My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 59: Back To Base

Kael 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The return journey back to the estate was different.

I noticed it in the way she moved. The hesitation and uncertainty of her footing that had been present when we first came was gone. While she wasn’t entirely fluid as she moved, she was doing well for herself.

She navigated the rough terrain with a confidence she hadn’t possessed a little over two weeks ago.

She hung onto the branches, trunks, and rocks in our path, sure of her footing. The small sack bounced on her back with each movement. She had insisted on carrying it herself this time. I couldn’t help the smile that took over my lips at her small frame in front of me.

My gaze tracked her movements. Her body had changed in subtle but unmistakable ways. The training had left its mark. Her arms showed more definition, her shoulders sat straighter, and there was a lean strength to her frame that hadn’t been there before.

She was still slender, still appeared a bit frail, but at least there was a bit more muscle to her. And more importantly, she had better control on her powers now. I sensed the reservoir of her syzygy within her. Some of my wolves would notice, but then again, they wouldn’t be ale to pinpoint it.

It was even just the day before when I realized the faint omega scent from her had vanished before, and I suspected it was likely from the conscious effort of her improving her skills.

At least now she wouldn’t be bothered with anyone sensing it from her.

I lightly frowned. There was still the pressing issue of that shield she had conjured in the clearing. It had consumed a lot of energy.

Her fingers snaked around the trunk of a slender tree, her nails longer now. A bit of its bark chipped off. I guess her next step would be having to train her strength.

The same strength I’d felt when she’s gripped my shoulders and—

My jaw tightened and I forced the thought away.

It had been a few days since that storm. A few days of careful distance, and of turning every time and attention into her training that kept us focused and busy.

We had crossed a line, but from time to time my thoughts would drift to the way she’d come apart in my arms.

And I wanted more.

I dragged my mind back to the present, to the way afternoon light filtered through the canopy ahead. To anything except the memory of her body moving against mine. Her heat, and—

’This is getting me nowhere.’

What I needed was to actually know her. I barely knew anything about her. What made her laugh, what she really liked, what she tended to think about when she was alone. Most importantly, what she wanted from life beyond survival.

She occasionally tucked strands of her hair behind her ears. There were moments she would have a slight furrow between her brows when she was thinking, as if something troubled her. She would play with her wrist at times, and she still rarely smiled.

I wanted to know everything. And every other small detail that made her who she was.

We continued walking in the same silence that had accompanied most of our time together.

Another pressing thought pulled at the back of my mind. I should change her room sometime soon. There were better guest rooms, and hers was currently too far from my quarters.

The thought sent a bolt of want through me that I struggled to tamp down. Having her that close, knowing she wasn’t at the other end of the building, and being able to reach her in seconds if she needed me... or if I needed her, would be nice.

We neared the boundary of the inner district ahead, and the presence of other pack members and the noise of the bubbling environment snagged my attention. Soon enough, I sensed someone else.

My mood slightly soured.

Astrid.

Of course, she would have sensed me and used this exact moment to wait nearby.

Violet went rigid beside me, having also sensed my sister. Her already tired face fell and her tired but confident trot had slowed to a drained drag.

I didn’t like this.

We emerged from the forest path into the estate grounds, and sure enough there she was. Astrid stood near the entrance, arms crossed, her expression unreadable as she watched us approach.

"Why couldn’t you have just waited inside?" I frowned, giving my sister a pointed look as I addressed her through the mind link. "What are you doing out here?"

She didn’t respond, and to my annoyance, her expression shifted to something that wasn’t open hostility.

She glanced at Violet, who was already trailing a few steps behind me.

My sister’s voice was stiff, formal, but lacking the venom I had braced for as she eyed Violet. "Welcome back."

Violet went completely still, clearly as shocked as I was.

"Thank you," she managed after a few seconds, the words barely above a whisper.

Astrid nodded once, sharp and precise, then turned towards me, unfolding her arms and planting them on her hips. I saw something complicated pass across her features.

"Brother. I trust everything went well?"

I stared, surprised by her attempt at civility.

Violet glanced between both of us and offering a slight bow towards Astrid, she slinked her way past and quickly entered the building.

I redirected my attention to Astrid and she slightly pouted her lips, shifting her gaze to the closed door, an odd flicker of emotions behind her expression. An uneasy mix of pride, restraint, and something that looked uncomfortably like regret.

"I must say, I am very surprised," I spoke up, and she looked back at me, her lips turning down in a frown. "I did not expect this."

I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or suspicious, but a big part of me suspected she behaved like this because of the strength she sensed from Violet.