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“Please,” she shot back instantly, “I let you keep up.”

“Let me?”I laughed under my breath, shaking my head.“You were practically begging—”

“—for you to stop talking so much? Yeah.”A pause.“Besides, if I remember right, you were the one making all the noise.”

I stood, rolling my shoulders, grin spreading wide across my face.“I’d say let’s go for round two, but it looks like you’re busy being domestic and gorgeous.”

“Flattery won’t get you out of helping out today.”

“Wasn’t trying to get out of it. I just want to watch you bend over the table again.”

I felt her exhale through the bond—half exasperated, half amused.

“Can't, table is occupied cause lunch is almost ready,”she said, and her tone softened just enough to make something warm flicker in my chest.“Since you skipped breakfast, youbetter show up before Dain eats everything.”

“So demanding,”I teased.

“So slow,”she returned.“We’ll meet you in the dining hall in a few. Don’t be late, Alpha.”

“Wouldn’t dare.”

I walked toward the door, still smiling, already counting the seconds until I could kiss her again.

I made my way down the stairs, greeting wolves as I passed—some still bruised from the last fight, others already laughing like the blood hadn’t even dried on the stones two weeks ago. I clapped a younger one on the shoulder, the kid’s arm still in a sling.

“Feeling better?”

“Like shit, Alpha,” he grinned.

“Good. Builds character,” I said, and kept walking.

The scent of roasted meat hit me before I even stepped into the dining hall. Inside, Garrick was already halfway through a lamb chop, shirt dusted in limestone like he’d rolled around in the quarry. He looked up with a full mouth and narrowed eyes.

“Finally. I’ve been up since sunrise, digging holes and pretending to know what I’m doing. Where the fuck have you been?”

I dropped into my chair, smirking. “Recovering. You wouldn’t understand—takes stamina to survive a night with a wild woman.”

He groaned dramatically. “Ugh. You two.Gods.There’s no escaping it.”

Before I could reply, the door opened again, and Lexa walked in with Dain bounding ahead of her like a pup on sugar. She was radiant—black and silver dress, her hair braided over her shoulder, that wild strand loose against her face. My chest clenched like it always did when I saw her.

I met her halfway, pulled her in, kissed her slow and deep,like I hadn't just seen her an hour ago. She rolled her eyes when we pulled apart but smiled. I grabbed her chair and pulled it out with a small bow.

“My lady,” I said dryly.

“Charming,” she muttered, sitting down.

Garrick wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Anika’ll be down in a second.”

“Who?”Lexa’s voice slid through the bond, amused and confused.

“I have no idea,”I answered.

“Is she one of ours? Or… human?”

Before I could guess, the doors creaked again, and she walked in.

The witch.