Chapter 341: We Need to Speak to Our Wolves
Draven.
The pale gold of dawn slipped past the curtains, brushing across the edge of our bed.
I had been awake for several minutes now, but the woman beside me still clung so stubbornly to sleep.
I leaned on my elbow, studying her. Her hair was spread like a dark halo across the pillow, her breathing was even, and her lips parted in a way that tempted me to forget the morning entirely.
But no, I won’t let it. Meredith had made me promise to shape her into more than just my mate—into a leader. And leaders did not hide under sheets when the day called.
So, I bent close, my voice low against her ear. "Wake up, Queen Meredith. It’s time."
A groan escaped her lips, then she stirred, frowning without opening her eyes. "Time for what?"
I smiled faintly. "Your morning run."
Her violet eyes cracked open then, disbelief flashing across her face. "You were serious about that?"
I chuckled, pulling back the blanket. "I think the sleep really got to you because which part of me seemed to be joking yesterday? Today is the beginning."
She groaned again and buried her face into the pillow. "I hate you."
"No," I murmured, tugging the pillow away so she had to meet my gaze. "You love me, and you are just not ready to admit I’m right."
Her glare lacked any real venom. With a reluctant sigh, she rose, padding toward my bathroom.
I followed, leaning against the doorframe as she splashed water on her face, trying to shake off sleep. Watching her in my space—in our space filled me with a strange satisfaction.
When she emerged from the bathroom, we went into my dressing room together. Then, I picked up a folded set of clothes: a simple, fitted jacket and pants in black, paired with new running shoes that I had prepared for her the previous evening.
"For you," I said, holding them out.
Her brows lifted. She took the jacket first, running her fingers over the fabric. Then she looked at me, a small smile tugging her lips. "I didn’t know you already arranged my outfit."
"I am always prepared," I said
She slipped into the outfit quickly, smoothing the lines, then bent to lace the shoes. When she stood, she looked down at herself and then back up at me with bright eyes.
In a blink, she stepped closer and kissed me lightly on the lips. "Thank you."
"You’re welcome," I replied, and gently gathered her hair, my fingers carefully pulling the strands back into a tidy ponytail.
Her head tilted subtly beneath my hands, her trust in that simple act anchoring something within me.
When I tied the last strand into place, I brushed my fingers against the curve of her neck. "Perfect."
She rolled her eyes at me, but she was smiling now.
"Now, let’s go," I offered my hand, and she took it without hesitation.
---
Outside, the morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and dew as we left the estate grounds.
Meredith stretched her arms half-heartedly, already muttering under her breath.
"One hour," she grumbled. "You are trying to kill me."
I managed a small laugh. "Are you aware that if you die from a morning run, then you’ve already failed as my Luna?"
Her violet eyes shot me a glare. "I bet you’ve been waiting for a moment like this to make that statement."
"I am innocent; therefore, I rid myself of that accusation," I said simply, then set off at a steady pace. "Now, keep up if you don’t want to fall behind."
She let out another groan, but followed, her steps quickening to match mine.
The gravel crunched beneath our shoes, birds stirred awake in the branches, and the horizon began to glow with the first edge of sunlight.
For the first few minutes, all I heard was Meredith’s uneven breathing and the quiet rhythm of our steps. But I kept my stride calm, my own breathing steady so she could find her rhythm.
"You’re wasting half your strength," Rhovan’s voice rolled lazily through the bond into Meredith.
I caught the flicker in her expression as she stiffened. She definitely wasn’t expecting my wolf to have an input in her morning run.
"You—" she huffed aloud, cutting him off mid-thought. "Stay out of this."
"Relax," Rhovan teased, his tone amused. "I’m helping you, not him."
Valmora’s laugh stirred inside me, smooth and mocking. "Helping her? Or trying to embarrass her? She is stumbling already."
"She’s fine," I answered silently.
"Fine?" Valmora’s voice sharpened with disdain. She will never outlast you like that." Then she turned her attention to Meredith, "Loosen your arms or you will end up knotting yourself up."
"Valmora, I think... I’m in the mood whereby I can disown you without batting an eye," Meredith said breathlessly.
I glanced at her, watching her side profile while smiling to myself.
"For telling you the truth and teaching you how to run properly since your mate wouldn’t do that?" Her wolf asked.
And I knew that was my cue to stop her right there. "You don’t think I would deceive my wife, would you?"
"Who knows?" Valmora replied in a half-hearted tone.
Her reaction alone was a replica of Meredith’s when she wasn’t in a good mood and was looking for a fight. And honestly, I didn’t know what to do about this sudden mood swing.
"Don’t worry about Valmora. I know where her claws are fixed. I am her target," Rhovan explained.
"You have no right to take my name in that filthy mouth of yours. I am Queen, and you will address me as such. Nothing less," Valmora’s voice thundered through the link, suddenly forcing Meredith and I to slow our steps.
We exchange glances, Meredith’s engulfed with concern. "Valmora, what is this all about?"
But we were met with silence.
"Valmora? Valmora? Are you there?" Meredith tried one last time, but nothing changed. Then, she turned her gaze to me.
I also tried reaching out to Rhovan to obtain information from him, but I was met with the same volume of silence.
"I think we need to speak to our wolves," I said to Meredith.
"I think so too," she agreed, letting out a deep sigh.
---
The last of the hour bled away with the sun fully risen. Meredith’s breath came in heavy pulls, sweat glistening across her temples, but her steps didn’t falter as we slowed from a run to a walk.
Gravel crunched more gently now beneath our shoes as the estate emerged in the distance through the morning haze.
She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, still flushed from the effort.
For a while, she stayed quiet, the weight of her breathing filling the space between us. Then, at last, her voice broke through.
"Draven..." she glanced at me, her violet eyes sharp despite her exhaustion. "Have you heard anything... about the attack?"
I kept my stride even, my hands sliding casually into my pockets. "No. But I’m curious to see how that old geezer will cover up this mess."
Her brows pinched. "Brackham?"
I nodded once. The thought of him twisting words for the public almost amused me because I knew that would be his next move.
"He won’t admit he ordered the bombing of the Eastern Woods because of vampires, not without tearing his own city apart. I wonder what lie he will settle on."
Meredith’s gaze lingered on me, thoughtful and unreadable.