59

POV – Kai-Lea
After spending some time with Kaitlyn planning the trip and finalizing our departure date, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my instincts about her were spot on. Something was undeniably wrong, lurking beneath the surface, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Kaitlyn had always been a friend since I met her, but there had never been an opportunity for us to really bond one-on-one. While that alone shouldn’t be grounds for my paranoia, it was enough to make me realize just how little I knew about her or her family.
I knew that Kaitlyn’s father held an important position as head patrol warrior, and technically, they were supposed to live in the packhouse. But for reasons I didn’t understand, her mother had insisted on a cute little house closer to the border. I’d never even visited; I’d only caught glimpses of it from a distance as Kallen and Stuart once tried to show me our lands, as they had learned every inch like it was a treasure map. It felt a bit silly.
As I mulled over my thoughts, Kallen walked into the room, breaking my reverie. “What has you all smiles?” he asked, raising an eyebrow with that playful smirk that always made my heart flutter.
“Kaitlyn came over and helped me plan for the trip,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light, not wanting to reveal the unease gnawing at me.
“That’s good,” he said, his expression brightening, “But didn’t you want to plan it?” he asked with slight confusion written in his eyes.
“I did! But since I’ve never really traveled anywhere outside of Aunties or having actually moved from Black Moon, I just needed some help,” I admitted, carefully choosing my words. I wasn’t ready to confess the real reason behind needing Kaitlyn’s assistance. After all, she and I would be the only two outside the warriors who knew our destinations. If anything went wrong, my list of suspects would be painfully short. And I’d finally have the proof I needed to have her questioned without just seeming like a jealous mate.
“Oh… true. Then I’m glad she could put a smile on that beautiful face,” Stuart chimed in, his gaze warm and reassuring. They always knew how to make me feel warm and fuzzy, a sweet distraction from the storm brewing in my mind.
“And Father said the gem should be here once we are back. The RVs and everything should be ready within the next few days,” I continued, trying to keep the conversation flowing, to drown out the whispers of my doubts.
“Good. But you did make sure that Gussie and Chellea packed light. Or at least lightly, right?” Kallen pressed, always the responsible one.
“Yes, five cases each, minus the one for shoes,” I replied, mentally counting the packed items and feeling a twinge of anxiety. My mind wandered again to Kaitlyn—what could be hidden in those layers of her friendly façade?
“Good, but that still seems like a whole lot,” Kallen mused, his brow furrowing slightly.
“You know you could pack two more cases yourself. There’s no need for you to pack light,” I said, nudging him playfully.
“Yes, there is! For all the shopping we’ll be doing. And in case we need something more formal. You can’t travel with formal wear as a girl; guys have it so easy in that department,” I complained, allowing a hint of frustration to seep into my voice.
“I’m sorry,” Kallen said, his expression turning apologetic for the male race.
“Don’t be,” I replied, leaning closer to kiss him, needing that connection to ground me. He pulled me in deeper, as if sensing the turmoil swirling beneath my surface. As the kiss deepened, I felt Stuart’s hands deftly working on the sundress I was wearing, bringing warmth to my skin and momentarily distracting me from my worries.
After mating in the hospital wing, our rooms had been combined into one, and the prospect of spending even one night apart had left our wolves restless and agitated. Now, with all the privacy we needed, it was a reprieve I cherished.
Stuart’s kisses danced along my back, the soft brush of his lips sending a delicate shiver down my spine. I couldn’t help but giggle against Kallen’s lips, the sensation mixing with the heat of the moment. In that intimate space, the world outside ceased to exist. The weight of my suspicions, the gnawing doubts about Kaitlyn’s loyalty, all of it faded away, as if the tension that had been knotted tight within me was temporarily unraveled by their touch.
Kallen’s hands gripped my hips as he shifted on the bed, his body moving with effortless grace, pulling me into his lap. The strength of his arms was a reminder of the raw power he carried, yet his touch was so gentle, so full of care. I melted into him, feeling the heat between our bodies and my legs intensify, while Stuart, always so attentive, continued his exploration of my skin, his fingers tracing slow circles along my waist before sliding upward, his lips grazing my neck with a teasing urgency. A wave of warmth rushed through me, my pulse quickening as his hands and lips found every sensitive spot, sending electric sparks through me.
