The bite between us

The pull

chapter 14

Kael pov

I notice the change before I see the cause.

Zainab’s laughter carries down the hallway—soft, startled, real. It doesn’t belong to this place. It stops me mid-step.

She’s standing near the windows with another woman. Younger. Confident. Relaxed in a way humans usually aren’t inside power-heavy buildings like this one. They lean toward each other easily, heads close, like familiarity came quickly.

Too quickly.

Something tugs at my senses.

Not the bond.

Something adjacent.

The woman—Amina, if I heard correctly—tilts her head as she listens to Zainab speak. Her smile is easy, but her eyes are alert. Measuring. Not predatory.

Aware.

My wolf stirs uneasily.

She smells wrong.

I focus, letting my senses widen just enough to be sure.

There it is.

Not human.

Suppressed. Masked well. Another pack’s signature—faint, disciplined, intentionally buried beneath soap and city air. She’s careful. Experienced.

A wolf.

And worse—

I feel the pull.

Not desire. Not attraction.

Recognition.

She notices me then.

Her gaze flicks to mine, sharp for half a second before softening into something harmless. Human. Polite. But that split second is enough.

She knows what I am.

And she knows that I know.

Zainab turns, following her gaze. “Oh—Kael, this is Amina. We work in the same department.”

Amina steps forward, offering her hand easily.

“Nice to meet you.”

I take it.

The contact confirms everything.

Controlled strength. Grounded presence. A wolf who has learned how to survive among humans without drawing attention. From the way she stands—not submissive, not challenging—I’d guess mid-ranking. Trusted. Trained.

“Likewise,” I reply evenly.

Zainab smiles between us, oblivious to the silent exchange happening over her head. The air around her feels lighter than it has in days. More balanced.

That’s the problem.

“You heading out?” Amina asks her.

“Yeah,” Zainab says. “I was just about to.”

“I’ll walk you,” Amina offers casually.

Zainab hesitates—just a second—then nods.

“Okay.”

They turn to leave together.

My wolf bristles.

Too many anchors.

I don’t stop them.

I watch instead.

Amina positions herself slightly to Zainab’s outer side as they walk. Subtle. Protective. Instinctive.

The kind of movement wolves don’t even think about.

She’s already guarding her.

I exhale slowly.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

Another pack’s wolf this close to her means politics. Means attention. Means questions

Rowan does not need asked yet.

And yet—

Zainab’s shoulders are relaxed. Her steps lighter.

She’s safer with layers of protection.

Even if those layers complicate everything.

I turn away, already planning.

I’ll need to find out which pack Amina belongs to.

Why she’s here.

And whether this is coincidence—

—or fate widening the circle around a girl who was never meant to be alone.