He considered her words for a few moments. “No, but you’ll remain here as our guest until you’ve healed completely.”
Kieran knew some of his pack mates were curious about the female omega he returned with. He told Scarlett and Damien to keep Rain’s identity to themselves. He’d give his pack mates the answers they wanted, but not now.
“And until you’ve gotten what you want?” she asked.
Kieran chuckled. He pressed a hand against her cheek, smirking when she leaned into him. As though she realized what she’d automatically done, she pulled away.
“What we both want,” he corrected it. “Go ahead and tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re not,” she admitted. “I don’t understand why I’m drawn to you, why my wolf tells me…”
“What does she tell you?” he asked.
Rain shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. So you’re saying once I get better, I can simply leave? No one would stop me? I’m simply a guest, after all.”
He certainly had zero intentions of letting her walk out of his pack lands, but she didn’t know that yet. Her place was with him, and she’d come to accept that eventually.
“Yes, however, think on your position. You’re an unmated, young omega without the protection of any pack. How long will you last, I wonder, before a predator comes sniffing around and decides you’re his or her prey?” he asked her.
Kieran wasn’t being unnecessarily cruel, simply practical. Packs existed so the strong could protect their weak. No matter what Kieran’s enemies said of him, he took his duties as lead alpha of the Crimson Maw Pack seriously.
“You bastard,” Rain whispered under her breath.
“You know, normally I punish wolves who talk to me likethat,” he said casually. “But I’ll let that comment slide for now because of your special situation. You should rest. Someone will bring you dinner later. Once you’re feeling better, you can join us in the dining hall if you like.”
Kieran rose to his feet. He’d said all that he wanted to. Rain probably had plenty to think about. He walked to the door.
“Wait,” Rain blurted. “Once I’m better, I’ll take my chances in the wild.”
He nodded. “Very well, but there’s plenty of time to change your mind.”
With those words, Kieran shut the door behind him. While he wanted nothing more than to sit by her bedside and watch over her, he still had a pack to run.
****
“Well, you’re strong enough to stand on your own,” Grace said after changing her bandages.
Three days had passed since Rain woke up and found herself in the Crimson Maw Pack House. Rain ate her meals in her room. Kieran or Scarlett occasionally dropped by to check in on her.
Kieran never brought up the agreement they made, instead, he asked her all sorts of mundane things like how her father died and what her life was like with her old pack.
Scarlett had been initially distrustful of her at first, but Rain somehow got her talking about Kieran and how the Crimson Maw Pack worked. Of course, she never gave away any critical information that might endanger her brother or her pack.
“Kieran says that once I’ve cleared you, you’re free to walk the grounds with an escort nearby,” Grace said, bringing Rain back to reality.
“An escort, huh? I guess that’s to prevent me from running away,” Rain said.
Grace gave her a hard look. The healer never softened up to her, but she wasn’t surprised. Grace’s questions stayed with Rain. What was so special about Rain? Nothing, but Kieran certainly thought she was worth saving.
“You are a guest here,” Grace said finally. “That means you can go whenever you want if you wish. If you decide to take a walk in the woods today, keep heading west and you’ll find yourself at the border of our territory. Follow the road and that will lead you to a highway.”
Grace started to pack her supplies, and Rain stared at her. “Why would you help me?” Rain asked her.
“Help you?” Grace scoffed. “I want you gone. Did you know? Thanks to Kieran’s actions, Felix wants retaliation for the death of his two enforcers. There might be war between our packs. My pack mates are questioning if Kieran has the right to lead.”
Rain’s stomach turned at those words. Kieran was facing problems thanks to her, but it wasn’t like she asked him to save her. That made her sound ungrateful and petty. Traits Rain hated.
“I think I’ll take a walk today,” Rain said.