I barely chose to breathe, completely lost in a haze of affection, passion, and something more—something deeper than just the physical connection we shared. The room seemed to hum with the energy between us, a sacred space that was ours alone. Every kiss, every caress, bound us closer together, pushing the outside world further away. Kallen’s lips never left mine, his kiss deepening with each passing second, claiming me in a way that only he and Stuart could. It was as if time itself had slowed, every heartbeat, every breath synchronizing between us, weaving together our souls in this stolen moment of bliss.
As Kallen’s hands moved to tug at my bra, the soft fabric slipping away under his touch, I responded by peeling off his shirt, revealing the smooth expanse of his chest, his defined muscles rippling beneath my fingers. His body was a masterpiece, a testament to the years of training, fighting, protecting. My fingers traced the lines of his eight-pack, savoring the feel of his skin, warm and solid beneath my touch. Stuart’s hands were just as busy, sliding down my thighs, then back up to my waist, pulling me into his kiss as he joined us on the bed, his body pressed against mine.
Heat surged through me; the world outside completely forgotten for those fleeting moments. I felt their desire, their devotion, their love in every touch, in every look exchanged between the three of us. And yet, despite the passion, the intimacy of our shared moment, a small part of me couldn’t completely surrender. I tried — goddess, I tried to drown in the pleasure of it all, to let go of the nagging sense of unease that clung to me like a shadow, but it was still there, lurking in the back of my mind.
Even as Stuart’s lips trailed lower, sending shivers of pleasure through my body, and Kallen’s hands moved expertly across my skin, there was something holding me back. I couldn’t shake the thoughts that clouded the edges of my mind. The suspicion, the doubt. The nagging question of Kaitlyn and her loyalty. Why couldn’t I fully relax? Why couldn’t I let go of the worry, if only for a little while?
Kallen’s hand slipped between us, his fingers brushing against me in a way that made me gasp, but still, I remained vigilant. My body reacted to every touch, every kiss, yet my mind was elsewhere — analyzing, calculating, trying to piece together the fragments of a puzzle that I couldn’t yet see clearly. What was Kaitlyn hiding? Was she truly loyal to our pack, or was there something darker beneath the surface? I tried to push the thoughts away, to focus solely on the present, on the warmth of Stuart’s breath on my skin, the way Kallen’s hands brought me closer to the edge of pleasure, but the doubts lingered.
I could feel Kallen’s breath quicken as our bodies moved together, his lips on mine, Stuart’s hands exploring every inch of me. The tension between us was electric, a fire that threatened to consume me entirely. And yet, that persistent voice in my head wouldn’t be silenced. It whispered to me, urging me to dig deeper, to uncover the truth that lay hidden beneath the surface of our pack’s unity. I tried to convince myself that it was all in my head, that Kaitlyn was just a friend, nothing more. But was she? Could I trust her, or was she simply a wolf in sheep’s clothing, biding her time?
The passion between us grew, Stuart’s hands tightening on my hips, pulling me closer as Kallen’s lips claimed mine once more. I could feel the intensity building, our movements becoming more frantic, more desperate as we lost ourselves in each other. But still, the unease lingered, a constant reminder that there were secrets yet to be uncovered, dangers lurking on the horizon.
Kallen whispered my name, his voice husky with desire, and for a moment, I let myself believe that everything was fine, that I could trust those around me. I clung to the hope that my instincts were wrong, that perhaps Kaitlyn was just a friend after all. That the betrayal I feared was nothing more than paranoia, a byproduct of the stress we had all been under.
But as Stuart’s lips met mine again, and Kallen’s hands roamed across my skin, I knew that I couldn’t ignore the warning signs forever. My body responded to their every touch, but my mind remained focused, alert. There was more at stake than just the pleasure we shared in this moment. And no matter how much I tried to lose myself in them, in the love and desire that filled the room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change.
For now, I allowed myself to drown in the passion, in the love and trust that existed between Kallen, Stuart, and me. But the truth—whatever it was—would have to be uncovered. And soon.