Page 39 of Fated (The Bonded Legacy #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

KAI

T he Range Rover rolled onto Moonshadow’s packlands, its engine humming beneath Kai’s drumming fingers.

The packhouse rose before them, timber walls blending with ancient pines—nothing like Bloodstone’s imposing stone and glass.

Wolves milled about across the grounds, several pausing to scent the air as they spotted the vehicle.

Kai’s shoulders hunched, making himself smaller beneath their scrutiny.

Beside him, Lena sat poised, golden-brown eyes drinking in familiar sights.

The private smile playing on her lips sent a wistful ache through him.

This was her home, where she belonged. Here, she wasn’t his fated mate—she was a daughter of Moonshadow.

The realization left him feeling strangely untethered.

As he pulled to a stop, Kai spotted a group gathered around the Jeep.

Cian stood tall and self-assured. Beside him was Ryker, whose sharp features softened with an amused grin as he exchanged words with a lean wolf whose rust-colored hair marked him as clearly as his mischievous grin.

And next to them—Kai’s spine stiffened—Alpha Raelen observed it all.

Silver threaded the Moonshadow leader’s temples, his presence undeniable even in stillness.

“You ready?” Lena’s soft voice broke through his thoughts, her head tilting toward him with gentle encouragement.

Kai’s fingers whitened around the door handle. Swallowing past the desert in his throat, he managed a nod. “Yeah.” The word emerged as sandpaper against stone.

He watched as Lena slipped from the vehicle with a natural grace, smoothing her hands over her jeans before drawing herself up with pride. Kai was frozen, drinking in the sight of her illuminated by her own certainty. The contrast between her ease and his tension made Orion stir anxiously.

He inhaled deeply before stepping out. Before he could reach Lena’s side, a loud, exuberant voice shattered the stillness.

“Hey! Thing 1!” The rust-haired wolf bounded forward, smile rivaling the sun. “Took you guys forever—I’ve been dying of boredom here!”

Kai’s muscles locked as the wolf scooped Lena up, spinning her in a circle. Her bright laugh pierced something primal in his chest as she braced against the wolf’s shoulders.

“Goddess, Jace!” Lena’s voice rang with delight. “I missed you so much.”

Kai’s gaze locked on Jace’s hands at the small of Lena’s back, fingers splayed on the strip of bare skin below her shirt, inches from territory that wasn’t his to touch.

Kai’s pupils dilated until black nearly swallowed the emerald-green irises, nostrils flaring as his breaths came in short, harsh bursts.

His fingertips split as claws emerged, drawing pinpricks of blood from his own palms. The growl that tore from his chest vibrated through the ground beneath them, silencing birds in trees and freezing every wolf in the vicinity in place.

All eyes snapped to Kai, who stood rigid, barely containing the violence thrumming beneath his skin.

Jace set Lena down carefully, his earlier excitement fading to a sheepish chuckle as he stepped back. “Guess it looks like we won’t be having those smart, diplomatic, gorgeous pups after all, huh, Lena?”

Kai’s vision narrowed. Pups? Diplomatic? Gorgeous? The pieces clicked together in a sickening rush. Was this who Lena had been talking about—the wolf she’d considered pursuing a chosen bond with? The possessive jealousy surged again, red-hot and uncompromising.

“Absolutely not.” The words ripped from Kai’s throat like gravel as Orion surged forward with territorial fury. He yanked Lena to him, his body a wall of dominance between her and Jace. “Mine!”

The declaration resonated with raw power, claiming what belonged to him.

Silence descended, heavy with implication. The onlookers exchanged glances ranging from amused to wary, the tension crackling like lightning before a storm.

Jace recovered first, though unease edged his returning smile. “Whoa there, big guy.” His hands lifted in surrender. “Didn’t mean to step on any toes. It was just a joke.”

Kai’s glare held steady, chest heaving as he forced his claws to retract. Each breath carried Jace’s scent mingled with Lena’s. The combination made his wolf snarl.

“Hi.” Jace cleared his throat, extending his hand. “I’m Jace. Gamma-heir of Moonshadow. Nice to meet you, Lena’s mate.”

The tendons in Kai’s forearm stood out like steel cables.

His molars ground against each other, pain shooting through his jaw.

One by one, his fingers peeled away from Lena’s wrist, each release reluctant.

When he finally clasped Jace’s hand, the bones shifted beneath his grip, the other wolf’s knuckles whitening in silent protest.

“Kai, Alpha-heir to Bloodstone.”

Jace met his grip equally, challenge flickering behind his easy smile. “Looking forward to getting to know you, Kai. Promise I’m a lot more civilized than Ryker over there.”

