8 - Promise Me

Unlike her fated, Imogen seems to be a kind and welcoming host. She leads the way through the pack house, pointing out the lounge, kitchen, dining room, and office, before leading us down branching hallways to a set of spare rooms tucked at the back. It gives the impression of a maze stuffed into a cottage, with full bookshelves and low ceilings and hallways twisting in on each other in an effort to confuse us. The air is permeated with a soft vanilla scent and lush houseplants frame every free space, lending earthy undertones to the pleasant aroma.

"I'm assuming you'd like to share a room with your fated, is that right?" Imogen asks, glancing at Matteo over her shoulder. Her voice is silky and twinkling like bells and her attention is more like a candle's flame compared to Darius' spotlight.

Speaking of the alpha, he and Milo are nowhere to be seen. I scan the branching hallways and rooms fervently for him, but to no avail.

Matteo shares a glance with Kay, in which a thousand silent words appear to be spoken, before shaking his head. "No, they'll have their own, if that's alright."

Imogen nods, her gaze sliding to Rowan and me. "Of course. How about you two?"

Mercifully, Rowan seems to read my mind. "I think we'll share," he says, catching my gaze to double-check. I nod in agreement, not at all eager to be on my own in this unfamiliar place.

Imogen's lips twitch with a knowing smile and she gestures to the row of doors behind her. "That's fine. These are all empty, so pick whichever ones you'd like. Though please keep in mind this is an old house and the rooms aren't quite as soundproofed as we'd like them to be."

Lachlan conceals a startled laugh behind a cough. I glare at him, a snap of fire, and he holds his hands up in surrender.

"Good to know," Rowan manages, a note of strain to his voice. A coppery blush burns his cheeks and my focus stutters there for a moment before I'm hauled back to clarity by Imogen.

"I'll leave you to settle in," she says, offering us a warm yet tired smile. "Make yourselves at home. Dinner's at six." She starts down the hallway only to falter and glance at us over her shoulder. "Matteo?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for coming back to help us. It means a lot."

Matteo smiles. "Of course."

And with that, she drifts down the hallway and out of sight, leaving us alone.

For a moment, we're all quiet, listening to her retreating footsteps. And then Kay strides for the closest door, peeks inside, and waves us all in. Obediently, we all file into the room under their request. It's quite cosy, with a double bed, a low ceiling divided with old support beams, and oaken furniture giving a rustic feel. A small window looks out onto the emerald woodland creeping close and a huge rug covers most of the creaking wooden floor which whines its protest as we all disperse.

Once we're all inside, Kay closes the door with a soft click before turning to face us all. "First thoughts?" they ask in an undertone.

Matteo sighs, resting his shoulder against the wall and sliding a hand down his face as though exhausted. "Fucking hell."

"Yeah, same here," Lachlan says, wandering over to the window and peering out at the woods. Watchful. Alert. I know the feeling.

My guard is entirely up, right now, and I doubt that'll change anytime soon. I scan the room as though expecting Darius to leap out of the closet demanding more from us. Rowan drops his bag and then himself onto the bed and falls back with a deep sigh.

"I mean it. Fucking hell," Matteo reiterates. "They've lost their daughter and their beta to these hunters. Milo seems to think it's a lost cause to stay, but I... fuck, I can't leave them like this."

"Hey," Kay says, offering him an encouraging smile and a nudge of support. "If you're staying to help, so am I. Even if they do think we should share a room."

Matteo winces, but his lips twitch with a smile. "Sorry about that. And for the whole shifting thing. I had no idea he'd ask you to do that. They're wary, but I swear they're good people. Accepting. You're not going to get any shit from them. I'll make sure of it."

Kay's smile brightens. "Thanks."

"What's our plan?" Lachlan asks, turning to face us and crossing his arms.

All eyes turn to me. When it comes to hunting, after all, I have the most experience.

I lean back against the dresser, my hands braced on the wood, and shrug. "I'll need to know the basics, first. When they attack, how many there are, what weapons they use— that sort of thing. It's not the most delicate conversation to have if these hunters have killed their daughter and beta, but I need that information."

Lachlan nods, considering. "So you ask the difficult stuff and we'll sprinkle in some 'how's your day goings' and 'nice weather we're havings' to lighten the mood a bit."

"I'll have to get the lay of the land and check out any nearby towns to see if that's where these hunters are staying. If they're focused on this pack, I doubt they'll go far. You guys could check for gaps in the pack's defence, and we'll go from there." Some of my apprehension melts as I settle into the familiar mindset of patrols and plans. It's my comfort zone.

Rowan, who has propped himself up on his elbows to regard me, gives a thoughtful nod. "Sounds like a plan. Do you want company for your town checks, or is it the sort of thing you'd prefer to do alone?"

I study his expression closely for discomfort — after all, the thought of me disappearing to check for these hunters on my own can't be a pleasant one — but all I find is open sincerity. The meaning is clear; he wants me to make my own decision, and he trusts me to handle myself no matter what I choose.

His confidence in me is a life jacket in a vengeful sea. Then again, so is his presence.

