Chapter Seventy-six
Hunter’s POV
After the breakfast, we barely made it to the office when I sent a message for Caleb to join us soon.
But now, as I watched Faelen move slowly around the room, her gaze resting on the framed photographs on the walls, my mind shifted completely from any strategy session.
There was something about the way she stood there, her fingers grazing the edges of a picture, her expression lost in thought, that stirred something deep in me.
If I’d known she’d come looking for me last night, I’d have returned the second I finished at the stables.
The thought of her waiting, wondering where I was, brought a flash of desire that caught me off guard.
My chest tightened, and before I knew it, I was crossing the room, unable to resist the pull any longer.
Sliding my arms around her waist, I pulled her to me, and she spun in my hold, her wide eyes meeting mine.
Before she could say a word, I pressed my lips to hers, pouring everything I felt into the kiss.
She stiffened just a second, surprised, but then melted into me, her hands clutching my shoulders as she kissed me back with a need that matched my own.
It was as if we were the only two people in the world as we went on, enjoying every taste of each other.
She then broke away briefly, her breath shallow, eyes sparkling. “What was that all about?” she asked, a faint smile curving her lips.
I chuckled, brushing a thumb over her cheek. “Because I missed you… so much more than I expected.” I admitted.
I didn’t add how being with her this morning, planning together, feeling the weight of trust between us, had left me aching to show her what she truly meant to me.
Before she could respond, I kissed her again, deeper this time, our breathing quickening as we devoured each other.
My hands moved to her lower back, then traced up, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her shirt.
Her fingers tangled in my hair, and the intensity between us grew as if we were trying to make up for every moment we’d missed since last night.
I felt her hands roam, traveling down my chest and settling around my waist, pulling me closer. Every touch and kiss was a way to say what words couldn’t.
I kissed her neck and she murmured my name, barely a whisper, and it was all I could do to keep my own control in check.
But here we were, in my office, with Caleb due any minute. I groaned inwardly at the timing, knowing I’d have to pull myself away sooner than I wanted.
Reluctantly, I forced myself to step back a little, keeping her hands in mine. “If Caleb didn’t have to join us soon,” I said, my voice rough with the effort to stop, “I’d show you just how much I missed you.”
She laughed softly, the sound warm and teasing. “We should definitely get to business,” she said, though her eyes hinted that she wouldn’t have minded if we didn’t.
There was a brief, awkward pause as Caleb knocked and entered the room. Faelen and I quickly broke apart, our eyes meeting in a silent understanding.
A moment passed, but Caleb didn’t seem to notice the tension between us. He entered with his usual confidence, his sharp eyes scanning the room before settling on us.
“Apologies for keeping you both waiting,” he said, offering us a quick nod before taking his seat across from the desk.
I couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. Caleb was always observant, but today, he seemed to be entirely focused on the matter at hand.
I didn’t want to think about what would have happened if he had walked in on us making out. That would have been… awkward. Very awkward.
“Well,” I began, breaking the silence, “let’s get down to business.”
Faelen glanced at me and then turned to Caleb. She wasted no time, diving straight into what we had discussed earlier.
“We think it might be time to take the fight to Alpha Zodd,” she said, her voice steady. “We can’t keep waiting for him to strike first. We’ll catch him off guard, surprise him with an attack of our own.”
Caleb furrowed his brow, considering her words carefully. He wasn’t one to make hasty decisions.
“It’s a bold idea,” he said slowly, his fingers tapping against the arm of his chair. “But I’m not sure we can afford such a risk. Zodd’s forces…”
“I think it’s the only way to end this,” I interjected, leaning forward, my hands clasped together on the desk. “If we keep waiting, we’ll just be giving him more time to strike. But if we take the fight to him… we can weaken his pack and make sure they don’t have a chance to retaliate.”
Faelen nodded in agreement. “If we wait too long, we risk him getting stronger. He’ll regroup, gather his forces, and strike when we least expect it. We can’t afford to give him that time.”
Caleb stared at us for a long moment, weighing our words. Then, slowly, he nodded. “You’ve got a point. But it’ll be dangerous. We need to know exactly how many men Zodd has, and what kind of support he can rely on.”
Faelen quickly answered. “Not counting his allies, he has between fifty and sixty fighting men. But like him, they’re dangerous.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “So, we have roughly the same number of fighting men. That gives us a fighting chance. We’ll leave with more than half our men and attack at night, when Belladonna least expects it.”
Caleb leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. “We’ll need to plan carefully. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
I nodded. “We’ll strike hard and fast. It’ll be a surprise attack, and we’ll make sure Zodd’s pack knows they can’t just walk all over us.”
