Kian Reynolds, a young Healer three years younger than Thea Gonzales, had recently returned to the pack after completing his training abroad. As pups, they had been neighbors, their dens just a short run apart in the sprawling pack territory. But Kian’s family had moved to another pack when he was still a young wolf, and their connection had faded—until three months ago, when he unexpectedly reached out to her.

Celine’s fever had persisted for days, and the pack’s healing den was overwhelmed with other cases. Thea, desperate to ease her pup’s suffering, had turned to Kian for help. Running into Xavier Ford there was unexpected, to say the least.

Xavier, the Alpha, stood with his arms crossed, his towering frame exuding an aura of authority. His sharp gaze flicked between Thea and Kian as the younger wolf approached, holding a steaming bowl of beef stew.

"I went to several dens to find this for you," Kian said, his voice warm with concern. "Eat it while it’s still hot."

Thea’s hands were full, cradling Celine against her chest, so Kian offered to feed her himself. Xavier’s jaw tightened, his alpha aura pulsing faintly as he asked, "Do you work here?"

Kian smiled casually, though his tone carried a hint of challenge. "You could say that. To be precise, my father is the pack’s lead Healer." It wasn’t an exaggeration; Kian’s family held significant influence within the healing ranks.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed as he looked between Thea and Kian. "And what’s the relationship between you two?"

With a mischievous grin, Kian raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t it obvious, Alpha?" The way he said it—casual, almost dismissive—made Xavier’s expression shift through a storm of emotions, his alpha aura flaring briefly.

Before Xavier could respond, Addilyn Freeman’s voice called out from the doorway, her presence immediately drawing his attention. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on Thea and Celine, before turning to leave with Addilyn.

Once he was gone, Thea let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Kian, please be a bit more subtle next time. You almost gave us away."

Kian chuckled, spooning another bite of stew for her. "Don’t worry; practice makes perfect. The more we do this, the better we’ll get at it."

Thea couldn’t help but smile, though her eyes flicked toward the doorway where Xavier had disappeared. Kian’s presence was a comfort, but the weight of the past still lingered, a shadow she couldn’t quite shake.

A week later, Celine had fully recovered.

Thea returned to the pack’s den to wrap up her leave paperwork. The halls were bustling with pack members, their auras mingling as they went about their duties. She kept her head high, her posture every bit the former Luna, though the weight of her separation from Xavier still lingered in her steps.

That evening, as she was leaving the den, she bumped into Xavier in the elevator. The tension between them was palpable, and the other pack members, sensing the Alpha’s mood, quickly excused themselves, leaving the two alone.

The elevator descended. Thea watched the numbers on the panel decrease to the first floor, her jaw tight. Xavier stood beside her, his towering frame dominating the small space. His hands were in his pockets, his Alpha aura pressing down even in silence. He finally spoke, his voice low and commanding. “Was the wolf I saw with you at the healing den your mate?”

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding.

Thea slung her bag over her shoulder, her movements deliberate. She stepped out without looking at him. “That’s none of your business, Alpha Ford.”

Xavier followed her, his boots clicking against the polished floor. “But your choices affect my pup. I don’t want her calling someone else ‘Father.’”

Thea stopped abruptly, her back stiffening. She turned to face him, her eyes blazing with defiance. “Did you think about our pup when you broke our mate bond? When you pushed me to reject you because of Addilyn, did you think I wouldn’t find someone else?”

Xavier’s jaw tightened, his Alpha aura flaring momentarily, but he had no response. The air around them crackled with unresolved tension.

Pack members passing by glanced curiously, their whispers carrying through the hall. Thea ignored them, her focus entirely on Xavier.

Just then, Kian appeared, almost as if it were planned. His presence was calm, his Healer aura soothing in contrast to the storm brewing between Thea and Xavier. He walked up to Thea, his steps measured, and casually draped an arm around her shoulders. His voice was light, teasing. “I’ve been waiting ages—I’m starving.”

He tapped his wristwatch and addressed Xavier, his tone respectful but firm. “The workday’s over, Alpha. Are we free to go?”

Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides. He said nothing, but the frustration in his gaze was unmistakable.

With a smirk, Kian tightened his hold on Thea, and together, they confidently walked away, leaving Xavier standing alone in the middle of the hall. The pack members averted their eyes, their whispers growing louder as the former Luna and the Healer disappeared into the night.

Kian Reynolds had come specifically to deliver Dulce Lopez’s healing report. It was purely by chance that he stumbled upon Alpha Xavier Ford and Thea Gonzales in the middle of a heated argument. Offering his help was just a spontaneous gesture of goodwill, though he cheekily insisted that Thea owed him dinner in return.

As they got stuck in traffic, the hum of the engine filling the silence, Kian casually asked her, “So, what’s your plan for the future? Going to live by yourself in the den?”

Thea, her posture stiff but her tone light, shrugged. “No real plan. Just going with the flow.”

“And what about you?” she countered, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. “You’re not exactly getting any younger, Healer Reynolds. No serious mate prospects?”

With a teasing grin, Kian nodded toward Thea. “Aren’t we on a date right now?”

Thea rolled her eyes dramatically, though a small smile tugged at her lips. “Yeah, right. I can’t handle someone as high-maintenance as you, Kian. But there are some nice young she-wolves in the pack. Maybe I’ll set you up with one of them sometime.”

He gave a slight smile, his amber eyes glinting with amusement. “Sounds good.”

The traffic began to move again, and Kian shifted in his seat, his muscular frame adjusting easily in the confined space. Thea couldn’t help but notice the way his presence filled the car, a stark contrast to the tension she’d just left behind with Xavier. Kian, though younger, carried himself with an ease that felt refreshing compared to the Alpha’s imposing aura.

As they drove on, the city lights casting long shadows across the road, Thea couldn’t shake the lingering thoughts of her past life as Luna. She glanced at Kian, who was now humming softly to himself, seemingly unfazed by the weight of the evening’s events.

“You’re not going to lecture me about the Alpha, are you?” she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

Kian chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Not unless you want me to. I’m here as your friend, Thea, not your Healer or your advisor. You’ve got enough of those.”

Thea let out a small laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “Good. Because I think I’ve had enough lectures for one day.”

Kian’s expression softened, and he gave her a knowing look. “You’re stronger than you think, you know. You don’t need anyone to tell you how to live your life.”

Thea’s smile faded slightly, her gaze drifting to the passing scenery outside. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way,” she admitted quietly.

“Well,” Kian said, his tone light but firm, “it’s true. And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, they’re just wrong.”

Thea glanced back at him, gratitude flickering in her eyes. “Thanks, Kian. I mean it.”

He shrugged, his grin returning. “Don’t mention it. Just remember, you owe me dinner.”

She laughed, the sound genuine this time, and for a moment, the weight of her past felt a little lighter.