Page 26 of Fated (The Bonded Legacy #1)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
LENA
T he banquet hall blazed with energy. Warm lighting cast a golden glow over mingling leaders and heirs.
Crystal clinked like wind chimes while laughter echoed off high ceilings as Lena’s fingers tightened around Ryker’s arm.
They entered together, Elara stirring restlessly beneath her skin, scanning for one scent among the many.
The beta-heir looked unusually composed—for now—though mischief danced in his eyes as they reached the bar. Champagne fizzed in their glasses, tiny bubbles racing to the surface. Elara huffed with impatience, the wolf’s excitement barely contained beneath Lena’s polite veneer.
“To surviving your first summit.” Ryker raised his glass with that trademark grin and wink that always preceded trouble.
Lena laughed, the sound genuine despite the constant ache in her chest—the hollow space that seemed to pulse whenever Kai wasn’t near. She clinked her glass against his. “To surviving you.”
They wove through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries that felt both diplomatic and sincere. Pride swelled in her chest at how well the summit had unfolded for Moonshadow.
Her thoughts scattered as they approached a small group where a striking blonde female stood laughing. The sound was musical as she responded to something a tall, dark-haired male had said.
“Tessa!” Ryker’s grin widened impossibly. The way his body gravitated toward her caught Lena’s attention—there was something almost magnetic in his movement.
The female turned, sapphire-blue eyes lighting up at the sight of him. “Ryker,” she breathed, her voice warm as honey dripping from a comb. Elara perked up at the scent of affection between them, a pleased rumble vibrating through Lena’s chest.
“Miss me?” He slid an arm around her waist with practiced ease, but there was something different in his touch—a tenderness that made Lena’s chest tighten.
When he leaned into whisper in Tessa’s ear, the shiver that ran through the female was visible.
It was clear how lust had matured into something more over the last few days.
How being in Tessa’s orbit had smoothed the edges of Ryker’s usually frantic aura.
Lena watched them with a mixture of delight and longing to know how it felt to have that kind of connection.
“Tessa, I don’t know how you tolerate him,” she said, extending a hand to the Redridge Beta’s daughter. “I’m Lena.”
Tessa took Lena’s hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.” She beamed. “Ryker hasn’t stopped singing your praises all week.”
“Hasn’t stopped singing yours either,” Lena quipped, lips curving into a knowing smirk. “Some of them not quite appropriate for the breakfast table.”
Tessa laughed while giving Ryker a playful shove. His hand traced the slit of Tessa’s dress, lips brushing her ear as he whispered promises that made her flush crimson.
“Ryker,” she gasped, voice catching with both embarrassment and clear desire.
“You’ll make a perfect beta-female.” His grin turned wicked. “You have no idea the things I want to do to you—the ways I want to love and worship you, how I’ll keep you filled with my pups.”
Before Lena could decide between rolling her eyes or applauding his boldness, Aiden appeared, expression caught between amusement and exasperation.
“Ryker,” he said, lips twitching despite his firm tone. “Cian’s waiting. Rounds.”
Ryker groaned dramatically and pressed a lingering kiss behind Tessa’s ear before following. “Did you have to take lessons to become an epic cock-block, or does it just come naturally?”
Tessa covered her mouth, nose scrunching as she giggled. Lena couldn’t help joining in, the levity of the moment a welcome distraction.
After Ryker disappeared with his father, Lena turned to Tessa. “So, is this just a summit fling, or are you hoping for more?”
The smile slipped from Tessa’s face, shadows of pain darkening her features.
“I found my mate when I was eighteen,” she said quietly, hands wringing together.
“One of our warriors. We had so many plans…” Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard.
“He died in a rogue attack before we could complete our mating ceremony.”
Something shriveled in Lena’s chest, a physical ache spreading beneath her ribcage. Elara’s whimper resonated through their bond, the wolf’s grief vibrating through her marrow. She reached for Tessa’s hands, feeling them tremble against her steadier ones.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, throat tightening around words that felt inadequate against such profound loss. “That must have been unbearable.”
Tessa nodded, tears glazing her eyes. “For years, I felt...empty. Like part of me died with him. My father pushed me to come here—not to find a chosen mate, necessarily, but to make connections. To heal.” A bittersweet smile curved her lips. “Then I met Ryker.”
“And?” Lena leaned closer.
“He’s…” Tessa laughed softly, wiping a tear from her cheek.
“He’s everything I didn’t know I needed.
He’s made me laugh again, awakened something inside me that has long felt dead.
” Her laugh died as she shook her head vigorously.
“But I won’t let him throw away his chance at a fated bond—not even for me.
If Selene wills it, we’ll find our way back to each other. ”
Before Lena could respond, Tessa’s father called her away, leaving Lena alone with her thoughts.
She sank into a nearby chair, mind drifting to Kai.
Elara brightened, sending warm pulses through their shared consciousness.
The bond between them had grown stronger over the past few days, and both Lena and her wolf had delighted in the dangerous game of testing Kai’s resolve.
Every touch, every whispered affirmation, every innocent kiss on the cheek—all designed to draw him closer, to help him understand the inevitability of their connection.
Yet, as much as she wanted him, he wasn’t truly hers… Not yet. Not until he ended things with Ava.
Pressure clamped around Lena’s ribcage at the thought. She rose, determined to find Kai. Winding through the banquet hall, she searched for his scent. Finally, she spotted him through the glass doors of the lobby, but he wasn’t alone.