Chapter 16

Kai POV

Cammy was too quiet on the drive home. She had returned from her friend three hours after leaving, and I was livid. How could she think it was acceptable to leave her mate to spend time with another male—the day after bonding?!

Old balls. Old balls. Old balls. I kept reminding myself. But fuck, that excuse was wearing thin.

I had asked Gerald multiple times where this friend was so I could fetch Cammy myself. The old fucker had done everything in his power to distract me, dodging my questions like a damn politician. And I knew she had lied about why this guy hadn’t been at the party last night. The fact that she left her phone behind, shifting into her wolf for this visit, only fueled my rage.

Was there even clothing available? Had she arrived to him naked? My hands clenched around the steering wheel. Maybe this wasn’t some old family friend—maybe this was someone she had wanted to mate. Someone she was close to.

No, I could tell that she wasn't lying about that.

I had been pacing around her grandparents’ house, cursing under my breath, barely holding myself together, ready to hunt her down when—

She walked in.

Red-rimmed eyes.

And just like that, my anger deflated.

She walked straight to me, gave me a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and wrapped her arms around me, resting her head on my chest. I froze.

She needed comfort. And she was seeking it from me.

Her scent was covered in another male’s. It was all over her. His hands had been on her. My wolf clawed at my insides, howling to rip apart whoever the fuck he was. My muscles tensed, my instincts roaring to claim her, fangs elongating—to remind her who she belonged to.

But her anguish crashed over me, drowning my rage.

I stayed silent and let her draw strength from me, my fingers gripping the back of her dress, holding her tighter than necessary. Mine. Mine. Mine.

When she finally pulled away, wiping a stray tear, I caught her chin between my fingers and tilted her head up.

"You'll never do that again," I murmured, my voice low, possessive. "Understood?"

She swallowed, nodded. But I wasn’t done.

I leaned in, letting my lips brush against her ear. "And if I ever smell another male on you again, mate or not—" I let the threat hang, my teeth grazing the sensitive skin beneath her jaw.

She shivered. "I'm sorry that I took so long," she said softly. "I know we have far to drive. We can leave now if you want?"

I should have called her out on her lie right then. But fuck—she looked so vulnerable. My beast wanted to bite into her skin and mark her, claim her, but instead, I kissed the side of her head.

"Sure, baby. We've already packed your things in the car. Say goodbye to your grandparents. We'll go when you're ready."

For the first hour of the drive, we sat in silence. I felt her. The bond between us shifting, adjusting. Our souls winding around each other like some kaleidoscope of fucking fate, tying us closer with every mile we drove away from Seattle.

I hated that she had this power over me already. That I couldn't bring myself to demand answers when she was still fighting whatever emotions had wrecked her earlier.

But that didn’t mean I forgot.

When we stopped at a roadside diner for lunch, I pulled her into a booth, ordered for both of us—because there was no way in hell she was getting away with a bullshit salad after skipping breakfast earlier—and fixed her with a sharp look.

“Tell me the truth, Cammy.” I leaned back, draping an arm over the back of the booth, watching her like a predator cornering its prey. “Who was the male you went to see?”

She tensed.

I raised an eyebrow, waiting.

She bit her lip before sighing in defeat. “My dad.”

Everything in me stilled.

Her dad?

I replayed everything—her scent drenched in male, the way she had cried when she walked in, the grief that still lingered in her eyes.

Fuck. He was probably a fucking rogue.

I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled, some of the tension leaving my body. That made sense. But she still should have told me. This shouldn't have been a secret.

She was staring at me, as if bracing for an outburst.

I leaned in slowly, curling my fingers around her wrist. My grip was firm but careful, reminding her who I was. Who she belonged to.

"You should’ve told me, baby." My thumb brushed over her pulse. "Next time, you don’t go anywhere without me." She was mine to protect. If her father was a rogue, that meant that she would have to visit him off territory. Was Gerald fucking insane? And I was near certain that he was a rogue, - why else would he be a secret.

Her breath hitched, but she nodded.

Good.

Satisfied, I lifted her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. Then I smirked. “And if you ever lie to me again, Cammy—” I tilted my head, letting her see the darkness in my eyes, the promise of punishment. “I will remind you exactly who you belong to.”

Her cheeks flushed, her thighs shifting beneath the table.

Perfect.

I smirked wider and let it drop—for now.

But my little mate had just learned her first lesson.

And I couldn’t wait to teach her more.

As we drove, I studied her.

She had a quiet confidence that rivaled her grandfather's. Despite her soft golden eyes and peaches-and-cream skin, there was something solid about her. Strong. Like a peach—soft and sweet on the outside, but unyielding at the core.

My peach.

She had barely hesitated when leaving her home. Even with the pain of saying goodbye, she had squared her shoulders, hugged her grandparents, and gotten into my car. No bitching. No sulking. That kind of resilience was rare.

But her innocence worried me.

She had no idea what she was walking into.

Every year, the adolescent she-wolves fought to gain power in the ranks—through training or by throwing their bodies at me. Some even started as young as fifteen, flirting relentlessly. I ignored them all, of course. I wasn’t a fucking pedo-perv.

But Cammy?

She was from a lower-ranking pack. The strongest bitches in mine would see that as weakness.

She would have to earn their respect. And I couldn’t protect her from that—not completely.

But if anyone dared to lay a paw on her…

I would rip them to fucking shreds.

By the time we reached Hailey, the sun was setting over the mountains. The drive had taken just over six hours, my Lykan cutting through the empty Sunday roads like a dream.

Cammy stared out the window, watching the towering trees give way to the first signs of civilization. I smirked, feeling a rare burst of pride.

She was going to love it here.

I had spent the past year building my home—a fucking palace carved into the mountains. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls, stone baths, the best appliances money could buy. I expected her jaw to drop when we pulled up outside.

Instead, she just gave me a small smile.

“This is lovely,” she said softly.

I stared at her.

Lovely?

Was she fucking kidding me?!