THE CROWN BETWEEN US

Everyone in Kadevar knew two things about Alpha Vaelor Kade.

He never lost.

And he never forgave.

Auren Kade had spent most of his life trying to prove that neither was completely true.

At the moment, he was failing at both.

He stood at the edge of the long stone driveway, staring up at the Kadevar Alpha Estate.

Three years.

It had been three years since he had walked through those gates.

Nothing appeared to have changed.

The enormous black-stone estate still stood beneath the mountains like a fortress. Silver wolf crests decorated the towers, the gates, and nearly every wall. Guards stood at every entrance, watching him with the same careful expressions they had worn when he was seventeen.

Auren sighed.

“Nice to know nobody here has learned how to relax.”

One of the guards looked away quickly.

Auren smiled.

He had missed this place.

Maybe.

He wasn’t sure.

He picked up his bag and walked toward the entrance.

The moment the doors opened, the familiar scent of cedar, stone and his father’s expensive cologne reached him.

Home.

Or whatever this place was supposed to be.

“Auren.”

He stopped.

He didn’t need to turn around.

There was only one person in the entire world who could make his name sound like a warning.

He turned.

Vaelor Kade stood at the top of the staircase.

His father hadn’t changed much.

If anything, he looked more intimidating than Auren remembered.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed entirely in black. Dark hair neatly pushed back. Sharp eyes that seemed capable of finding a lie before it had even been spoken.

The pack called him ruthless.

Enemies called him merciless.

Auren called him—

“Old.”

Vaelor’s eyebrow moved.

Only slightly.

Auren grinned.

“Good evening, Father.”

“You are late.”

“I know.”

“You were expected forty minutes ago.”

“I know.”

“I called you thirteen times.”

Auren blinked.

“Twelve.”

“Thirteen.”

“You counted?”

“I always count.”

Auren dropped his bag beside the staircase.

“That explains why nobody likes playing cards with you.”

Vaelor stared at him.

Auren smiled innocently.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Vaelor descended the stairs.

“You look thinner.”

Auren looked down at himself.

“You’re saying hello in your own special way.”

“You haven’t been eating properly.”

“I eat.”

“Coffee doesn’t count.”

Auren’s smile disappeared.

“You remembered.”

“I remember everything.”

That was the problem with Vaelor.

He remembered everything.

Every mistake.

Every injury.

Every promise.

Every person who had ever betrayed him.

And apparently, every meal Auren had skipped.

Auren looked away before his father could see the small smile forming on his face.

“You missed me.”

“No.”

“Definitely missed me.”

“I enjoyed the silence.”

Auren placed a hand dramatically over his chest.

“That hurts.”

“You will survive.”

“There. That was almost affection.”

Vaelor walked past him.

“Your room is ready.”

Auren followed.

“Did you miss me a little?”

“No.”

“A tiny amount?”

“No.”

“Half a percent?”

“Auren.”

“Fine. One percent.”

Vaelor stopped.

Auren nearly walked into him.

His father turned around.

“You are twenty-three years old.”

“I know.”

“You are the heir to the Kadevar Pack.”

“I know.”

“You cannot continue behaving like a child.”

Auren folded his arms.

“And you cannot continue treating me like one.”

The humor disappeared.

For a moment, father and son simply looked at each other.

There were three years between them now.

Not in age.

In distance.

Auren had left at twenty because he couldn’t breathe inside the walls of his father’s expectations.

Now he was back.

And somehow, the estate felt smaller than he remembered.

Vaelor’s voice softened.

“I’m glad you’re home.”

Auren looked at him.

The words were so unexpected that he almost didn’t know how to respond.

His father rarely said things like that.

Instead, Auren smiled.

“I knew it.”

Vaelor frowned.

“Knew what?”

“You missed me.”

“I said I was glad you were home.”

“Same thing.”

“It isn’t.”

“It is in your language.”

Vaelor shook his head and continued walking.

Auren followed with a grin.

For the first time that evening, coming home didn’t feel quite so terrible.

Until they reached the main hall.

Auren noticed the guards.

Too many.

More than he remembered.

His smile faded.

“Why are there extra patrols?”

Vaelor didn’t answer immediately.

“Father?”

“Security has been increased.”

“Why?”

“Because I ordered it.”

Auren rolled his eyes.

“Of course. How silly of me to ask.”

Vaelor gave him a look.

