I slowly peeled my eyes open, every part of my body aching. My back throbbed, a reminder of the wound Jack inflicted on me.
Jack.
He was really dead. Somehow, he had brought about his own end. If he hadn't hurt me, it wouldn't have cost him his life. He did this to himself, even though Tristan was the one who actually ended it.
I groaned as the car paced slowly down the quiet road. I found myself resting against Tristan's firm chest, my body pressed tightly against his. His warm arm wrapped around me, keeping me from slipping. The cool air from the AC brushed against my face, sending shivers down my spine.
For a brief moment, I almost let myself believe this was real, that I was truly loved and cared for by someone. But I knew better. This wasn't real.
I tried to sit up, attempting to move away, but his grip only tightened.
"Easy," Tristan murmured. "The wound is still fresh, and we have a long drive ahead of us."
Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I glanced out the window. The endless stretch of the Montana wilderness and its towering mountains rolled past us.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"We're heading to the airport," he replied. "From there, we fly to Seattle, where I live."
"Seattle?" I repeated, still trying to piece the information together.
"Yeah," he said, his warm breath brushing against my temple. "You passed out from your wounds. I didn't expect you to wake up so soon."
I shifted slightly, noticing his suit jacket draped over my shoulders. "Where did this come from?"
"It's mine," he said. "I thought you looked cold."
I pulled the jacket tighter around myself. The warmth it offered chased away some of the chills racking my body. My mind was still foggy from such a heavy sleep. "What about my pack?"
"They're fine," he answered smoothly. "The Beta will step up as Alpha. They'll be under my protection from now on."
I took a deep breath, trying to soothe the unease settling deep in my chest.
As I stared out at the passing mountains, the questions that had haunted me before I fell asleep began to resurface.
"How did you know what was happening?" I asked, feeling a sudden warmth flush across my cheeks. "How did you know my brother was hurting me?"
I wanted to ask more, but I wasn't sure I was ready for the answers.
He fell silent for a moment before replying. "I knew you were hurt."
"How?" I pressed, my brow furrowing.
"I just knew. It was because of how I felt when you were in the woods. I had this connection with you, and it didn't fade after I left. You belong to me, so it worried me when you were in pain."
"That's..."
"Strange?" he suggested.
"No, creepy," I said, shooting him a sharp glare.
"Then you'll probably be furious when you learn more about me."
"I don't need to know more about you to be furious."
He chuckled softly, and I turned my gaze back to the window. I felt a sudden tug deep inside me. Was it pain, or was it panic from being trapped in a car with a Lycan?
I hated the idea of him taking me to Seattle to be his wife. Yet, staying behind wasn't an option either. The pack was still convinced that I was the one who killed Olivia. After what happened to Jack, leaving was the only choice. Leaning back, I felt his hand slide down to my waist, his fingers gently massaging the skin. I gulped softly, my breath catching in my throat.
"What are you doing?" I demanded.
"What does it look like?" he whispered. "I'm trying to make you comfortable."
I clenched my fist, fighting the urge to turn around and pull him away. His fingers continued to trace small circles against my waist. Even through the fabric of my clothes, the heat of his touch sank into me, making my skin flush.
"You feel so warm," I noted. He felt really hot, like someone scorching up from a high fever. But I knew that was just the nature of those who carried their wolf.
"What am I supposed to feel like?" he asked playfully.
I turned away, staring straight ahead. This was not the vulnerable man I had healed in the woods. This person was different. He was darker and far more dangerous. He was a living reminder of his true identity: a ruthless Lycan King.
"You are surprisingly calm," he said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Should I be worried?"
"What do you expect me to say?"
"Anything," he responded. "Are you still mad at me?"
It would be a lie to say I wasn't. To pretend everything was perfectly fine after what happened.
"Why?" I asked, turning to him. "Why didn't you reveal yourself to be earlier in the woods?"
"Was I supposed to just announce I was the Lycan King the moment you finished healing me?"
I frowned. "I thought you were just an Alpha wolf."
He raised an eyebrow. "And what made you think that?"
"The tattoo," I replied. "I saw the Alpha mark."
He chuckled darkly. "If you had known who I really was back then, what would you have done?"
I turned fully toward him, and my breath caught. We were so close that if I moved even an inch, our lips would touch.
I stared at his mouth, and a sudden heat pooled deep inside me. His hand shifted down to my thigh, and my heart pounded heavily against my ribs. That feeling was exactly what I had felt out in the woods. I had nearly lost myself and kissed him then, barely holding myself back.
I snapped my head away, feeling my chest tighten. A realization slowly settled over me. Being his wife would mean facing things I wasn't prepared for.