18 - Echoes of the Bond

Aria POV

The door had barely closed behind Kael when Aria released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The air in the infirmary felt suddenly thin, as if Kael had taken it with him. Her hands trembled around Ryker's clipboard, and she fought the urge to drop it.

Nyra, her wolf, was quiet but alert, hovering just beneath the surface. The bond still lingered in the air, a static charge that wrapped around her like silk. Kael's scent—smoky pine and storm-touched air—clung to her senses, evoking memories of rain-soaked forests and warm hearths. He was real.

"Aria," Ryker's voice pulled her back. "You okay?"

She turned to him, noting the concern in his eyes. "Yes," she replied, though her voice betrayed her.

"You sure? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Worse. I've seen my mate. And he's Nightclaw. He was supposed to be the enemy.

"I'm fine," she said, clearing her throat and moving to the supplies tray, seeking normalcy.

Ryker watched her, a smirk forming. "You know, if you wanted to get my attention, you didn't have to bring the enemy's alpha into my room."

She shot him a warning glance.

He chuckled. "Alright, alright. But seriously, that guy? Talk about making an entrance. All brooding and mysterious. Thinks he's better than everyone."

She didn’t respond, focusing instead on straightening his bedding and checking his bandages. Her hands moved automatically, but her thoughts were elsewhere—Kael’s eyes, the feel of the bond flickering between them like live wire.

Ryker leaned closer, voice dropping to a playful tone. "But enough about him. Let's talk about you. You know, I've been stuck in this bed for days, and the only highlight has been your visits."

She rolled her eyes, laughing. "You're exhausting."

"I've been called worse," he said with a grin. "But I mean it. You're the only excitement I've had. Can’t blame a guy for trying to enjoy the view."

His gaze lingered on her, and she felt the weight of his attention. It wasn’t the bond this time, but something else—something more immediate. And confusing. Ryker had always been flirtatious, but now there was something in his eyes that gave her pause.

"How's the pain?" she asked, pulling back the edge of his bandage.

"Manageable," he replied, wincing slightly. "But I think a kiss from you might be the best medicine. The cheek will do"

She laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

"But charming," he added.

She began preparing fresh wrappings. "I’ll change these and bring you some balm before I go."

"Go? So soon? I was hoping you’d stay and keep me company."

"I have rounds to finish," she said, hesitating. "And… things to do"

He let out a long breath and sank deeper into the pillows, his gaze turning toward the ceiling. “I didn’t like him.”

Aria’s lips pressed into a thin line as she carefully began to apply the balm to his side. “I gathered that.”

“It’s not just the usual Nightclaw crap,” he muttered. “There’s something about him. Too calm. Too in control. Like he’s always two steps ahead of the room.”

She said nothing, but her chest tightened. Kael had felt that way to her too—steady and unreadable. But beneath the calm was something deeper, something raw and electric. Something she couldn’t ignore.

“I don’t trust wolves who can walk into enemy territory with that kind of confidence,” Ryker continued. “He’s not here just to play nice. No one from Nightclaw ever is.”

Aria’s fingers stilled on the bandage. She could hear the bitter truth in his words—the kind bred from years of distrust, of blood spilled across shared borders, of battles that carved scars too deep to forget.

And yet… her heart was his the moment Kael stepped through the door.

He was Nightclaw. Everything she’d been warned against. Everything her father taught her to fear. And still, the bond between them pulsed like a second heartbeat beneath her skin.

She didn’t understand why the Moon Goddess would bind her to someone like him. Why fate would reach across enemy lines and pull her toward a stranger with eyes that felt like home.

But she intended to find out.

Aria‘s thoughts were already drifting back to Kael—his voice, his scent, the way her wolf had stirred at the sight of him. She didn’t have answers yet, but she would.

She had to.

—

Ryker studied her for a moment, then glanced toward the window. “What do you think? Should Theron and I meet with him?”

She blinked. “Me?”

"Yeah. I value your opinion. You're smart, observant, and you care about this pack."

"I’m just a healer.”

"You’re more than that," he said firmly. "So, what's your gut tell you?"

She looked out the window, recalling Kael’s demeanor—calm, respectful, restrained. He hadn’t come with an army, just two others. No demands, no threats.

“I think he didn’t come to fight,” she said slowly. “If he wanted war, he would’ve brought more soldiers. Instead, he brought only his Beta and a guard.”

Ryker nodded, absorbing her words.

“And he seemed genuine,” she added. “He listened. He didn’t force himself into the room. He waited.”

He exhaled. “You’re right. I saw it too.”

“I’m not saying we should trust him,” she said. “But shutting the door completely might do more harm than good.”

With understanding in his eyes. “Alright. I’ll talk to Theron.”

She reached for the tray, preparing to leave.

“You sure you don’t want to be Beta?” he asked, half-teasing.

“Absolutely not,” she said with a faint smile. “But thank you.”

He looked at her, and all the teasing was gone. “I may joke a lot, but I know when something’s important. And this—Kael, this moment—it matters.”

As she turned to leave, Ryker’s voice called after her, “Hey, Aria?”

She paused at the door, glancing back over her shoulder.

He grinned, eyes glinting with mischief despite the shadows under them. “If things get too intense… I’m here to cuddle with”

Aria let out a startled laugh, shaking her head as warmth crept into her cheeks. “You’re impossible.”

“I know,” he said with a wink. “But I’m also right here. Fully housebroken. And mostly healed.”

She rolled her eyes, the tension in her chest easing slightly. “Goodnight, Ryker.”

“Sweet dreams, Red,” he called after her.

As she stepped into the hallway, Kael’s scent still clung faintly to the air—smoky pine and something colder, sharper. Her wolf stirred again, restless.

Her heart pounded with every step.

Everything had changed.