Stone knew the only way to keep Ella safe was to allow her to sort through the bombshells they’d been delivered in her own way.
But it didn’t mean he liked it.
The male part of him—or maybe it was his wolf—wanted to tear apart the world for putting them in the middle of this mess.
From Andres to the prophecy—hell, to this surprising news about the Breath of Selene—it was as though the entire world was vying for a piece of her.
And he hadn’t even had the chance to claim her as his own.
His soul cried out to bond—to claim her officially as his mate and let the world go to hell around them if that’s what it wanted.
Instead, he’d had to find a way to put all of that aside—continue to put it aside—as he took care of them in the way he knew would mean most.
The human way.
Now, both Asher and Avery were situated in his home—likely sleeping by the sounds of their breathing—and Ella was pacing in his bedroom, refusing to lie on the bed with him.
“What are you thinking about?” Stone asked, tracking her movements back and forth.
Ella whimpered softly. It was a small, almost imperceptible sound, but he picked up on it. Like the way her heart rate just ratcheted up a notch as her worried gaze slid to his.
Concern flooded his mind as he narrowed his eyes and waited.
“It’s just—” Her eyes slammed shut and she took a deep breath. “We’ll be sleeping together. For like, the foreseeable future.”
He couldn’t help it, he had to laugh. “That’s all?”
She leveled him with a glare. “What do you mean ‘that’s all?’ It’s enough.”
“We’ve already slept together, Ella,” he reminded her. In fact, it had only been a couple of days since she asked him to stay at her place.
Her gaze rose to the ceiling as if she was praying to any god who might listen. “I know. It’s just—”
He shook his head and stood up to walk to her. “You’re making too big of a deal out of this. Stop overthinking things.”
She stopped pacing to face him and he slid his hands over her bare arms.
No longer in the baggy shirt offered to her at the site of her destroyed home, she wore instead, a black tank top and sleep pants he’d purchased for her at the store this evening.
The whole outfit suited her.
In fact, it accentuated her ample curves in a way that had his blood screaming at him to stop being so damned sensible.
Maybe she could pick up on that?
She inhaled a sharp breath and settled her shoulders. “This is different, Stone. You can’t get rid of me—of us. At least, not until I get my house rebuilt. And who knows how long that’s going to take. It could be a while and—”
He bent down and pressed his lips to hers just to shut down her rant. For a moment, she stiffened against his lips, then slowly, she settled into the kiss, allowing him to gain access to her mouth. He slipped his tongue inside, sweeping it slowly against hers.
A soft growl unfurled itself from the back of his throat but he mastered himself enough to break off the connection and take a small step back.
Ella’s eyes remained closed as if the kiss had dragged her into a dreamy realm and away from whatever worries had held her in their grip.
“What was that for?” she asked, eyes still closed.
“To silence your craziness,” he confessed with a chuckle.
Her eyes snapped open, a fire burning in them now as they connected with his. “What?”
“Ella, there is nowhere else I’d rather you be. I’m not worried that you’re here with no end in sight. I’m aware that the kids are here and will be staying, too. I want it that way. Now, will you stop worrying and just lie down? It’s been a long, intense day and you need your rest,” he continued, sweeping his hand out to suggest she get in the bed.
She watched him with a predatory expression—like the Alpha ready to defy anyone who might challenge her authority by telling her what to do. He supposed that was more accurate than he knew.
However, she stalked over to the same side of the bed she’d claimed the other night at her house and slid beneath the covers.
Stone watched her for a moment, the light from his nightstand casting a serene glow over her features. He could sense the whirlwind of emotions churning within her—the same storm that raged in his own heart.
He knew that offering platitudes wouldn’t soothe her turmoil, nor would empty reassurances quell her fears. What she needed was a connection, something to anchor her to the moment—to him.
After sliding into bed beside her and clicking off the light, he watched her silently, noting how the moonlight played across her features, deepening the lines of worry that didn’t belong there.
Turning fully to face her, Stone reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead.
“Ella,” he said softly, “I know today has been... a lot. But there’s something I’ve wanted to say to you.”
Ella’s eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, met his. In their depths, he saw a blend of strength and vulnerability that only made her more endearing to him. This was a side she didn’t let slip through often—and yet she felt safe enough to let him see her this way.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Stone took a deep breath, searching for the right words. “Before I met you, I thought I understood my world, my purpose. I was going to be alone—packless—for the rest of my life. But you... you’ve turned everything upside down. In the best possible way.” He paused, his gaze never leaving hers. “You’ve made me see things differently, feel things I didn’t know I could. I know I act strong—like I have all the answers... but the truth is, I’m worried, too. Worried of not being able to protect you and the kids, or the pack, from what’s coming. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s like battling shadows—you don’t know where the next strike will come from.”
