Chapter Seventy-five
Faelen’s POV
The morning sun streamed through my window, pulling me from the light, restless sleep I’d managed to catch after a night filled with endless thoughts.
My mind picked up exactly where it had left off, circling around Hunter’s absence, the plan I wanted to share, and, undeniably, the burning question of where he’d been.
I knew he was more than capable of taking care of himself, but a strange feeling had clawed at me through the night.
And worse… some jealous part of my mind whispered that maybe he’d spent the night with someone else.
Hunter was, after all, a powerful and desirable Alpha. Every woman in the pack seemed to orbit around him, from the noble daughters of allied families to the giggling servants.
As much as I tried to shrug it off, the thought stuck. I wasn’t exactly one of his official “consorts,” and though we shared something far deeper than just passion, there had never been talk of loyalty or commitment.
But the idea of him with someone else… it made my chest ache with an uncomfortable tightness I could barely explain.
Was it just jealousy? Or maybe something more?
I threw back the covers and rose to my feet, needing to clear my head. After freshening up, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a simple, fitted T-shirt.
I didn’t need to be draped in a grand dress for breakfast or dressed to impress anyone. I just wanted to be comfortable and, if I was being honest with myself, ready to march right up to Hunter and demand answers.
The dining hall buzzed with the morning rush of pack members. I entered quietly, scanning the room as I tried to spot Hunter’s familiar figure.
My heart beat a little faster as my gaze swept the room, half hoping I’d see him right away, half anxious about how I’d react if he wasn’t here.
I settled into a seat at the table, hoping I could distract myself with some breakfast while I waited. But my mind wouldn’t let go of last night’s doubts.
I’d spent so many nights talking with him, trusting him with my most vulnerable moments, and feeling the heat of his gaze.
I wasn’t sure when it had happened, but I’d started to feel like he belonged to me, as if he was mine in a way I couldn’t quite explain.
And yet, I knew he didn’t, at least not completely.
As I nibbled at some toast, trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling further, I suddenly sensed a shift in the air.
I looked up, and there he was, entering the hall with his usual confident stride, his expression as unreadable as ever.
My pulse quickened. Just the sight of him… confident, strong, like he was somehow the one constant in the chaos of my life… eased some of the tension in my chest.
Hunter’s gaze found mine across the room, and he gave me a slight nod, a flash of warmth in his eyes.
I tried not to read too much into it, reminding myself that I still had no idea where he’d been last night.
As he made his way over, my mind scrambled to come up with the right words, something to test if he’d explain himself.
“Good morning, Faelen,” he greeted me, his tone casual as he took the seat beside mine.
“Morning.” I kept my voice steady, though a thousand questions churned just beneath the surface. “I didn’t see you around last night. Thought you might be in your room, but…”
He glanced at me, his face betraying nothing. “I was handling some business,” he replied, his tone nonchalant, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Part of me wanted to press him for details, but I held back. Maybe it was pride, or maybe it was the fact that he looked genuinely worn, like he hadn’t gotten any rest either.
I tried to remind myself that he was the Alpha, and his responsibilities extended far beyond what I could imagine.
But that didn’t make the pang of jealousy disappear.
Hunter, as if sensing my silence, reached for a cup of coffee and took a sip, studying me over the rim of his mug.
“You’re quiet this morning. Everything all right?”
I nodded, forcing a smile. “Just… thinking.”
His gaze lingered, and I felt that familiar warmth stirring between us, that unspoken pull. “Well, whenever you’re ready to share, I’m here to listen.”
There was something in his voice, a softness, that made my heart skip a beat. I wanted to ask him more, to find out exactly where he’d been and why he wasn’t more open about it.
But instead, I decided to let it go, at least for now. I wasn’t here to interrogate him…I was here to help him.
To show him the plan I’d come up with last night, the one that could finally break Zodd’s hold and secure the safety of the pack.
Taking a breath, I met his eyes. “Actually, there is something I want to talk to you about.” He raised a brow, intrigued, and I continued.
