Kaden

"I'm going in."

Tuning Jax out, I keep low to the ground. I can sense his presence, and it's overwhelming. When we crossed his borders last night, it hit us like a bulldozer. I went ahead, knowing he'd sense Jax. The female heard me, just as I expected, and Calex came looking. I was long gone before he could find me.

We couldn't interfere with the shift. It would have stressed the poor female out, and the moment she connects to the Moon Goddess and her wolf would've been delicate. After my plan failed—something I'm not proud to admit—Jax devised this one. I was going to do what I do best—play distraction while he investigated.

Jax doesn't say it, but I know this has been eating at him. Add the female, and he feels like he has to step up as Alpha.

For now, getting the female out of there is the main priority. But I saw him with her; he was soothing her.

I want to know why he took her, too.

Confronting him head-on with Jax will only lead to a fight. Handling this in two portions is the way to go.

Eyeing the thick branch at my side, a grin tugs at my lips.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Vern snickers.

"I believe I am."

Bracing myself, I throw my head back and howl. Stalking around the treeline, I avoid the scattered leaves. I duck around the side just as the door swings open with a rough thud. His heavy footfalls sound at the head of the cabin, and I take my chance. Pushing off the grass in a run, he pivots in time for my approach. I jump, and our eyes lock—just long enough to catch his shock. I bring the branch down over his head. Wood. cracks, and I catch a grunt and a curse.

"Now run!" Vern laughs, urging me on.

I sprint toward the trees. The aggressive growl behind me tells me he's taking chase. There's a discrete sound cutting through the air, leaving me to dodge his reaching hand. I never thought our reunion would involve him being hit with a branch, and me running for my life. If anything, the most vivid scenario was a meeting—what, I don't know. It had been six years since I last saw him, and in that time, he never crossed our borders.

I remember it like it was yesterday. His vicious snarls rang through the pack, followed by pleas and cries. Blood stained the field that night, and nothing has ever been the same.

Wiping the tear that strays, I push the memory behind the doors of the deepest part of my mind and think of the second scenario I used to imagine. It would've been on kinder terms: time healed wounds, and there was something to bridge us back together.

I've lost count of how many chances I've had to sneak away and come here, to see him, to hear him out, to make amends. Each time, I talked myself out of it for fear of disappointing Jax. Now I wish I had done something. Maybe if I had, we wouldn't be meeting like this—

"Dodge!"

Evading a tree, I veer left and leap over a rock, deciding we've come far enough. However, he catches me before I have the chance to act, and the both of us hit the ground with a harsh tumble. Rolling to my hands and knees, I'm on my feet in time to see him brace himself for another secret attack.

Shaking off the fall, I peer up at him and our eyes lock. "Calex."

There's a low growl. "Kaden."

My breath gets stuck in my throat. His eyes aren't like the pair I used to look up to all those years ago. They're hard, glaring, and the gentle emerald has turned into rigid shards. No. He's changed. There's nothing tender about his features. I knew he was tall, but he's towering over me. I can see how much he's bulked up over the years. Strength is key to surviving this world, after all.

I scratch the back of my neck. "How's it going?"

Crossing his arms over his chest, I'm taken aback by his calmness. Judging by his reputation, Calex isn't a calm male.

"You created a scene to lure me out here to talk?" He shakes his head; the dark locks bounce, emitting a burgundy hue as the auburn strands catch the sun. Cocking his head to the side, he emits a rough growl. "Where's Jax, or has he sent you to do his dirty work?"

If his expression is any indication, having Jax hang back was the right decision. If Calex so much as sniffs him, it's game over. I'm confident a challenge would break out, and I'd rather they didn't. As much as I want them to make amends, they're happier in their own elements.

I must respect it, even if my gut is telling me it's wrong.

"We'll find a way," Vern murmurs.

After everything that's happened, Jax won't accept him. Calex will never trust him, and I'm the one who has to follow the path laid out for me, even if it doesn't feel complete.

Releasing a sigh, I kick a clump of leaves to the side, tracing the tip of my shoe through the dirt. "He wants to have words with you about crossing into our territory," I reason. "I don't want to fight. . ."

For a moment, he doesn't say anything. It's clear he's talking to his wolf. Treading lightly would be the best course of action; I've heard rumours about the rogue who's been dominating the Void. They say going against him means certain defeat. But face his wolf, and you might lose your life. I'm proud he's become a strong male, but I'm disappointed in how he's climbed the ranks.

"Fine. I'll attend the meeting if that's what he wishes." There's another pause when he turns his glare to the ground. "I didn't trespass to cause trouble. If there was a way to avoid it, I would have."

My chest constricts, and my palms grow clammy. If only he knew the intent behind our conversation. He's being honest. I'm deceiving him. He could've hurt our men—he didn't. And I'm ashamed Jax's hatred won't let him see that. I'm also hurt that the thought of wanting to see us—to see me—doesn't cross his mind.

Vern flattens his ears. "Don't take it personally, Kade. . . I'm sure in his own way, he misses you."

I'm about to reply to the glimmer of gentleness in his eyes when Jax's voice cuts through my mind.

"Kaden, feel free to split."

Translation: I'm with the girl. You may leave.

I'd rather try to build a small bridge, to see if there's a chance we can reconnect. On the other hand, I owe Jax everything. I can't shut him out for one desire.

I can't have everything.

Swallowing the knot in my throat, I force my thoughts back to Jax. "Jax, I think you should change your mind about this. I'm not sensing any ulterior motives."

We should be asking why he was after the female—especially since she's a new she-wolf. I would have asked. I wouldn't have tricked him. I wouldn't be planning to take her from under his nose.

Nothing comes back.

Is the female okay? I didn't sense anything when I was there a few minutes ago.

"If you wanted to talk, you wouldn't have lured us here."

Dread floods through my body, freezing it in place. His eyes blaze, shoulders rising and falling rapidly with each breath, canines and claws elongated.

"Flynn, nice to see you," I greet, braving a smile.

He releases a menacing growl. "Jax is at the cabin."

Vern settles near the front, preparing himself in case either of them makes a move on us. "Keep your guard up."

Doing as he says, I still can't help but feel remorseful. My first instinct is to talk him out of marching over there. The second is to stop him from pummelling Jax. The last is to hide how desperate I am to keep talking—even if it's about him stepping into our territory.

I'm curious about his interest in this female. I know nothing about him. But I bite my tongue.

I was ready for anything: for him to bolt at me, return a sneak attack of his own, or straight-up punch me in the face. But he doesn't.

I'm astonished by his speed. I catch the faint brush of his shoulder as he passes, and his scent lingers. Pivoting on my heels, I stare after him as he charges in the direction we came from with a threatening snarl and disappears through the trees.

It's ridiculous, but I cling to the hope that the gentle brush of his shoulder meant something. To me, I want it to mean he doesn't blame me for doing this—that there's a flicker inside him that wants to build the bridge as much as I do. His face reads violence, but the action meant a truce.

I inhale deeply through my nose, then release a sigh.

His scent. . . it's as if I have only smelled it yesterday. It brings back a close familiarity, and I wish I could get a closer sniff. Not only is the memory fresh, but so is the hurt—

"Kaden! We need to warn Jax," Vern insists, urgently, pacing.

He's right. If Calex catches Jax, and the female is with him, something in my gut tells me it's not going to be a pretty sight.

"Jax, he's coming.Get out of there!"