There was more Stone wished he could say—about his pull to bond with her. About how it’s consumed his mind every waking moment and has intensified every day. But he knew that would only continue to set off her fears and concerns. He’d have to work around it.
Ella’s hand found his, her grip tight, as if holding onto him could anchor her in the storm that raged around them. “Stone, I...”
He placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. “Let me finish. Being with you, feeling this bond grow between us… it’s given me something to fight for—more than I ever had. But it’s also opened up fears I never knew I had. Fears of losing you, of failing in the face of this... chaos.”
Ella nestled closer, her head finding a comfortable spot on Stone’s chest. “I feel the same way, Stone. I’ve been so caught up in trying to be strong for everyone that—”
She paused as the moonlight streaming through the window enveloped them in a soft, silver glow. Stone lifted his gaze to the window, taking in the beauty of its radiance and fascinated by the way it’s always been a symbol for them.
He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace. “You don’t always have to be strong, Ella. Not with me. It’s okay to just be yourself, to let your guard down. I won’t ever hurt you.”
For a long while, they lay in silence, each lost in their thoughts but comforted by the other’s presence. It was a rare moment of peace in a world that seemed to be spiraling out of control.
Finally, Ella spoke, her voice soft but steady. “I’m scared of what’s coming, Stone. But knowing you’re with me... it makes it all seem bearable. Even from the beginning—before knowing what you are. What you’ll mean to me when we—”
He knew what she meant.
The bond.
Perhaps she felt its call, too. He hoped so.
Yet, she wasn’t willing to break what fragile peace she had just yet.
Stone kissed the top of her head, a gesture of comfort and reassurance. “Whatever comes our way, we’ll face it together. And we’ll come out stronger on the other side. I promise you that.”
“I know,” she said, wrapping her arm around his torso as she settled in close, her scent permeating everything around him.
For what it was worth, there seemed to be a newfound sense of connection between them as they drifted off to sleep. A bond that went beyond duty or destiny. It was a bond of heart and soul, unbreakable and true.
And Stone marveled at the beauty of it.
Stone wandered through a dense, misty forest—the air thick with an otherworldly energy that seemed to pulse with the rhythm of an unseen heart. The night sky above was dominated by an unnaturally large moon, its glow casting an ethereal light that gave the woods an almost dreamlike quality.
Despite the serene beauty, a palpable sense of anticipation hung in the air, as if the very fabric of the night was bracing for something momentous.
Whispers wound through the trees, a familiar voice woven into the rustling leaves.
Stone strained to listen, taking note of each syllable as he tried to make sense of the words.
It was Doug’s voice, he realized, fragmented—like echoes from a forgotten dream.
“Seek the essence... under the eye of Selene... where shadows and light converge...”
The words were cryptic, yet they resonated within Stone, stirring a deep, primal understanding.
As he moved forward, symbols began to glow softly on the ancient trees, casting a gentle luminescence that lit his path. These symbols, intricate blends of runic and celestial designs, were reminiscent of those Doug had once passionately discussed—mysterious markers tied to lunar energies and age-old rites.
At the time, Stone had thought it was just a curiosity of an eccentric Alpha. But perhaps it wasn’t. Maybe he had been trying to understand his place in the world.
Suddenly, Stone was standing in a clearing bathed in moonlight, where the beams converged to spotlight a hovering crystal orb.
This crystal, radiant and pulsing with life, seemed to be the heartbeat of the forest, drawing him closer with an irresistible magnetism.
Reaching out, Stone’s fingers nearly brushed the crystal when its energy and glow intensified, wrapping him in a blinding light.
Doug’s voice surged with urgency, “The balance teeters... the Breath stirs... only the chosen can wield... beware the shadows that lurk...”
His words plunged Stone into a sense of foreboding as darkness crept at the edges of the clearing—a malevolent force seeking to smother the crystal’s light.
Doug’s warnings echoed louder, a desperate plea that cut to the core of Stone’s soul.
Jolted awake, Stone lay in the darkness with Ella’s frame still wrapped around him. However, Doug’s cryptic messages and the haunting symbols lingered in his mind, causing his pulse to race.
The urgency from his dream clung to him, pushing everything else aside. He hadn’t understood it last night, but it was crystal clear now. Nothing mattered more than unraveling the mystery of the Breath of Selene with Ella.
They had to get to it before anyone dangerous did—everything else, even their vendetta against Andres, would have to wait.