Moonbound Mates

Chapter Twenty-Two

The next morning arrived far too quickly.

Rowan knew this because she spent most of the night awake.

Again.

Not because she couldn't sleep.

Because every time she closed her eyes, she remembered.

The last two days.

The hunger.

The restlessness.

The impossible relief she'd felt the moment Kael returned to pack territory.

Gods.

She hated this.

Nyra, naturally, was having the time of her life.

"You look nervous."

"I'm not nervous."

"You checked your outfit three times."

"I was making sure it was clean."

"You own eyes."

Rowan glared at the wardrobe.

Nyra laughed.

The traitor.

A knock sounded at the door.

Rowan froze.

Then immediately frowned.

It was too early for Lyra.

Far too early.

Which meant—

"No."

Nyra sounded delighted.

The knock came again.

Rowan closed her eyes.

Then crossed the room and opened the door.

Jace stood in the hallway.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Jace sighed.

A long-suffering sound.

The sort of sigh that suggested his life had become significantly more difficult recently.

"Good morning."

Rowan narrowed her eyes.

"You look tired."

"So do you."

"Fair."

The exchange felt suspiciously easy.

That alone should have worried her.

Jace glanced down the hallway.

Then back at her.

"Kael asked me to come get you."

There it was.

Rowan's stomach immediately betrayed her.

Again.

She was beginning to feel personally victimized by her own organs.

Nyra laughed.

Loudly.

"Stop that."

Jace blinked.

"Stop what?"

Rowan froze.

"...Nothing."

His expression suggested he didn't believe that for a second.

Unfortunately, he was polite enough not to ask.

"Library?"

The question slipped out before she could stop it.

Jace nodded.

"The library."

Of course it was.

Where else would the Council force two emotionally compromised people to spend an entire day?

Rowan grabbed her jacket.

"This is a terrible idea."

Jace looked thoughtful.

Then nodded.

"Probably."

That wasn't nearly as reassuring as she wanted it to be.

Together, they started down the hallway.

And toward what Rowan suspected would be a long day.

____

Across the table, Kael set down another document.

"Found it."

Rowan straightened slightly.

"Please tell me that's our release paperwork."

"It isn't."

"Damn."

A shadow of amusement appeared in his eyes.

"I figured out where we're going."

Rowan blinked.

The trip.

Their trip.

Something uncomfortable shifted in her chest.

Nyra immediately perked up.

"Oh, this should be good."

"Be quiet."

Across the table, Kael unfolded a map.

"It's a small town near the northern border."

Rowan leaned forward despite herself.

"There isn't much there."

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"A bookstore. A bakery. A lake."

Something about the way he said it made Rowan pause.

Because suddenly he didn't sound like he was describing a destination.

He sounded like he was remembering one.

Kael's gaze lingered on the map.

"My mother used to take us there every year."

The words were simple.

Matter-of-fact.

But Rowan still felt herself still.

Kael rarely talked about his parents.

Especially not like this.

A faint smile appeared.

Small.

Unintentional.

"The bakery owner used to sneak me pastries whenever my mother wasn't looking."

Rowan found herself smiling before she could stop it.

"A criminal."

"The worst kind."

The answer came immediately.

Easy.

For a brief moment, the conversation felt normal.

Then Kael looked back down at the map.

"My mother loved that town."

The warmth in his voice softened.

Not dramatically.

Just enough.

"It was her favorite place."

Something tightened unexpectedly in Rowan's chest.

Because suddenly she understood.

This wasn't random.

Of all the places he could have chosen—

He'd chosen this one.

A place tied to family.

To memories.

To home.

The realization lingered longer than she wanted it to.

"It sounds nice."

Kael looked up.

Their eyes met briefly.

Then—

"It is."

The answer was quiet.

Certain.

Like he didn't have to think about it.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Rowan looked back at the map.

Trying very hard not to think about the fact that tomorrow—

She'd be standing beside him there.

Trying even harder not to think about how much she suddenly wanted to.

