Kano's War

Chapter 23

I squeezed him hard, bringing my head onto his chest. I felt his arms circle my back, gently pulling me in closer. I didn't know why I needed to touch him, I just did. I clutched my hands onto the fabric of his shirt.

"You know," He whispered out into the air, "You can tell me anything." He finished. I felt one of his hands move into my hair, gently running his hands through the curls.

"I know." My voice was very low and soft. I bit my lips in an attempt to keep myself from saying too much. After all, Kano and I knew all the information we needed now about the war. We just didn't have the strength to actually rival the Alpha Kings army.

And now Kano wasn't on talking terms with his Father and pack because of me. Even if the movement to my pack to find this information was needed, Kano was simply stranded because of me.

"Everything isn't your fault." I blinked and looked up in surprise. Could he hear my thoughts? "No, I just got a hint of what you're thinking about because of the bond." I tilted my head in confusion.

"What?" I backed away a bit.

"I sometimes get impressions of what you're thinking. It's random and pulls me from my thoughts. I imagine it to be stronger once we fully mate."

"Once we fully mate..." He seemed to be ready for that. So it was really just me holding us back now. Maybe it was time for me to not be so critical of everything. He had proved that I could trust him multiple times now.

Suddenly, he grabbed both of my hands and brought them together. My eyes connected with his and I could see the sincerity in them. "When we mate, I want you to be one-hundred percent sure that you want this."

"I know-."

"One-hundred percent. I mean it." He placed a gentle kiss on my hand then dropped them slowly.

"Okay..." I sighed and looked away.

"Let's head back to your pack house. Your father and brother have been grilling me with questions." He smiled and then gave me a small chuckle.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

He grabbed my hand and began to lead me back to the pack house. All thoughts of what my dad had said forgotten.

***

The next day, my dad decided to be buddy-buddy with Kano.

The training grounds were alive with the sound of exertion, grunts, and the dull thud of bodies hitting the dirt. I leaned against a tree at the edge of the clearing, watching as my father circled Kano like a hawk eyeing its prey.

Kano looked tense, his shoulders squared and his jaw tight. He was obviously still adjusting to everything—being in my pack, and being cast out of his own pack. I could tell the weight of it all was gnawing at him. He wouldn't say anything about it, but I had a feeling it affected him more than it should.

I couldn't tell if it was a good or bad thing that my father seemed to like him though. But I knew it would help Kano.

"Too stiff," Dad said, his voice carrying through the clearing. "You're telegraphing every move. I know what you're going to do before you even do it."

Kano frowned, brushing dirt off his hands as he stood. "What's the point of fighting if you don't use your strength?" he shot back, frustration creeping into his tone.

Dad didn't react to the jab, his expression calm as always. "Strength's useless if you can't defend yourself. If your opponent's smarter, faster, or more disciplined, your power will mean nothing. Defense isn't passive—it's your best offense if you use it right."