Chapter 86: Wait And See

Before Rhea could finish processing her thoughts, the sharp snap of a dry branch cut through the heavy quiet of the mountain.

They both froze instantly.

Rhea and Kaleb whirled around in unison, their wolf senses spiking. A short distance away, the thick underbrush was thrashing violently, as if a large predator was pushing its way through the mountain scrub.

Rhea’s hands curled into tight fists at her sides, her knuckles turning white. Inside her mind, River bared her fangs, a low snarl building in her chest. But before either of them could shift their weight into a defensive stance, a sudden gust of mountain wind blew across the clearing.

A familiar scent swept through the clearing. Cedarwood. Smoked pine. Rain-soaked earth.

"It is him," River breathed inside her mind, her ferocious growl dying down to a satisfied rumble.

Rhea let out a slow, quiet breath, forcing her tense shoulders to drop. Her fists unclenched, though her eyes remained narrowed as she kept them fixed on the vibrating bushes ahead.

"Adam," she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the rustling leaves.

"You still came with him?" Kaleb’s bitter voice came from right behind her shoulder, thick with displeasure and sharp disbelief.

Rhea did not bother to answer. She stood her ground, watching the dark green leaves as she waited for the thick canopy to open.

Suddenly, the rustling stopped completely. An eerie silence fell over the mountain clearing. For a long second, even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Then, the brush exploded into movement again, pushing rapidly toward them.

Kaleb reached into his coat and drew a long silver hunting blade. He crouched slightly, his dark amber eyes glowing with a feral light in the gloom.

In Rhea’s head, River shifted her weight, standing alert.

The bushes parted with a violent tear, and Adam came striding into the open clearing.

The fading mountain light caught the sharp angles of his face and the dark waves of his hair. His broad chest rose and fell with steady breaths, his muscles straining as he dragged two heavy, unconscious males by their shirt collars, one on either side.

Rhea’s eyes widened in sheer shock. She glanced down at the battered, bleeding males sprawling on the dirt, then shot a quick look at Kaleb.

Kaleb’s jaw dropped, his face frozen in complete astonishment.

"What the hell?" Kaleb muttered under his breath, his glowing amber eyes wide.

Rhea turned back to Adam, her brows pulling together. Adam reached the center of the clearing and casually tossed the two unconscious scouts onto the ground like sacks of grain.

Rhea’s gaze swept over the fresh dirt smudges on his jawline before locking onto his eyes. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her chest heaving as her heart hammered against her ribs. "I thought I made myself clear."

Adam’s jaw set into a hard line. The possessive spark shining in his eyes made the skin on Rhea’s neck tingle. He completely ignored the beaten males at his feet and turned his intense gaze onto Kaleb.

"There was no chance in hell I was leaving you out here all by yourself with him around," Adam said, his voice dropping into a low rumble that vibrated straight through Rhea’s core.

"I am perfectly fine," Rhea insisted, her voice firm. "I explicitly told you not to follow me."

Kaleb stared between the two of them for a tense moment. He scoffed under his breath, sheathing his silver blade before turning his back to walk away.

Adam raised his head, his dark eyes locking onto Kaleb’s retreating posture. "Are you not even going to greet your uncle?" he asked, his tone dripping with mockery.

Kaleb froze mid-step. He turned his head back over his shoulder, his eyes flashing with a dangerous golden light. "You need to leave these mountains right now," he spat back, his voice tight with pure irritation. "You are not welcome here."

"No, Kaleb," Rhea cut in sharply before Adam could hurl another insult.

Kaleb’s brows drew together in annoyance.

"I actually think it is a very good thing that Adam is here," Rhea said, stepping between the two powerful men to diffuse the electric tension snapping between them.

Kaleb turned his full body around, his forehead creasing into a deeper frown. "If you are about to suggest what I think you are, save your breath," he growled, his voice absolute. "My answer is no."

"We need him, Kaleb," Rhea pleaded, trying to force him to see past his bruised pride. "Look at the bigger picture."

Kaleb refused to even glance in Adam’s direction. He shook his head violently, his chest expanding as he drew in a harsh breath. "I am not accepting a single thing from him! I would rather give up my throne forever than accept his help. Not after everything he stole from me!"

Adam let out a mocking scoff that cut through the mountain air. "I stole from you?" he asked, taking a step forward. "You threw away your own Luna. You abandoned your own blood child to the wolves. Take some responsibility for once, Kaleb, and stop trying to point fingers at everyone else."

Kaleb’s jaw hardened so tight his teeth ground together. The muscles in his neck strained, his fists cracking loudly as he clenched them. "Get lost, Adam! I do not need a lecture from you!"

"Enough!" Rhea shouted, her voice slicing cleanly through their argument and forcing both Alphas to snap their mouths shut. She turned her body away from Kaleb and looked up into Adam’s dark, intense eyes. "We need your help, Adam."

Behind her, Kaleb let out a bitter scoff and cursed loudly under his breath, pacing back and forth.

Adam completely tuned Kaleb out. His expression softened instantly as his gaze settled on Rhea, the harsh edge in his eyes melting into something warm and protective. "You know I am at your command, Rhea," he murmured, his voice low.

Rhea pressed her lips into a tight line, letting out a heavy breath to steady the pulse fluttering in her throat. "I am not the one who needs you," she said softly. She extended her hand, pointing her finger toward Kaleb. "He needs it. Ironfang needs it."

Adam’s brows pinched together in a skeptical line, but he kept his lips sealed, listening to her.

Rhea looked deep into his dark eyes, making sure he felt the gravity of her words. "A war is brewing in this territory, Adam," she revealed, her tone solemn. "And we just stepped right into the center of it."

Adam’s expression changed instantly. His dark eyes swept over the surrounding woods before snapping back to her face. "What are you saying, Rhea?"

Rhea exhaled a sharp breath through her nose, her expression turning deadly serious. "Different factions are mobilizing their warriors as we speak. They are preparing to spill blood to see who will claim Ironfang land and sit on the throne," she explained. "And we—"

"We are leaving right now," Adam interrupted, his voice laced with a sudden urgency. He reached out, his warm fingers brushing against her arm to turn her toward the mountain path. "I am taking you home."

Rhea pulled her arm back, shaking her head firmly. "No, Adam. I am not leaving," she declared, her silver eyes blazing with absolute determination. "Ironfang is Eli’s birthright. My son’s future is tied to this land, and I am going to fight for it."

Adam went completely still. He stared down at her face, reading the absolute resolve in her posture. He looked over at Kaleb, who was watching them with a guarded expression, and then brought his gaze back to Rhea.

"What do you need from me?" Adam asked quietly.

A small spark of hope lit up Rhea’s eyes. "Warriors," she said simply.

Adam gave a firm nod without a moment’s hesitation. "Give me a number, and my men will be on these ridge lines by sunrise. I will stand in the vanguard myself," he said, his voice low and certain. Then, his eyes hardened as he turned his attention back to Kaleb. "But I have one question first."

Rhea frowned, sensing the sudden shift in the air. Kaleb’s eyes narrowed into tight slits as he met Adam’s stare.

"How can you be sure that Kaleb will not try to put another arrow through your heart when your back is turned?" Adam asked, his voice deep as his dark eyes locked onto Kaleb.

Kaleb’s jaw set hard as he stood his ground against Adam’s suffocating aura. A slow smirk stretched across his lips. "If I wanted her dead, Adam, you would not have found her alive," he said. "But then, I guess you will just have to wait and see."