The Fox's Heart

Chapter 20 - Calin’s POV

Calin lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. Talon and Falon were both snoring peacefully on the other bed, their rhythmic breaths like a constant hum in the quiet room. The moonlight filtered in through the half-open blinds, casting faint shadows on the floor. The soft sound of Elora’s breathing from the couch kept pulling his attention. It was a small thing—just the subtle rise and fall of her chest—but it consumed his thoughts, his body, every part of him aching with the desire to be closer to her.

He tried to roll over and focus on something else, anything else, but his mind kept returning to her. The way her scent had overwhelmed him in the car earlier that day, made his senses flare with an almost animalistic urgency. Talon had turned up the AC, clearly trying to make the ride more comfortable for everyone, but then her scent hit him like a bus and all Calin could focus on was her—Elora, her scent intoxicating, a mixture of roses and something wild, something uniquely her. He had fought the impulse to pull her into his arms then, but the urge had been so strong, so undeniable.

Her presence had filled the car like a magnet, pulling at him until he could barely breathe. He had wanted to claim her right then and there, to feel her pressed up against him, to let the bond between them ignite and burn like wildfire. The thought alone made his heart pound, his instincts screaming at him to take what was his, to make her his in every way. But she had remained blissfully unaware, oblivious to the effect she had on him.

Then, of course, there was that damn dress. He couldn’t even begin to explain how it affected him. The way it clung to her curves, the soft fabric that had looked so innocent, and yet… it had stirred something inside him. The need to claim her was starting to become overwhelming, and he’d been tempted to drag her away from the others, away from everything, to get lost in her completely. But he’d kept his distance, knowing better.

At least, that’s what he had told himself.

His eyes flickered over to Elora again, her small form curled up on the couch, lost in sleep. She looked peaceful, innocent, so completely unaware of how much she had affected him. He could hear her gentle snores, the soft sound almost like a melody, soothing in its own way.

Calin’s chest tightened. He should be satisfied with this—should be content with the fact that she was there, in the same room, that close to him. But he couldn’t be. Not when every part of him longed to be with her, to hold her, to feel the warmth of her body next to his. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, desires fighting against the logic of the situation. She wasn’t ready for him or them, and even if he had his way, he wasn’t sure how to make her understand the depth of what they shared.

But that didn’t stop the need.

Without thinking, Calin slid silently out of bed, careful not to disturb Talon or Falon in the other bed. The last thing he needed was to be called out for this, but he couldn’t resist. His steps were light as he approached the couch, his eyes locked on Elora. His heart hammered in his chest as he reached down and carefully lifted her, surprised by how easy it was. She was so light, so delicate in his arms. She shifted slightly but didn’t wake, her soft snoring continuing as he carried her to the bed.

Once he settled her beside him, Calin slid in next to her, curling his body around hers instinctively, his chest pressing against her back. He took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet, intoxicating scent of her skin, and for the first time all day, he felt his body relax.

The tension that had been building inside him melted away, replaced by something warm, something comforting.

Her presence beside him, her soft breathing, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat—everything felt right. And as he drifted into sleep, his last thought was a simple one: We’ll keep her safe. We’re not letting her go.

Calin woke with a jolt, his body cold and empty where Elora had been just moments before. His arms reached out instinctively, only to meet empty space. For a moment, panic set in. His eyes shot open, and he found himself staring at the spot beside him—the soft indentation in the bed where Elora had lain. He could still smell her faint scent in the air and it made his heart ache. He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. Where did she go?

He sat up, his gaze darting to the other beds, expecting to see Talon or Falon asleep, but their bed was also empty. The room was quiet, too quiet, with only the sound of distant birds calling from outside the window. There was no sign of Elora, and it felt like the room had lost its warmth her gone.

Calin quickly got out of bed, his mind racing. Had something happened to her? Was she in trouble? His muscles tensed, ready to spring into action, but just as he opened the door to the main part of their suite, he caught sight of her. She was sitting at the table, her back to him as she laughed at something one of his brothers had said.

His heart skipped a beat. The sound of her laugh—a soft, melodic thing—reached him even from across the room, and it made him want to rush to her side. But what caught his attention was the way she looked when she saw him. Her laughter faltered for a moment, and then she turned bright red, her cheeks flushing so deeply it was almost as if she was caught doing something wrong.

Elora quickly looked away, her eyes darting to the floor as she fidgeted with the edge of her shirt. The sight of her embarrassment stirred something in Calin—something protective, something possessive. He couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“Good morning,” Calin said, his voice a bit rougher than he intended as he walked into the room.

Talon and Falon looked up at him, their faces lighting up with sleepy grins. “Finally awake, huh?” Talon teased, ruffling Calin’s hair as he passed him to sit down at the table.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Calin muttered, still watching Elora. She stood from her chair and began putting food on his plate. A spread of eggs, pancakes, bacon, and fresh fruit. The smell of it filled the room, making Calin’s stomach growl.

