Chapter Sixty-three
Faelen’s POV
The room I’d been given was larger than any I’d ever slept in, with high windows that let in the early morning light and soft sheets covering the bed.
It still felt unreal, standing here in my own chamber within the estate, no longer a servant sneaking around the halls, but a guest of the Alpha himself.
Just days before, I was a spy posing as a servant, then a prisoner in the dungeons. Now, here I was, in a place I’d once only dared to glance at from afar.
As I sank onto the bed, a wave of relief washed over me, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I slept peacefully that night, free from worry about who might find me or what punishment awaited me next.
The next morning, I woke up to a quiet knock at my door. Blinking my eyes in confusion, my first instinct was to jump, thinking it was the head maid coming to wake me like she did in the servants’ quarters.
I was half ready to jump up and get to work before I remembered… I wasn’t there anymore. I was free now, here in this quiet, cozy room.
When I opened the door, I didn’t expect to see Hunter standing there, his eyes looking bright and a small smile on his lips.
He was in his usual strong, composed demeanor, but there was a hint of something warmer in his gaze as he looked down at me.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice gentle, but with authority still. “Get dressed. You’re going riding with me today.”
I blinked, feeling a rush of surprise. Riding? With Hunter? The thought was shocking, but I couldn’t hide the excitement bubbling up inside me.
“Really?” I asked, not quite believing it.
“Yes,” he said, his eyes shifting to a corner.
I blinked in surprise, half expecting this to be some sort of strange test, but the look in his eyes told me it wasn’t.
I nodded quickly, my heart racing. “Alright, I’ll be ready soon.”
He left, and I hurried to get dressed, pulling on some clothes laid out for me in the wardrobe. They fit perfectly, as if they’d been made just for me.
I then combed through my hair, barely able to keep my hands from trembling. This was a chance to see the territory beyond my usual, limited view.
When I stepped outside, Hunter was waiting for me outside, two horses saddled and ready. He handed me the reins of a gentle looking mare, her skin smooth and bright.
“Do you know how to ride?” he asked, his voice as calm and steady as ever.
“I do,” I replied, grateful that my parents had taught me.
I swung onto the saddle, trying to keep my excitement contained.
“Come on, Faelen,” he said with a slight smile. “Time to get some fresh air.”
I nodded, feeling a rush of excitement. Riding was one of the few freedoms I had missed most during my time as a servant, and the idea of being out there with Hunter set my heart racing.
Hunter led us to a field outside the estate building, open and wild, filled with soft grasses and wildflowers, all moving with the morning breeze.
Hunter’s presence was commanding, as usual, and even though he was just a few paces away, I felt the intensity of his gaze, as if he were studying every expression that crossed my face.
We rode out slowly, the early morning air feeling cool and refreshing on my skin. Hunter was right about that. I let myself relax as the mare carried me across the green fields.
Hunter led us through the territory fields, pointing out areas I’d only seen from a distance. I felt a deep gratitude and a strange sense of belonging I’d never really felt.
“Thank you for this,” I said, looking over at him as we stopped near a tree. “I didn’t expect any of this, not after… everything.”
Hunter’s eyes softened as he looked at me, his expression thoughtful. “You’ve been through enough.” He paused, then added quietly, “It’s only fair.”
For a moment, we just looked at each other, the sounds of the forest filling the silence between us.
A new feeling began to rise inside me, the same warmth and connection I’d felt ever since I first set eyes on him. It had grown stronger overtime of course.
After a while, Hunter slowed his horse and gestured for me to do the same. He turned to face me, his expression gentle yet serious.
“Faelen, I want you to know that I forgive you,” he said simply. “I don’t hold anything against you.”
Hearing him say that, his words filled me immediately with a warmth I hadn’t felt before. A gratefulness I couldn’t describe.
I took a breath, letting the words sink in. “Thank you, Hunter,” I managed, my voice thick with emotion.
The forgiveness I didn’t think I’d ever find with him was here, after everything, standing right in front of me.
As we dismounted, Hunter reached for my hand to help me down. But when his hands caught me, I stumbled slightly, and my body fell forward into his arms.
The moment our eyes met, everything around us seemed to disappear. All my resolve, all my attempts to keep my feelings buried… they all slipped away as I felt his touch.
I’d felt the pull toward him multiple times before, but it had always been little easier to resist, clouded by guilt and confusion.
However, with his mark already on me now, I could feel the bond between us more, undeniable and powerful.
The realization hit me… this could be a mate bond. Every instinct in me was drawing me closer to him, urging me to give in.
“Hunter…” I started to say, but my voice trailed off as his hands tightened gently around my waist, pulling me closer.
Without another word, he leaned down, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that was both gentle and filled with passion.
I melted into him, my hands finding their way around his shoulders as I held onto him. The warmth of his kiss and the way he held me… was always unlike anything I had ever felt.
It felt completely right, like a piece of me that I had been missing, now fitting perfectly in place.
As the kiss deepened, we sank down onto the soft grass below us, surrounded by the wild beauty of the field.
All the unspoken words, the emotions that had been building between us, came rushing out through our bodies colliding.
We were alone there, free from the burdens of others’ eyes. And for that moment, nothing else mattered.
When we finally pulled apart, breathing hard, Hunter brushed a strand of hair from my face, his gaze filled with warmth and tenderness.
“You don’t have to hide anymore, Faelen,” he said softly, as if he could see all the fears I still carried.
And for the first time, I felt that he was right. With Hunter, I didn’t have to hide. I didn’t have to be anyone other than who I was.
That morning when he’d come knocking on my door, I had no idea what he had planned.
When he suggested, no, more like commanded we go for a ride together, I thought he simply wanted to talk about my position in the pack.
Or maybe he had more questions or just something important to tell me. But now I began to see that he just wanted time alone with me.
I could tell there was something softer and much more gentler in his demeanor. I couldn’t help but feel curious about it, even a little nervous.
Hunter had been looking at me differently since after the day of the attack, but I hadn’t fully grasped the reason why, until now.
As we sat there on the grass, Hunter mentioned wanting to hold a dinner in my honor, and I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
Me… a former spy, an omega from another pack, the enemy pack…celebrated in Howle Wulf’s grand hall? It was definitely absurd.
“Hunter, you don’t have to do that,” I insisted, shaking my head, but he just smirked, that familiar stubbornness flashing in his eyes.
“It’s already decided,” he said firmly. “You’ve earned this. And you’re part of us now, whether you like it or not.”
I tried to fight it, to keep my feelings neutral, but with every word he spoke, I felt the bond between us growing even stronger, and unable to resist him in every way.
It was more than just gratitude or admiration. I had started feeling it the night he looked at me in his office and said I wasn’t the enemy, and now it was clearer even.
When he held his hand out to help me climb back onto my horse, I took it, but I stumbled slightly again, and in an instant, I was in his arms once more.
Neither of us spoke as his strong arm helped me back up. I stared at him, wondering what was going on in his mind that moment, wishing it was just what I was thinking.
Hunter turned to climb his own horse, and I felt the sexual tension between us strengthen even more. That moment, all I wanted was have him rip off my clothes and fuck me right there.
I didn’t say anything though as we rode back to the estate, but my mind was not at peace. I could feel the heat building up between my legs, slowly getting wet just by the thought of him.
“No,” I said under my breath.
This can’t keep happening like this, I thought.
I had to find a way to get him to fuck me soon. I had nothing to worry much about anyway, and honestly I didn’t care if anyone saw us.