Despite himself, Kai felt his lips twitch. A reluctant chuckle escaped as some of the tension bled away. His gaze found Lena, who watched him with careful attention, gratitude brightening her golden-brown eyes.

“Welcome, Kai.” Alpha Raelen approached, genuine warmth in his smile as he embraced Lena, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Alpha Raelen.” Kai bowed his head, hyper-aware of how his earlier display of dominance might have appeared to Lena’s father.

Raelen’s smile widened. “Come.” He gestured toward the packhouse. “Let’s meet in my office. I want to hear more about how you two met and how things are going.”

He turned to Cian, who had been observing with barely concealed amusement. “Cian, join us. Aiden, have some refreshments brought to the study. Ryker, Jace—get their bags to their suites.”

“Yes, Alpha,” the two wolves responded in unison, moving to unload the vehicles. Jace caught Kai’s eye briefly, expression unreadable before he turned away.

“You’re being tested .” Orion’s presence unfurled along Kai’s spine, vibrating through bone and muscle as they followed Raelen . “This is mate’s territory, her family. Don’t lose sight of what matters.”

The study breathed with accumulated wisdom—ancient texts lining the walls, a hearth fire casting warmth over dark wood furnishings. Unlike Bloodstone’s cold authority, history lived here.

Raelen settled behind his desk, studying Kai with shrewd consideration. “I’ll be honest,” he began, “when Cian told me Lena had found her mate, I was shocked, but mostly, thrilled.”

Lena’s cheeks colored, a soft smile spreading across her face as she met her father’s eyes. Their silent exchange—tender and effortless—sent a pang through Kai’s chest, a painful reminder of the distance that had grown between him and Darius over the years.

“Every father dreams of this moment,” Raelen continued, gaze moving between them.

“To see their child find the one destined for them by Selene Herself. It’s a gift.

I couldn’t be happier for you, Lena. And Kai.

” His focus sharpened. “The Bloodstone heir—it’s not what I expected, but it feels. ..fitting.”

Kai stiffened, unsure how to respond.

Nostalgia softened Raelen’s tone as he pressed on.

“I know your father well. Darius is an excellent male—driven, loyal, and selfless. He was brilliant even when we first crossed paths as heirs, causing our fair share of trouble at summits.” Raelen chuckled, his expression softening.

“He has the kind of spirit that could inspire a pack to follow him to the ends of the earth.”

Kai flinched at the word “selfless.” His throat bobbed. His hands trembled against his thighs. A flush crept up his neck, staining his cheeks as he squirmed in the chair. His eyes flickered up, making it only to Raelen’s chin before finding refuge on the wall behind.

Raelen leaned back in his chair, a fond smile tugging at his lips. “I’m glad to have you here with us, Kai. I know the bond between fated mates is...intense.” His gaze drifted to Lena, fond but knowing. “I’m sure the two of you are eager to proceed with your mating and claiming.”

Lena choked on her breath, face turning bright red as Kai’s head snapped up. His mouth opened and closed, the only noise escaping was a dry, startled rasp.

Raelen chuckled, clearly amused. “I may be old, but I’m not old-fashioned. I understand you may not want to wait for a mating ceremony before completing the bond. I won’t stand in your way—”

“Dad!” Lena interrupted, voice high and strained. “It’s not—” She faltered, eyes darting between her father and Kai as she tried to find the right words. “It’s not that urgent. Things with me and Kai... They’re...complicated.”

The room fell silent for a beat before Cian stepped forward.

“What Lena’s trying to say,” Cian cut in smoothly, “is that Kai is in a long-term relationship with a packmate at Bloodstone. The fated bond was unexpected, and there’s a lot for them to figure out before they even start thinking about mating ceremonies or claiming rituals.”

Raelen’s brows knit together. His gaze swept from Cian to Lena before landing on Kai with the weight of a sledgehammer.

He unfolded from his chair, shoulders squaring as the air in the room thickened, pressing against Kai’s skin from all sides.

The oxygen vanished. Kai’s shoulders curved inward, eyes dropping to the floor as an invisible hand forced his head to bow.

“I... Alpha Raelen, I’m sorry.” Kai’s voice wavered, nearly breaking. He reached for Lena, wrapping his pinky around hers.

She squeezed back, a gesture of silent support that steadied him. He returned his gaze to Raelen, forcing himself to hold the older alpha’s piercing stare.

“Like Cian said, this... It was unexpected. It’s been an intense rollercoaster. I… We …need time to decide how we’re going to move forward.”

Raelen’s jaw tightened. “And what does Darius have to say about this?”