The Veil

Fates and bone

The morning air was crisp, biting with a faint chill that carried the scent of dew and pine. Rowan stood just outside the cabin, steam curling up from the coffee cup nestled between his hands. It was a rare moment of peace, one he planned to savor. The old woman who had brought the coffee to him had done so with a quiet smile and a pat on his arm, and he'd silently thanked her for the simple kindness. He took a slow sip, the rich bitterness settling in his chest like an anchor.

The serenity didn't last.

A sudden presence bore down on him, raw and undeniable, before Levi stormed into view. The younger wolf's stride was purposeful, heavy boots crunching against the dirt as he closed the distance. Without warning, Levi's arm brushed past Rowan with enough force to jostle his coffee cup, hot liquid spilling out onto the ground. Rowan instinctively stepped back, eyes flicking down to the wasted drink pooling in the dirt.

He frowned, disappointed in the waste of such good caffeine. His jaw flexed, irritation stirring beneath his skin as he looked up at Levi, who stood before him with the unmistakable air of confrontation.

"That was unnecessary," Rowan growled, his voice low and edged.

Levi didn't flinch, his autumn-colored eyes blazing with intensity. "We need to talk." His tone was sharp, cutting through the morning quiet like a blade.

Rowan let out a long breath through his nose, setting the empty cup down on the edge of a nearby table with deliberate calm. 

"I'd say good morning, but you've already ruined it." He folded his arms across his chest, his broad shoulders squaring as he faced Levi fully. "What is it now, Levi?"

Levi stepped closer, closing the space between them until Rowan could feel the heat radiating from him. "Her." The word came out heavy, weighted with something more than just frustration. "What in the hell were you thinking?"

Rowan's eyes narrowed, his body stiffening. "I don't answer to you. It's quite the other way around- actually."

"You might not," Levi shot back, his voice rising, "but you dragged my pack into this mess. She's in our care now, and I'm not going to sit here and watch you treat her like a pawn in whatever game you're playing."

Rowan's lips pulled into a hard line, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "Careful, Levi," he warned, his voice cold and steady. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" Levi's brows drew together, his expression dark. "I saw the scar. I know what it means. You bonded with her, Rowan. You tied her to you, and for what? To make a point? To prove you could? She's not some prize you get to show off."

Rowan's fists clenched at his sides, the muscles in his forearms taut. "You don't know anything about my reasons," he bit out.

Levi took another step forward, their faces inches apart now. The air between them was heavy, thick with the unspoken animosity that had always existed between them. "Then enlighten me," Levi challenged, his voice low and full of grit. "Why her? Why now?"

Rowan's eyes burned into Levi's, his composure threatening to crack. "She's more than you'll ever understand," he said, his tone sharp enough to cut. "And I'm not about to explain myself to you."

Levi's gaze flicked toward the cabin, where the women still tended to Emery. For a brief moment, his expression softened, but when he turned back to Rowan, the fire in his eyes reignited. "She deserves better than whatever mess you've dragged her into," he said, his voice quieter but no less firm. "And if you can't protect her, I will."

Rowan's laugh was short and humorless, his teeth bared in something that wasn't quite a smile. "You think you can protect her better than I can? Don't make me laugh. You couldn't even stop Astrid."