Ascension 49_A Warrior Luna's Awakening

Freya’s POV

 +8 Pearls

 I had packed thest of my belongings from the Silverfang Alpha’s vi and set them neatly into the trunk of Lana’s car.

 Three years

 of marriage, and my possessions could fit into a single case.

 Lana leaned on the driver’s side door, smirking. “Honestly, I thought you’d have Kadee help you haul your stuff out. That boy would probably leap at the chance.”

 I shook my head. “For one suitcase? Not worth calling him.” Kade had offered, of course–he always did–but I had no desire to drag him into this.

 Lana chuckled as she popped the trunk shut. “Careful, Freya. He might think you’ve ditched him again. Wouldn’t be the first time he’s cried about it.”

 I raised a brow. “Cried? He’s a grown wolf, not a pup fresh out of the den.”

 “Oh, trust me,” she said, sliding behind the wheel, “when he found out you’d mated to Caelum without telling him, he bawled in front of everyone after a pack gathering. Kept howling about how you had terrible taste in males–‘Why him? Of all wolves, him!“”

 That made me pause. In the Iron Fang Recon Unit, Kade had taken wounds without so much as a wince. The thought of him breaking down over my mating bond was… strange.

 “Still,” Lana went on, “he wasn’t wrong about Grafton. That Alpha’s not exactly worth the fur on his back.”

 “Enough. Just drive,” I said, sliding into the passenger seat.

 I nned to stay with Lana for a few days–long enough to take my parents‘ ashes back to our homnd for a proper resting ce—before returning to The Capital to find my own den.

 Lana started the engine. “Oh, and don’t tell Kade I told you about the crying. He bribed me to keep quiet.”

 I arched a brow. “What kind of bribe?” 

 She grinned wickedly. A shirtless sleeping shot of his uncle.”

 I choked on air. “You’re interested in his uncle?” 

 “I was,” she said with a shrug. “He’s a <bwyer, cold as winter steel. I chased him for a while, but it got boring. Males are plentiful; why get stuck on one tree when there’s a whole forest?” 

 I caught the shadow in her eyes and didn’t pry. Years ago, she’d been smitten with that male, but in the <bst two years, his name hadn’t passed her lips.

 My phone buzzed then–an unfamiliar number. When I answered, a low, </bmanding voice filled my ear.

 “Miss Thorne,” Ss Whitmor said, “if you wish to return my coat, I’m at the range.”

 “The range?” I blinked.

 “Yes. I have time now. If you don’t, then never mind.”

 “I have time,” I replied quickly. Better to sever this tie now, before the Irond Alpha found more excuses to cross paths with<ol><li>me.</li></ol>

 He sent me the location. I turned to Tana. “Drop me here. Take my case to your ce–I’ll collect itter.” 

 She gave me a look. “That was Whitnor on the line? What does he want?”

 To return something that’s his.”

 104

 +8 Pearls

 The shooting range was an exclusive, members–only ce–not somewhere just anyone could walk into. Wren, Ss’s ever- efficient Beta assistant, was waiting at the gate when I arrived.

 “Miss Thorne,” he said with a respectful nod. “This way.”

 His deference was notable; in The Capital, Wren barely acknowledged most high–born wolves. And yet, he treated me—an Omega with no pack standing here–with something that edged on reverence.

 I knew what it meant. Ss Whitmor’s interest was a dangerous thing.

 The sharp cracks of gunfire reached my ears as we crossed the open–air range. I didn’t flinch; the sound was as familiar as my own heartbeat. In the Iron Fang days, the rifle range had been my daily haunt.

 And then I saw him.

 Ss stood with the poise of a predator in ck, sleeves rolled to the elbow, the hard lines of his forearms taut as he leveled his weapon. A headset covered his ears, his stance bnced and unshakable.

 Each pull of the trigger sent another round into the bullseye, the recoil barely moving him.

 It was clinical, precise–like watching a wolf hone his ws, every movement under absolute control.

 And as the brass casings hit the ground with a soft, metallic chime, I knew one thing–Ss Whitmor didn’t invite me here just to retrieve a coat.

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Ascension 49