CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 103

Chapter 103

Astrid’s POV

The deep satisfaction I felt had nothing to do with me being in this office. The room was beautiful, of course. It had large windows that overlooked the training grounds, a sturdy oak desk, and shelves that were slowly filling with books on pack law and history. But the peace I felt came from something deeper, something that had settled into my very bones over the last few days.

It was Kaeleen.

Even now, with him miles away in the city handling his business, I felt him. It was like a phantom touch on my skin, a warm hum beneath the surface of my thoughts. I would be reading a report and suddenly the scent of his cologne, that intoxicating mix of sandalwood and something wild and masculine, would drift past me. A ghost of a memory that was strong enough to make me pause and smile. My body still felt thoroughly loved, every part of me humming with a quiet energy. After a lifetime of feeling like I was fading into the background, I finally felt solid. Real.

"Luna, this report from the southern patrol just came in," Lila, my assistant, said softly, placing a thin folder on my desk. "They reported no issues. Everything is quiet."

"Thank you, Lila," I said, my voice warm. The pack business of Emerald Glade was refreshingly simple. The pack was strong, well-managed, and happy. Most of my work involved approving small budgets for community events or settling minor disputes that were more like family squabbles than real problems. It was a world away from the constant tension and fear I had lived with before.

’He is a good Alpha,’ Sheena, my wolf, purred contentedly in my mind. She had been in a state of constant, blissful purring for days. ’Our mate takes care of his people. And he takes very good care of us.’

A blush crept up my neck at her last comment, and I quickly focused back on the papers, trying to look busy.

Just then, the door to my office burst open without a knock. I looked up, startled, to see Rebecca standing there, a wicked grin on her face. Behind her were Yvonne and Shadow, both looking equally mischievous.

"Hi...wifey." Rebecca said with a smile as she strode into the office, she placed her phone on the desk like I didn’t know what she was talking about already.

My eyes fell on the image on her phone. It was Kaeleen’s post. The one that had apparently broken the internet. There he was, shirtless and smiling that smug, happy smile, with my drawing of him hanging proudly in the background. And then there was the caption.

`Best Birthday Ever thanks to wifey.`

My face instantly caught fire. I felt the heat spread from my cheeks all the way to the tips of my ears. I groaned and dropped my head into my hands, trying to hide. "Oh, no. Please don’t."

"Oh, yes," Yvonne said, her voice laced with dry amusement as she sauntered over to lean against my desk. "We absolutely will. ’Wifey,’ Astrid? He called you ’wifey’ for the whole world to see. I have to admit, I’m impressed. I didn’t know he was capable of such a public display of... sappiness."

"It’s not just sappy, it’s a global event," Shadow added, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "My friends from other packs have been texting me all morning. They all want to know who the mystery artist is. The one who finally tamed the great Kaeleen Sterling."

Rebecca and Yvonne snorted. "Great my ass." That was Rebecca.

"Great where?" Yvonne asked but I ignored them both.

"I’m not a mystery artist, and he’s not tamed," I mumbled into my palms, my voice muffled. I was so embarrassed, but underneath it all, a secret part of me was thrilled.

Rebecca laughed and gently pulled my hands away from my face. "Don’t you dare hide. You should be proud. You’ve turned that grumpy, scowling Alpha into a man who uses the word ’wifey’ on social media. That’s a miracle. You should be sainted."

"Knighted too." Shadow added.

"It was just a birthday gift," I whispered, looking down at my desk.

"A birthday gift that has every gossip columnist from here to New York in a frenzy," Yvonne pointed out, taking a sip from a water bottle she’d brought with her. "They’re all trying to figure out who you are. Kaeleen played it smart, though. No one can see your face or name, but the message is clear. He’s taken."

I finally risked a look at them. They were all smiling, their eyes full of genuine happiness for me. It was a strange and wonderful feeling. For so long, my only friend had been Shadow. Now, I was surrounded by these strong, amazing women who felt like sisters.

