Page 49 of Fated (The Bonded Legacy #1)

Kai’s phone buzzed against the wooden table as he shut down his laptop.

A glance showed Magnus calling. He shot off a quick text and turned to Cian, gathering his things.

“Sorry. That’s Magnus. I’ll probably be late for lunch.

” His chair scraped as he stood, confirming he would meet the heirs at the dining hall when he was done.

He called Magnus back as he closed the door to Raelen’s study, footsteps echoing in the hallway as he made his way toward the stairs.

“Hey, man. Sorry about that. I was wrapping up with Cian and Alpha Raelen.”

“No worries! Everything cool with them now?” Magnus’s voice came through clearly, familiar and reassuring.

Kai released a breath as he climbed, hand trailing along the smooth wooden banister. “I think so. It was a bit frosty that first day, but Lena helped smooth things over. They seem to understand. Or at least are trying to.”

“That’s good. So, what were you meeting about?”

Kai explained what he’d shown the alpha and heir as he made his way up to the third level, voice gaining momentum as he talked about the ideas they’d come up with.

Words poured out faster by the second, echoing slightly in the stairwell.

By the time he reached his guest suite and pushed open the door, he’d barely taken a breath.

“That sounds awesome!” Magnus said. “I think Elias would love that too. He hasn’t gotten a chance to venture out, and he doesn’t get an annual summit the way we do.”

“One sec. I need to put you on speaker.” Kai turned on the speakerphone setting and tossed the phone onto his bed, where it landed with a soft bounce on the navy comforter. “About that. Do you remember that idea I had a while ago about deltas and a gamma retreat?”

“Yeah.”

Kai rummaged through the dresser for a pair of running shorts and a shirt, the wood drawers sliding smoothly under his hands.

“The heirs are all deep in their training since they take over next month. It’s been really hard on Jace, especially because of how wide the gamma’s net is.

He also has cross-training to prepare for when Cian and Ryker will be away.

I told him about my idea and he got so excited.

Said he’s been telling everyone that gammas need more support and deserve a summit of their own. ”

“Are you thinking Jace’s endorsement could help sway your dad?”

“Not exactly.” Kai pulled a soft cotton shirt over his head, the fabric settling comfortably against his skin.

The mattress sagged as he sat to lace his sneakers.

“Raelen was just telling Cian and me that the legacy of our reigns should be our own. Setting up a training exchange for the warriors would be a start, but what if the seven of us worked together to really drive innovation in the pack structure?”

“Seven?”

“Well, the Moonshadow heirs, you, Elias, me, and Lena. Maybe I can check with Cian about adding you guys to the invite for his ceremony. Then you can come down with my dad and we can all talk about what the next year could look like?”

“Lena too?” Magnus’s smile bled through his tone. “Sounds like things are still going well.”

Kai flopped back onto the mattress, sunlight streaming through his windows, warming his face as he stared up at the ceiling.

“I really like her, man. Borderline obsessed. She’s funny, and smart, and kind, and so Goddess-damn sexy.

I just want to be around her all the time and know everything there is to know about her. ”

He ran a hand through his hair, grinning at the empty room.

“When we first met, I thought it was the bond pulling me towards Lena, but honestly, I think I would be into her even if she wasn’t my fated.

She’s just so fucking magnetic. Did I mention that she’s hot?

Goddess! The way her mind works is incredible.

And what we saw at the summit? Doesn’t even scratch the surface.

.. The pack’s going to love her. Her legacy is sure to surpass my grandpa’s.

Not because she’s going to make us bigger or richer, but just because of how extraordinary she is. ”

“Tell him how her laugh makes our heart race,” Orion interjected, voice warm with affection. “How she smells like Thanksgiving.”

Magnus’s laugh crackled through the speaker. “So, you’ll be bringing her home with you?”

“I want to, but I don’t know if she’s ready, and I don’t know if a month will be enough time.

I think...” Kai paused, remembering how he’d felt earlier about not wanting to go back to Bloodstone without her.

The certainty of it settled in his chest like a stone.

“I think I want to stay here, even after Cian’s ceremony, until she’s ready to be mine. ”

“Do you think you’ll get there with her?”

“I hope so. Ryker keeps dropping not-so-subtle hints about how it’s a sure thing.

