The Lycan Prince’s Defiant Mate

7. New Home

Ara's POV

The heavy oak door of Celestine's study loomed before us, its intricate carvings seeming to watch as Amara and I waited. My palms were slick with sweat. Why was I so nervous? This was what I wanted, wasn't it?

"You okay?" Amara nudged me, her dark eyes searching mine.

I wiped my hands on my pants. "Just... a lot to take in."

The door creaked open. The Luna sat behind her massive desk, sunlight from the artificial skylight casting an ethereal glow around her silver-streaked hair.

"Ara," Celestine's voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket, "have you decided?"

"Yes," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "I want to stay."

Her smile could have lit up the entire underground city. "Excellent."

Then her eyes— those impossible, knowing eyes— glowed faintly. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Amara, leave us," Celestine said gently.

Amara squeezed my shoulder before slipping out, the door clicking shut behind her. The sudden silence was deafening.

"Lina mindlinked me." Celestine steepled her fingers. "She told me everything."

"You can mindlink?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "But that's only for—"

"Packs, yes." She smiled, and for the first time, I noticed the power thrumming beneath her calm exterior. "I've created something similar here. We may be rogues in name, Ara, but we live as one pack."

My breath caught. "You're from an Alpha bloodline."

"I am." She stood, circling the desk to stand before me. "Once you're one of us, your scent will change. The outside world will never know what you truly are."

Right! Rogues always smelt like their scent plus the rotten eggs. That's how others could point them out.

The implications slammed into me. No more rotten egg stench marking me as an outcast. No more fear of being hunted.

"We have businesses, trades, everything a normal pack would." Her hand came to rest on my shoulder. "You'll train, grow stronger, and I swear to you, Ara, we'll find a way to beat this illness."

Something fragile and hopeful cracked open in my chest. "You really mean that?"

Her eyes softened. "You're part of my pack now. That makes you my family, my child."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Family. Pack. Things I'd thought were lost to me forever.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Ready for what?" I asked in confusion.

"To truly come home."

Celestine placed her hands on either side of my face. "Tell me your full name."

"Ara Vaelcrest." My voice barely shook.

"I, Celestine Mooncrest, Luna of the Rogues, welcome you, Ara Vaelcrest, into my pack. Do you accept?"

"I do."

The moment the words left my lips, warmth exploded through my chest— a golden thread snapping into place, tying me to this place, these people. The bond sang through my veins, so overwhelming that tears pricked my eyes.

Gods, I'd missed this.

"You're special, Ara." Celestine brushed a tear from my cheek. "I can feel it."

"I don't even have a wolf," I whispered.

"Time will tell." She stepped back, all business again. "Now, let's find you some work. You're a Vaelcrest— warrior blood runs in your veins. You'll train under Kade, scout for new rogues, and keep watch over Carsten and the neighboring towns."

I protested, "but, I'm not strong enough."

"You will be." Her certainty was absolute. "Have faith in yourself."

As I left her study, the world seemed brighter, the air sweeter. I was halfway down the hall when a familiar deep voice rumbled:

"So you're under me now, huh?"

Kade leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his massive chest, that infuriating smirk playing on his lips.

"I'll train hard," I promised. "Won't slow you down."

Amara appeared out of nowhere, tackling me in a hug. "You're in the squad now! This calls for celebration!"

"Now you're making me blush," I laughed, the sound foreign but welcome.

"Before anything," I said, sobering, "I need to go back to Carsten. Get my things. Tell Joey I'm leaving. He really cared about me."

"I'll take you," Kade offered.

"And we're getting ice cream!" Amara declared.

The normalcy of it, the sheer mundanity of planning for ice cream, made my chest ache. This was what belonging felt like.

Emerging from the hidden city, the forest air tasted different—cleaner, wilder. Kade and Amara moved through the trees like extensions of the woods themselves.

"We'll train you here," Kade said, effortlessly vaulting over a fallen log. "Soon you'll navigate these woods blindfolded."

"And we need to choose your weapon!" Amara added with entirely too much enthusiasm.

First we went back to my apartment and I found myself grinning like an i***t. I didn't have much with me. Amara took my bag as she said, “Luna wants to talk. I will go back first.”

“Ok,” Kade nodded.

Joey took my resignation better than expected, though his eyes were teary when he hugged me goodbye. "You take care of yourself, kid. Visit me if you are around."

Dusk painted the sky in violets and golds as Kade and I wandered the town's edge. The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, I felt uneasiness, a prickle at my back.

Before I could react, Kade's arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against him. My eyes widened at the sudden gesture. Before I could protest, his voice rang over my ears.

"Don't panic," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear, “we've had tails since we left Joey's."

My pulse skyrocketed. "What do we now?"

I know I should be scared , terrified in fact, instead I felt a rush of comfort. The wind carried a distinct scent that made my heart fluttered. What was this feeling? As if nothing could touch me here!

"Woods. Now." Kade's voice brought me back to reality. His grip tightened as he steered us toward the trees. "Play along. Just a couple out for a moonlit stroll."

Every nerve was on fire. Kade's warmth at my back, his scent, sandalwoods, filling my nose. Everything was overwhelming. The way his fingers splayed possessively over my hip. But his little act didn't really shake off the pursuers.

“They are still there,” I said in a low voice.

"Remember what I said about learning the woods?" His grip tightened as he steered us off the path, his movements sure and silent. "Time to put that to use."

We ducked into the forest, Kade navigating the darkness with terrifying precision. Branches whipped past as we zigzagged through the undergrowth, the pursuers' presence fading with each turn.

When we reached the hidden entrance, Kade did something entirely unexpected— he wrapped himself around me from behind, one large hand covering my mouth as we fell through the opening.

The world tilted. My heart hammered against my ribs. Then we reached the solid ground. My legs were still in the air though.

Finally, Kade let me go.

"What the hell was that?" I gasped when he released me.

"Making sure you don't scream this time. We don't want everyone to know we are living here," he teased, rolling off with infuriating ease.

“You…” I stood there, breathless for entirely new reasons, and he smirked.

“Why are you all red?” Kade asked, as he leaned closer. His face inches away from mine. My eyes widened as he spoke, “are you feverish or having some other thoughts?”