Chapter 0305

"Wait. You actually went back to the man who kept you locked in his dungeon for months just to warn him about the vampires?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"It was the right thing to do. And... I owed Isolde a debt—at least in my heart. She was the only one who helped me when no one else would. I couldn’t save her, but I could protect her son."

"You have a strange way of defining honor," I tell him.

He considers this. "What if Theodore found out what you are and fired you? Maybe even forced you to leave town. He’s helped you, protected you in his own way." I nod, unsure where he’s going with this. "Even if he turned against you, and you learned someone was coming to hurt him... wouldn’t you still feel compelled to warn him?"

I think about it, then nod again. "Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never been in that position."

Our tea has long gone cold. "So, instead of stalking me like a creep tonight, how about we go for a run?" I offer with a half-smile.

He grins. "I’d love to. But let’s stay clear of those pack borders. The last thing we need is them catching your scent and wondering why a lone she-wolf keeps lurking near their territory."

"Except I won’t be alone tonight, will I?" I stand, taking our mugs to the sink.

He follows me outside. I duck behind a tree to undress while Victor, unsurprisingly, has no qualms about nudity. I vaguely recall pack life where shifting made modesty pointless, but six years among humans has conditioned me differently.

Once shifted, Aurora emerges. She spots Magnus and practically prances toward him—if she were human, those hips would be swinging. She nuzzles him, rubbing her face along his body before swatting him playfully with her tail and darting off.

I knew it. My wolf is shameless.

I’m not shameless. He’s our mate. Look at him—perfect. She purrs.

Should I roll over and show him my belly too?

If you’d let me, absolutely.

We’re Alphas. We don’t submit.

We do for our mate.

I roll my eyes internally as Aurora weaves through the trees, Magnus chasing her, nipping at her heels. She’s exhilarated, too distracted by him to notice the new scent until it’s too late.

We’ve strayed too close to the border.

Aurora whirls to flee, but two wolves cut her off. As she pivots, Magnus leaps over her, attacking them just as three more emerge.

With a snarl, Aurora faces the newcomers, fangs bared.