Misguided Wolves

20. Shadows of Doubt

Elliott woke that morning beside Kate in their cottage, guilt gnawing at him as he watched her sleep, her face pale from the nausea that had plagued her. He hadn’t wanted to leave her for his afternoon meeting with Sol, but she’d insisted she’d be fine, and he trusted Kyle to take her to the clinic. Their growing bond gave him some comfort, knowing Kate needed support amidst the castle’s tensions. He planned to ask Ella, Kate’s supposed friend, to bring her soup later, hoping to ease her discomfort.

The cottage’s bedroom glowed with soft morning light filtering through woven curtains, the air thick with the scent of cedar and lavender from a rune-carved candle flickering on the bedside table, its violet flame pulsing with Vargr’s magic. A small crystal vial of warmed rose oil sat beside it, catching the light with a faint shimmer. Kate stirred, her hazel eyes opening, sparkling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Elliott’s cedarwood-mint scent enveloped her as he leaned closer, his gaze commanding yet playful, sensing her vibrant energy.

“You’re practically bursting, minx,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble, pinning her with his intensity. “What’s this secret you’re hiding?”

Kate’s cheeks flushed, her apple-cinnamon scent spiking, her heart racing with the secret she planned to share that night—the pup, the surprise she and Kyle had prepared in Elliott’s old room with leather booties, rattles, and a blanket. She bit her lip, a nervous giggle escaping. “You’ll see tonight,” she teased, her voice trembling with anticipation, eager to reveal their future.

Elliott’s eyes darkened with desire and mischief, his hand cupping her face, his thumb tracing her lower lip, lingering to feel its softness. “Keeping secrets from me, are you?” he growled, his voice a velvet tease. “I’ll have to coax it out of you.” “Make her squirm!” Leo urged, but Elliott kept his control, intent on teasing her. He shifted her to the edge of the bed, his hands firm, pressing her against the soft furs, their warmth grounding her, the faint rustle of the bedding heightening her senses.

“Stay still,” he ordered, his tone sending a thrill through her. He reached for a silk ribbon from the bedside, its deep crimson hue catching the candlelight, and looped it loosely around her wrists, the smooth fabric cool and slick against her skin, tying a delicate knot that promised restraint yet allowed escape. “My secretive mate,” he purred, his eyes burning with intent. “Let him play,” Tove whispered, her voice soft with trust. Kate’s breath hitched, her body pliant as he pinned her wrists above her head, the ribbon’s gentle tug anchoring her to the headboard. His lips grazed her throat, nipping lightly where her mark would go, the faint sting drawing a soft whimper, her pulse quickening beneath his touch.

He eased her nightgown up, exposing her thighs, his hands commanding as they traced her skin, his fingers brushing the sensitive inner curve, lingering where her pulse raced beneath her flesh. “You’ll tell me soon enough,” he teased, dipping his fingers into the warmed rose oil, its floral scent mingling with their own. He trailed a single droplet down her collarbone, watching it glisten in the candlelight, then followed it with the tip of a feather quill from the bedside, its soft bristles tickling her skin, making her squirm. “So responsive,” he murmured, his lips brushing her ear, his breath warm as he tugged gently at her earlobe with his teeth, her gasps escalating as she yielded, her excitement for the night’s reveal fueling her surrender.

His hand slid lower, parting her thighs with deliberate care, his fingers brushing her core through her undergarments, light and teasing, tracing slow, deliberate circles that sent shivers through her. “Elliott,” she pleaded, her voice breaking with nervous joy, her body arching under his dominance, her anticipation for their pup’s reveal pulsing through her. He smirked, his fingers hovering, applying just enough pressure to keep her on edge, then pulling back, denying release. He leaned closer, his lips grazing her jaw, then her lips, teasing with a feather-light kiss that promised more but withdrew, leaving her breathless. “Not yet, minx,” he rasped, his voice thick with amusement. “You’ll spill your, or I’ll keep you like this all day.”

He trailed the feather quill lower, brushing it along the curve of her hip, then up to circle her navel, the ticklish sensation making her giggle and writhe, her wrists tugging lightly at the ribbon. “Elliott, please,” she gasped, her eyes sparkling with playful defiance, her body trembling with unfulfilled desire. He grinned wickedly, dripping another bead of rose oil onto her throat, spreading it with his thumb, the slick warmth making her moan softly. “Be good today,” he commanded, nipping her mark spot once more, the candle’s violet flame flaring briefly, pulsing with their shared tension, Vargr’s magic humming. Kate clutched the furs, her nails digging in, her body aching for more, her heart soaring with the thought of their pup. Their scents—apple-cinnamon and cedarwood-mint—blended in the violet glow, the air charged with her excitement and his control.

