Page 125 of A Sunwoven Ascent

“I believe we shall come to understand it in time. And perhaps we will remain packless, like Oathroot. They seem to have found their own way.”

“That is rather easy for you to say,” Aurelia said with a sigh, “considering you are, in effect, part of Ironwolf now. Being mated and all.” She shook her head. “Forgive me. I am being foolish. Perhaps you were right about my earlier episode. Panic, I suppose. I have simply felt too many things of late, and I must learn to govern them.”

She patted her cheeks lightly, then straightened, slipping her mask of elegance back into place.

“You also endured something deeply traumatic in the tunnels,” Evelyne said.

Aurelia swallowed. “Yes. There is that as well. My heightened senses did me very little good while I was out running one night.” Her gaze flickered away. “I would rather not relive that, if you please.”

Evelyne understood. No questions about that. They had survived and that was all that mattered.

“Well, I know Holden is likely the very last person you would wish to ask for help…”

Aurelia’s eyes widened. “Absolutely not. I do not know what that wolf’s trouble is, but he can scarcely bear to be near me, and I would prefer to return the favor from this moment onward.”

The mere mention of him seemed to unsettle her all over again. Evelyne watched with concern as Aurelia began fanning herself.

“Goodness, what is happening to me?” she muttered, fidgeting with her dress.

“You are panicking again. I will fetch the cool cloths.”

“Yes, please.”

Evelyne made a silent note to herself: no more mentioning Holden.

Chapter 51

They did not stop running until the sun began to set. The land stretched endlessly beneath them, fields and forest blurring together as they pushed farther from Caltheris. The air had been sharp at first, biting at their lungs, but the pace soon burned through the cold. By the time they slowed, early evening had softened the world, the sky fading into gold and violet.

Holden shifted back first, staggering as his feet hit the ground. His chest heaved, sweat clinging to his skin despite the chill, and he dragged a hand down his face. Kaldrek saw the effort in it, but little relief.

Kaldrek shifted a moment later with far more control, though the run still left his breathing heavy. Heidara remained in wolf form, watching them both with red eyes that knew far too much for his liking.

She understood.

Holden paced once, then again, before stopping altogether and crouching low, his head bowed. “Fuck,” he bit out, though the word lacked its earlier edge. “What the hell was that?”

Kaldrek did not answer at once. They both knew what that sweet scent meant. Thankfully, now that they were far from it, Kaldrek seemed able to think more clearly.

“Breathe,” Kaldrek said, his voice steady. “Slow your heart.”

Holden let out a humorless laugh and dragged a hand through his damp blond hair. “I have been running for hours. You think my heart is the problem?”

“It is part of it.”

Holden shot him a look. “You’re handling this well,” he muttered. “Better than I am.”

“It is not as strong for me. You know that.”

Holden frowned. “What do you mean?”

Kaldrek glanced briefly at Heidara before answering. “The scent affects unmated males differently. In certain cases, it can strike one male far more intensely than the rest of the pack.”

A long silence followed.

Holden exhaled. “Fuck. This is bad.”

“Do you understand?” Kaldrek asked.