He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 57

The group reaches a narrow stream that marks the border between their lands, where Andrei notices fresh tracks of a rogue wolt passing through recently. Damon confirms the direction of the tracks toward Ashmoor and notes the size of the creature. The narrator suggests sending two warriors—one from each pack—to track the rogue, hoping it will build teamwork between the groups.

A charged moment passes between the narrator and Andrei as their eyes meet closely, stirring intense feelings and memories within the narrator. Andrei seems to sense this, responding with a teasing smirk, but the moment is interrupted when Damon directs two warriors to pursue the rogue. The tension dissipates as the warriors disappear into the forest, and the group resumes their patrol along the border.

The narrator tries to focus on the task, keeping Damon between Andrei and herself to manage the awkwardness. Damon reports the western ridge is clear, and Andrei plans to station wolves there for surveillance, coordinating shifts between the packs. Their conversation is businesslike, momentarily setting aside their complicated pasts, though Andrei’s lingering gaze and teasing challenge hint at unresolved feelings.

As the patrol nears its end, Damon is pulled aside by his Beta, who delivers grim news. Damon announces that they must cut the meeting short due to an incident at the pack house, leaving the group tense and uncertain about what awaits them.

At last, we came to a narrow stream that sliced through the dense forest, marking the invisible line that separated our lands. Andrei crouched low, his gaze fixed on the ground where some tracks lay. I couldn’t help but notice how his leather jacket stretched taut over his broad back, outlining the strong muscles beneath it with every movement.

“Rogue wolt,” he murmured, pointing to the paw prints. “Passed through here recently—probably within the last day or two.”

Damon knelt beside him, squinting at the prints. “Heading east, toward Ashmoor. And that’s a big one.”

Curiosity pulled me closer, and I leaned over their shoulders to get a better look. “We should send two warriors after it—one from Moonshadow, one from Ashmoor,” I suggested, nodding toward the four warriors accompanying us. “It’d be a good way to build teamwork. Let them get to know each other better.”

Andrei’s head turned sharply, his eyes locking onto mine. Suddenly, I was acutely aware of how close we were—just a small step forward and my legs would brush against his shoulder. His green eyes held mine, and for a heartbeat, I thought I saw a flicker of heat ignite deep within them.

My body reacted before I could think. A warm blush spread across my cheeks, my heart pounded fiercely, and that familiar ache stirred low between my thighs. Memories of the dreams I’d had just nights ago flooded my mind, vivid and relentless.

Andrei’s nostrils flared slightly, and a faint, almost teasing smirk curved his lips. My heart sank.

Had he caught the scent of my desire?

“Agreed,” Damon’s voice broke through the moment, pulling us back to reality. He pointed to one of the Ashmoor warriors. “You. Take the lead.”

The warrior gave a curt nod.

The tension eased, and Andrei dusted his hands off before nodding toward one of his own. “Go with him. Don’t return until you’ve got the rogue’s head.”

“Understood, Alphas,” the two warriors replied in unison, then moved swiftly into the forest, disappearing among the trees.

We resumed our patrol, tracing the border with measured steps. I made a point to keep Damon positioned between Andrei and myself whenever possible, focusing intently on the task at hand.

Still, my thoughts kept drifting back to that brief moment by the stream—the way Andrei had looked at me, as if he could see right through my carefully maintained facade.

I told myself it was nothing more than a physical reaction, the result of four long years without intimacy. It had nothing to do with Andrei, I reassured myself.

“The western ridge is clear,” Damon reported as we climbed a small rise that gave us a sweeping view of both territories. “We should station wolves here. It’s a perfect vantage point.”

Andrei nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll assign two of my best for the first shift. They can coordinate with your wolves for the handoff.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Damon agreed.

The conversation was so straightforward, so businesslike, that for a moment, I almost forgot the tangled history that bound us all. In that instant, we were simply three pack leaders focused on border security—nothing more.

But then Andrei’s gaze found me again, and this time, there was something different in it—a challenge.

“Luna,” he said, the way his lips shaped my title sent an involuntary shiver down my spine, “you look like you have something on your mind. Care to share with the group?”

Something on my mind? Was he referring to the way that damn jacket clung a bit too tightly to his broad frame?

I kept my expression neutral, cool and professional. “You’d be mistaken,” I replied, brushing past him. “Let’s keep moving.”

I thought I heard Andrei emit a low sound of frustration, as if annoyed that I hadn’t taken the bait. But I didn’t glance back to give him the satisfaction.

We were nearing the end of our patrol when Damon’s Beta came running up, pulling Damon aside. The two men spoke quietly for a moment, their faces grim. Damon’s expression darkened as he absorbed the news.

Finally, Damon turned back to us.

“Looks like we have to cut this meeting short,” he said grimly. “There’s been an incident at the pack house.”

The charged moment by the stream lingered in my mind, a silent reminder of the undercurrents flowing beneath our composed exteriors. Despite the professional facade we maintained, the subtle glances and unspoken tension revealed the complex emotions tethered to our shared past and unacknowledged desires. It was a delicate dance between duty and longing, where every look and word carried weight far beyond their surface meaning.

As we prepared to respond to the urgent news, the fragile balance between our roles as leaders and the personal connections simmering beneath the surface remained unresolved but palpably present. The chapter closed on a note of anticipation and quiet turmoil, capturing the intricate interplay of loyalty, restraint, and the undeniable pull of the heart amidst the looming challenges ahead.

The next chapter promises to deepen the intricate web of tension and unspoken emotions simmering beneath the surface of this uneasy alliance. As the patrol is abruptly disrupted by the news of an incident at the pack house, expect the fragile balance between duty and desire to be tested in ways that might force the characters to confront not only external threats but also the complicated feelings they’ve been trying to suppress. The charged dynamic between Luna and Andrei, marked by fleeting glances and subtle challenges, is likely to come to the forefront, adding a layer of emotional intensity to the unfolding events.

Meanwhile, the looming threat hinted at by the rogue wolt’s presence and the sudden emergency could ignite conflicts that stretch beyond the borders of their lands, compelling the packs to make difficult decisions. Loyalties will be questioned, alliances strained, and the characters’ resilience pushed to the limit. With the stakes rising, readers can anticipate a blend of suspense, raw emotion, and the intricate dance of power and vulnerability that defines these intertwined lives.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.