Auren raised both hands.

“I know. Murder face.”

“What?”

“That face.”

“What face?”

“The one that makes grown men reconsider their life choices.”

Vaelor stared at him.

Auren smiled.

“Exactly that one.”

For the briefest moment, something almost resembling amusement appeared in Vaelor’s eyes.

Then a howl echoed from somewhere beyond the estate.

Both men went still.

It was low.

Deep.

Not the usual call of one of the Kadevar wolves.

Auren’s wolf stirred beneath his skin.

He turned toward the windows.

“Was that one of ours?”

“No.”

Vaelor’s voice had changed.

The warmth disappeared completely.

Auren looked at him.

His father’s eyes were fixed on the dark forest.

“Then who was it?”

“I don’t know.”

That answer unsettled Auren.

His father always knew.

Always.

Before Auren could ask another question, Vaelor turned toward the guards.

“Double the patrol at the eastern border.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“And nobody leaves the estate tonight without my permission.”

Auren frowned.

“That’s a little dramatic.”

Vaelor looked at him.

Auren sighed.

“Right. Forgot who I was talking to.”

⸻

Auren couldn’t sleep.

By midnight, he had changed positions on his bed at least twenty times.

The room looked exactly as it had when he left.

His old books were still on the shelves.

His childhood photographs remained on the desk.

Even the ridiculous wooden wolf he had carved when he was twelve was still sitting beside the window.

Auren picked it up.

“Seriously?”

His father had kept this?

He smiled.

Maybe Vaelor wasn’t as heartless as everyone believed.

Auren placed the wolf back on the desk.

Then he heard voices.

He opened his door.

The hallway was dark.

The voices were coming from the west wing.

Auren hesitated.

The west wing had always been restricted.

Which meant, naturally, that Auren immediately became interested.

He moved quietly down the corridor.

The voices became clearer.

Orren Thale.

His father’s oldest adviser.

And Vaelor.

Auren stopped outside the partially closed door.

“…the council is already asking questions,” Orren said.

“Let them ask.”

“They are asking about your son.”

Auren’s eyes narrowed.

His father answered after a pause.

“They will not involve him.”

“They already have.”

Silence.

Auren leaned closer.

Orren continued.

“You cannot keep him protected forever.”

“I don’t need forever.”

Vaelor’s voice was cold.

“I only need enough time.”

“Enough time for what?”

No answer.

Auren’s heartbeat quickened.

Orren lowered his voice.

“If the Veyrs discover who he is—”

“They won’t.”

“And if they do?”

Silence.

Then Vaelor spoke.

“They will not touch my son.”

Something about the way he said it made Auren’s stomach tighten.

This wasn’t normal pack politics.

This wasn’t a routine security concern.

His father was afraid.

Auren had never heard fear in Vaelor’s voice before.

He stepped backward.

His heel touched the floor.

A soft creak.

The voices stopped.

Auren froze.

The door opened.

Vaelor stood there.

His eyes immediately found his son.

“Auren.”

Auren gave him an innocent smile.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“What were you doing here?”

“Walking.”

“At midnight?”

“I have a very complicated relationship with sleep.”

Vaelor’s expression remained unchanged.

“You were listening.”

Auren shrugged.

“Maybe.”

“Auren.”

“There it is again.”

“What?”

“The murder face.”

Vaelor closed his eyes briefly.

Orren appeared behind him, looking deeply unimpressed.

Auren smiled at the older man.

“Good evening, Orren.”

“You should be in bed.”

“So I’ve been told.”

Vaelor stepped into the hallway.

“What did you hear?”

Auren’s smile disappeared.

“Enough.”

His father stared at him.

“Enough to know you’re hiding something.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it.”

Vaelor said nothing.

Auren’s frustration grew.

“You always tell me secrets are dangerous.”

“They are.”

“Then why am I the only person in this house who doesn’t know yours?”

Vaelor’s jaw tightened.

Auren took another step closer.

“Who are the Veyrs?”

The silence that followed was different.

He had heard the name before.

Everyone had.

The Veyr Pack was the one family the Kades had hated for generations.

But nobody ever explained why.

Auren had always assumed it was an old territorial dispute.

Something buried in history.

Something irrelevant to him.

Now he wasn’t so sure.

Vaelor’s eyes hardened.

“You will stay away from them.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

“That isn’t an answer.”