” Kai ran a hand over his face, remembering what the future beta had whispered in his ear before the bonfire: “Her vibrator’s been working overtime because of you.

Maybe give the poor thing a break?” He was embarrassed about how he’d sat vigil outside of her room the last two nights, desperate to know if what Ryker said was true, to hear his name fall from her lips in that breathy moan that had haunted him since that first night at the summit.

“There are times when I’m so confident she feels the same way about me.

Our chemistry is electric. And the way she just melts into me. And how easy it is...”

“I sense a ‘but’ in there,“ Magnus said.

“It also feels really fragile. Like if I try to take the next step and she’s not there with me, it could all fall apart. I don’t know if I could survive that, Magnus. Even with how little of her I’ve had.”

Magnus was quiet for a moment. Kai could hear the distant sounds of Moonshadow life through his open window—voices carrying on the afternoon breeze, the rustle of leaves.

“And what if she’s afraid of the same thing?” Magnus asked.

Kai didn’t have an immediate answer. He understood Lena had learned to keep the most vulnerable pieces of herself tucked away—a lesson she’d learned because of the way he’d tried to resist her and their bond.

“Then I definitely need to stay. Prove to her that I’m not just here because my dad orchestrated it. That I want to be here. For her .”

“Choose her every day,” Orion rumbled approvingly. “Make sure she knows.”

“Okay, then.” Magnus released a breath. “I don’t know how your dad will react or...” He trailed off, seeming to search for his words. “If you need backup telling Darius, I’m here.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” Kai picked up his phone to check the time, turning off speakerphone.

He’d been longer than expected. “Hey, I’ve gotta run.

The guys have the afternoon off, and I was supposed to meet them for lunch and some sparring.

” He sat up, pushing off the bed with renewed energy.

“See if Elias would be up to coming to Moonshadow and what he thinks about an arrangement with Cian and Jace. I’ll see about adding you guys to the guest list for the ceremony. ”

“Alright. Tell Ryker I said hi.”

The door clicked shut behind him as Kai left his suite. “Will do. Talk tomorrow?”

“Yeah, but if you keep calling me before sunrise, I’m blocking your number. Just because you like to run at dawn doesn’t mean the rest of us want to start our day as well.”

Kai laughed as he made his way down the stairs. “Right. So 6:45 a.m. then?” He was met with the call disconnect tone, shaking his head with amusement.

Pocketing his phone, he jogged across the courtyard to the dining hall, the afternoon air crisp against his skin.

The building hummed with the low murmur of conversation and the clatter of silverware against plates.

He spotted Cian, Ryker, and Jace at a corner table, their lunch clearly finished, empty plates pushed aside and glasses of water half-empty.

He stepped into line, grabbing an apple, protein bar, and a bottle of water before making his way over. “Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late. Got caught up with Magnus.” He took a large bite out of his apple as he dropped into the seat beside Ryker.

“How’s he doing?” Ryker asked.

Kai paused to finish chewing and swallow.

“Good. He says hi by the way.” He turned to Cian, unwrapping his protein bar.

“Would it be okay to add two more guests from Bloodstone to the invite? I was telling Magnus about our meeting with your dad, and we thought it might be cool if he and Elias came down too. We could sit down and start talking about options.”

“Yeah! That’s a great idea.” Cian pulled out his phone, fingers moving across the screen. “I think invitations were sent out today, but I’m letting Nerina know to add them to the list.” He set his phone down, leaning in. “I was actually telling Ryker and Jace about it and—“

“Enough about work. Please !“ Ryker interjected, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “Warrior training exchange. Great. Let’s do it. Moving on to more important topics.” He turned to Kai, trademark smirk spreading across his face.

“I want to know about last night. What went down that warranted Alpha clearing out the entire packhouse so that you could surprise Lena?”

Kai smiled, warmth spreading through his chest at the memory.

“I went into town and bought her flowers. Lit a bunch of candles. I made her dinner, my mom’s favorite, and we watched a movie.

Well, it was a concert and there was more dancing than watching—” He didn’t share that he’d spent his morning listening to one particular song on repeat, or the note he’d slipped under Lena’s door this morning with its lyrics:

I hope last night “was the very first page. Not where the storyline ends.”

