Lucien tapped the suppressant syringe with his fingers, checking the dose one last time. "Are you sure you want this?" he asked again.

Kieran’s face was flushed with fever, his breathing heavy. "Yes. Even with Leia by my side, I’m not taking any chances."

Lucien gave a short hum of acknowledgment. He rolled up the sleeve of Kieran’s right arm, found the vein, and injected the shot with a steady hand.

At that moment, the door opened and Ronan stepped in with Leia right behind him. Her eyes immediately locked onto the empty syringe in Lucien’s hand.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, her gaze snapping from the syringe to Lucien.

"He asked for a suppressant," Lucien answered calmly. He tossed the used syringe into the sharps bin.

"I told him to do it," Kieran said, his voice rough but firm. "It’s necessary. And... your uncle seems worried about you."

Leia crossed the room in a few quick strides and sat on the edge of the bed beside Kieran. She took his hand, her grip tight.

"He doesn’t want to protect me," she said, her tone sharp. "He wants control. That’s all it’s ever been. He was never around when I actually needed him. Now, all of a sudden, he wants to step in? No. What I do with my mates is my decision, not his."

"Your uncle doesn’t want you to get pregnant," Ronan said, stepping forward. "It’s hard to control your emotions during a rut. Don’t get upset." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Kieran let out a low, tired "Hmm."

Lucien nodded toward the door. "We’ll leave you two alone. Ronan, let’s go."

The two men stepped out of the cottage and closed the door behind them, leaving Kieran and Leia in silence.

Kieran shifted against the pillows, wincing slightly. "About the kid... I’ll ask—"

"Don’t think about any of that right now," Leia cut in, her voice gentle but firm. "I’ll look into it. Once Lucien is free, I’ll talk to him myself."

She leaned over him and pressed her palm to his forehead, then his cheek. His skin was hot and dry, radiating fever.

"For now, just tell me if you need anything."

"Just stay close. Nothing more," Kieran said quietly.

"How close?" Leia murmured, shifting nearer on the bed.

He caught her hand, lowering it from his cheek, and pressed a slow kiss to the inside of her wrist. "This close is fine," he whispered against her skin. "You should rest for a while. You must be tired."

Leia’s brow lifted. "I don’t feel sleepy. Do you?"

Kieran shook his head. "Thank you for spending time with me today. I liked every moment of it." He leaned down, resting his head on her shoulder for a moment.

Leia smiled softly. "Honestly, I enjoyed my time with you too."

He lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers. This time, he didn’t hold back. He brushed his lips against hers in a light, tentative kiss.

Leia closed her eyes and kissed him back. The hesitation she once felt was gone. Kieran cradled the back of her neck, drawing her closer as the kiss deepened slowly.

A moment later, Leia pressed her palm firmly against his chest. Kieran pulled back immediately. They were both breathing hard, chests rising and falling as she lifted her gaze to his.

"You shouldn’t have taken the shot," she said.

"Why?"

Instead of answering right away, she traced her fingers along his jaw and cheek, then leaned in and kissed his closed eyelids, one after the other. She shifted closer, rising onto her knees on the bed.

Kieran’s hands settled on her waist. With a slow pull, he guided her down onto his lap. "Leia," he whispered, his voice low and rough. His hand slipped under the hem of her dress, sliding up her thigh, feeling the soft fabric bunch against his palm.

"You felt I didn’t show you the same love I gave Lucien and Ronan," Leia said. "You became my friend first, that’s why. But yes... my wolf responds to you. She accepted you the day I felt the bond."

A slow smile touched Kieran’s lips. "That’s more than enough for me." He hugged her tightly, his chin resting on her shoulder. "I get jealous easily," he murmured against her skin.

Leia stepped back, her gaze softening. "You can let go of the jealousy now," she said. "What I share with Lucien and Ronan is separate, it’s a different kind of bond. But with you, it has always been something else entirely. You are the one man I can truly lean on, because I know I’ll never face judgment in your eyes."

The gravity of the moment lingered for only a second before she broke the tension with a sudden, playful shift.

Moving toward the doors of the chamber, she glanced back over her shoulder. "I’m suddenly starving, despite that lunch earlier. I’m going to see what the kitchens have left."

Kieran let out a short, genuine laugh at the abrupt transition. The intimate atmosphere had vanished, replaced by her warmth.

He leaned back, watching her disappear into the corridor.

~~~

In the kitchen, Leia bypassed the platters and fine preserves, instead pulling a bag of potato chips from a hidden corner of the pantry.

She tore it open and headed back toward the room. When she entered into the room, however, the bed was empty.

"Where did he go?" she murmured to herself, reaching for another chip.

The sharp click of a door latch drew her attention to the left. Kieran emerged from the washroom, his hair damp and droplets of water still clinging to his jawline. His expression had shifted; the warmth from moments ago was replaced by a rigid, distant composure.

"Leia, you don’t need to stay," Kieran said, his tone flat. "Go on about your day and check back this evening. I’m going to rest until then."

Leia paused, a chip halfway to her mouth, her brow furrowed. "Why? A minute ago you wanted me here. What changed so fast?"