Bound By Legend

CHAPTER SEVEN: RUNNING OUT OF TIME

The loud thud of the mahogany doors as they closed felt like a death sentence. The last Solvane connection was finally severed. Just one moment of mourning Reverie, mourn the beautiful moments, feel it and release it. My palms were against the door as the grief sliced a hollow space in my chest. But there was not enough time in the day for me to process the emotion for longer than a moment. I’ll be able to grieve everything I have lost when I get Rhiannon as far away from this desolate place as possible.

I thought about the recording, now saved and secured in an encrypted medical journal for me to deal with later. Thank you Satori. For everything. Bringing me to your pack. Protecting my secrets. And always being an ally.

After a few moments, I was filled with gratitude and purpose. My body ignited with it as I turned away and stepped towards a better future for me and my daughter. My hyper-vigilience engaged a moment too late when I collided with Kieran in the next corridor so hard he nearly knocked me over.

Out of impulse, instinct, or familiarity I couldn’t be sure, Kieran caught me before I hit the ground. It seemed the action was a surprise to both of us as he stared in my eyes for a moment.

When was the last time he even looked in my eyes like this?

The sensation of his powerful stare was enough to raise my hackles. Have his eyes always looked so…emotionless? Before I could even dissect the thought, his scent mixed with Delilah’s told me everything I needed to know about the courtyard–as if I hadn’t seen it for myself.

Even as Kamari surged to the surface under my skin with jealous growls, our fated mate tingles and pheromones threatened to pull me under the cloud of desire. Kieran smirked at me as if he thought he’d get his normally obedient wife back that night after all. Not a chance.

The whiplash from all the chemical reactions within my body engulfed me so viciously I nearly hurled everywhere and pushed him off of me. The lust cleared instantly. How could he be ready to go already, didn’t they just finish? Kieran had always been nearly insatiable in bed. Had I not put myself on contraceptives, the house would be filled to the brim with pups–we both knew it. Not that he remembered.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I snapped. “Go back to your reeking whore.”

He sneered at me. Then took a look at my eyes before he stepped closer. “You’ve been crying.”

“It’s none of your business.”

His gaze drifted from where we stood to Grandmother Satori’s door as he raised a brow while he put some pieces of the puzzle together. “Is Grandmother well? Today was her yearly, right?”

The comment nearly had my rage boil over. I knew for a fact that Kieran, Christine, and Nova were pretty much waiting for the former Alpha and Luna to die so they could all inherit the rest of the Solvane fortune. It made me sick. I scoffed. “Oh? So you DO know how to access the Solvane Family calendar after all?”

“You went to see Grandmother. How is she?” He ignored me like usual.

“Go see for yourself. Although she may have just laid down for her nap, unless she opted for tea and Telenovelas instead this afternoon.” I stormed away from him, he gripped my wrist and I yanked it out of his reach.

The mahogany doors swung open and Grandmother Satori’s voice rang out from around the corner. “Is that one of my Grands coming to see me at last? Pray tell…what made you darken my doorstep, Kieran?”

“Grandmother. Is that any way to greet your Alpha?” he said. His eyes were still on me as he moved towards her door.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her as she lazily leaned against the door frame of her room. “My Alpha is inside my room actually, and you don’t want to know how I greet him. As for my Grandson, come inside and listen to the wisdom of your Elders while you help me move some shit.”

“Grandmother!!!” He chided in embarrassment. When his gaze was no longer on me, I turned back around to head towards the exit, grateful for Grandmother Satori’s distraction despite his yelling after me still.

“This attitude is unbecoming of you, Reverie.” When I rolled my eyes and ignored him, he tried again. “I expect dinner at six. The Parmesan roast and noodles I like.”

“Tell Delilah to cook it for you. I’m sure she knows the exact temperature you like the roast at.”

I heard Grandmother scold him once more, but ignored the rest to escape unscathed. Darkness had already fallen, and I needed rest before I attempted to put the rest of my plans into motion. Alpha Kieran Solvane has no idea what’s coming. I clenched my fist as the cool night air hit me in the face.

A few hours later

The sound of my daughter’s crying shot me awake in an instant. “Rhi!” I cried out. The knife and encrypted cell phone were in my hand before I knew it. My instincts screamed as I darted around the darkened house–only to be painfully reminded I was all alone. My breaths came quickly, my hand ran down my sweaty face.

Leoric’s voice was in my ear before the ringtone. “She’s fine, Rev. I am looking at her right now. Safely tucked into her bed with a smile on her face.”

Tears stung my eyes, the wall was hard and cold when I collapsed against it, relief flooded me.

There was a soft click of the door as it shut behind him when he left my daughter’s room. That single click was one of a handful of things that allowed me to keep my sanity since she was born.

“Another bad dream?” He whispered once he took the exact 25 steps to clear away from her door.

For a moment, I thought about hiding it, but Leoric knew me too well.

“I don’t remember anything but hearing her cry..”

Leoric sighed. “We need to get you home. You are running out of time.” He attempted to hide his own emotions, but I knew him too well.

My instincts flared. “Someone’s here.” Kamari growled through me. I hung up the phone and stashed it just as my door opened–Uma Valentine entered.

“Goddess.” I breathed

She smirked. “Nope. Just me, bitch.”

She looked me over, in that unnerving feline way she always did when she was diving into my soul. “Are you good? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She’d leaned so far into my personal space, I needed to lean back away from her. “Don't lie to me, Rev…I can smell your stress.”

I placed my hands on her arms and pushed her away so we could stand tall again. “Bad dreams again. So tired of the distance.”

“Soon Rev. Soon.”

“Almost done here.”

I looked over the house. Rhiannon would’ve loved this house. I could almost see her doing cartwheels in the yard, or laughing as she lounged on the sofa in front of the television. Or throwing the controller when Uma beat her at a Mario Party game. My hands passed Uma a steaming hot mug before I could even think about it. She raised a brow and grimaced but still took a sip.

“s**t! Sorry Uma, you don’t like cocoa!” I moved to grab the cup and make us both coffee instead, but she stopped my hand.

“It’s fine! You were obviously in your feels about Rhi. Let’s drink it in honor of her–I will have some espresso though!”

She bypassed me in one smooth moment to traipse across the counters and grab the espresso from the upper liquor refrigerator.

She returned to the table and squirted some into both our cups. I smiled and stared out the window, thoughts of the life I could’ve had with Rhiannon replayed in my brain.

“Your bruise from Christine isn’t healing. Is that a personal choice of you and your wolf …or…?” Uma’s voice trailed off as she suffered through another sip as she scrolled through her phone.

I touched my cheek. Kamari and I hadn’t even thought about the bruise since Christine hit me when the hospital information about Delilah was leaked. “Oh…I uh–”

“What the actual f**k?!” She snarled into her phone.

I snapped out of my reverie instantly. “Goddess, what happened now?”