Caleb stood, shaking his head slightly with a thoughtful look on his face. “Alright. If we’re going through with this, I’ll start making the necessary arrangements. I’ll get the men ready.”
He turned to leave, and I could feel the weight of the decision hanging in the air. This was it. We were committing to this strategy, and I was ready to fight for the future of our pack.
Once Caleb was gone, the door clicked shut behind him. Faelen and I exchanged a brief look, a silent agreement passing between us.
The room seemed to close in around us, and before either of us could say anything, I was moving toward her.
Without a word, I grabbed her, pulling her to me. Faelen gasped in surprise, but she didn’t pull away.
She kissed me back immediately, as if everything else in the world had faded away.
Her lips were soft and eager against mine, and I lost myself in the sensation of her body pressed against mine.
It was impossible to stop. With everything happening around us, I needed this. I needed her.
As the kiss deepened, I felt her hands slide up to my neck, fingers threading through my hair, pulling me closer.
Her body was warm, and my hands moved of their own accord, finding the curve of her waist, pulling her against me more firmly.
I didn’t know how long we kissed, but I didn’t care. In that moment, all that mattered was the heat between us, the way our bodies seemed to melt into one another.
We both pulled away at the same time, breathless and flushed. Faelen’s eyes sparkled, and I could see the same hunger in her as I felt in myself.
“We should probably focus,” she said with a teasing smile, but there was no hiding the fire in her gaze.
I chuckled softly, resting my forehead against hers. “I know. But, damn… I just couldn’t help it.”
Faelen laughed softly, pushing me back playfully. “You’re impossible,” she teased, but there was no denying the chemistry between us.
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “We have to get back to work. But later…” I trailed off with a smirk. “Later, we can finish what we started.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at her lips. “Later.”
The day had gone by quickly, and now Faelen and I stood in the training grounds, the warm sun forming shadows across the field as we prepared for the next step of our plan.
She was dressed in simple, practice gear, her hair tied back in a loose braid, looking every bit the warrior she was proving herself to be.
And gorgeous too.
I had initially planned on keeping her here in the safety of the stronghold while the rest of us went off to confront Alpha Zodd and his pack.
But Faelen, as always, had other plans.
She stood firm in front of me, her eyes determined. “I’m going with you,” she said without hesitation, her voice strong.
I frowned, running a hand through my hair. “Faelen, you’re not trained for this. Zodd will kill you the second he sees you.”
She shook her head, her gaze unshaken. “I’m going, Hunter. You’ll need me. I can lead you to the castle. And if anything happens to me, I’ll die fighting. But I’m not staying behind.”
I looked at her, torn. I didn’t want to lose her, and I certainly didn’t want her in danger. But deep down, I knew she was right.
She knew Belladonna’s territory better than anyone, and if we were going to attack, we needed her knowledge.
I sighed, a reluctant agreement slipping out. “Alright, but we’ll train you. You need to know how to defend yourself. I’m not having you just throw yourself into danger without at least a fighting chance.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Faelen’s lips, and she nodded. “I’m ready. Teach me.”
For the rest of the afternoon, we worked together. Sparring every now and then after each lesson.
Her determination was inspiring, but also a little dangerous. She was stubborn and fearless… exactly what I needed.
We paused for a moment, sweat beading on both of us, and I took the opportunity to pull her close.
My hands moved to her waist, and I kissed her with the same hunger I’d felt all those nights before.
She kissed me back just as fiercely, her arms winding around me. That moment, I realized how natural it felt, how right it was for us.
We didn’t have to hide anymore. It was just the two of us, and nothing else mattered.
We broke apart for air, our chests rising and falling as we caught our breath.
“You okay?” I asked with a smile.
“I’ll be fine,” Faelen whispered against my lips, a mischievous look in her eyes. “But you need to teach me how to be better with a sword. I’m not just going to be your guide.”
I chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “You’re already better than most. But I’ll teach you everything I know. I can’t afford to lose you, Faelen.”
“Then stop talking and start teaching.”
I smiled, nodding, and we spent the next few more hours training in silence, our bodies moving in unison as we sharpened her skills.
As the day went on, I found myself thinking about something I hadn’t dared say out loud.
The truth was, I had fallen completely in love with Faelen. I just couldn’t deny it anymore.
The connection between us, it wasn’t just physical attraction… though that part of it was undeniable… it was something deeper.
It was something I had never truly believed in until I met her. I believed the mate bond was real after all, and it had taken root between us, even if I hadn’t said it out loud yet.
But how could I tell her? I wasn’t sure how she felt about it, whether she’d even understand what that meant for us.
Part of me feared that saying the words out loud would make everything feel too real, too permanent.
And that terrified me. Because once I said it, there would be no going back.