Signal the others to tighten formation for arrival."
As Daniel moved to comply, Elena turned back to Damon. "I should warn you—Cade's protective of his territory. He agreed to shelter us, but he'll want to evaluate you personally before accepting you into the Tidewater group dynamic."
"Understood," Damon replied, amused by her concern for his welfare. "I think I can handle a territorial rebellion leader."
Elena's lips curved in the first genuine smile he'd seen from her. "I'm beginning to think you can handle just about anything."
The warmth in her voice sent heat spiraling through Damon. Their eyes held for a moment longer than necessary before Elena looked away, but not before he caught the subtle scent of her arousal that made his wolf pace relentlessly.
Twenty minutes later, Cade's rebel base emerged from the treeline—a sprawling compound of interconnected cabins and reinforced structures that spoke of permanence and serious defensive planning.
"Welcome to our sanctuary," Elena murmured, but Damon heard the underlying tension in her voice.
The sun set behind the mountains as they approached the compound gates, painting the snow-covered landscape in shades of gold and crimson. This was temporary shelter, not home. And in less than two weeks, he'd have to choose between his duty to Kieran and his growing need to protect the remarkable woman beside him.
SEVEN
ELENA
The gates to Cade's rebel compound creaked open and Cade stood on the other side waiting to greet Elena and her rebel fighters. His sharp eyes scanned Elena's group, lingering on Damon for a beat too long. Elena's wolf stirred uneasily, but she pushed it down, focusing on projecting confidence. She couldn't afford to show weakness, not here and not now.
"Elena," Cade said, his voice carrying the gravel of someone who'd seen too much too young. "Glad you made it here safely. Sorry again about your base. Rough business."
"It was unfortunate," Elena replied, her tone clipped but not unkind. "We appreciate the shelter."
Cade's gaze slid to Damon again, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And who's this?"
Damon stepped forward, his posture relaxed but his presence anything but. "Damon Gray. Elena's new second-in-command."
Elena felt a flicker of irritation at the way Damon introduced himself—bold and unapologetic. Cade raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"Second-in-command, huh? Big shoes to fill after Tyler."
Elena's stomach twisted at the mention of Tyler's name, but she kept her expression neutral. "Damon's got the necessary skills. I trust him."
The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she hated how true they felt. Shedidtrust him, despite the absurdity of it. She barely knew the man, yet her wolf insisted he was someone she could rely on. It made no sense, and yet it made perfect sense.
Cade nodded slowly, though his expression remained unreadable. "Alright then. Follow me. We've got a cabin ready for your group."
The compound was a maze of cabins and outbuildings, fortified with reinforced walls and barbed wire. Elena's rebel fighters trailed behind her, their footsteps crunching in the snow. Damon walked beside her, his presence a steady warmth against the biting cold. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, but she didn't look at him. She couldn't right now. Not when her emotions were already a tangled mess and the harsh reality was firmly setting in.
The cabin that Cade led them to was newly built, its pine walls still smelling of fresh lumber. The interior was sparsely furnished but functional, with enough bedrooms to house her fighters. Damon carried her duffel bags into the largest room without being asked, his movements efficient and unassuming. Elena hesitated in the doorway, watching him as he set her gear on the bed.
"You don't have to do that," she said finally, her voice softer than she intended.