"I don't mind your company," I tell him honestly. The smile that lights up his face is a sun chasing off storm clouds of apprehension. It's one I can't help returning.

"Cute," Kay gushes, making me scowl lightly and Rowan roll his eyes with a tortured sigh. "Come on, let's leave these two lovebirds to it." They open the door and shoo Matteo out into the hallway.

As Lachlan pushes himself off the wall to follow after them, he gives us both a coy smile. "Remember those thin walls, you two."

"Fuck off, Lach," Rowan says pleasantly.

"On it," the gamma retorts with a laugh.

The moment the door closes behind him, and a wave of quiet passes over us, Rowan's entire form wilts a little. He sits up, his features pinching. Concern is a fog stirring around him.

I watch him for a moment or two, brows furrowed, thoughts whirring, before taking a seat at his side. I shrug off the backpack and leave it on the floor at my feet.

He doesn't like this, I realise. He hates it as much as I do— being in an unfamiliar pack hours from home. He's kept on a brave face for the others — the curse of the leader, I muse, to lock away all unease from those whose lives depend on him — and now that we're alone, the mask falls and tension replaces it. A tension that eases as I shuffle a little closer to bump my shoulder against his.

"I hate it here," I whisper to him, paranoid about werewolves and their uncanny hearing.

He laughs softly, tilting his head to rest against mine as we both stare out the window on the other side of the room. "So do I," he whispers in return. "I hate why we're here and I hate what's going to happen when we've dealt with these hunters."

I hum tonelessly in response, my thoughts shying away from the topic of the Ferreus hunters as though it's on fire. They return soon enough, and I build up my defence.

"I'll be careful. I'm not going to go rushing in recklessly— that'll get me killed. I'll make a plan, and a backup, just in case. But I can't leave without at least trying."

"That's what's worrying me. There's no trying and failing. If we do this, we have to do it right, or else they'll either kill us or they'll know you're alive. They will try and hunt you down, River, and I..." A weary, leaden sigh rushes past his lips. "I can't let that happen."

I turn to face him, searching his eyes and letting him search mine. All he'll find is determination like a suit of armour. "Then I'll make sure to do things right the first time."

His lips twitch with a timid smile, but it's quick to fall. "I need you to promise me something."

"What's that?"

"Promise me you won't go off to deal with them on your own. I... I know what this means to you, and I know you're worried that I'll get hurt, but I'm worried that you'll get hurt, too."

The intensity behind his gaze is searing, bathing every corner of my mind in light. I drop his gaze and study the rug intently and, after a few quiet moments, Rowan hooks his finger beneath my chin and gently coaxes me into meeting his eyes once more. This time, there's cracks all over his expression, leaking with despair.

"Promise me," he whispers.

I close the distance between us — small as it is — and brush my lips against his in a soft kiss. He melts into me, urging me closer, and our lips meet once more in a caress of velvet and heat. My fingers tangle through his curls and I hold him to me, sinking in a sea of comfort and bliss and cinnamon in his embrace.

At last, we break apart, breaths ragged, eyes alight with devotion. Absently, I brush my thumb across his soft lips.

"It's still new to me," I say, my voice hardly there. "Letting you in and trusting you've got my back. I'm not used to feeling... like this. Vulnerable but in a good way. I know I don't have to do this on my own, but it's all I've ever known. With..." I clear my throat and look away. "With them, I couldn't ever let down my guard. It was always one fight after another. One pack would fall and we'd go straight back to the office to plan our attack on another. There was no such thing as peace. Esme was the only person I'd let my guard down for, and when they... when they killed her, it's like they killed the thing inside me that could be vulnerable along with her. I had to watch my own back because none of them would. And then I met you and I convinced myself I couldn't trust you either and— and I was wrong. I trust you now, Rowan, and I know you want me safe but I... I can't lose you like I lost her. I can't let them take you from me. Losing you to them, it... it would break me. They've already broken me once before and I won't let it happen again. I can only promise that I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe from them."

Once more, he coaxes me into meeting his gaze. "They've hurt you, and you deserve every chance to put them from your mind. How about this— you watch my back, and I'll watch yours. We're both getting out of this together, okay? No matter what."

"Okay," I murmur, leaning a little into him and basking in the warmth flooding from his frame, in the serenity of his close attention. After a long pause, I ask, "Why did Darius want you to shift? What does it prove?"

His brows pinch, but he accepts the subject change. "It proves we can take his orders. I guess it makes him feel a little better about having another alpha on his land."

I hum, pensive. As usual, werewolf mannerisms are confusing; an archaic set of rules of leadership and loyalty.

"I know being here is a lot," he says, his thumb tracing circles against my cheek. Pleasant sparks flit and surge through me, chasing away any lurking clouds. "Let me know if you need a break, tonight. We're here to help them, but I don't want them making you uncomfortable."

Only when I nod, he closes the distance between us and seals our conversation with a soft, languorous kiss. His lips caress mine as though we have all the time in the world. I melt against his affections, grateful beyond words for this spark of peace in the choking shadows of doubt and unease lurking on my peripheral.