Chapter 99
Chapter 99:
Kain’s lips moved over mine with a starving, desperate rhythm, tasting of dark secrets and raw power. The scent of ancient cedar and rain wrapped around me, suffocating my panic and replacing it with a heavy, intoxicating heat. My wolfless body, which had never felt the pull of a mate, suddenly ignited. Sparks — hot and violent — erupted wherever his skin touched mine.
I gasped into his mouth, and my hands, acting entirely on their own accord, tangled in the soft fabric of his dark shirt. Deep within his massive chest, a low, rumbling growl vibrated against me. It wasn’t a sound of performance — it was his Inner Wolf, purring with a terrifyingly real, possessive satisfaction.
“Ahem p>
The weak, tearful sound of my grandmother clearing her throat finally pierced through the haze.
Kain broke the kiss slowly, his chest heaving. His pitch-black eyes stared down at me, burning with a fire that made my knees weak. He didn’t let me go. Instead, he tucked me firmly under his arm, keeping my side pressed flush against his rigid body.
I was breathless, my cheeks scorching, my lips swollen and tingling. I glanced at Elder Maeve. Her pale, wrinkled face was flushed red, and she had politely averted her eyes to her lap.
“Does that look like a transaction to you, Elder Maeve?” Kain’s voice was a dark, velvet command that left no room for argument.
Maeve looked up, her cloudy eyes wide. “But — she is wolfless. The Pack p>
“Her resilience rivals the strongest Warrior in my Pack,” Kain cut her off, his tone fierce and unyielding. He tightened his grip on my waist. “She is the other half of my soul. The only thing that quiets the beast inside me p>
𝗡𝖾𝘄 𝘸e𝘦𝘬l𝘺 c𝘩а𝗉𝘵𝖾r𝘴 𝘰𝗻
The absolute certainty in his words sent a fresh shiver down my spine.
“I swear to you, upon my title as Alpha King, I will protect her with my life and the full might of the Blackstone Pack,” Kain continued, his gaze locking onto my grandmother’s. “And as for Carolyn Parrish, I am stationing my most elite Warriors at this facility immediately. That woman will never come within a mile of you again p>
Tears spilled over Maeve’s eyelashes, but this time they were tears of relief. The heavy burden of fear seemed to lift from her frail shoulders. She reached out, her trembling hand resting over her heart.
“Take care of my girl, Alpha Blackwell,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “She is all I have p>
“I will,” Kain vowed.
Minutes later, we stepped out of Room 302. The heavy, sterile scent of bleach in the hallway hit me instantly, clashing violently with the lingering cedar on my skin. The sudden drop in adrenaline, combined with the lingering toxic aftermath of the silver poisoning from days ago, made my stomach churn. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I stumbled slightly.
Kain’s hand shot out, steadying me by the elbow, but he didn’t pull me close.
“Kain,” I whispered as we walked toward the elevator, my voice barely audible over the hum of the fluorescent lights. “The kiss back there — and the things you said p>
He didn’t look at me. His jaw was set like carved granite, his profile sharp and unreadable.
“We needed to be convincing,” he said.