Kano's War

Chapter 38

I woke slowly, my body stiff and tangled in warmth—Kano's arms still wrapped firmly around me, his breath even against the back of my neck. The fire had burned down to embers, the light outside our window soft and golden. Morning.

My stomach churned.

I sat up gently, placing a hand on my abdomen as a light wave of nausea rolled through me. It wasn't the same violent kind that had hit me the day before—it was duller now, sitting just beneath the surface. Still uncomfortable. Still enough to notice.

"Probably just didn't sleep well," I mumbled to myself, swinging my legs off the bed. I rubbed my hands over my eyes and stood slowly, giving my body a moment to adjust.

Behind me, the blankets rustled.

"You okay?"

I turned to see Kano propped up on one elbow, watching me like a hawk. His hair was a mess of curls, eyes still fogged with sleep, but his voice was sharp—immediately alert.

"Yeah," I said softly, brushing my fingers through my hair. "Just a little off this morning."

He frowned.

"It's nothing," I added quickly, waving it off. "Probably just a weird dream hangover. You didn't let go of me all night."

"I'm not going to," he muttered, sitting up fully. "Not today."

I blinked at him. "What do you mean?"

Kano stood and stretched, then padded barefoot across the room. "I told Hati to handle the Alpha duties for the day. I'm not leaving you alone."

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

His jaw flexed. "It's already decided."

"Kano—"

"No." His tone was firm, but his eyes softened as he stepped in close, cupping my face. "After everything... after last night... I'm not walking out that door and pretending things are normal. You're staying home. And so am I."

I opened my mouth to argue again but stopped.

He wasn't just being overprotective.

His wolf was on edge—wound up so tight I could feel it radiating off of him.

"...Fine," I muttered, pulling away with a soft sigh. "But if I so much as sneeze without you breathing down my neck today, it'll be a miracle."

"Deal," he said, dead serious.

I rolled my eyes and moved toward the bathroom, but not without feeling the weight of his gaze on me the entire way. And sure enough, by the time the door clicked shut behind me and the water started running—

"I'll be right outside," he called from the hall.

I groaned, dragging my hand down my face.

Clingy isn't even the word.

Still... I couldn't blame him.

After what happened in the cell. After the nightmares. After nearly dying.

His wolf was keeping me in its jaws like I might vanish again.

I showered quickly, the warmth calming the remaining tension in my stomach. And true to his word, when I stepped out wrapped in a towel, he was sitting with his back against the doorframe, arms folded across his chest like some kind of soldier on patrol.

He looked up the second he heard me. "You okay?"

"That's the third time you've asked me that in an hour," I said flatly.