As they ate, Elora slowly started to relax, her earlier shyness fading as she joined in on their conversation. Her laughter, soft and genuine, was like a balm to his nerves. But there was something else—something about the way she looked when she wasn’t trying to hide from them. Seeing her so relaxed around them made his chest tighten.

When breakfast was finished, Talon stood up and stretched. “We’ve got a bit of time before the Alpha Ceremony tonight,” he said. “How about a hike?”

“Sounds good,” Calin said, though his eyes were still on Elora. She looked up at him, her icy blue eyes wide and curious.

They grabbed their backpacks, and after a short drive, they arrived at the trailhead. The path was well-worn and easy to follow, winding through dense trees until it opened up to a breathtaking waterfall. The sound of rushing water echoed through the air, the mist rising from the pool below.

Without hesitation, Calin shed his shirt and tossed it aside, his gaze never leaving Elora. His brothers had already jumped into the water, encouraging them to join them, but Calin remained still, watching as Elora hesitated at the edge. Her eyes flickered between them and the water. “I don’t have a swimsuit.” She called back to them.

“Just jump in with your clothes on,” Falon called back. “You’ll dry off by the time we reach the car.

She quickly kicked off her shoes and unbuttoned her shirt, revealing a simple tank top and spandex shorts underneath. As she stepped closer to the edge, the water below sparkled in the sunlight, and he could see her nervousness evaporating as she moved toward the rocks.

Without another word, Elora jumped into the water with a splash. Calin couldn’t take his eyes off her as she swam toward the waterfall, her movements graceful, fluid, almost like she belonged in the water. He found himself staring, his thoughts spinning.

As she swam around, her platinum blonde hair floating behind her like a halo, Calin couldn’t help but wonder if her wolf’s fur might be just as white as her hair. He had never seen a wolf quite like her, and the thought made something stir inside him.

He watched her, completely captivated, until Talon splashed him, yanking him from his thoughts. “What are you waiting for? Get in here!”

Calin snapped out of his trance, blinking rapidly. “Right,” he muttered and jumped in.

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The hike had been invigorating, but now, as he stood in the room with his brothers, Calin found himself growing restless. Elora had taken longer than expected to get ready, and Calin and his brothers had not been shy about teasing her.

“Is she still in there?” Talon asked, his voice laced with amusement as he flopped back onto the bed, arms behind his head. “What’s she doing, taking a nap in there?”

Falon laughed, leaning against the door frame of the bathroom. “We’re going to be late at this rate. You’d think she was getting ready for her wedding, not an alpha ceremony.”

Calin just shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. He couldn’t help but find it endearing how Elora had taken her time to prepare. Back in the room, everything seemed to slow down. His brothers were cracking jokes, the moment he had at the waterfall fading as they fell into their usual camaraderie. But Elora... Elora was a different story.

Talon cast a glance toward the bathroom door. “How long can one person take to blow-dry and straighten hair?”

Falon chuckled. “Don’t forget she also had a whole makeup routine.”

Calin glanced over to the bathroom door as though he could peer through the wood and into the scene on the other side. A twinge of impatience pulsed through him, but it wasn’t just because of the delay. It was because he couldn’t stop thinking about how beautiful she was going to look tonight. He already knew she would turn heads—she always did, though it never failed to leave him in awe.

A soft noise from the closet interrupted his thoughts, and he looked up just in time to see Elora step out, making her way toward them. She was dressed in a silk forest green gown, and Calin felt his breath catch in his throat.

Her platinum blonde hair was styled to perfection, cascading in soft waves down her back, and her makeup was flawless with red lipstick. There was an ethereal quality to her—like she had stepped out of a dream. The green gown hugged her curves just enough to be flattering without revealing too much, and the way the fabric shimmered in the dim light of the room made it look like she was glowing. She was stunning.

Talon and Falon were also stunned, evident by admiration in their eyes.

“Well, well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence,” Talon remarked, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I was starting to think we were gonna have to go without you.”

Elora shot him a playful glare, crossing her arms over her chest. “I take my time when I want to. It’s not my fault you insisted we go on a hike.” Her voice was teasing, but there was an underlying nervousness in her eyes.

“You look more than perfect,” Falon said with a wink, the teasing note in his voice giving way to something softer. He stood up and offered her his arm. “Ready to go, Elora?”

She smiled, her gaze flickering between the three of them. “I think so,” she said, stepping forward and taking his arm. Calin’s heart swelled with something he couldn’t quite explain, and he found himself stepping forward to walk alongside them.

Together, they headed for the door.

As they walked down the hallway to the ceremony, the atmosphere around them shifted. The Alpha Ceremony was always a significant event, one where the future of their pack would be shaped, and it felt important. But tonight, with Elora by their side, it felt different. Like they had their Luna by their sides. The thought of standing beside her, representing their pack and their bond, was almost overwhelming.

They made their way to the main hall, the sounds of the gathering crowd growing louder with each step.