Moon Touched (Zodiac Wolves: The Lost Pack #1)(72)

That night, I couldn't sleep. I threw on some of my training sweats and headed outside, then did a quick lap of the town under the soft moonlight. I ran past all the places that had come to feel like home over the last few weeks and my throat tightened with emotion. I'd only just become a true member of the pack, and now I was about to put all of that at risk. I had no other choice though. I would never truly be free of the Leos until their pack was defeated—and my mate bond with Jordan was severed.

I stopped at the edge of town and closed my eyes, reaching for the bond I so often tried to ignore. It was there, always, like a chain wrapped around my waist, trying to drag me back to the Leos. South, it told me, urging me to head in the direction where Jordan must be. My mouth went dry as I forcibly shook the feeling off, pushing the thought of my mate to the back of my mind.

How strong would the bond be once we faced each other in person again? Could I bear it, or would I throw myself at Jordan like some lovesick puppy? The thought terrified me more than anything else about this upcoming meeting. I had to harden my heart in preparation and make sure I could escape again if I had to.

For the next hour, I practiced teleporting between patches of moonlight, moving through the town so fast the buildings and trees were a blur. Over the last few weeks, I'd practiced this any chance I could, and I'd gotten so good I could land and instantly vanish again as long as I had a clear notion of where I wanted to go. I could also use my power for longer without getting tired. I wasn't sure I would have had the discipline to keep doing it without Kaden's combat training to remind me that even if it was hard, if you kept it up, you'd see results.

I stopped in a patch of moonlight to catch my breath, finally feeling the exhaustion set in. Maybe now I'd be able to sleep.

"I often wonder if he regrets it," Kaden said from behind me, making me jump.

I spun around, heart pounding in my throat. "Don't ever fucking sneak up on me again! How long have you been there?"

He gave me a one-shouldered shrug from where he stood, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. "I like to watch you practice."

"Invisibility is not my favorite look on you," I muttered, then thought about what he'd said. "If who regrets what?"

"Your mate. The Leo alpha heir." Kaden cocked his head. "Does he lie in bed at night wishing he'd never rejected you?"

I snorted. "I doubt it. He only saw me as a half-human mutt, barely worthy of his notice."

"Then he's a fool. From the moment we met, I knew there was so much more to you."

His words turned me to mush inside. I'm sure had no idea how much his praise meant to me. I'd received so little of it in my life that I clung to each word tightly. I took a step toward him, unable to stop myself.

"You're the only one who's ever really seen me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Even when I came to you as a broken wolf who didn't truly know herself."

He reached up and took a piece of my red hair, then tucked it back behind my ear. "Little wolf, you were never broken, only beaten and bruised. All you needed was someone to believe in you."

Emotions welled up inside me, especially as I thought of what we were about to face. "Kaden, if I get captured..."

"You won't. You're Moon Touched, and I doubt the Leos know that. You can use your power to escape, along with your new Ophiuchus powers."

“I’m eager to learn to use them." I lifted my chin, trying to summon my bravery. "And maybe next time, I'll be the one healing you."

"Are you really so eager to lick me?” he asked, his voice turning low and sensual.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" I replied, suddenly breathless.

His gaze dropped to my mouth as if he was strongly considering it. Then he tore his eyes away and raked a hand through his hair. "No."

I was pretty sure we both knew the answer anyway. If it were up to me, we'd be rolling on the forest floor already, while I traced my tongue down his neck, along his snake tattoo, and finally around his thick cock. Was he thinking about the same thing?

"Kaden." I had to say something or I would regret it forever. "No matter what happens when we meet the Leos, I need you to know this. You're the one I want. Not him."

His brow furrowed and something like pain flashed across his face. "I know you think that now, but that will change when you're face to face with him."

"It won't." The rightness of my words gave me strength. "You believed in me before, please believe in me now."

"I wish I could, but there are some things we can't fight. I hope you prove me wrong." He shook his head. "You should head home."

"By myself?"

"I'm going to do a quick patrol of the wards."

"Right," I said, my hopes sinking faster than the Titanic. "I'll see you later."

I turned away and headed toward the house, feeling more raw than before. I'd put myself out there, telling Kaden how I felt about him, and been rejected once again. I couldn't really blame him either. If I knew he was mated to someone else, I'd guard my heart too.

As long as I was tied to Jordan, I could never be with Kaden. I had to break this mate bond—or risk forever losing the person I'd come to care about most.