Chapter 41
I woke up wrapped in warmth, tangled in sheets that smelled like him.
Tyler.
The events of last night flooded my mind, but I wasn’t going to sit here and dwell on them. What happened, happened. I shifted slightly, feeling an ache between my legs, a sharp reminder of what we had done.
The bond between us had been rekindled in the most primal way possible. The morning sun streamed through the large windows, casting golden light across the room.
I stared at the ceiling, trying to process everything. Why did it feel so final?
Like I had just sealed something bigger than myself. A soft groan beside me pulled me from my thoughts.
Tyler stirred, his arm tightening around my waist as he pulled me closer. His bare chest pressed against my back, his body radiating warmth.
I tensed slightly, but then he kissed my shoulder, then my jaw.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his morning voice deep and rough.
I didn’t respond. I just let him press a slow kiss to my lips. It was gentle. Different. Like he was trying to say something without words.
Then—
A loud knock on the door.
We both froze. Another knock. Urgent. Desperate. Tyler groaned, rubbing his face. “What the hell now?”
He sat up just as the knock came again, more insistent this time.
“Alpha!” a voice called from the other side. “Urgent news!”
Tyler immediately stiffened, his entire demeanor shifting from lover to Alpha.
I felt it too—the tension, the shift in the air. Something was wrong. Tyler threw on a pair of pants and strode to the door, swinging it open.
A young warrior stood there, breathing heavily, his face pale with fear.
“There’s an army of cursed wolves coming our way.”
My blood ran cold. Tyler’s entire body went rigid. “What?”
“They’re already on our territory,” the warrior continued, his breath ragged. “They’re about to attack.”
Tyler turned his head slightly, looking at me. For a second, we just stared at each other.
Then, everything happened at once. Tyler spun around, grabbing his shirt and weapons. I jumped out of bed, reaching for my clothes.
There was no time for questions. No time for thinking. Just action. Tyler stormed out of the room, his voice booming through the estate.
“Wake the warriors! Everyone, prepare for battle!”
I followed behind him, my pulse hammering.
“What the hell is happening?” I demanded. Tyler shook his head, his eyes dark with rage. “I don’t know.”
We reached the war room, where more messengers were waiting. Tyler whipped around to the young warrior. “Who’s leading them? Who sent them? Is it Killian?”
The messenger hesitated. Then, his next words sent a violent chill down my spine. “No, Alpha. It’s Debbie. She’s leading the cursed wolves.”
I felt the world tilt beneath me.
Debbie.
Tyler’s hands curled into fists, his breathing sharp. “That’s impossible,” he growled. “She just gave birth. How the hell could she lead an attack?”