“There he goes again,” Jace jumped in, grinning. “Fucking hearts in his eyes.”

His comment drew chuckles from around the table.

“Yeah. Candlelit dinner. Movie.” Ryker rolled his hands forward in an exaggerated gesture, signaling Kai to proceed. “So did you finally move past pinky promises and cheek kisses?”

Kai felt heat creep up his neck, fingers fidgeting with the water bottle cap. “Uh...does the corner of her mouth count?”

Ryker’s palm smacked the table with a resounding crack that made nearby diners glance over. “C’mon! The tension is so thick the warriors are hurdling over it for morning warmups! What are you waiting for? Are you not ready to complete the bond?”

Kai was flustered, stomach knotting with a mixture of embarrassment and something deeper. He wasn’t used to talking about sex so openly, and it didn’t help that his mate’s twin was sitting across from him, watching with interest.

He desperately wanted to mate and mark Lena—to hear her moan in his ear instead of on the other side of the door, to see if her pupils would dilate when he moved inside her the way they did when her arousal spiked.

He wanted to know if the rest of her body was as soft as her hands, if she tasted just as sweet and tart as her scent promised.

He wished she’d give him a sign that she wanted that too.

Even if she did, there was still that fear he’d mess it up, that he wouldn’t be good, that all the buildup would end in something really disappointing for her.

Ryker stared at him intently, features hardening as he leaned forward. “You do want to complete the bond, right ?”

The question hung in the air like a challenge. Kai’s gaze dropped to his lap, hands clenching and unclenching. “Um... I’ve never had sex.” He forced the words out in a whisper, afraid to make eye contact.

An awkward stillness settled over the table, the ambient noise of the dining hall seeming to fade around them.

“There’s no shame in waiting,” Orion’s voice rumbled reassuringly in his chest. “Mate is worth it.”

Ryker broke the silence sheepishly, voice softer than usual. “Oh... I’m sorry. I thought—“

Kai met his gaze. “No. I’ve done...stuff. Just not that .”

“That’s okay. Not all of us are hornballs like Ryker over here,” Jace assured him, earning a laugh from the rest of the group that helped ease some of the awkwardness.

“Dude! I’ve fooled around, but Tessa was my first.” Ryker pointed at Jace, his defensive tone making them all chuckle. “Let’s not forget that summer Stella and Ivar kept finding themselves in your bed. Or that you,” he said, looking at Cian, “had that fling with the waitress a few summits ago.”

“We didn’t... We just made out, and it was all over-the-clothes stuff,” Cian protested, cheeks reddening.

“Whatever.” Ryker waved a dismissive hand, expression growing more serious.

“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pressure you like that.

” He paused, then shrugged. “Honestly, Lena’s on pins and needles waiting for you to make a move.

You don’t have to jump right in and sink your cock and fangs into her, but you could at least kiss her.

On the mouth.” A familiar glint returned to his eyes.

“Hell, even Jace has kissed her. Both sets of lips. And he has the sex appeal of steamed vegetables.”

Ryker laughed at his own joke, but his admission hit Kai like a physical blow. He looked between the future beta and gamma, remembering Cian’s comment about the almost threesome they’d had with Lena. Something hot and possessive flared in his chest, and he burst out into an overexaggerated laugh.

“Hey, Ryker.” Kai reached out, gripping him by the shoulder and meeting his gaze with deceptive calm. “ Run .”

Ryker stopped laughing, face going pale. He gulped so loudly it was audible across the table. “Shit!” He stumbled up from his seat, the chair clattering behind him, and sprinted away.

While Kai gave Ryker a head start, he heard Jace cackle from across the table. The sound grated against his nerves, and he fixed Jace with a dead stare. “You too.”

Jace’s laughter died. He unseated himself, mumbling, “Fucking Ryker and his big mouth,” and ran after his friend, footsteps pounding across the wooden floor.

Cian rubbed his hands together, delighted. “Let’s go! I can’t wait to see this.”

They rose from their seats and Cian clapped him on the back as they chased after the two wolves.

Anticipation crackled between them as they burst through the dining hall doors.

Kai felt Orion’s satisfaction rumble through him as they raced across the courtyard, diabolical plans forming for the males ahead.