Elliott untied her wrists, pulling back with a wicked grin, leaving her flushed and breathless, her body tingling with unfulfilled desire and bubbling excitement for their pup. “Tonight, you’ll tell me everything,” he murmured, kissing her forehead softly. Kate’s heart raced, eager to share the news in his old room, unaware of the storm awaiting him. She kissed him back, her nervousness tempered by joy, promising herself the reveal would be perfect. He left for his meeting, his heart warmed by her radiance but heavy with worry for her health.

That afternoon, Elliott entered Sol’s office, surprised to see Castiel there. “Is something wrong?”

Sol’s stern gaze met his. “Just come in so we can start.”

Elliott sat beside Castiel, the air heavy as they reviewed finances and war updates. Normally Sumner’s duties, these had fallen to Elliott while his brother helped Deborah with her Luna training. Rumors suggested Deborah was thriving, charming most of Vargr, with many eager for her to become Luna. Yet some, like Kyle, clashed with her. Deborah had accused Kyle of hitting on her, enraging Sumner, who nearly attacked their cousin. Elliott had calmed him, but tensions lingered.

Then there was Kate. Elliott recalled Sumner’s fury in the hall, Deborah soaking wet, tears in her eyes, claiming Kate attacked her. Kate’s explanation—that Deborah staged it—rang true to Elliott, but doubts festered. Rumors of Kate’s disloyalty, even spying for Fror, spread like wildfire. Witnesses claimed she coldly dismissed Ella’s pleas, though Leo insisted something was off, urging Elliott to trust Kate. The conflicting voices tore at him.

Sol’s question about war strategies snapped Elliott back, but his heart wasn’t in it. He deferred to Sol’s judgment, eager to raise a more pressing matter. “Since Sumner’s wedding, I want to plan mine.”

Sol frowned. “Son, Jody’s too young for marriage. Court her first.”

“No,” Elliott snapped. “You know I mean Kate—my true mate!”

Sol sighed, exasperated. “It’s time we discussed this. I won’t allow you to marry that girl. She’s a traitor, disrespecting our home.”

Elliott’s jaw tightened. “Her name is Kate. She’s my mate! MINE!”

Sol gestured to Castiel, who nodded. Guards dragged in a man in silver shackles, throwing him before Elliott. The man, trembling, glanced at Castiel, whose eyes gleamed green briefly. “Tell him what you told us,” Castiel ordered.

The man hesitated, squirming, then spoke. “Th-the Fror princess has been meeting me for weeks…”

“Go on!” Castiel scowled. “What did you do?”

“We met in an abandoned cabin… I gave her Vargr’s secrets… and we… had sex.”

Elliott saw red, grabbing the man’s neck, lifting him off the ground. “LIAR!”

The man’s eyes widened, darting to Castiel as if for rescue. “The cabin’s in the north woods, near neutral lands! I’m telling the truth!”

Gasping, the man pleaded, “Castiel! I did what you asked! Help me!”

Elliott snapped his neck, rage blinding him, regretting not extracting more but unable to hear further lies. The guards dragged the body away. Sol broke the silence. “As your mate, she can keep her life, but you have until tomorrow’s end to reject her, or I’ll act.”

Ella entered, worry plastered on her face. “It’s true… Kate told me she was meeting him. I saw them flirting behind your back. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner… I thought she was my friend.”

“Let’s bring Kate here!” Elliott roared. “Hear her side!”

Castiel placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. “She’ll lie to save herself. The mate bond will blind you. Reject her quickly—everyone knows what she’s capable of.”

“He’s right, son,” Sol said. “Sever the bond fast.”

Elliott’s chest heaved, suffocating. He bolted from the office, shoving past anyone in his path, shifting without undressing and sprinting north. In the dark, he found a decrepit cabin, the man’s scent strong, Kate’s faint—barely detectable, yet undeniable through the mate bond. Other unfamiliar scents lingered, but he ignored them, his heart shattering. Leo howled in agony, unable to enter. They ran until collapsing, a dreamless sleep overtaking them.

The next day, Elliott hunted anything in his path, the bloodshed a futile distraction from his pain. As the sun set, he returned to the castle, a pit growing in his stomach for what he faced—rejecting Kate, despite Leo’s protests and his own breaking heart.