By the time Rowan returned to her room, the sun had begun to set.

Golden light spilled through the window.

The day should have exhausted her.

Instead, her mind refused to be quiet.

A small town.

A bookstore.

A bakery.

A lake.

His mother's favorite place.

Gods.

Nyra was unbearable.

"You smiled."

"I did not."

"You did."

"It was a normal facial movement."

"It was smiling."

Rowan threw a pillow at the wall.

The wolf laughed.

A knock sounded at the door.

Immediately followed by—

"Open up."

Rowan closed her eyes.

"No."

"Too late."

"The door is literally locked."

"I have snacks."

Rowan hesitated.

Nyra gasped.

"You're considering it."

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

Another knock.

Then—

"I also have wine."

Rowan sighed.

Five minutes later, Lyra was sitting cross-legged on her bed.

Surrounded by enough snacks to feed a small army.

Rowan still wasn't entirely sure where she'd gotten all of them.

The woman had appeared carrying bags.

Actual bags.

It was concerning.

"You planned this."

Lyra looked offended.

"I always plan this."

"That somehow makes it worse."

"It should."

The answer came immediately.

For a while they talked about nothing.

Pack gossip.

Training.

The argument between two warriors that had somehow escalated into an actual wrestling match.

Apparently neither man had remembered what they'd been arguing about.

Rowan laughed so hard she nearly choked on a pastry.

Lyra looked insufferably pleased with herself.

"Look at that."

"Don't."

"She's smiling."

"I'm threatening you."

"She's threatening me while smiling."

The evening passed surprisingly quickly.

For the first time in days—

Rowan relaxed.

Not completely.

But enough.

Enough to breathe.

Enough to forget.

Enough to laugh.

Outside, darkness settled over the packhouse.

Inside, the room felt warm.

Comfortable.

Safe.

Eventually the conversation slowed.

The snacks were mostly gone.

The wine bottle was nearly empty.

And for once—

Lyra grew quiet.

Rowan immediately distrusted this.

"What."

Lyra looked toward the window.

Then back at her.

Nothing good ever followed that expression.

"What?" Rowan repeated.

The question came softly.

Unexpectedly.

"Do you want to go on this trip with him?"

The room fell silent.

Completely.

Rowan stared.

Because somehow—

Somehow—

That question hurt more than all the others.

Not:

Do you like him?

Not:

Do you miss him?

Not:

Do you think he's your mate?

Just—

Do you want to go?

Simple.

Honest.

Terrifying.

Rowan looked away.

Toward the window.

Toward the darkness beyond it.

Anywhere except Lyra.

Because the answer came immediately.

She pictured the bookstore.

The bakery.

The lake.

Three days away from the pack.

Three days with Kael.

No Evelyn.

No Council.

No expectations.

Just—

Her chest tightened.

"I..."

The word caught.

For once, Lyra didn't interrupt.

Didn't tease.

Didn't push.

She simply waited.

Patiently.

Rowan swallowed.

Then laughed softly.

The sound held no humor at all.

"I think I might."

The admission barely rose above a whisper.

But once it was spoken—

She couldn't take it back.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then Lyra smiled.

Not triumphant.

Not teasing.

Just gentle.

Like she'd been waiting for Rowan to admit it to herself.

The bed shifted.

Lyra scooted closer.

Then bumped her shoulder lightly against Rowan's.

Simple.

Comforting.

Familiar.

"You know," Lyra said quietly, "for someone who claims she doesn't like people, you're surprisingly easy to get attached to."

Rowan snorted.

"That's your own fault."

"Probably."

A small smile tugged at Lyra's lips.

Then she looked toward the window.

Toward tomorrow.

Toward whatever came next.

"Whatever happens," she said softly, "you're not alone."

The words settled somewhere deep inside Rowan's chest.

Warm.

Steady.

Real.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then Lyra ruined it.

Naturally.

"If you get emotional, I'm telling everyone."

Rowan groaned.

"There she is."

Lyra grinned.

And for the first time that day—

Rowan smiled too.