“It’s about Alpha Zodd… and a way we might be able to get ahead of him before he has a chance to retaliate.”
Hunter set down his mug, all traces of casualness vanishing as he leaned in, his full attention now fixed on me.
The atmosphere shifted as we sat together, the hum of the dining hall fading into the background.
Hunter nodded slowly when I suggested we discuss the idea in private, but he insisted I eat something first.
And while I tried to focus on my food, the question gnawed at me… where had he gone last night?
I told myself it didn’t matter, that his business was his own, but the thought itched in the back of my mind.
Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, I blurted out, “What business did you have to take care of last night?”
I felt a flush creeping up my neck, and for a second, I regretted asking. He looked at me, his brow slightly raised, as if deciding whether to answer.
Then, to my surprise, his lips curved into a playful smile. “Did you go to my room looking for me?” he asked, a mischievous flash in his eyes.
He leaned in, his gaze steady, making it impossible to look away.
I felt my face heat up. “Yes, but… but I only wanted to talk to you about the idea for Alpha Zodd,” I replied, though my voice wavered.
I hated that he could read me so easily. Hunter’s grin widened as if he knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth, and he went back to his food without another word, leaving me squirming in silence.
Finally, he spoke. “I was at the stables,” he said simply. “One of the stable boys told me my horse had taken ill, so I went to see him myself.”
A wave of relief washed over me… he hadn’t been off with someone else after all, and that surprised me more than I cared to admit.
I’d seen the way the women here looked at him, I knew how much he meant to this pack, and I wasn’t sure if or where I fit into his life.
But here he was, opening up to me without hesitation.
“Is he all right?” I asked, though I had a feeling I already knew the answer. I could see a heaviness in his eyes.
Hunter looked down, his voice softer than usual. “He didn’t make it. Died early this morning.”
There was a quiet pain in his expression, a rare vulnerability that I hadn’t seen before. He might have been an Alpha, but he loved his horse deeply, and losing him wasn’t easy for him.
“I’m so sorry,” I murmured, reaching out instinctively. My hand found his, and I squeezed it, wanting him to know I was there, that I understood.
He looked at me and, with surprising tenderness, lifted my hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the back of it.
The simple gesture made my heart race, and I felt the warmth spread across my cheeks. Hunter seemed to catch my flushed look, and his smile softened.
I looked away, suddenly self-conscious, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed.
But the dining hall was busy as ever, the servants bustling around without paying us any mind.
It was strange, really… just recently, I’d been among those same servants, quietly carrying out my duties, not allowed to look or speak unless spoken to.
Now, here I was, seated with Hunter himself, sharing a breakfast like any other high ranking pack member.
I could hardly believe how much my life had changed.
Hunter’s voice brought me back to the present. “So, what was this plan you wanted to discuss?”
I took a deep breath, grateful for the distraction. I leaned in, careful with my words. “It’s risky,” I began, feeling a renewed excitement mixed with nerves as I thought about it. “But I think we should consider surprising Alpha Zodd… turning the tables on him before he even has the chance to regroup.”
Hunter’s expression sharpened, his gaze intent. “You think we can make that work?”
I nodded, feeling more certain the more I spoke. “If we act quickly, we’ll have the advantage. Alpha Zodd is unpredictable, but he thrives on intimidation. He likes his enemies weakened and disoriented, so the last thing he’d expect is for us to strike first. He’ll expect me to have shared his tactics with you, but I doubt he’d expect us to use them against him.”
Hunter was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly against the table as he considered my words.
“We could catch him before he fully regroups, maybe even weaken his forces enough that he wouldn’t dare launch a counterattack.” I added.
He remained silent still.
Finally, he nodded, a fierce look in his eyes. “If anyone can help us predict Zodd’s next move, it’s you, Faelen. Let’s go over everything in detail after breakfast.”
A sense of purpose rushed through me, and I nodded. I hadn’t meant to sound so eager, but I couldn’t help it.
He had become so much more than I’d ever anticipated, and the thought of Zodd’s forces threatening him, or the pack, filled me with a fierce determination.