“It is the only one you’re getting.”

Auren stared at his father.

For once, he didn’t make a joke.

“Then I’m going to find the answer myself.”

Vaelor’s expression changed.

“Auren.”

But Auren was already walking away.

He didn’t see the way Vaelor watched him disappear down the corridor.

He didn’t see Orren turn toward the Alpha.

And he didn’t hear Orren’s quiet question.

“Should we tell him?”

Vaelor’s face went pale.

“No.”

“Vaelor—”

“No.”

He looked toward the dark corridor where his son had disappeared.

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“Not until I know whether the Veyrs have found him.”

Outside the estate, somewhere beyond the eastern border, another howl rose through the night.

This time, Vaelor recognized it.

And the look in his eyes said only one thing.

The past had finally found them.

Auren did not sleep.

Not after hearing his father say the Veyrs had found him.

He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the dark window.

Found me?

The words kept repeating in his mind.

What exactly was there to find?

He had been away for three years. He had lived in cities where nobody cared about the Kade name. He had made friends who knew him simply as Auren.

Not the heir.

Not the Alpha’s son.

Just Auren.

And now he was back.

Apparently, that was enough to put him in danger.

He stood.

There was no point lying in bed pretending he wasn’t curious.

He opened the wardrobe and pulled out a dark jacket.

If his father wanted him to stay inside, there had to be a reason.

And if there was one thing Auren had learned from growing up with Vaelor Kade, it was this:

Whenever his father said don’t worry about it, there was definitely something worth worrying about.

Auren slipped out of his room.

The corridor was empty.

He made it halfway down the stairs before a voice came from the shadows.

“Going somewhere?”

Auren stopped.

He looked down.

One of the estate guards stood near the entrance.

Auren smiled.

“Just taking a walk.”

“At one in the morning?”

“Apparently, I’m very committed to exercise.”

The guard tried not to smile.

Auren pointed at him.

“See? You almost laughed.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

“I didn’t.”

“It’s okay. Father won’t tell anyone.”

The guard looked horrified.

Auren laughed quietly.

“Relax. I’m joking.”

The guard’s shoulders dropped.

Auren stepped toward the door.

“I’m going to the garden.”

“Alpha ordered everyone to remain inside.”

Auren sighed.

“Of course he did.”

He turned around.

“Fine.”

The guard relaxed.

Auren walked toward the staircase.

Then, without warning, he jumped over the railing onto the lower landing.

The guard stared at him.

Auren smiled.

“Good night.”

“Auren!”

He was already running.

The garden was quiet.

Moonlight spilled across the stone paths, illuminating the old trees that surrounded the estate.

Auren breathed deeply.

The air felt different outside.

Cleaner.

Freer.

His wolf stirred again.

He closed his eyes.

Something was there.

Auren opened them.

A sound came from beyond the garden wall.

A branch snapping.

He turned.

Nothing.

He waited.

Another sound.

Closer.

Auren’s instincts sharpened.

He moved toward the wall.

“Who’s there?”

Silence.

He climbed onto the low stone ledge and looked over.

The forest beyond was almost completely dark.

Almost.

Auren saw movement.

A figure.

Tall.

Standing between the trees.

His heart stopped for a second.

“Hey!”

The figure didn’t move.

Auren narrowed his eyes.

“Are you lost?”

Still nothing.

He jumped down from the wall.

The figure turned.

For one brief moment, moonlight caught his face.

Auren couldn’t see him clearly.

But he saw his eyes.

Pale.

Intense.

Watching him.

Then the stranger stepped backward.

“Wait!”

Auren ran toward the trees.

The stranger disappeared.

Auren stopped at the edge of the forest.

His heart pounded.

He looked around.

Nothing.

No footsteps.

No movement.

Only the wind moving through the leaves.

Auren frowned.

“That was strange.”

“Very.”

Auren nearly jumped out of his skin.

He turned.

Vaelor stood behind him.

Auren placed a hand over his chest.

“Do you enjoy doing that?”

“Doing what?”

“Appearing out of nowhere.”

“I walked here.”

“Quietly.”

“Yes.”

“Like a ghost.”

Vaelor looked toward the forest.

“Who did you see?”

Auren hesitated.

“A man.”

His father’s expression changed.

“Where?”

“There.”

Auren pointed.

Vaelor moved past him.

He examined the ground.

His eyes narrowed.