"So," Rebecca said, her grin turning sly. "Speaking of being taken... Yvonne, how are things going with Marcus? I saw you two looking pretty close at the party. Are you going to make me and Kaeleen win our bet?"

Yvonne’s cool expression didn’t change, but a faint pink dusted her cheeks. "Marcus is... a man. That is all. And you should worry less about my love life and more about your brother’s very public declarations."

We all laughed. The conversation shifted to other things, pack gossip, plans for the upcoming harvest festival, and teasing Shadow about a young she-wolf who had been following him around. It was easy. It was normal. For the first time, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere. I wasn’t just the Alpha’s mate. I was their friend.

—-------------------------------------------

Later that night, the world felt safe and small. The only things that existed were the soft glow of the moon through the window, the cool sheets on my skin, and the steady presence of Kaeleen sleeping beside me. His arm was draped over my waist, holding me close even in his sleep. His breathing was a deep, even rhythm that had become my favorite sound in the world. I felt completely safe, anchored by his warmth. I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face when suddenly, I felt a cold, crushing pressure begin to build around me, as if I were sinking into deep, dark water. The warmth of the bed vanished, replaced by an icy dread that seeped into my bones. It felt like I was being swallowed by a vast, empty darkness.

A sound started, faint at first, then growing louder until it was a sharp, intense ringing in my ears. It was a high-pitched whine, like a thousand tiny bells shattering all at once, so loud it felt like my head was going to split open.

Panic seized me. I tried to move, to scream, but I was paralyzed, trapped in the crushing darkness.

’Astrid!’

A voice cut through the ringing. It was Sheena. But she sounded wrong. Her voice was faint, distant, as if she were calling to me from a great distance away. It was filled with a terror that mirrored my own.

"Sheena!" I called out, reaching out for her like if I stretched enough I’d get to touch her.

Her voice grew fainter, stretching out until it was just a whisper, and then it was gone. The ringing intensified, and the feeling of being swallowed whole became overwhelming. Suddenly, everything stopped and darkness swallowed me, shutting me out of the world.

I woke up with a gasp, sitting bolt upright in bed.

My heart was pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird. My skin was slick with cold sweat. The ringing was gone, replaced by the peaceful silence of the bedroom. I looked around wildly. The moonlight streamed in, painting everything in silver and shadow. Nothing was out of place.

I turned to look at Kaeleen. He was still fast asleep, his expression peaceful, his chest rising and falling in that same steady rhythm. He hadn’t moved. He hadn’t felt a thing.

A dream? But it felt so real. The feeling of Sheena being pulled away from me...

I closed my eyes and reached for her in my mind, my thoughts frantic. ’Sheena? Sheena, are you there? Are you okay?’

There was a moment of sleepy silence, and then her voice answered, perfectly clear and close. She sounded confused. ’Astrid? What’s wrong? Of course I’m here. We were sleeping.’ She paused, and I could feel a wave of smug contentment from her. ’Well, we were recovering. Our mate is very thorough. My paws are still tingling from earlier."

I felt a dizzying wave of relief, but it was followed by deep confusion. ’But... I heard you. You were calling for me.’

Sheena was quiet for a moment. I could feel her searching our shared consciousness, our recent memories.

’Calling for you? No. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was dreaming about chasing rabbits. And maybe about that last round with our mate.’ There was no hint of fear in her voice. No memory of the crushing darkness or the desperate call for help.

A cold dread, heavier than anything from the dream, settled in my stomach.

Sheena didn’t remember it because it hadn’t happened to her. It had only happened to me.

My mind flashed back to a few weeks ago, in Rebecca’s office. The whispers that no one else could hear except me but we thought it was something different. The mating bond has been completed already so what was this?

And this was like a hundred times stronger. A hundred times more terrifying.

I was lying in the safest place I had ever known, wrapped in the arms of the most powerful man I had ever met. But as I stared into the peaceful shadows of the room, I had never felt more afraid. Something was wrong. And it was inside my own head.