Page 37 of A Warrior's Fate

“Okay?”

“I…I don’t believe I’m seeing the true face of everyone in my council. I don’t believe everyone has the best…intentions for me, so the further away from Deimos and an association with me I can keep you, the better. For my sake and yours.”

Isla fought the urge to ask for more information about who Kai felt distrustful of and why. Her skin crawled at what he was alluding to. It was one of the most heinous methods before regulations were imposed on challenges for an alpha title—go first for their mate.

Though they hadn’t completed any type of bond or hadn’t really initiated anything without touching, they didn’t truly know, now that they’d met and recognized each other for what they were, what effect the death of the other would have. If someone went after her after learning that she was the alpha’s mate, who was to say it wouldn’t weaken Kai enough to lose a challenge, his title, and his life.

Isla couldn’t stop herself from trying to dive further into it, piecing together what she could. The former alpha and the heir had just mysteriously died. And now Kai didn’t trust members of his council?

“Don’t ask me any more questions,” Kai said as if he could see the gears in her mind turning. “Right now, you have to just stop being you for a few seconds and trust me.”

“Are you safe?”

Kai let out a chuckle, a light air of disbelief, either for her complete disregard of what he’d said or that she cared. Or both. “I can protect myself.”

Isla sighed and gazed off. She had so many questions…

“Fine.” Isla looked back up and noted how Kai’s face had fallen into a grimace. “That wasn’t that hard, was it?”

“That wasn’t…isn’t.”

She caught the innuendo and felt another rise of heat. She had to stop her wide eyes from wandering down his body. She wasn’t getting all twisted in that again.

“What did you expect talking like that?” Kai mused, noting her bewilderment.

Isla bristled. “I wouldn’t have had to do it if you didn’t make me.”

“Oh, you enjoyed every second of it,” he jeered. “Never thought such wicked things could come from such a pretty mouth.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “That’s because you don’t know me very well.”

“A regret I’ll carry, apparently.”

Back to square one again.

Isla rolled her eyes and spun to face the field, moving forward until she was back at the railing. The people down below were still at the fire, none the wiser to what was occurring up above. She felt slightly shameful, considering they were down there at the flames sending prayers up to the Goddess for the safe return of the remaining hunters. She was never necessarily fond of the tradition, meant to mirror the pyres burned for deceased alphas, lunas, heirs, leaders, and warriors. Wolves lost in wars and battles. The fallen.

No one was dead. Not yet. There was no need for the flames.

Isla felt Kai’s presence as he joined her at her side, though he kept his distance. She gave him a sideways glance, feeling the marker of the pass still burning a hole in her pocket.

Bad blood…

“Why is it so horrible for me to become luna?” she asked, surprised by an inkling of hurt that crept into her voice. “Why the questions and unrest?”

“Politics.” There was disdain in his tone. “Lunas have come from other packs, but you’re the daughter of Io’s Beta and have strong ties to its current and future leaders. There would be questions if you could ever fully renounce that pack membership and shift your full interests to Deimos.”

Politics, though ruthless, didn’t sound like deep-seated ancient grudges. But the Trainee had been so confident in his words, in his warning for her to be careful. She touched the marker in her pocket, felt along its ridges.

“So, nothing else? You have no problem with me being from Io?”

“I was two seconds away from claiming you on that terrace before your liaison came out, and while he went on about seating arrangements, all I could think about was if taking you in the restroom after dinner was a horrible way to remember locking our bond. Though, in hindsight, maybe not as horrible as the roof of an infirmary.” He smirked to which she gave a dead stare. “But then I met your friends, your family, and I learned about who you were, what you stood for, what you wanted. I meant everything I said in that garden. I want to do right by you. I want you to have everything you want, that you’ve just earned for yourself.”

That didn’t sound like much of an ancient grudge either. Not someone to be wary of. It sounded—decent.

Isla chewed on her bottom lip. “And what if what I had wanted was you?”

“No matter what we decide to do with this bond, it’s ours, not an issue to be dealt with by my council. If you wanted me, Deimos, then we’d make it work.”

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