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Chapter 92
~Storm’s POV~
Spring Kaine.
"I love her," my wolf said out of the blue, earning a side smile from .
"I love her too."
"Then why haven’t you told her?"
"Because..." I exhaled sharply and tightened my left hand on the steering wheel.
The ride back ho was quiet, even though the engine purred beneath and the city lights flickered past the windows like fireflies.
I didn’t turn on the music. I didn’t need the noise. Not when my thoughts were already loud enough to drown everything else out.
Spring’s scent still clung to —subtle lilac threaded with sothing sweeter, softer. She slled like calm after a storm.
Fitting, considering how she’d completely torn through the walls I’d built around myself.
By the ti I got ho, dusk had dipped into full darkness. The tall silver gates of the Draven estate opened without a sound, the motion-activated lights bathing the cobbled driveway in cool blue light.
I stepped out as the car ca to a full stop, locked it, and headed for the house.
Inside, the house was its usual blend of elegance and ice. My mother was the first to greet , dressed in her soft ivory robe, her silver hair was pinned up like a crown.
"Welco ho, Storm," she said, leaning up to kiss my cheek. Her warmth was always constant, the only softness this house ever held.
"You’re late," ca the expected second voice, sharp and cold. My father stood by the fireplace with a crystal glass in hand.
He narrowed his stone-like eyes on as though he could see everything there was to know about my life.
"And you reek of distraction."
Mother stepped away and tilted her head to the side, the way she did when she was not happy with his use of words, but my father, being a proud Alpha and all, simply paid her no heed.
I didn’t answer. I never did when he threw his veiled criticisms.
"You need to keep your mind clear," he continued. "An Alpha doesn’t indulge in sentint. Especially not for humans."
I t his gaze. "I never said I did."
He stared at for a long mont, like he could peel the truth from my skull, but eventually he turned away—conversation over.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. My mom imdiately spoke up, keeping her smile on as though that would ease the tension between my father and .
"Ignore him. You know you do not have to pay him any heed, right?"
I parted my lips to speak but clamped them shut and raked a hand through my hair as I made my way towards her.
"You know he would throw a fit if he heard that."
Mum gave her infectious smile as she took my hand in hers and pulled closer to her for a hug.
"Whether you reek of humans or werewolves... it doesn’t matter to . All I see and perceive is my son and..." She paused and took a deep inhale.
At once, I knew what she was doing.
"And a girl... your m...?"
I didn’t let her finish before I pulled back with a smile. "Another ti, Mum."
I left the room without another word and climbed the long flight of stairs to my wing. By the ti I reached the terrace outside my room, I felt overwheld.
The air was cold. Moonlight illuminated the iron railings and the floor in a silvery glow. I gripped the edge of the balustrade, letting the chill sink into my skin.
I needed it because everything else was on fire.
I closed my eyes and saw her again.
Spring.
The image wasn’t the one from today in a sundress, laughing by the lake, but the very first ti I laid eyes on her.
She was new and looked a bit fragile... Ordinary at first glance... but there was sothing special about her.
Her scent had brushed past in the hallway, and my steps faltered, just barely, but I rembered.
Lilac and rain; the scent had curled around my senses and pressed against the part of that never stirred.
My wolf had sniffed, confused and curious. I’d scoffed, believing she was human, weak, and unimportant, and I walked away.
Then ca that day, the day of the confession to Lucien and the kiss. She had stood before Lucien like a blooming wildfire. Nervous, yes, but defiant and unafraid.
I rembered stepping into the hall monts after it happened, hearing the murmurs, the laughter, the way she was being ridiculed... and my chest had clenched.
Although it was not from pity, but from sothing far more dangerous.
Possession.
After that, I began watching her from a distance. I didn’t say much and never got close. My status wouldn’t allow it.
And then her eighteenth birthday ca.
I had sent a simple text ssage: Happy Birthday, looking forward to more surprises.
Nothing more, and I had hoped sothing flickered in her smile. Still, I thought that was it.
Until that morning began and the mont I stepped onto campus, my wolf snapped awake.
Mine.
Her scent wasn’t just familiar; it was overwhelming—stronger and more potent.
That was when I knew why I had felt so drawn to her in the past.
The bond clicked while I was with my friends... there was no mistaking it.
And I, Storm Draven, Alpha heir to the most powerful clan in our region, was mated to the one girl I was forbidden from even considering... a supposed human.
But she wasn’t just that anymore, was she?
She was a werewolf, of werewolf origin and blood, and she wasn’t weak. She was changing, growing, blooming into sothing fierce and untouchable to others but us, to .
I opened my eyes and gripped the silver railing so tightly that it creaked beneath my hands.
Then, suddenly, it snapped.
A piece of the railing broke off and fell into the shadows below. I cursed under my breath and drew back, flexing my fingers to ground myself.
I could share her smile, her laughter, even her kisses, but for how long?
I knew myself. I always wanted to et my mate when I turned eighteen, but that never happened. And when Spring ca, it was my whole world that exploded, especially when she synced with the others.
I did not know if it was a curse or a blessing, but even I wonder how to relay the ssage to my mum and dad, that the mate chosen for by the Moon Goddess is mated to other regional heirs.
I sighed and threw my head back, letting my hair scatter all over my face.
They thought this would be easy, that I’d be content with a part of her.
They were wrong.
I would fight, break, and bleed if I had to, because Spring wasn’t a ga to or so prize in a draw. She was... mine.
I looked out over the dark woods beyond the estate. Just on the other side of those trees, the academy waited.
Next week, the joint field trip would begin... interdisciplinary training, combat drills, outdoor survival... days away from walls and rules.
For , it ant three things.
Ti... Space... Opportunity.
And I plan to use every second of it in making her mine.
"I’ll have you, Spring Kaine," I whispered into the wind. "Even if I have to tear the moon down from the sky to make you see it."
"And this ti... we wouldn’t share."
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