“Did he speak to you?”

“No.”

“Did he touch you?”

“No.”

“Did you recognize him?”

“No.”

Vaelor looked toward the trees.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he grabbed Auren’s arm.

“We’re going inside.”

Auren looked down at his father’s hand.

“I’m capable of walking.”

“I know.”

“Then let go.”

Vaelor released him.

Auren followed him toward the estate.

After several steps, he glanced sideways.

“You’re worried.”

“No.”

“You are.”

“No.”

“You’re doing the jaw thing.”

Vaelor looked at him.

“What jaw thing?”

“When you’re angry, you tighten your jaw.”

“I don’t.”

“You’re doing it now.”

Vaelor said nothing.

Auren smiled.

“I missed annoying you.”

“I noticed.”

Inside the estate, Vaelor immediately summoned the guards.

Auren watched from the staircase as his father gave instructions.

“Search the eastern boundary.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Check every entrance.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“And nobody leaves this estate.”

Auren frowned.

That was excessive.

Even for Vaelor.

He walked down the stairs.

“Father.”

Vaelor turned.

“What?”

“Who was that man?”

“I don’t know.”

“You recognized something.”

“No.”

“You did.”

Vaelor’s eyes hardened.

“Auren, go to your room.”

“No.”

The guards became very interested in the floor.

Auren crossed his arms.

“You cannot keep ordering me around every time you don’t want to answer a question.”

Vaelor stepped closer.

“I can when your life is involved.”

“My life has always been involved.”

“That is exactly why I’m telling you to stay out of this.”

Auren stared at him.

Then he noticed something.

A small cut on his father’s hand.

Fresh.

“Where did you get that?”

Vaelor glanced at his hand.

“It’s nothing.”

Auren smiled.

“Oh, now I know where I got that from.”

“What?”

“Apparently, ‘it’s nothing’ is a family tradition.”

Vaelor almost smiled.

Almost.

Then he looked toward the windows.

His expression became serious again.

Auren followed his gaze.

Beyond the glass, the forest was completely still.

But somewhere out there, someone was watching the estate.

And Auren had the uncomfortable feeling that the stranger hadn’t come looking for his father.

He had come looking for him.

Across the eastern border, a man stood beneath the trees.

Seyvren Veyr looked toward the distant lights of the Kadevar estate.

His expression was calm.

But his eyes were thoughtful.

He had not expected to see Auren.

Not tonight.

Not there.

He had heard stories about the Kade heir.

Most were unflattering.

Arrogant.

Reckless.

Difficult.

Seyvren had expected someone cold and entitled.

Instead, he had found a young man who had chased a stranger into the forest without hesitation.

A faint smile touched his lips.

“Interesting.”

Behind him, a voice spoke.

“You should not have gone so close to the Kade territory.”

Seyvren turned.

His second-in-command stood among the trees.

“I know.”

“Then why did you?”

Seyvren looked back at the estate.

“Because something is wrong.”

“With the Kades?”

“With both packs.”

His second frowned.

“And the boy?”

Seyvren was silent for a moment.

Then he said,

“I don’t know yet.”

He turned away from the estate.

“Let’s go.”

But before he disappeared into the darkness, he looked back one final time.

At one of the upper windows.

Auren was standing there.

Watching the forest.

Neither man knew the other’s name.

Neither knew what bloodline the other carried.

But the distance between them had already begun to disappear.

And somewhere inside the Kadevar estate, Vaelor Kade was staring at the same forest—

because he knew exactly who had been standing there.

A Veyr.

“A Veyr.”

The words settled over the room like a death sentence.

Auren stared at his father.

Vaelor stood near the window, one hand resting against the edge of the desk. His face had gone completely still.

That was how Auren knew things were bad.

His father had many expressions.

Anger.

Disapproval.

The occasional look that suggested he was considering throwing someone out of a window.

But this?

Nothing.

Auren crossed his arms.

“So,” he said slowly, “we’re doing the mysterious silence thing now?”

Vaelor looked at him.

“Yes.”

Auren waited.

His father continued staring.

Auren sighed.

“Wonderful conversation.”

“Auren.”

“There it is.”

“What?”

“My name in the dangerous voice.”

Vaelor’s eyebrow moved slightly.

Auren smiled.

He had missed that tiny reaction.

For three years, he had been away from Kadevar. He had forgotten how entertainin