Frost

25

25 - Echoes Entombed in Ice

GREYSON

          "Oh, come on, you know I'm right," I murmured into Natalia's ear, feeling her body shake with laughter as she tried to wriggle out of my grasp. My arms tightened around her waist, pulling her back against my chest, chuckling lowly.

"I will admit nothing," she said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"Mhm, I think I can get you to admit it," I whispered, lowering my voice. "I can be very persuasive." I brushed my lips against her neck, and she squealed, giggling as I nibbled lightly at her skin. The sound of her laughter was like a balm to my soul, a warmth I hadn't realized I was missing until now.

She tilted her head, giving me a playful side-eye. "Persuasive, is that what you call all this? I think you've grown a soft spot, Alpha."

I smirked, my breath ghosting over her neck, feeling her shiver in my arms. "Only with you, sweetheart."

Her cheeks flushed, a lovely shade of pink that made her look even more radiant under the soft glow of the moonlight. As we continued walking back to the pack house, our steps in sync, her laughter still echoed in my mind. I hadn't felt this... light in years. Like the weight of the world wasn't pressing down on my shoulders. Like I could finally breathe.

I was at peace.

Just as I was about to murmur something else in her ear—something about how she looked like she was made for nights like this—my gaze drifted up, and I saw a figure standing at the entrance of the pack house. The sight was enough to make my smile fade, tension settling back into my spine.

Harley.

Natalia must have noticed the shift in me, because she stilled, her laughter dying away as she followed my gaze. Her body went rigid, and I instinctively tightened my grip around her waist, a protective reflex I didn't even think about. I didn't need to ask her if she was okay—I could feel the sudden shift in her emotions, the unease creeping in.

Harley stood there with an unreadable expression on her face. Even in the dim light, her silhouette was unmistakable. She cut her hair, I noticed immediately. Now, her black hair, framed her face as it fell just above her shoulders. The dark circles under her eyes suggested she wasn't getting any sleep. She stood still, her arms crossed over her chest, looking like a shadow against the pack house. She looked... different. More vulnerable.

As we got closer, Harley's eyes met mine, and then flickered briefly to Natalia. "Hey," she greeted, her voice soft but carrying through the quiet night.

Neither of us responded right away, the silence stretching uncomfortably between us. The lightheartedness from moments ago was gone, replaced by a tension that made my chest feel tight. Harley shifted her weight, looking almost uncertain. Her gaze bounced between us before she cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable.

"Can we talk for a minute?" she asked, her eyes locking with mine. "Alone?"

I didn't hesitate. "No."

The word came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't regret it. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of both of us." My voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. I wasn't going to entertain the idea of keeping Natalia in the dark when it came to Harley—not after everything we had been through.

Harley's eyes narrowed for a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line as she stared at me. The silence stretched, thick and heavy between us, but I didn't back down.