Page 56 of Howl For A Kiss
"I'll keep the perimeter secured," Cade called from the driver's seat as they pulled up beside Kieran's cabin. "Take all the time you need."
Damon's enhanced hearing caught the sound of movement inside the cabin before they'd even stepped out of the truck. His lips quirked with familiar amusement—Kieran's supernatural senses had always been exceptional, even for an Alpha.
Sure enough, the front door swung open before Damon could raise his hand to knock. Kieran filled the doorway, his powerful frame silhouetted against the warm light spilling from inside. Those intense silver-blue eyes assessed the situation with Alpha precision, taking in Elena's presence and the subtle changes in Damon's posture that spoke of a mated male.
"I wondered when you'd show up," Kieran said, that knowing look settling into something that appeared to be relief. "Come in, both of you."
Maya appeared at Kieran's shoulder, her copper-red hair catching the afternoon light as she smiled with genuine warmth. "Elena, it's wonderful to meet you properly. I'm Maya."
Damon felt a flood of gratitude for Maya's easy acceptance as he guided Elena inside with a protective hand at the small of her back. The cabin's familiar scents—wood smoke, leather, and Kieran's distinctive masculine presence—hit him with unexpected nostalgia.
How many conversations have we had in this place?he mused, remembering everything from tactical briefings to late-night debates about pack policy.And now this might be the last.
"Kieran, Maya," Damon began, "I'd like you to officially meet Elena Walsh. My mate."
The words sent a possessive thrill through him that he didn't bother to suppress. Elena was his, claimed and marked, and announcing that fact to his oldest friend felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Kieran's silver eyes flashed with approval as he extended his hand to Elena. "The famous rebellion leader from Tidewater territory. Your reputation precedes you."
"As does yours," Elena replied, accepting the handshake with characteristic directness. "Thank you for allowing Damon to help me when my base was attacked."
Maya gestured them toward the seating area near the fireplace. "Please, sit. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Something stronger?"
Damon shook his head, knowing he needed to push through the conversation before his resolve wavered. Standing near the fireplace with Elena at his side, he met his best friend's gaze squarely.
"There's something I need to tell you, Kieran. Something that's going to change everything between us."
The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately, becoming charged with the weight of unspoken understanding. Kieran settled into his chair with that focused stillness that marked him as a true Alpha, while Maya perched on the arm beside him.
Damon drew in a steadying breath, feeling Elena's supportive presence like an anchor. "Last night, when we rescued Elena's sister and five other young rebels from the Tidewater Alpha's stronghold, I formally denounced my Beta title."
The admission hung in the air between them, heavy with fifteen years of history and brotherhood. Damon watched his best friend's face carefully, noting the flash of surprise followed quickly by something that looked like inevitability.
"The Beta of Tidewater pack witnessed it," Damon continued, his voice gaining strength with each word. "There's no taking it back, even if I wanted to. Which I don't."
Kieran was quiet for a long moment, his fingers steepled as he processed the revelation. When he spoke, his voice carried both concern and respect.
"The execution order for six young rebels. That's what pushed you over the edge."
"Among other things." Damon's jaw tightened with controlled fury. "They were going to kill them simply for wanting to join the rebellion. Children, Kieran. Fiona is twenty years old."
Maya's face had gone pale with horror. "Six young people? Just for exercising their right to choose their own path?"
"The Tidewater Alpha wanted to make an example," Elena said, her voice carrying the cold edge of someone who'd seen too much cruelty. "To terrorize anyone else who might consider rebellion."
Kieran's silver eyes flashed with his wolf, the Alpha in him responding to the injustice. "And you couldn't stand by and watch it happen."
"I couldn't enforce those laws anymore," Damon admitted, the confession feeling like shedding a weight he'd carried for years. "Even with all the reforms you're implementing, Kieran—even knowing you're fighting to change things from within—I need to be on the side of the rebellion. I need to fight alongside my mate for the kind of change that can't just happen from within the system."
Maya leaned forward, her green eyes bright with understanding. "Elena is the third hybrid of the Lunar Prophecy. She's destined to help restore harmony between our worlds."
"Which means supporting her isn't just about love," Kieran said slowly, his strategic mind clearly working through the implications. "It's about fulfilling prophecy. About healing three centuries of division."
Damon felt Elena's hand slip into his, her fingers intertwining with his in a gesture of unity that sent warmth coursing through their mate bond. "I won't apologize for choosing her," he said firmly. "Or for choosing what's right over what's traditional."
"I wouldn't expect you to apologize." Kieran's mouth quirked up. "The day you called asking for leave, I knew this was inevitable. You've been questioning the system longer than anyone—longer than me, if I'm honest."
The admission surprised Damon, though perhaps it shouldn't have. Kieran had always been perceptive, especially when it came to reading his closest friend.
