Chapter 16
The Outpost organized a short field trip to gather rare winter herbs. We headed for the Windy Ridge, a high-altitude area known or sudden storms.
When I arrived at the transport trucks, everyone was completely shocked.
Alpha Silas Vance was standing there.
He had traveled all the way from the Headquarters to the Badlands. He claimed he was here to “inspect the border defenses,” but his yes immediately locked onto me the moment I stepped out.
During the trip, Silas acted completely different from his usual cold, arrogant self.
Whether it was loading heavy supply crates or climbing the steep, snowy slopes, he was the first to step up. He used his Alpha trength to clear paths in the snow, and he reached back to pull older guards up the icy rocks.
He carefully handed out water to the team, telling everyone to stay warm.
I didn’t realize the Ice Crown Alpha was so hands-on,” an older guard whispered to me with surprise.
watched Silas. He was half-kneeling in the snow, carefully digging up a plant root. His handsome face was serious, and sweat olled down his forehead despite the cold.
t was a sharp contrast to how he used to sit in his warm office and let everyone else do the dirty work. He was trying to show me he could be reliable. He was trying to impress me.
didn’t say anything. I simply lowered my head and focused on writing down my herbal notes. I treated him like he was invisible.
On our way back down the mountain, the sky darkened without warning.
Within ten minutes, the mountain was swallowed by a massive, howling whiteout.
Not good! It’s a blizzard!” the driver shouted over the wind.
The gale screamed, carrying thick, heavy snow that blinded us. Visibility dropped to less than three meters. The temperature
lummeted instantly.
Silas’s voice suddenly rang out, cutting through the wind and the rising panic. He used his Alpha tone to command the group. It’s not safe here! We need to find shelter! Everyone, hold onto the rope and follow me! Stay in a single line, and do not wander
›ff!”
He was the first to push through the heavy snow, shouting orders and leading the way. He acted like a perfect, commanding Alpha rotecting his pack.
But in the chaos, a massive, incredibly warm body suddenly wrapped around me from behind.
t was Lucas.
He didn’t yell any orders. He just grabbed me tightly, pulling me flush against his broad chest. He pulled his heavy, fur-lined cloak wide and wrapped it completely around me, using his own body to shield me from the freezing wind.
I’ve got you,” he growled softly near my ear.
We trudged through the deep snow. Lucas took the brunt of the storm, blocking the ice from hitting my face.
After ten minutes of struggling, we finally reached the shelter of a large, rocky cave. The wind outside was still howling, but it was much quieter inside.
‘Quick! Everyone huddle together for body heat!” Lucas shouted, shaking the snow off his hair.
As he reached out to help an older wolf, his sleeve pulled back. In the dim light, I caught a glimpse of a strange, dark metal bracer on
his wrist. It was carved with an ancient, roaring wolf crest-a symbol I had only read about in books regarding the Royal Lycan
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Before I could look closer, Lucas pulled his sleeve down. He turned to me, quickly pulling a spare scarf from his bag to wrap around my cold neck.
His movements were swift and natural. He didn’t do it to show off; he did it because his first instinct was to keep me safe.
Across the cave, Silas was breathing hard. He looked up, his golden eyes searching for me. When he saw me tucked safely under Lucas’s heavy cloak, my body pressed against Lucas’s side for warmth, Silas froze. A look of pure, burning jealousy and pain flashed across his face.
The blizzard lasted for an hour before it finally stopped.
By the time we returned to the outpost, it was dark.
Lucas walked me back to my cabin. His face was still covered in melted snow, but his gaze was soft. “Harper, you were very brave today. You didn’t panic at all.”
I brushed the snow from my jacket. “You handled it well. You protected me.”
Lucas’s eyes flickered, and he rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit shy. “Hey, I’ve survived enough winters in the wild. Protecting you is just… instinct.”
I looked up at him and smiled softly. Thank you for today, Lucas.”
‘Anytime, Harper,” Lucas said, his voice deep and warm.
He watched me walk into my cabin before turning to leave.
Inside, my body was still warm from his cloak. And my inner wolf, which had been silent for so long, let out a soft, contented purr.
